U.S. inflation rate climbs to 7.5% at 40-year high

The U.S. rate of inflation climbed again in January to 7.5% and stayed at a 40-year high, suggesting upward pressure on consumer prices is unlikely to relent soon and putting more pressure on the Federal Reserve to act. The consumer price index rose 0.6% in the first month of the new year, driven by big advances in rent, food and energy. The increase exceeded Wall Street’s forecast of a 0.4% gain. The 7.5% surge in the cost of living in the past 12 months is the biggest since February 1982. The Fed is on track to raise interest rate in March for the first time in four years to try to snuff out the surge in inflation. The January CPI is likely to heighten the central bank’s urgency, perhaps even forcing the Fed to consider an unusual half-percentage point increase in its benchmark short-term interest rate.

A separate measure of consumer inflation that strips out volatile food and energy prices also rose 0.6% last month, the government said Thursday  The increase in the so-called core rate over the past 12 months moved to 6% from 5.5%. That’s the highest level since August 1982. The Fed may have to act swiftly and aggressively to make sure inflation doesn’t get any worse. Higher interest rates would help restrain consumer demand and signal to Wall Street that the central bank means business. Few economists believe the Fed will be able to reduce inflation below 3% by year end, however.  As recently as December the central bank was forecasting the rate of inflation would fall sharply in 2022.

Price increases have spread throughout the economy and the businesses are still suffering from widespread shortages of labor and supplies, not to mention shipping delays and higher transportation costs. As a result, Americans can expect to pay even more for goods and services in 2022 than they did last year. Rents rose 0.5% last month in another of a series of sharp increases since last summer. The cost of rent — the biggest expense for many households —has jumped almost 4% in the past year. Food prices also increased again, up almost 1% in January. The cost of groceries have climbed 7.4% in the last 12 months — a 14-year high. Dairy and fruit showed the biggest increases last month. Energy prices rose almost 1% last month due to a large spike in the cost of electricity. Cold weather also boosted demand. Gas and natural gas prices fell slightly, but the respite for consumers probably won’t last long. The cost of fossil fuels have been trending higher.

The cost of used cars, furniture and medical care also rose in January. Prices fell for just a few goods and services such as hotel rooms and wireless phone service. The cost of new vehicles were unchanged. Prices for new cars and trucks have jumped 12% in the last 12 months, the fastest increase on record. Auto industry analysts believe prices will continue to climb. “A rapid cyclical acceleration in inflation is underway and, with labor market conditions exceptionally tight, it is unlikely to abate any time soon,” said U.S. economist Andrew Hunter at Capital Economics. Another month, another blowout inflation number,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Independent Advisor Alliance in Charlotte, N.C. “Inflation is extremely high and it is going to continue to further pressure the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates and begin the tightening process.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 index fell in Thursday trades after the poor CPI report.