Commodity, oil, and gasoline prices declined noticeably in July, driving the pace of top-line inflation lower even as core inflation continued to increase at a torrid pace. This will provide a large boost to overall consumption and economic activity as Americans likely spent roughly $400 million less on ... READ MORE >
CPI
Chart of the day: Middle of the supply chain feels outsized impact of rising food costs
While U.S. core and headline inflation came in below expectations, according to the latest Consumer Price Index release, it will be well into next year before consumers see this inflation slowdown in their grocery bills and restaurant tickets. Retailers and distributors are continuing to feel the pinch of ... READ MORE >
Consumer Price Index: Inflation begins its temporary march upward
Increases in energy and transportation costs that were magnified by comparisons to last year’s economic downturn helped push the Consumer Price Index higher at an annual rate of 2.6% in March, according to government data released on Tuesday. The increase in the CPI, which was 0.6% on a monthly basis, ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Consumer prices surged in July, glossing over looming food insecurity
Core consumer prices in July gained the most since January 1991, as many categories of consumer goods stabilized after the initial broad pandemic-induced lockdowns. While news headlines may seem to paint a picture of a new inflationary environment, excess capacity in the economy remains disinflationary ... READ MORE >
April U.S. Consumer Price Index: Another whiff of pandemic-caused deflation
This is what demand destruction looks like. The 0.8% decline in the Consumer Price Index in April, announced on Tuesday, should serve as a cautionary tale to those espousing dead dogma around risks to the outlook linked to inflation. The U.S. economy is absorbing a significant demand shock, and April’s ... READ MORE >