Civic Register
| 12.10.21

Inflation Hit 39-Year High in November as Prices Increased by 6.8%

How do you feel about the rise in consumer prices?

What’s the story?

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday that the all items consumer price index rose by 6.8% over the last 12 months through November, which is the highest rate recorded since a comparable period ending in June 1982 and more than three times the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%.
  • Month-to-month consumer prices rose by 0.8% in November on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s down slightly from the 0.9% rate measured in October, but higher than the preceding three months.

What goods did prices increase the most for?

  • Here’s a rundown of the common items which have seen the largest increase in inflation year-over-year (notable monthly changes in parentheses):
  • Fuel oil increased 59.3% over the last 12 months.
  • Gasoline prices for all types of gas increased 58.1%.
  • Car and truck rental increased 37.2%.
  • Used cars and trucks increased 31.4%.
  • Utility gas service (piped) increased 25.1%.
  • Beef steaks increased 24.6%.
  • Lodging away from home increased 22.2%.
  • Bacon, breakfast sausage, and related products increased 17.8%.
  • Men’s suits, sport coats, and outerwear increased 14.1%.
  • Furniture and bedding increased 11.8%.
  • New vehicles increased 11.1%.
  • Women’s dresses increased 8.6%.
  • Eggs increased 8%.
  • Fresh fish and seafood increased 8%.
  • Chicken increased 9.2%.
  • Coffee increased 7.5%.
  • Apples increased 7.4%.
  • Fresh whole milk increased 6.6%.
  • Electricity increased 6.5%.
  • Food at home increased 6.4%.
  • Food away from home increased 5.8%.
  • Fruits and vegetables increased 4%.

What is inflation and how is it measured?

  • Inflation is a measure of the decline of purchasing power for a given currency over time, which in the U.S. means that a dollar effectively buys less than it did in prior periods because prices rise.
  • The most common way inflation is measured is through the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which shows changes in prices paid for a “representative basket of goods and services” by an urban consumer group representing about 93% of the U.S. population.
  • CPI-U includes food, energy, commodities like cars and clothes, plus services such as rent and healthcare; and the relative importance of each to the overall basket shifts according to its proportion of all spending in a given month. This overall number is known as “headline” CPI, although economists also track a metric called “core” CPI which excludes food and energy because those categories tend to have more volatility.
  • The Federal Reserve aims to keep inflation at about 2% as part of its dual mandate of promoting stable prices and full employment, as a modest amount of inflation is viewed as an optimum policy in terms of encouraging consumer spending without penalizing savings and investment. When inflation starts to get out of control, the Fed raises interest rates to encourage more savings and less consumer spending.


— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / sefa ozel)

  • 427
    Nan
    12/21/2021

    Record profits as businesses raise prices and price gouge under the guise of inflation. Corporations and realestate companies buying up residential housing and raising the prices exploiting the worker and their people. The greed button is stuck and yet our Republican senators turn a blind eye and refuse to implement regulations to control the price of medicine, housing and energy.

  • 35
    GlacierIsland
    12/18/2021

    Inflation is too damn high.

  • 21
    Jamesb75
    12/16/2021

    With the inflation. I’m on disability and I will get $1200 a month add it up pay house, lights, water and insurance and food and trying to get a good Vehicle. Something has to happen to help the ones that’s retired or on disabilty because we didn’t ask to be on disability before I got hurt I made around $80,000 a year now $14,400 a year it’s sad

  • 9,166
    Charles
    12/15/2021

    No one likes inflation but given time will improve.

  • 171
    David
    12/15/2021

    I remember when the low gdp and high unemployment was supposed to be a new normal - they were wrong it was policy driven. Now we are told this horrible inflation is our new normal- again it is the result of bad policies.

  • 61
    Gfeiste
    12/15/2021

    How much did corporate profits increase? Feels like price gouging to me.

  • 111
    Ruppert
    12/14/2021

    Wow, jimK. How did I know before I even scrolled down that you would somehow find a way to defend Biden and blame Trump. It was too easy. Thanks for proving me right. Again.

  • 111
    Ruppert
    12/14/2021

    The first and most important thing to understand is that the CPI is heavily weighted lower than reality. We all know that it is far higher and the CPI eliminates the most important categories up front, including energy (i.e. gasoline) and food. These are the two most important daily cost items for the average American.

