Why have car repairs gotten so expensive?

Aug 7, 2023
The cost of car maintenance and repair is rising much faster than inflation.
Aside from the rising price of spare parts, repair costs have gotten more expensive because newer cars are more complicated to fix. 
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Economists forecast inflation cooling with the latest consumer price index this week

Jul 11, 2023
That would be a good sign for the Federal Reserve as it tries to get inflation under control.
Right now, incoming inflation reports like the CPI are extra-important because the Federal Reserve uses the data to determine whether its going to raise rates again.
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Why are used car prices still so high?

Jun 13, 2023
The microchip shortage of recent years put the brakes on the production of new cars. That's making for a low supply of used cars now.
While used car prices are down from their pandemic peak, they're still about 40% higher than before COVID, according to government data.
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We're in the stubborn phase of inflation cooling

Jun 13, 2023
The latest data shows inflation is well below its peak of more than 9% a year ago. But there’s a ways to go before the Fed reaches its 2% target.
There’s still a ways to go before the Federal Reserve reaches its target of 2% inflation.
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Inflation for services remains stubbornly high

May 10, 2023
Here's how higher wages, housing shortages and income level can play a role in how much you pay for things like exterminators and car repairs.
Motor vehicle repair prices, which were up 20% in April from last year, can be particularly burdensome for lower-income households.
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The impact of survey fatigue on key economic indicators

Mar 7, 2023
Response rates to The Bureau of Labor Statistics' JOLTS report are continuing to waver according to Bloomberg reporter, Reade Pickert.
Survey fatigue is impacting response rates to important economic data surveys.
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Here's what to look for in the latest consumer price index

Feb 13, 2023
CPI looked like it was heading in the right direction — that of lower inflation — at the end of 2022. Is that trend going to continue?
While goods may be getting cheaper, prices for services like hotels and rental cars are still getting pricier.
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New index gets a "more real-time view" of rent inflation

Jan 26, 2023
Housing is one of the biggest parts of inflation, but current metrics lag by about a year. The new tenant repeat rent index aims to change that.
A new index measures rent inflation by tracking new leases.
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What if we told you inflation was back to its target rate?

Jan 17, 2023
When we focus on recent months rather than year-on-year increases, inflation numbers look pretty good, says economist Alan Blinder.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell, above, isn't ready to declare victory over inflation yet, says economist Alan Blinder.
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Shelter costs rose in December while the Consumer Price Index declined. Why?

Jan 12, 2023
Today’s inflation report showed that both the rent and owner-equivalent rent indexes rose 0.8% in December.
Rents fell .8% nationally in December, according to data from Apartment List. Yet rents in the CPI rose by .8% last month,
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