Inflation Slows Sharply but Remains High at 8.3%
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Inflation slowed down in April but remained high, according to the Labor Department’s monthly CPI report.
Consumer prices rose 0.3% in April, a sharp deceleration from March’s 1.2% increase. Annual inflation also slowed to 8.3%, down from March's 8.5% but higher than analysts' expected 8.1%.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.6% in April, suggesting inflation was broad-based. Energy prices declined 2.7% in April for the first time in months, although average gas prices reached record highs in early May. Other sectors with price drops included apparel and used vehicles. Housing, food, airline fares and new vehicles were the largest contributors to price growth.
Coverage across the spectrum conveyed more nuance than in previous months, portraying inflation as high but slowing down. Headlines in major right-rated outlets — and some left and center-rated outlets — said inflation “soared,” “surged” and “barreled ahead.” Meanwhile, left-rated outlets were more likely to focus on areas where inflation slowed down.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Inflation soars 8.3% in April, hovering near 40-year highInflation cooled on an annual basis for the first time in months in April, but rose more than expected as supply chain constraints, the Russian war in Ukraine and strong consumer demand continued to keep consumer prices running near a 40-year-high.
The Labor Department said Wednesday that the consumer price index, a broad measure of the price for everyday goods including gasoline, groceries and rents, rose 8.3% in April from a year ago, below the 8.5% year-over-year surge recorded in March. Prices jumped 0.3% in the one-month period from March.
From the Center
U.S. inflation simmers, worst of price gains likely behindU.S. consumer price growth slowed sharply in April as gasoline eased off record highs, suggesting inflation has probably peaked, though it is likely to stay hot for a while and keep the Federal Reserve's foot on the brakes to cool demand.
That aspect was reinforced by the report from the Labor Department on Wednesday, which also showed underlying monthly inflation pressures building up again after a lull in March as airline ticket prices notched their biggest increase on record. Rents rose by the most since 2006, further squeezing consumers who...
From the Left
US inflation slowed last month for the first time since AugustUS inflation took a breather last month for the first time since August. Prices still increased, but at a slower pace than in previous months.
The Consumer Price Index was up 8.3% in the 12 months ended in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday, slightly higher than economists had predicted. It was a decrease from the 8.5% recorded in March, which had been the highest level in more than 40 years.
AllSides Picks
March 28th, 2024
March 27th, 2024
Discuss & Debate economy and jobs
Designing the Perfect Society (COH) – 1on1 discussion
March 29 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET Citizen Assembly