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Economic news
11.09.2024

U.S. annual inflation slows slightly more than expected in August

The Labor Department reported on Wednesday the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) went up 0.2 per cent m-o-m in August, the same pace as in the previous month. 

Over the last 12 months, the CPI surged by 2.5 per cent y-o-y, decelerating from an unrevised increase of 2.9 per cent y-o-y reported for the period ending in July. This represented the weakest 12-month rise since February 2021 (+1.7 per cent).

Economists had forecast the U.S. CPI to advance 0.2 per cent m-o-m and 2.6 per cent y-o-y.

According to the report, the index for shelter climbed 0.5 per cent m-o-m in August, being the main contributor to the monthly gain in the index for all items. In addition, the index for food edged up 0.1 per cent m-o-m. Meanwhile, the energy index declined 0.8 per cent m-o-m.

The core CPI, excluding volatile food and fuel costs, increased 0.3 per cent m-o-m in August after an unrevised 0.2 per cent m-o-m gain in the previous month. This was the strongest monthly increase in core CPI in four months.

In the 12 months through August, the core CPI soared by 3.2 per cent, at a similar pace as in the 12-month period ending in July. 

Economists had predicted the core CPI to rise by 0.2 per cent m-o-m and 3.2 per cent y-o-y in August.

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