Highest Inflation in 40 Yrs. - Truncated

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https://www.theepochtimes.com/june-inflation-hits-9-1-percent-new-40-year-high_4594424.html?utm_source=News&utm_campaign=breaking-2022-07-13-1&utm_medium=email&est=KgjFC7a1ekATLyrJ8oPbnALkLpQ4UJ%2Fx8xjYdQ1wByCg%2B4qn9%2FiuC0DKTq2QE5F2

The U.S. annual inflation rate climbed to 9.1 percent in June, topping the market estimate of 8.8 percent and May’s annual rate of 8.6 percent. This was the highest level since November 1981.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.3 percent month-over-month. The monthly inflation was also higher than economists’ expectations of 1.1 percent.

The core inflation rate, which removes the volatile food and energy sectors, eased to 5.9 percent. But this was higher than the forecasts of 5.7 percent. On a monthly basis, the core inflation rose at a higher-than-expected pace of 0.7 percent.

Food prices soared 10.4 percent, while the energy index advanced 41.6 percent.

Nearly every food item, except uncooked beef steak, was more expensive last month. Beef and veal rose 8.2 percent, pork surged 9 percent, chicken soared 18.6 percent, and ham increased 9.6 percent.

Eggs spiked 33.1 percent, milk rose 16.4 percent, fruits and vegetables jumped 8.1 percent, and coffee swelled 15.8 percent.

On the energy front, fuel oil exploded by 98.5 percent. Gasoline surged 59.9 percent, electricity costs picked up 13.7 percent, and propane and kerosene edged up 26.1 percent.

New vehicles surged 11.4 percent, used cars and trucks jumped 7.1 percent, apparel increased 5.2 percent, and shelter climbed 5.6 percent. Medical care commodities and services swelled 5.5 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

“Today’s shockingly high consumer price inflation number does not bode well for our country’s economic outlook,” Desmond Lachman, economist and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told The Epoch Times in an email.

It makes it likely that the Fed will keep raising interest rates and decreasing its “bloated balance sheet” aggressively, he added.

“The Fed will likely do so despite the growing signs of economic and financial market weakness both at home and abroad. That has to raise the risk of a hard economic landing before yearend and further turmoil in the equity and bond markets.”

Financial markets reacted negatively to the latest inflation news as the leading benchmark indexes plunged in pre-market trading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined more than 300 points, the S&P 500 shed 1.5 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 250 points.

The U.S. Treasury market was up across the board, with the benchmark 10-year yield adding about 11 basis points to 3.064 percent.

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, spiked on the news, climbing 0.4 percent to 108.50. The index has been on a tear in 2022, rallying 13 percent year-to-date.

A fake CPI report circulated online Tuesday and attempted to emulate the formatting of the May inflation data, using different dates and figures. It claimed that the annual inflation rate was 10.2 percent in June. Despite being a forgery, it caught the attention of investors, sending stocks slightly lower in the afternoon session on Wall Street.

Meanwhile, the White House braced the American people for an elevated headline reading on Tuesday, noting in a memo that the June CPI report was out of date since it did not contain the dramatic decline in food and energy prices. U.S. officials are ostensibly looking ahead to the July inflation numbers to show that their efforts are succeeding.

Peak Inflation?

Over the last month, crude oil and gasoline prices have fallen by notable levels amid growing recession fears and weaker demand outlooks.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude has slumped about 17 percent to below $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange since the middle of July. The national average for a gallon of gasoline has tumbled roughly 7 percent to around $4.65, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Agricultural commodities have also plummeted, with corn, wheat, and soybeans down approximately 20 percent in the last month.

“The softening food, energy, and commodity prices, the improved supply chains, the easing shipping costs, and lower purchasing manager indices hint that U.S. inflation may have hit a peak last month, or will hit one soon,” wrote Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, in a research note.

Next on the inflation front, the BLS will release the June producer price index (PPI) on Thursday. Economists forecast that it will come in at 10.7 percent year-over-year, down from 10.8 percent in May.