Inflation continues to overstay its welcome. However, it slowed down some.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report rose to 2.9%, the highest increase since January. Many experts see this trend continuing for the next six months to a year.
Using recent CPI reports, WalletHub conducted a study 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 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 89.39 | 1.10% | 3.30% |
2 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 89.29 | 0.80% | 4.00% |
3 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 67.97 | 0.50% | 3.30% |
4 | Anchorage, AK | 65.04 | 0.80% | 2.40% |
5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 64.39 | 0.40% | 3.30% |
6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 61.36 | 0.40% | 3.10% |
7 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 60.28 | 0.20% | 3.50% |
8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 59.31 | 0.30% | 3.20% |
9 | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 53.46 | 0.90% | 1.40% |
10 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 53.25 | 0.30% | 2.80% |
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. Many people are still feeling the pinch of higher prices.
Inflation's culprits are the usual suspects: Rising costs in energy and food 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.
Shielding against inflationary measures
The CPI report shows inflation is on a continual upswing. With this in mind, it means now is the perfect time to plan for rising costs.
One thing to watch is whether the Fed cuts interest rates soon. CME FedWatch projects there's a 93% 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 your earnings to outpace inflation, 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.
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. The WalletHub report 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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