by Calculated Risk on 8/15/2013 01:00:00 PM
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Key Measures Show Low Inflation in July
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% (2.0% annualized rate) in July. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.1% (1.7% 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 July here. Motor fuel increased at a 2% annualized rate in July, but will probably show a decrease in August.
Earlier today, the BLS reported that the seasonally adjusted CPI for all urban consumers rose 0.2% (1.9% annualized rate) in July. The CPI less food and energy increased 0.2% (1.9% 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 2.1%, the trimmed-mean CPI rose 1.8%, the CPI rose 2.0%, and the CPI less food and energy rose 1.7%. Core PCE is for June and increased just 1.2% year-over-year.
On a monthly basis, median CPI was at 2.0% annualized, trimmed-mean CPI was at 1.7% annualized, and core CPI increased 1.9% annualized. Also core PCE for June increased 2.6% annualized.
Inflation is still mostly below the Fed's target.