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Friday, February 17, 2012

Key Measures of Inflation in January

by Calculated Risk on 2/17/2012 01:26:00 PM

Earlier today the BLS reported:

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in January on a seasonally adjusted basis ... The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in January.
The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI this morning:
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index 0.2% (3.0% annualized rate) in January. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% (2.9% annualized rate) during the month.
...
The CPI less food and energy increased 0.2% (2.7% annualized rate) on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Note: The Cleveland Fed has the median CPI details for January here.

On a monthly basis, the rate of increase was above the Fed's target.

Inflation Measures Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the year-over-year change for these four key measures of inflation. On a year-over-year basis, the median CPI rose 2.4%, the trimmed-mean CPI rose 2.6%, and core CPI rose 2.3%. Core PCE is for December and increased 1.85% year-over-year.

These measures show inflation is still above the Fed's 2% target.