Surging inflation has eased in recent months, but more evidence is needed to show that price increases are coming down in the long term, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP) (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
Prices rose half a percent in January, according to the latest consumer price index. That is up from a 0.1 percent decline in December, and five times the 0.1 percent increase in November.
The monthly uptick was in line with expectation, though the year-over-year rate came in higher than expected 6.4 percent, a marginal drop from a 6.5 percent rate in December.
Shelter (i.e. housing) contributed the largest share to the monthly increase, rising 0.7 percent.
Energy costs were also up across the board. The price of piped gas shot up 6.7 percent, while energy overall was up 2 percent after two straight months of declines.
Food prices, meanwhile, were up 0.5 percent. That is up from 0.4 percent in December, but still low relative to the last six months.
Used car prices also continued their steady decline, dropping 1.7 percent month-over-month and 11.6 percent year-over-year.
Despite the month-over-month drop, the annual rate has slowed for seven straight months.
Dollar General workers and labor advocates on Wednesday gathered outside the company's headquarters to voice concerns over safety and health protections. The protest comes ahead of the company's annual shareholder meeting.
Consumers continue to navigate through rising costs at the register, whether it be at the grocery or department store. Beverly Harzog, personal finance and credit card expert with U.S. News & World Report, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to get the best deals during your shopping spree.
Delta Airlines responded to a class-action lawsuit that said the company inaccurately claimed to be the world's first "carbon-neutral company, saying it was "without merit."
Maurits Pots, founder and CEO of Tema ETFS, joined Cheddar News to discuss what market trends to look out for with the debt ceiling vote in the backdrop of investors' minds.
Used car prices have risen dramatically recently and continue to remain at a high rate. Cheddar News spoke with some customers and a salesman to get their take.
The U.S. government’s auto safety agency plans to require that all new passenger cars and light trucks include potentially life-saving automatic emergency braking and meet stricter safety standards within three years.
A judge ruled against Boeing and said families of passengers who died in the 737 Max crash in Ethiopia can seek damages for the pain and suffering felt by the victims shortly before the accident.