In each Economic Update, the Research staff analyzes recently released economic indicators and addresses what these indicators mean for REALTORS® and their clients. Today’s update discusses the latest producer price index and an outlook for inflation.
- Overall inflation was tame in October, rising only 0.1 percent from the prior month and a manageable 2.2 percent from one year ago.
- However, the rent component rose at the fastest pace in 4 years. The monthly rent increase of 0.4 percent is the strongest monthly gain since 2008, while the 12-month rent increase of 2.8 percent matches the fastest in 3 years. Rents are accelerating because of a tighter vacancy situation.
- The fuzzy and hypothetical ‘homeowner equivalence rent’, which is what the homeowners would pay to rent out their home, increased a much slower rate of 2.2 percent (and not 2.8 percent as paid by tenants). This figure carries the largest weight in the overall inflation measurement and is only an estimate because it is a hypothetical. Homeowner equivalence rent, however, should be closely matching up with tenant rent trends. It is not. So overall inflation is being held down because the biggest weight to the broader inflation is perhaps being underestimated.
- Housing starts are still well below the historical normal and trailing household formation, so further and even higher rent gains in upcoming months are near certain.
- As for other inflation data, the core inflation after subtracting out the volatile energy and food prices rose by 2.0 percent. This poses no problem for the Federal Reserve and is at essentially its preferred rate of inflation.
- Prices of furniture rose by 1.6 percent from one year ago, while that of appliances rose by 0.8 percent. Gasoline prices were up 9 percent, while price of electricity and utility gas service fell.
- The growth of wages in the past 12 months was only 1.6 percent, so an average person’s standard of living fell in the past year as consumer prices rose faster.
In each Economic Update, the Research staff analyzes recently released economic indicators and addresses what these indicators mean for REALTORS® and their clients. Today’s update discusses inflation and the consumer price index.
In each Economic Update, the Research staff analyzes recently released economic indicators and addresses what these indicators mean for REALTORS® and their clients. Today’s update discusses the consumer price index and inflation.
Price Inflation of Everyday Items
When the government reports that the inflation rate is such and such, price changes are based on hundreds of items. Everything from the price of spices and condiments to the prices of bedroom furniture and indoor plants are included to get a sense of how much a person is getting squeezed. However, that inflation figure is not a perfect measure for everyone as inflation will never be felt evenly. A change in the price of cigarettes has no bearing on non-smokers just as the price of public transportation fares has no impact on small town folks. But both cigarette and public transportation fares are included in the official consumer price index. The weight given to cigarette and public transportation is based on what an average person in America would be buying. As an example, college tuition is a significant item for those impacted. But many adults are not in college or have already graduated or never intend to attend. The official weight on college tuition and fees is only 1.5% of the consumer price index because 1.5% of all consumer spending in the U.S. is for college tuition in a given year.
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