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Inflation

What is CPI, and what exactly does it measure?

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
Aug 10, 2020
The consumer price index can affect your next raise, and Social Security cost-of-living adjustments are tied to it.
A woman checks out her purchases at a grocery store in New Jersey. CPI tracks the monthly change in the cost of consumer goods and services.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Post COVID-19, the Fed and the Feds will have to tread carefully

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Aug 3, 2020
The nature of the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic means we know little about how to deal with its aftermath.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, left, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin greet each other after testifying before a House committee in June. For now, the Fed is more focused on keeping people employed than inflation.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
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What's disinflation, and why does it matter?

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Jul 30, 2020
Slowing inflation isn't as dangerous as prices dropping for a long period of time. But it's important to keep disinflation in check.
The menu of a ramen restaurant, for instance, can illustrate inflation, disinflation or deflation.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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Prices for U.S. consumers are up where it matters most

by David Brancaccio , Erika Soderstrom and Alex Schroeder
Jul 14, 2020
For things like groceries and gasoline, prices are actually up.
Inflation isn't entirely dead. Where it matters most, in the cost of food and the cost of energy, prices are going up.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Falling producer price index fans fears of deflation

by Mitchell Hartman
May 13, 2020
Prices of many goods are dropping as demand slows and people stay at home more. But does this mean deflation is here to stay?
A warehouse in China. Producer prices have softened as economic activity has slowed.
Wang He/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Does measuring inflation matter during a pandemic?

by Kristin Schwab
May 12, 2020
How prices of many basic goods and services change usually tells us a lot about where the economy is headed.
A gas station in Los Angeles in March. CPI data shows gas prices fell more than 20% last month.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images
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Health care costs are driving up inflation

by Kimberly Adams
Feb 19, 2020
The latest producer price index was up 0.5% in January, mostly because of higher service costs, not more expensive goods.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Trying to solve an inflation mystery

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
Jan 13, 2020
When prices for an item swing wildly up and down, they can drastically skew inflation measurements. A new index aims to rectify that.
Why would a decline in cellphone service plan prices affect inflation so drastically?
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Inflation: Maybe it's all in our heads

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Dec 13, 2019
It's possible that prices aren't rising much because we don't expect prices to rise much.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Why is inflation still so low?

by Mitchell Hartman and Sabri Ben-Achour
Dec 13, 2019
With the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, wages — and prices — should be rising faster than they are.
One reason inflation is so low might be globalization.
David McNew/Getty Images
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