CPI Prints Hotter Than Expected In January As SuperCore Soared
...prices are now up over 18% since Biden was elected…
ZeroHedgeTyler Durden

"Tuesday, Feb 13, 2024 - 07:40 AM

Expectations were for a big drop in the YoY consumer price index (from +3.4% to +2.9%) but instead it surprised to the upside (just as we warned) with a +3.1% YoY print for headline CPI (spoiling the sub-3% partiers). Consumer prices rose 0.3% MoM (more than the 0.2% exp) but the headline did decline from +3.4% to +3.1% YoY...

Source: Bloomberg

Core CPI fell below 4.00% YoY for the first time since May 2021, but the +3.86% YoY print was hitter than the 3.7% exp (with prices rising 0.4% MoM - the biggest jump since April 2023)...

Source: Bloomberg

CPI Core: The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in January.

  • The shelter index increased 0.6 percent in January, and was the largest factor in the monthly increase in the index for all items less food and energy.
    • The index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.6 percent over the month, while the index for rent increased 0.4 percent.
  • The lodging away from home index increased 1.8 percent in January. The motor vehicle insurance index increased 1.4 percent in January, and the recreation index rose 0.5 percent in January.
  • Among other indexes that rose in January were communication, personal care, airline fares, and education.
  • The medical care index rose 0.5 percent in January.
  • The index for hospital services increased 1.6 percent over the month and the index for physicians’ services increased 0.6 percent.
    • The prescription drugs index fell 0.8 percent in January.
  • The index for used cars and trucks fell 3.4 percent in January.
  • The index for new vehicles was unchanged in January.
  • The apparel index also decreased, falling 0.7 percent over the month.

Core Service inflation picked up MoM...

..and accelerated YoY

Source: Bloomberg

Under the hood, food and Energy services costs jumped MoM along with transportation services...

And one step deeper - the so-called SuperCore: Core CPI Services Ex-Shelter index - soared 0.7% MoM (the biggest jump since Sept 2022...

... driving the YoY change up to +4.4% - the hottest since May 2023....

Source: Bloomberg

Finally, as a reminder, lower inflation does not mean lower prices.

Source: Bloomberg

The actual index of consumer prices hit a new record high this month - and is up over 18% since President Biden's term began (it was up 8% over President Trump's full four year term)."