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Thursday, October 15, 2009

CPI: Owners' Equivalent Rent Declines for First Time Since 1992

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2009 09:01:00 AM

From the BLS: Consumer Price Index Summary

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The increase was less than the 0.4 percent rise in August. The index has decreased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months on a not seasonally adjusted basis.
And on rents:
The increase occurred despite declines in the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent, the first decreases in those indexes since 1992.
The decrease in OER was at an annual rate of 1.7%. And rents will continue to fall for some time.

Also, it is now official, there will be no increase in Social Security benefits next year (see: Social Security: No Increase to 2010 Benefits or Maximum Contribution Base)