2010 US Inflation Calculator and Rate Updates
The cost of living for Americans increased in January, but at a slower pace than most economists were forecasting.
Consumer prices edged up 0.2% for the month and annual inflation rose 2.6%, according to the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, data released by the Labor Department on Friday. The same December readings came in at 0.2% (revised upward from 0.1%) and 2.7%, respectively.
The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer, measuring inflation at the consumer level. January’s increase marks the fifth straight month of 0.2% gains. Most analysts were expecting a rise of 0.3%. Either inflation level is tame. Read more
US Inflation Rates, Historical Information and Calculator Updates
The cost of living increased in December but prices actually rose less than expected, the latest data from the government reveals.
American consumer prices inched 0.1% higher last month. That drove the inflation rate up 2.7% in 2009 from a year ago, according to the Consumer Price Index, or CPI data provided by the Labor Department on Friday. The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer.
The modest increase in December, which was 0.1% lower than many forecasts, compares to a 0.4% pickup in November. The aforementioned 2.7% annual inflation rate compares to 0.1% inflation in 2008. Higher gasoline prices account for much of the difference.
"The larger increase was primarily due to the energy index, which rose 18.2 percent during 2009 after falling 21.3 percent in 2008. The energy upturn was caused by the gasoline index, which rose 53.5 percent in 2009 after declining 43.1 percent in 2008," the Labor Department’s report states.
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the core CPI rose 1.8% in the past 12 months versus the 1.7% rise reported in the prior month. 2009’s increase matched 2008. The core CPI in December was also up 0.1% Read more
Inflation Calculator, American Inflation Rates and CPI Data Updates
Americans paid more for energy and medical care in November, bringing the cost of living up from a month earlier, according to a government report released on Wednesday.
The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index, or "CPI" for short, climbed 0.4% last month following a 0.3% pick up in October. The increase is inline with most expectations. Leading consumer prices higher were energy costs which jumped 4.1%. Energy prices have risen for four consecutive months. Food prices rose only slightly.
Removing food and energy costs, the core CPI remained unchanged after a gain of 0.2% in October. The flat reading is a stark contrast to the 10 straight prior increases. Many economists were forecasting a rise of 0.1%.
On an annual basis, inflation rose by 1.8% as compared to the 0.2% drop in the prior 12 months reported in October. Read more
Inflation Calculator, US Inflation Rates and CPI Data Updates
The cost of living in the US rose more than expected in October, as Americans paid more for fuel, food and new cars, the government reported Wednesday.
Consumer prices rose 0.3% in October after a 0.2% increase in September, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Labor Department. The increase is 0.1% higher than many economists had forecasted. The good news for consumers is that prices are down 0.2% from a year earlier.
"I don’t see anything in the report that suggests there’s any real inflation flare-up," Joseph LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in New York, said on Bloomberg. "The Fed is comfortably on hold."
In October, energy prices climbed 1.5% while food prices advanced 0.1%. Prices for new cars rose 1.6%, the biggest increase in 28 years. Read more
US Inflation Calculator, Inflation Rates Update
US inflation is contained for at least one more month as consumer prices edged slightly higher in September, the government reported Thursday.
Consumer prices rose slightly at 0.2% following a 0.4% increase in August, according to Consumer Price Index data released by the Labor Department. Prices were held in check by falling food costs and moderating energy bills.
"Inflation remains muted," Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto, was quoted on Bloomberg. "There is still much excess capacity to absorb, retailers are still fighting for their share of consumers’ shrinking wallets."
Annual inflation is down 1.3% after the 1.5% reading in August. It was the seventh consecutive monthly decline. Read more
Inflation Calculator and Rates Information Update
US consumer prices edged slightly higher in August, due largely to higher energy costs, but they are lower over the past 12 months, new government data reveals.
The Consumer Price Index, which is the government’s most closely watched barometer for measuring inflation at the consumer level, rose 0.4% in August. The increase was "driven by a 9.1 percent rise in the gasoline index," according to the monthly released CPI report from the Labor Department.
"Oil is becoming the bane of our existence again, but other cost pressures remain reasonably well restrained," Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors was noted on Forbes.com.
Compared to the same period a year ago, consumer prices fell 1.5% — due largely again to gasoline prices — they were higher in August compared to the previous month but sharply lower than the levels seen last summer.
The US Inflation Calculator is updated with the newest government information, as are the following inflation rate and data pages:
Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation
For an in depth look at August consumer prices, read Annual US inflation Down 1.5%.
Inflation Data Update
US consumer prices remained unchanged in July, temporarily easing concerns that government spending and the Fed monetary policy would ignite inflation.
The monthly released Labor Department Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed year-over-year inflation actually declined 2.1%, cut down by sharply lower energy costs as compared to last July when gasoline prices were over $4 a gallon.
"In the months ahead, we expect U.S. consumer prices to soften further, and headline consumer price inflation to remain in negative territory (at least through to some time in the fall), before beginning to creep above zero as the expected economic recovery gathers traction," Millan Mulraine, economics strategist with TD Securities, in a research note, was quoted on MarketWatch.
The Inflation Calculator is updated with the newest government information, as are the following inflation rate and data pages:
Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation
For an in depth look at July consumer prices, read US Consumer prices unchanged, biggest annual inflation drop since 1950.
Inflation Calculator Adjusted
The cost of living in the U.S. climbed in June at the fastest pace since last summer. And like then, surging energy costs were mostly responsible.
Consumer prices rose 0.7% in June after a 0.1% increase in May as energy costs jumped 7.4% with prices at the pump up 17.3%.
Despite that, Labor Department Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released Wednesday shows the annual US inflation rate fell 1.4%, marking the biggest decline since Jan. 1950. Read more
US Inflation Calculator Update
U.S. consumer prices inched slightly higher in May and less than expected according to a new report released by the government on Wednesday. The same report revealed year-over-year inflation has fallen at the fastest rate since April 1950.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) data has the annual US inflation rate at -1.3% compared to April’s 0.7% decline. Cheaper energy over the past year is largely responsible. Read more
Inflation calculator, rates update – 5/15
U.S. consumer prices from a year ago have fallen by the biggest amount in more than 50 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said in a report provided on Friday, May 15. To be more exact, prices had not dropped as fast since August 1955.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data has the annual inflation rate at -0.7% compared to the March rate of -0.4%. It was cheaper energy that helped pull down prices. Compared to a year ago, energy prices dropped 25.2%. (While gas prices at the pump have been rising recently, those figures will not be calculated into available data until next month’s report is released.)
On a monthly basis, consumer prices remained unchanged following the 0.1% declined in March and the 0.4% increase in February.
The Inflation Calculator is updated with the newest government information, as are the following pages:
Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2009
Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation
For an in depth look at April consumer prices, read the article Annual inflation at -0.7%…