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.
Scott Dobroski, career trend expert at Indeed, joined Cheddar News to discuss job trends in 2023 as the U.S. labor market remains robust despite some high-profile layoffs.
Nishant Jain, CEO & co-founder of dry-cleaning robotics startup Presso, joined Cheddar News to discuss the company’s latest seed round, raising $8 million, and how its garment care machines work with AI technology.
Ed Egilinsky, Managing Director, Head of Sales and Distribution & Alternatives at Direxion, joins Cheddar News to discuss how traders are navigating rising interest rates, the pros and cons to a 'risk on' mindset, and what to keep an eye out for as earnings season heats up.
