Tag Archives: CPI

Shocked, Shocked To Find Inflation Going On Here

Posted on August 12, 2020 by macromon

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.6 percent in July, its largest increase since January 1991.  The index for motor vehicle insurance increased sharply in July, as it did the previous month. The indexes for shelter, … Continue reading →

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Distorted Inflation Data & Dynamic Pricing

Posted on September 16, 2018 by macromon

Just bought Bob Woodward’s new book for a birthday gift from Amazon yesterday for $18.00.  I tried to buy another one this morning and was quoted a price of  $19.32 per book.   That’s Venezuela-esque inflation, folks.  Works out to … Continue reading →

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Lies, Damned Lies, And Statistics…And The CPI

Posted on February 15, 2018 by macromon

The first three of those words are attributed to the British Prime Minister,  Benjamin Disraeli, and also sometimes associated with Mark Twain. You know our skepticism of most government data, especially the BLS calculation of inflation in consumer goods and … Continue reading →

Posted in Inflation/Deflation, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 125 Comments

China Inflation at 29-month Low

Posted on July 8, 2012 by macromon

Bloomberg reports, China’s consumer-price inflation eased to a 29-month low in June, giving Premier Wen Jiabao more room to relax economic policies after the second interest-rate cut in a month. The consumer price index rose 2.2 percent from a year … Continue reading →

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U.S. Economic Data Releases – June 14

Posted on June 14, 2012 by macromon

Econoday reports, CPI –  Down 0.3% on Energy,  Core Remains Elevated CPI inflation in May turned negative on continued significantly lower energy costs. Meanwhile, the core rate held steady and moderately warm. The consumer price index fell 0.3 percent in … Continue reading →

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Components of the Official U.S. Inflation Rate

Posted on May 18, 2011 by macromon

(click here if charts are not observable)

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Will Higher Prices Show Up in the CPI?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by macromon

Great ‘toon from the Economist.  Maybe the bureaucrats can argue that the higher commodity price component of goods and services is only temporary and can be counted as a surcharge as not be be included in the inflation stats.  On … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Food Prices | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Trend Reversal in Apparel Prices?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by macromon

Good piece in the USA Today about the headwinds the clothing industry is facing and the  expected reversal of the almost 20-year decline in apparel prices. The USA Today/AP reports, Clothing prices have dropped for a decade as tame inflation … Continue reading →

Posted in BRICs, Charts, China, Commodities, Economics, Technology | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments