Prices popped once again in March, with the latest consumer price index showing a 1.2 percent month-over-month increase and 8.5 percent increase from a year ago, which was the highest reading since 1981.
With war raging in Ukraine and COVID-19 shutdowns wracking large parts of Asia, the jump was expected, though economists were watching closely for signs of a peak.
One data point suggesting prices could be leveling off was the core inflation reading, which cuts out volatile food and energy prices. The measure was up 0.3 percent year-over-year, lower than the consensus estimate of half a percent. In addition, used car prices, which have skyrocketed over the pandemic, declined by 3.8 percent.
"The March report shows some moderation in core CPI, month over month," said Mace McCain, the president and CIO at Frost Investment Advisors, in a statement. "However, we expect continued price pressure due to the lockdowns in China as the supply chain struggles to normalize."
The gasoline index, meanwhile, was up 18.3 percent in March and 48 percent from a year ago, contributing half of the total increase for the month.
The report was the first to fully capture the impact of the war in Ukraine, which has sent commodity prices soaring and created jitters throughout financial markets globally.
"The Russia-Ukraine war has added further fuel to the blazing rate of inflation via higher energy, food, and commodity prices that are turbocharged by a worsening in supply chain problems," wrote Kathy Bostjancic, chief US financial economist for Oxford Economics. "This will lead to a higher near-term peak in inflation and a slow descent through 2022."
Shelter prices were up a half a percentage point, and food prices were up 1 percent for the month.
Author of 'Clean Meat,' Paul Shapiro joins Cheddar to discuss how the cellular agricultural revolution helps lower rates of foodborne illness and greatly improves environmental sustainability. Plus, how his company The Better Meat Co. is bringing healthier food options to the table.
Recent headlines might make it sound like World War III is imminent, but when it comes to your finances, it's not the time to panic. The market is coming off its longest winning streak since 2011.
You may have noticed fewer new venture capital-backed startups (like Airbnb or Uber) lately. The market slowed to a crawl after 2021, but things are expected to take off again in 2025.
Corporate earnings season is underway, that time when companies share their billions in sales or double-digit profits. But the data shows even companies are struggling with high inflation and interest rates.
Boeing continues their terrifying trend of having their planes fall apart mid-flight, inflation — checks notes — is still up and the future of AI looks terrifying. Cheery!
Food waste – uneaten scraps or leftovers sent to landfills – is responsible for 10% of global emissions. Mill, a new product from the co-founder of Nest, thinks technology can play a role in eliminating it.
By the time the 2024 election is over, be prepared to see some form of a recession – but this shouldn’t be as bad as what we experienced in 2020 or 2008.
International Master Alice Lee defeated grandmaster Irina Krush to win the American Cup – becoming one of the best women players in the world in the process – but she’s not stopping there.
You can track your sleep habits or heart rate, but how about your brain? Neurable's MW75-Neuro headphones turn your focus and productivity into data you can use to avoid burnout – here's how they do it.
