Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the cost of living continues to outpace earnings, leaving many Americans struggling to make ends meet.

The dynamic is reflected in the chart below, which shows low-income inflation increases outpacing those for the other four quintiles since 2006, and over a nearer-term timeframe. From the end of 2005 through June 2024 — the latest available data — the lowest-income cohort saw prices increase 64%,

And all this productivity is why wage growth keeps beating inflation, said Betsey Stevenson, a professor of economics at the University of Michigan. “Real wage growth has to come from productivity growth. Because we’re doing more with less, we get more in the end,” she said.

The Consumer Price Index report for January is expected to show broadly unchanged annual inflation according to nowcasts. That may be broadly good news for the Fed.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday opted to hold interest rates steady amid rising inflation, ending a streak of lowering rates at its previous three meetings. After a two-day meeting of its monetary policy committee in Washington,

Economists like me rely on data from federal data collection agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). They provide critical data on

How much has rising inflation since 2020 cost you? While Iowans need to spend more to maintain their standard of living, wages have also increased.

Here are five numbers on inflation and how its impacting ASCs in 2025: 2.9%: The Consumer Price Index increase, also known as inflation, for December 2024, the most recent available data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rose .4% from November to December 2024. 3.2%: The increase in inflation year over year, as of December 2024.

According to BLS, natural gas prices in the metro Atlanta area were up almost 15% while gasoline rose nearly 4%, though electricity costs fell 2.1%. The next look at the Atlanta area’s price trends will be published in March.

Federal Reserve policymakers voted Wednesday to hold interest rates steady in its first rate decision of the year.

The Fed policy meeting and U.S. GDP report leave rate cut expectations steady and stocks are at risk if sentiment reverts to “risk off” after macro news passes.

The new data were published Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in its report for gross domestic product for the fourth quarter.