The cost of living in the US rose slower in September, easing concerns of higher inflation which over the past 12 months has fallen more than one percent, according to a Labor Department report released Thursday.

Consumer prices edged higher last month by 0.2 percent, following a 0.4 percent climb in August. Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, also rose by 0.2 percent.

"Today’s figures won’t shift the argument about inflation risks at the Fed. They don’t show deflation, but nor do they show sufficient inflation pressures to make the doves want to tighten soon," Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, was quoted on Reuters.

Annual US inflation fell 1.3 percent. Core annual inflation rose 1.5% from September 2008 following the 1.4% increase in the 12 months ending in August. Read the rest of this entry »

The cost of living in the US increased slightly in August, but prices were cheaper compared to 12 months ago, a new report released Wednesday by the Labor Department reveals.

Annual US inflation dropped 1.5 percent after a 2.1% decline in the 12 months ending in July. The decrease was largely due to lower gasoline costs as compared to the spiked prices from last summer.

When volatile food and energy prices were excluded, the 12-month core rate increased 1.4 percent — still, it is the smallest year-over-year gain since February 2004

The Consumer Price Index, which is the government’s most closely watched barometer for measuring inflation at the consumer level, climbed 0.4% in August. The rate increase was driven by a 9.1 percent surge in gasoline prices. Read the rest of this entry »

The cost of living in the US remained unchanged in July while annual inflation fell the most since January 1950, or nearly 60 years, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The government’s Consumer Price Index shows year-over-year inflation declined 2.1%, cut down by sharply lower energy costs as compared to last year when gasoline prices were over $4 a gallon. July prices were also held in check by falling energy prices.

“In the months ahead, we expect U.S. consumer prices to soften further, and headline consumer price inflation to remain in negative territory (at least through to some time in the fall), before beginning to creep above zero as the expected economic recovery gathers traction,” Millan Mulraine, economics strategist with TD Securities, in a research note, was quoted on MarketWatch.

Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, rose by 0.1 percent in July. The core CPI is up 1.5 percent over the past year, which is well within the Federal Reserve’s comfort zone of 1-2 percent. Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. cost of living jumped in June while year-over-year inflation declined by the sharpest amount in 59 years, new government data shows.

Consumer prices rose 0.7 percent last month, largely due to a 17.3 percent surge in gasoline prices, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

While gasoline prices peaked, they were no match for prior year figures when unleaded gasoline reached over $4 a gallon. The twelve-month decline in energy prices is greatly responsible for annual inflation falling 1.4 percent – the largest drop since January 1950.

Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.2 percent in June. The core CPI is up 1.7 percent over the past year and is well within the Federal Reserve’s comfort zone of 1-2 percent. Read the rest of this entry »

The cost of living in the U.S. inched slightly higher in May, according to a government report released Wednesday. The same report shows year-over-year inflation fell by the quickest pace since April 1950.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index shows the annual US inflation rate at -1.3 percent. Cheaper energy over the past year is largely responsible.

Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, declined by the same 0.1 percent in May. The core CPI is up 1.8 percent over the past year and within the Federal Reserve’s traditional comfort range of 1%-2%. Read the rest of this entry »

The cost of living in the United States remained unchanged in April, although annual inflation fell to -0.7 percent, marking the sharpest year-over-year decline since August 1995, the Labor Department reported Friday.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices were held steady in April with the help of reduced food and energy costs — the later responsible for the twelve month decline as well.

Core consumer prices, where volatile food and energy prices are excluded, actually rose 0.3 percent and follow a 0.2 percent increase in March. With that, the government’s data seemed slightly more supportive for those concerned with rising inflation, and better news — at least on the day — for those investing in gold. Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. inflation in March dropped to an annual rate of -0.4 percent, marking the first year-over-year decline since August 1995, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. The change is a stark contrast to the month prior, when inflation increased by the fastest one-month pace since July 2008, rising to 0.2 percent.

Then, energy costs with a surge in gasoline prices at the pump accounted for two-thirds of the pickup. March was a different story as energy prices dragged consumer costs down 0.1 percent.

Falling inflation is generally bad news for traditional safe haven investments like gold. The yellow metal initially ticked lower after the news. However, precious metal prices are holding steady at last check and showing modest gains.

Using the government’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, the CoinNews Inflation Calculator reflects inflation’s most recent change. By entering any two dates from 1913-2008 and then a dollar amount, the calculator measures the change in the buying power of the dollar over time.

Read the rest of this entry »

US inflation increased by the fastest one-month pace since July 2008, rising 0.2 percent in February from a year ago, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Consumer prices rose 0.4 percent last month as energy prices pushed the cost of living higher for the second straight month. A surge in gasoline prices at the pump accounted for about two-thirds of the increase in all item prices.

Rising inflation is generally good news for precious metals. However, gold’s spot price is down substantially to below $900 an ounce as investors so far today have looked more favorably toward other markets.

The CoinNews Inflation Calculator and rate charts with their updated figures show inflation’s increase using the government’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. By entering any two dates from 1913-2008 and then a dollar amount, the calculator measures the change in the buying power of the dollar over time.

Read the rest of this entry »

Following five months of consecutive declines, consumer inflation climbed in January at the same time annual inflation stood flat for the first time since 1955, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Consumer prices in January rose 0.3 percent. The increase is due mostly to higher energy costs, which jumped 1.7 percent and were led by a 6 percent increase in gasoline prices. On a 12-month basis, however, energy prices were down 20.4 percent. And that held the annual inflation rate to 0 percent.

Excluding food and fuel, the core rate increased by 0.2 percent last month and by 1.7 percent in the past year.

The Inflation Calculator and rate charts on CoinNews have been updated with the government’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. By entering any two dates from 1913-2009 and then a dollar amount, the calculator measures the change in the buying power of the dollar over time. Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. consumer prices slid lower again in December, falling 0.7 percent and setting the 2008 inflation rate at 01. percent for its smallest gain since 1954, the Labor Department reported Friday.

It was the third consecutive monthly decline for the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation at the consumer level.

The government’s report shows reduced energy prices were again the biggest driving factor in lowering the cost of living for Americans. The energy index fell 8.3 percent, with gasoline prices tumbling 17.2 percent.

The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was mostly unchanged in December and stands at 1.8 percent in 2008.

The CoinNews Inflation Calculator and rate charts with their updated figures show inflation’s drop using the government’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. By entering any two dates from 1913-2008 and then a dollar amount, the calculator measures the change in the buying power of the dollar over time. Read the rest of this entry »