CPI Report Shows Inflation Decreases to 4.9% - image source CNBC
CPI Report: In April, inflation showed a decrease for the tenth consecutive month, indicating a continued moderation in grocery prices which helped to offset the rising gasoline prices. However, an underlying inflation measure that tracks longer-lasting trends remained elevated.
According to the consumer price index released by the Labor Department, the consumer prices saw a year-on-year increase of 4.9% in April, which was a decrease from the 5% increase in March. It is noteworthy that this is the smallest yearly increase since April 2021. On a monthly basis, prices increased by 0.4%, compared to a 0.1% increase in March.
Wednesday’s inflation report had mixed implications for American shoppers and drivers. Gasoline prices saw a surge of 3% in April, which was significant. On the other hand, grocery prices dropped for the second month in a row. Moreover, the prices of used cars increased by 4.4% after experiencing a decline for nine months. Additionally, rental costs increased but at a slower pace.
Despite the ongoing concerns about rising inflation, there are some encouraging signs that it is beginning to cool. For example, the data for April indicates that airline fares fell by 2.6%, and hotel prices dropped by 3%, following four consecutive monthly increases.
According to Gregory Daco, Chief Economist at EY-Parthenon, the inflation situation is not straightforward, but the signs are clear that it is cooling down. He stated, “It’s sticky and bumpy, but make no mistake, inflation is cooling.”
The drop in airline fares and hotel prices can be seen as a sign that consumer demand is starting to level out, and that supply chain disruptions and other pandemic-related issues may be easing. However, it is important to note that this cooling effect is not uniform across all sectors, and that some areas of the economy may still be experiencing inflationary pressure.
Core CPI vs. CPI – Understanding the Key Differences
The latest CPI report reveals that core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy items, and instead capture longer-lasting trends, rose by 0.4% from the previous month of March. This follows a similar increase seen in March, indicating a continued upward trend in core prices.
However, despite the rise in core prices, the annual increase was reduced from 5.6% to 5.5%. This suggests that although there has been some increase in the cost of goods and services over time, it has not been as significant as originally anticipated.
Excluding food and energy prices from the CPI calculation can help to give a more accurate representation of underlying inflation trends, as these items are known to be more volatile and can fluctuate more frequently due to factors such as weather and geopolitical events.
Overall, while the core prices have increased slightly in recent months, the fact that the annual increase has reduced shows that inflation may be moderating somewhat. However, it is important to continue monitoring the trends in core prices and CPI to fully understand the impact of inflation on the economy.
The latest CPI report has shown that the journey towards achieving normal levels of inflation across the United States will be a somewhat uneven one. While prices overall continue to experience a strong increase from the previous month, there are some inconsistencies when it comes to specific goods and services.
Although there has been some easing in goods inflation as COVID-related supply chain issues begin to resolve, some items have still experienced a rise in prices. Apparel prices, for example, increased during the last month, and used car prices saw a significant jump after experiencing nine consecutive months of declines.
In contrast, the outlook for services prices looks more optimistic, with the expectation that they will pick up as more Americans start traveling and dining out more frequently. However, several of those cost increases slowed down in April.
This mixed picture highlights the complexity of the current economic situation, and the varied impact that different factors are having on inflation. While some sectors are experiencing a rebound, others are still grappling with the impact of the pandemic and other external factors. Therefore, it is important to continue monitoring the trends in goods and services prices to gain a more comprehensive understanding of inflation trends across the economy.
Is there a likelihood of the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates?
The latest CPI report suggests that although inflation is still present, it has been slowly decreasing. However, despite this gradual decline, the Federal Reserve has signaled that it may pause its aggressive campaign of increasing key interest rates, which has resulted in a 5-point hike over the past 14 months.
The reason behind this pause is that Fed officials believe the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and two other banks will likely toughen lending standards, thereby dampening the economy and inflation. This, in turn, will leave less work for the central bank to do in terms of raising interest rates further.
However, economist Andrew Hunter of Capital Economics has pointed out that the persistently high inflation rate could prevent Fed officials from cutting rates in the future to combat a weakening economy. While the CPI report is likely to keep the Fed on track to halt its rate hikes, the ongoing high inflation rate may make it difficult for the central bank to reduce rates for a longer period of time.
What can be expected regarding the future of gasoline prices?
The month of April saw an increase in gas prices; however, they are currently down by 12.2% from the same time last year. Furthermore, recent weeks have seen a decline in pump prices, with regular unleaded gasoline averaging $3.53 per gallon nationally as of Tuesday, which is down from $3.60 a month ago.
This trend of falling gas prices can be attributed to a number of factors, including increased production and a decrease in demand due to factors such as remote work and reduced travel during the pandemic. In addition, global economic factors, such as fluctuations in oil prices, can also have an impact on the price of gas.
However, it is important to note that gas prices can be unpredictable and subject to sudden shifts due to various external factors. For instance, a sudden increase in demand or a supply disruption could cause prices to rise again. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the future of gas prices with certainty, and it is essential to continue monitoring market trends to gain a better understanding of how they may evolve over time.
What can be expected regarding the future of grocery prices?
According to the latest data, grocery prices have decreased for the second consecutive month, with a 0.2% dip in prices. The annual increase has also eased to 7.1% from 8.4%, mainly due to the decline in the cost of commodities such as wheat and corn, which has been caused by easing global demand.
In April, the price of eggs experienced a third consecutive monthly decline, dropping by 1.5%, after sharp bird flu-related increases, although costs remain high with a 21.4% increase over the past year. Pork prices fell by 1.2%, while fish and seafood costs dipped 0.7%, and bread was down 0.3%.
However, some costs are still rising, with chicken prices increasing by 0.5%, and uncooked ground beef increasing by 0.6%. Restaurant prices also saw an increase of 0.4%, with an annual increase of 8.6%. While there have been recent declines in grocery prices, it is difficult to predict future trends as several factors, including supply chain disruptions and global demand, can affect prices.
To what extent is rent contributing to inflation?
Rent prices continued to be a significant contributor to inflation, but the rate of increase has slowed down. In April, the cost of rent rose by 0.6%, slightly higher than the 0.5% increase in March, but lower than the previous months’ stronger gains. On an annual basis, the increase remained the same at 8.8%.
According to economists, the cost of rent is expected to decrease as new leases are signed. However, this transition has been slow to affect existing lease agreements, and the impact of the shift is yet to be seen. Despite the moderate increase, rent costs still play a crucial role in driving inflation.
The latest CPI report shows that the prices of used cars rose sharply by 4.4%, reflecting an increase in wholesale prices that eventually translated to retail prices, but they are still down 6.6% annually due to a drop following a pandemic-related surge that saw costs rise by roughly a third. Additionally, the prices of apparel increased by 0.3%.
However, some prices for goods have softened in recent times as supply-chain issues continue to improve. For instance, new car prices decreased by 0.2%, furniture and bedding costs declined by 0.5%, and appliance prices fell by 1.9%.
Meanwhile, some services have become less expensive despite the gradual return of pre-pandemic activities by Americans. Airline fares fell by 2.6%, hotel rates slid by 3%, and medical care services dipped by 0.1% after a 0.5% decline the previous month.
