CPI Benign but Medical Services and Rent Squeeze Continues

Consumer prices were flat in September and core CPI rose less than expected. Housing and medical services are problems.

Inquiring minds are looking at today's Consumer Price report for signs of inflation.

CPI Highlights

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in September on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.1 percent in August.
• Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.
• Increases in the indexes for shelter and food were offset by declines in the indexes for energy and used cars and trucks to result in the seasonally adjusted all items index being flat.
• The energy index fell 1.4 percent as the gasoline index declined 2.4 percent. The food index increased 0.1 percent in September after being unchanged in each of the prior 3 months.
• The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in September after increasing 0.3 percent in each of the last 3 months. Along with the shelter index, the indexes for medical care, household furnishings and operations, and motor vehicle insurance all rose in September.
• The indexes for used cars and trucks, apparel, new vehicles, and communication all declined.
• The food index increased 1.8 percent over the last year, while the energy index decreased 4.8 percent.

In Search of Inflation

Anyone buying their own health care insurance or electing to to have any will look at that alleged 4.4% rise and think it's a joke.

CPI vs Medical Services and OER Year-Over-Year

Owners Equivalent Rent (OER) is another problem area. Since 2012, rental prices have risen much faster than the CPI.

The cost of medical services nearly always rises faster the the CPI.

Families Suffering Despite Alleged Low Inflation

Assuming one ignores rising credit card usage, increasing debt, bankruptcies, suicides, and the 68% of millennials who regret not buying a home ....
then consumers are not struggling

Mike "Mish" Shedlock @MishGEA

The tariffs aren't causing consumers to struggle.

Redbook yearly same store sales growth in the past 3 weeks.

August 24: 5.7%
August 31: 6.5%
September 7: 6.4%

UPFINA @UPFINAcom

Employer Healthcare Costs Jump to $20,000 - Not Inflation?

Please note the average Employer Healthcare Costs Jumped to $20,000.

Uninsured Rate Jumps

On September 16, I reported the Percentage of Healthcare Uninsured Jumps From 8.0% in 2017 to 9.1% in 2019.

68% of Millennial Homeowners Regret Buying a Home

The BLS does not consider the price of housing as a consumer price, only rent.

Rent is outstripping wages and the price of houses even more so.

As noted in American Dream, 68% of Millennial Homeowners Regret Buying a Home.

Inflation Magic

Low inflation is imaginary for those buying their own health insurance, for those looking to buy a home, for those in college, and many others, too.

And of course the BLS does not count economic bubbles and the Fed does not even see them