U.S. inflation subsides further in November

WASHINGTON  – U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected for a second straight month in November, resulting in the smallest annual increase in inflation in nearly a year and giving the Federal Reserve cover on Wednesday to start scaling back the size of its interest rate increases.

The consumer price index readings last month reflected declines in the costs of gasoline, healthcare and used cars and trucks, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday. But Americans still faced higher prices for food and rental housing.

The report, which also showed underlying inflation posting its smallest monthly gain in more than a year, was published as officials at the U.S. central bank were gathering for their final two-day policy meeting of the year.

The Fed – in the midst of its fastest rate-hiking cycle since the 1980s – is expected to lift its benchmark overnight interest rate by 50 basis points on Wednesday, snapping a string of four straight 75-basis-point increases.

“It looks increasingly like inflation has reached a turning point where price increases are falling or little changed for many categories of goods and services that consumers buy,” said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS in New York.

“For the first time we can say the Fed is winning its war on inflation.”

The consumer price index increased 0.1 percent last month after advancing 0.4 percent in October. Gasoline prices dropped 2 percent after rising 4 percent in October. The cost of natural gas fell as did prices for electricity.

But food prices climbed 0.5 percent after rising 0.6 percent in October. The cost of food consumed at home increased 0.5 percent, driven by rises in prices of fruits and vegetables, cereals and nonalcoholic beverages. But meat, fish and eggs cost less last month.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI would gain 0.3 percent. In the 12 months through November, the CPI climbed 7.1 percent. That was the smallest advance since December 2021, and followed a 7.7-percent rise in October. The annual CPI peaked at 9.1 percent in June, which was the biggest increase since November 1981.

U.S. stocks opened higher. The dollar fell against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury prices rose.

Sticky rents

Annual inflation is slowing in part as last year’s big increases drop out of the calculation. The Fed’s aggressive monetary policy stance is also dampening demand.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI increased 0.2 percent last month. That was the smallest increase in the so-called core CPI since August 2021 and followed a 0.3-percent rise in October. The core CPI was restrained by prices for used cars and trucks, which dropped 2.9 percent and were down for a fifth straight month.

Prices for new motor vehicles and household furnishings were unchanged. Healthcare costs decreased 0.5 percent, while prices for airline tickets fell 3 percent.

Despite declining core goods prices, also the result of businesses discounting merchandise to lure cash-strapped holiday shoppers and clear inventory amid slowing demand and improved supply chains, sticky rents are keeping overall core inflation elevated. Owners’ equivalent rent, a measure of the amount homeowners would pay to rent or would earn from renting their property, jumped 0.7 percent after increasing 0.6 percent in October.

Though independent rent measures suggest rental inflation is moderating, that is not expected to show up in the CPI data until sometime next year.

In the 12 months through November, the so-called core CPI advanced 6 percentafter increasing 6.3 percent in October. The Fed has a 2-percent inflation target. Pressure is also coming from services, reflecting higher wages as the labor market remains tight.

The still-high core inflation readings have left economists anticipating that the Fed will continue to tighten monetary policy for a while even as it slows the pace of rate increases on Wednesday.

Economists expect the Fed to lift its policy rate to a level higher than the recently projected 4.6 percent, where it could stay for some time. They expect the central bank to raise its estimate for the so-called terminal rate on Wednesday.

The Fed has raised its policy rate by 375 basis points this year from near zero to a 3.75 percent-4 percent range.