What's the opposite of inflation? Deflation, and that's exactly what happened in December, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). Prices fell 0.1 percent last month, bringing the year-over-year rate to 6.5 percent, down from a peak of 9.1 percent last June.
Here are the highlights:
Energy contributed the biggest share to the decline, with prices falling 4.5 percent. Under that category, fuel oil saw the biggest drop, falling 16.6 percent.
After energy, automobiles saw the most deflation in December. The price of new vehicles fell 0.1 percent, and the price of used vehicles fell 2.5 percent.
Food prices, meanwhile, ticked up 0.3 percent. That's the smallest increase in the last six months. Shelter costs also jumped a sizable 0.8 percent, up from 0.6 percent in November.
The report comes as a debate rages over whether the U.S. economy can achieve a so-called landing after several large rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. While the central bank has signaled moderation, any shift in the inflation narrative could change its tone.
Markets expected and had priced in the CPI drop, however, so it's possible stocks won't move drastically in response to the data. Futures rose slightly after the release.
Inflation is still high, and economic activity is starting to slow down. But before you start to panic about stagflation, wait to see this week’s jobs report.
With buildings responsible for over 40% of emissions worldwide, the CEO of Kelvin breaks down how its technology can be used to retrofit traditional radiators.
After battling inflation for years, now U.S. consumers have to prepare for stagflation, and, unfortunately, it could be more complicated to fix than a typical
Elf Labs CEO, David Phillips, speaks to Cheddar about how the company came to be and how it is bringing forth fairytale characters in new and exciting ways.
