Inflation Unexpectedly Hits Highest Rate in 13 Years in New Labor Dept. Report
Inflation is stalking the American economy, according to new data. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the consumer price index saw its largest increase in 13 years in June, rising 5.4 percent in 12 months…

Inflation is stalking the American Economy, according to new data.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index saw its largest increase in 13 years in June, rising 5.4 percent in 12 months. Economists had been expecting a 5 percent increase, CNBC reported.
The month-to-month increase was the highest since June 2008, the Bureau reported, while the year-over-year increase was the highest since August 2008.
The index for used cars and trucks jumped 10.5 percent, the largest increase ever recorded in that sector.
“What this really shows is inflation pressures remain more acute than appreciated and are going to be with us for a longer period,” said Sarah House, senior economist for Wells Fargo’s corporate and investment bank.
“We are seeing areas where there’s going to be ongoing inflation pressure even after we get past some of those acute price hikes in a handful of sectors.”
“This does increase some of the jitters among some members,” House said. “There are a number of areas where inflation is picking up and likely has staying power. That’s going to make some folks nervous.”
The International Monetary Fund is among those fretting.
“There is a risk of a more sustained rise in inflation or inflation expectations, which could potentially require an earlier-than-expected tightening of U.S. monetary policy,” Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, wrote in a blog post, according to



