Inflation continues to overstay its welcome. However, it slowed down some.
The Consumer Price Index report was released recently, with headline CPI rising 0.2%. Core inflation is 2.9%, a slight increase from May.
Using recent CPI reports, WalletHub released a story to discover which cities were hardest hit by inflation.
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To determine this study, WalletHub examined 23 metro areas, calculating how the CPI changes from two months and one year ago impacted the prices consumers in these areas are paying.
The 10 cities inflation changes impacted the most
Here are the 10 cities where inflation has hit residents the most:
Overall Rank | MSA | Total Score | Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs 2 months before) | Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs 1 year ago) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 84.72 | 1.40% | 2.70% |
2 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 77.35 | 1.10% | 3.00% |
3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 72.76 | 0.80% | 3.50% |
4 | St. Louis, MO-IL | 70.41 | 1.10% | 2.50% |
5 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 69.23 | 0.60% | 3.80% |
6 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 68.91 | 0.70% | 3.50% |
7 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 62.39 | 1.00% | 2.20% |
8 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 62.29 | 0.60% | 3.30% |
9 | Urban Honolulu, HI | 61.65 | 0.80% | 2.70% |
10 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 56.41 | 0.70% | 2.60% |
Factors influencing inflation
The CPI report sheds some light on where things are heading, and for the short term, it indicates prices are increasing in line with what economists expected. That said, these numbers don't factor in the impacts of tariffs. And many people are still feeling the pinch of higher prices.
Inflation's culprits are the usual suspects: Rising costs in insurance, energy and shelter continue to snowball consumers' budgets. Add in the ongoing trade wars and tariffs, and the result is higher prices on everyday items.
"While the CPI release showed some early signs of tariff impact, on the whole, underlying inflation remained muted," Kay Haigh, global co-head of Fixed Income and Liquidity Solutions in Goldman Sachs Asset Management, told Kiplinger.
She added, "Price pressures are expected to strengthen over the summer, and the July and August CPI reports will be important hurdles to clear."
Shielding against inflationary measures
The CPI report shows inflation is right in line with expectations. However, since it didn't factor in the impact of tariffs yet, it's anyone's guess where the numbers go in the future. It also gives you some time to protect your money against rising costs.
One thing to watch is whether the Fed cuts interest rates soon. CME FedWatch projects there's a 60% chance that rate cuts will come at the September meeting.
While high-yield savings accounts have dipped somewhat, you can still earn a rate above 4% if you get this done soon. Here are some of the top choices:
A high-yield savings account is only one solution. If you want to outpace inflation with your earnings, the best option continues to be investments, as historically, they earn a much higher rate of return.
One of our top online brokers is Fidelity. They offer free advice to newer investors with a portfolio of less than $25,000. If you have a portfolio exceeding this amount, you'll have access to a live agent for a fee of 0.35% of your assets.
And with prices rising slightly faster than anticipated, having the right budgeting app can ensure you're maximizing your savings and investment goals, while curtailing spending that isn't helping you reach them.
The bottom line on inflation's impact
The CPI report shows inflation is staying in line with expectations, at least for now. And the WalletHub reports shows where inflation changes have the most impact.
Whether you live in one of these areas or not, having a plan in place now can help you find solutions that outpace inflation.
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