Inflation in U.S. slows for 5th straight month

Inflation in the United States slowed again last month in the latest sign that price increases are gradually cooling despite the pressures they continue to inflict on American households.

Consumer prices rose 7.1 per centin November from a year ago, the government said Tuesday. That was down from 7.7 per centin October and a recent peak of 9.1 per centin June. It was the fifth straight slowdown.

On a month-to-month basis, the consumer price index rose just 0.1 per centin November, down from 0.4 per centin October.

Even with last month's further easing of inflation, the Federal Reserve plans to keep raising interest rates. On Wednesday, the Fed is set to boost its benchmark rate for a seventh time this year, a move that will further raise borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.

Economists have warned that in continuing to tighten credit to fight inflation, the Fed is likely to cause a recession next year.

Less expensive gas, electricity, used cars

Tuesday's government report showed that inflation in November was slowed by less expensive gasoline, electricity and used cars, among other items.

Several trends have started to reduce price pressures, though they won't likely be enough to bring overall inflation back down to levels that Americans were used to anytime soon.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas has sunk from $5 US a gallon in June to $3.26 as of Monday. Many supply chains have also unsnarled, helping reduce the costs of imported goods and parts.

Prices for lumber, copper, wheat and other commodities have fallen steadily, which tends to lead to lower construction and food costs.

WATCH | What to expect from inflation, food and housing costs in 2023:

What to expect from inflation, food and housing costs in 2023

2 years ago

Duration 7:11

CBC business correspondents Peter Armstrong and Nisha Patel break down what to expect in 2023 when it comes to housing costs, food prices, interest rates and more.

To some economists and Fed officials, such figures are a sign of improvement, even though inflation remains far above the central bank's annual two per centtarget and might not reach it until 2024.

Fed chair Jerome Powell has said he is tracking price trends in three different categories to best understand the likely path of inflation: goods, excluding volatile food and energy costs; housing, which includes rentand the cost of home ownership; and services excluding housing, such as auto insurance, pet services and education.

In a speech two weeks ago in Washington, Powell noted that there had been some progress in easing inflation in goods and housing, but not so in most services. Physical goods like used cars, furniture, clothing and appliances have become steadily less expensive since the summer.

Housing costs still rising

Used car prices, which had skyrocketed 45 per centin June 2021 compared with a year earlier, have fallen for most of this year.

Housing costs, which make up nearly a third of the consumer price index, are still rising. But real-time measures of apartment rents and home prices are starting to drop after having posted sizzling price acceleration at the height of the pandemic. Powell said those declines will likely emerge in government data next year and should help reduce overall inflation.

Still, the costs of services are likely to stay persistently high, Powell suggested. In part, that's because sharp increases in wages are becoming a key contributor to inflation. Services companies, like hotels and restaurants, are particularly labour-intensive. And with average wages growing at a brisk five to six per centa year, price pressures keep building in that sector of the economy.

Services businesses tend to pass on some of their higher labour costs to their customers by charging more, thereby perpetuating inflation. Higher pay also fuels more consumer spending, which allows companies to raise prices.

"We want wages to go up strongly," Powell said, "but they've got to go up at a level that is consistent with two per centinflation over time."

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On Wednesday, the Fed is expected to raise its key short-term rate by a half-point, after four straight three-quarter-point increases. That would leave its benchmark rate in a range of 3.75 per centto 4 per cent, its highest level in 15 years.

Economists expect the Fed to further slow its rate hikes next year, with quarter-point increases in February and March if inflation remains relatively subdued.