‘Gimme shelter’: CPI rises 0.1% in December mostly on higher housing costs

• January 12, 2018
• realestatelife
• Announcements, Business & Markets, Real Estate, Real Estate Finance

The consumer price index rose 0.1% in December, with four-fifths of the increase tied to the highest cost of housing. The increase matched the forecast.

If gas and food are stripped out, the so-called core rate of inflation rose a much sharper 0.3%, a notch above the forecast and the highest reading in almost a year.

The 12-month rate of inflation as measured by the CPI slipped to 2.1% from 2.2%.

The more closely followed core rate edged up 1.8% from 1.7%, but it’s been stuck in that range for eight months in a row.