  • 1,221
    Ronald
    12/14/2021

    Hyper Inflation as in the Carter Years is on the way. It is completely due to Biden's free spending, and Anti Fossil Fuel policies. Carter had the excuse that we thought We were out of domestic oil. Trump gave Us energy independence. Biden's insane, sucidial policies are causing th punishment We now experience. "Green Energy is a good idea, but only a fantasy today. We need the4 fossil fuel companies Biden is working to bankrupt.

  • 140
    Nathan
    12/14/2021

    You got people talking about trumpism, yet these swamp politicians have been pumping nato with hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Trump redirected this towards infrastructure where it mainly supported people of color. The baby boomer generation has done enough damage to this country and my generation. Time to step aside

  • 140
    Nathan
    12/14/2021

    How long will the blame be put on this “pandemic?” This administration has done a horrific job now that the swamp creatures are back. You think Biden releasing 50m barrels will bring the gas prices down? The US uses approx 19m a day. Janet Yellen referenced that there would be a 4% inflation rate… what? There was at least a 10% increase minimum for my insurance rates. Taxing the rich won’t fix the issue, explain to me why marginal tax rates have remained the same regardless of an increase or decrease in taxation? We have politicians that are more interested in selling off policy than looking out for the interests of US citizens.

  • 905
    Bobbie
    12/14/2021

    Month-to-month consumer prices rose by 0.8% in November on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s down slightly from the 0.9% rate measured in October, but higher than the preceding three months. I got a raise this year and it seems like nothing has changed. Everything is going up, up, up. Rent, food and the cost of living. Capitalism sucks!

  • 115
    Bob
    12/14/2021

    The clear wasting of taxpayer money is clearly devaluing the dollar and it must stop. The government is not getting responsible recovery and continues to spend out of control and the previous gifts are also part of that overall inflation problem. US Senate no more give away programs and including the fake Build Back Better proposals that are against the best interests of Americans and only support give away's to government officials buddies and that all must stop.

  • 138
    A David
    12/14/2021

    Controlled inflation is what got us a middle class in the 1950s and 60s.

  • 2,959
    Arlys
    12/13/2021

    The greed of some businesses never ceases to amaze me. Until commercialism has some boundaries set in place, this will continue to be an ongoing problem until their greed is brought under control. Retail cost should be no more than 34% above cost to make. If that isn't good enough for you, I can do without whatever you are making. I can grow my own food, sew my own clothes and God only knows what else I can do if I put my mind to it. I am a survivor.

  • 1,023
    Deemax
    12/13/2021

    I think it a little over blown by merchandisers just another way to prey on the consumer

  • 13.6k
    MrGeer
    12/13/2021

    Capitalist price gouging is what it is. In an effort to suppress workers rights to living wages, the corporate masters go on t.v. and cry about having to pay taxes, or say ''no one wants to work'' bullshit! pay living wages and cut the c.e.o. s pay if your so worried about shareholder profits.

  • 1,195
    Donna
    12/13/2021

    The rise in prices has to do with a number of things. First is on how many products are no longer made in the U.S., and have to come from other countries also affected by COVID. Some has to do with weather changes, and some has to do with Corporate greed, as the CEOs have to make up for money that wasn't made during COVID. As for gas prices, the oil companies are raising prices because we want to move to renewable energy, and they're angry. Biden had no control over this. Just think about how many shelves are empty in most stores, and clothing stores are showing what wasn't sold last year. The major companies are using these shortages to raise prices!

  • 194
    Jim
    12/13/2021

    There seems to be a massive failure on the part of the media to acknowledge the phenomenal, record-setting economic recovery taking place as we emerge from the devastating recession of a year ago, but everyone rails about the inflation that was all but expected as the economy roars back to life. Lest we forget the families still receiving the child tax credit payments that weren't there before and which alone should begin to put a substantial dent in the inflationary pressures. I'm going to continue focusing on the slow moving coup to upend our democracy and the unConstitutional assault on voting rights by the GQP which seems to beg for coverage on the front pages of the most prominent newspapers.

  • 226
    Ed
    12/13/2021

    Too much is being made out of these statistics. We have been in a long term low inflationary period and the current numbers are nothing more than a return to the mean. On top of this, most credible economists see this as a transitory situation related to the pandemic. The GOP is using it to stifle the improvements that Biden was elected to enact.