Consumer Price Index: Inflation Increased 0.2%
Consumers paid 2.0% more in April 2018 than they did a year ago for the basket of goods and services included in the Consumer Price Index [CPI] and the level of inflation increased 0.2 percentage points from the 1.8% measured in March 2018.
This is according to the latest Consumer Price Index, which said, “Between March 2018 and April 2018, the average cost of goods and services in the CPI increased 0.6%. The all-items index rose to 104.9 in April. This means that the basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in April 2015 now costs $104.90.
“The Health & Personal Care sector was the largest contributor to the year-over-year change in the CPI, advancing 4.1%. The leading factors behind the increase was the average cost of health insurance coverage and prescribed medicines. In addition, the Food sector and the Education, Recreation, Entertainment & Reading sector rose 3.0% and 2.4%, respectively.”
The full April 2018 Consumer Price Index follows below [PDF here]:
