by Calculated Risk on 12/15/2015 11:42:00 AM
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Key Measures Show Inflation close to 2% in November
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 rose 0.2% (2.1% annualized rate) in November. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index rose 0.1% (1.4% annualized rate) during the month. The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) monthly CPI report.Note: The Cleveland Fed has the median CPI details for November here. Motor fuel was down 26% annualized in November.
Earlier today, the BLS reported that the seasonally adjusted CPI for all urban consumers was unchanged (0.3% annualized rate) in November. The CPI less food and energy rose 0.2% (2.2% annualized rate) on a seasonally adjusted basis.
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 2.5%, the trimmed-mean CPI rose 1.9%, and the CPI less food and energy also rose 2.0%. Core PCE is for October and increased 1.3% year-over-year.
On a monthly basis, median CPI was at 2.1% annualized, trimmed-mean CPI was at 1.4% annualized, and core CPI was at 2.2% annualized.
On a year-over-year basis, two of these measures suggest inflation remains below the Fed's target of 2% (core CPI as at 2% and median CPI is above 2%).
Using these measures, inflation has been moving up and is closer to the Fed's target.