Consumer Price Index news and trends

Grocery and Shelter Costs Rise in November, Straining Consumer Budgets
Economy // December 11, 2024

The key takeaway from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released Wednesday (Dec. 11) is that the pace of inflation pace quickened in November, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two key areas of essential spending — food and shelter — saw yet another...

Consumers Discount Inflation That ‘Meets’ Estimates as Post-Pandemic Housing, Food Costs Soar 25%
Economy // November 13, 2024

Only time will tell if the slight bump in inflation — measured by the latest Consumer Price Index for October and released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday (Nov. 13) — is a blip or something more. The data shows that prices were...

Latest CPI Data Finds Consumers Literally Spend More Bread to Buy Bread
Economy // October 10, 2024

In economics, there’s often a bifurcation when it comes to data — the difference between what the headlines tell us and what the wallet feels. Case in point: Septembers’ official reading on consumer price increases reflected an overall slowing pace of inflation — on an...

Mixed Signals: Inflation Slows to 3-Year Low, Yet Essential Costs Rise
Economy // September 11, 2024

The pace of price increases overall is slowing. But the costs of some key essentials remain stubbornly high, and they ticked higher in August. The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Wednesday (Sept. 11) that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.5% over August 2023 levels,...

Interviews & Exclusives
Trending: eCommerce Spending Accelerates in November and Boosts Retail Sales

December 17, 2024
November’s consumer spending was buoyant, as eCommerce sales rebounded from a tepid pace in October. Chalk it up to the festive season, but there are signs that consumers are throttling back on at least some retail categories … so they can fill their online carts in anticipation of giving gifts to their loved ones (or […]

Grocery and Shelter Costs Rise in November, Straining Consumer Budgets

December 11, 2024
The key takeaway from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released Wednesday (Dec. 11) is that the pace of inflation pace quickened in November, as reported by the Bureau of Labor...

Latest CPI Data Finds Consumers Literally Spend More Bread to Buy Bread

October 10, 2024
In economics, there’s often a bifurcation when it comes to data — the difference between what the headlines tell us and what the wallet feels. Case in point: Septembers’ official...

U. Mich Survey Shows Consumer Sentiment Improves, but Inflation Worries Linger

August 16, 2024
Things may get better over the longer term, but right now things are tough. To that end, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index, gauging the overall mindset on everything...

Quick Reads
Producer Price Index of Wholesale Prices Drops for Third Month, Indicating Easing Inflation

January 12, 2024
The Producer Price Index (PPI) declined for a third consecutive month in December.  Final demand prices fell 0.1% in December after dropping 0.1% in November and 0.4% in October, in seasonally adjusted figures, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said in a Friday (Jan. 12) press release.  “The December decrease in the index for final demand is attributable […]

JPMorgan CEO: Inflation Battle Isn’t Over Yet

November 15, 2023
The head of America’s biggest bank says it’s too soon to declare victory against inflation. “I’m afraid inflation might not go away that quickly,” JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday (Nov. 14)....

Inflation Cools as Consumers Continue Cutbacks

May 10, 2023
Inflation continued slowing last month, good news for consumers as many of them curtailed spending. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Wednesday (May...

Markups by Auto Dealers Helped Fuel Inflation, Government Study Shows

April 23, 2023
New government research shows that markups on new vehicles helped drive the inflation plaguing consumers. A recent study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that those added...