U.S. inflation declined last month as higher food prices were offset by lower gasoline, clothing, and transportation costs, a government report showed Tuesday, May 12. Consumer spending sank, for the most part, as efforts to slow the COVID-19 pandemic shattered the demand for many goods and services.

When compared against a month and year earlier, prices for food surged while they sank for energy. Stripping food and energy, core prices logged their biggest monthly decline on record in April. Continue reading Core Inflation Drops by Most on Record in April; Consumer Prices Mark Biggest Decrease Since 2008 →

United States inflation slowed greatly in March as consumer prices, with the help of the coronavirus, recorded their largest decline for a month in over five years, a government report showed Friday, April 10. Lower gasoline contributed most to the overall decline. Also impacting were pricing drops for clothing, transportation and new vehicles.

Of note, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, registered a monthly decline for the first time in over ten years.

From a year ago, energy prices fell sharply, the data shows, while food prices firmed. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Slows to 1.5%; Consumer Prices in March Fall Most in Five Years →

Higher food, shelter, vehicle, medical care and clothing prices drove up the U.S. cost of living in February, data released March 11 by the government showed, although lower gasoline prices helped in checking some of the overall inflation pressures.

In the longer haul, prices from a year earlier increased for a second time for both energy and food. Before then, year-over-year energy prices logged a string of seven straight declines while food prices rose. Continue reading U.S. Core Inflation Quickens; Consumer Prices In February Rise 0.1% →

Underlying inflation in the United States grew in January with increases in shelter and clothing costs but inflation remained tamed overall for the month as energy prices declined, a government report showed Thursday, Feb. 13. Still, the annual pace ran the quickest in more than a year.

For a second straight reporting period, costs from a year ago increased for both energy and food. Before then, year-over-year energy prices posted a streak of seven consecutive declines while food prices climbed. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Pops To 2.5%; Consumer Prices Ease In January →

United States inflation in 2019 accelerated the most for a year since 2011 despite a modest increase in December, a government report showed Tuesday, Jan. 14.

On an annual basis and for the first time since April, both food and energy prices increased. Year-over-year costs for energy had declined in May to November. Continue reading U.S. Inflation Advances 2.3% In 2019 For Quickest Rate Since 2011 →

The pace of inflation in the United States slowed some in October but the 12-month rate hit a one-year high, a government report showed Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Again, what has become a shared pattern since May, on an annual level food prices increased while energy prices declined. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Highest in Year; Consumer Prices in November Rise →

U.S. consumer prices in October rose the most in seven months as American paid more for a variety of items, including food, gasoline, recreation, and medical care, a government report showed Wednesday, Nov. 13.

On an annual basis and what has become a matching pattern since May, food prices increased while energy prices declined. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Rises to 1.8%; Consumer Prices in October Mark Quickest Pace in 7 Months →

U.S. inflation was checked in September as increased costs for shelter and food were offset by cheaper energy, vehicles and clothing prices, a government report showed Thursday, Oct. 10.

And for a fourth straight time at the annual level, energy prices declined and food prices increased. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Sticks at 1.7%; Consumer Prices Flat in September →

U.S. consumer prices increased only slightly in August yet a measure of underlying inflation accelerated to a more than one-year high, a government report showed Thursday, Sept. 12.

And for a fourth straight month, energy was cheaper and food prices climbed when compared against their levels from a year ago. Continue reading U.S. Core Inflation Jumps 2.4% From A Year Ago Even As Consumer Prices Rise Slightly in August →

The pace of inflation in the United States picked up in July, quickened by broad-based gains in consumer goods and services to include higher prices for shelter, healthcare, airline fares, clothing and energy, the government said Tuesday, August 13, 2019.

In the longer haul as highlighted in the above graphic, two key consumer pricing categories diverged with food prices higher and energy costs lower. Continue reading U.S. Inflation Picks Up In July As Consumer Prices Rise Broadly; Core Inflation Hits 2.2% →