The January Consumer Price Index had no change from December. CPI measures inflation, or price increases. The culprit is gas prices again, which declined -3.0% for the month. Take food and energy items out of the index and CPI actually rose 0.3% from December.
The October Consumer Price Index increased 0.1% from September. CPI measures inflation, or price increases. This month the culprit isn't gas prices, the gasoline index declined by -0.6% after July through September's meteoric 16.6% rise. The problem is the cost to rent a place to live increased 0.4% and had the highest monthly jump since June 2008.
The September Consumer Price Index increased 0.6% from August. The CPI measures inflation. This is the second month in a row for CPI to increase 0.6% and these jumps are the largest since June 2009. The reason again is gas with a 7.0% increase in the gasoline index for September and August's CPI jump was also caused by gas at the pump with a 9.0% increase in gasoline prices.
The August Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, increased 0.6% from July. This is the largest monthly increase since June 2009 and the reason for the jump is 80% gasoline prices. The CPI gasoline index increased a whopping 9.0% in a month. When removing food and energy inflation, of which gasoline is a part, core inflation increased 0.1% for August. Below is CPI's monthly percentage change.
CPI is up 1.7% from a year ago, shown in the below graph.
The July Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, was unchanged from June, the 2nd month in a row. The reason was electricity costs which dropped -1.3%. Gasoline increased 0.3% for July. Removing food and energy, inflation increased 0.1% for the month. Below is CPI's monthly percentage change.
The July 2012 ISM Manufacturing Survey PMI increased, +0.1 percentage points, to 49.8%, but is still in contraction, the 2nd month in a row. Previously PMI showed 34 months of growth and this month's PMI shows June was not a fluke. In July 2009 the PMI registered 49%. Employment this month dropped -4.6 percentage points and new orders are still in contraction.
The June Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, was unchanged from May. The reason was gasoline prices, which dropped again, this time -2.0% from last month and up 1.7% for the year. Cheaper gas offset other increases. Below is the graph for CPI's monthly percentage change.
June 2012 Retail Sales decreased, by -0.5%, and this month one cannot blame just falling gas prices. Autos & Parts alone dropped -0.6% while auto dealers, part of Autos & Parts, declined -0.7%. Minus autos & parts, retail sales also decreased, -0.4%. This is the 3rd month in a row retail sales have declined. June Retail sales are up 3.8% from the same time last year.
The May Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, declined -0.3% from April. The reason was gasoline prices, which plunged a whopping -6.8% from last month Below is the graph for CPI's monthly percentage change.
May 2012 Retail Sales decreased, by -0.2%, mainly due to dropping gas prices. Minus autos & parts, retail sales also decreased, -0.4%. April retail sales were revised down from 0.1% to -0.2%. May Retail sales are up 5.3% from the same time last year. Retail sales are reported by dollars, not by volume, so dropping prices often reports as a decline in sales.
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