Secret Assets Owners
  • Investing
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Stock
  • Editor’s Pick
Editor's PickInvesting

Inflation News Is Still Exaggerated by Dubious Shelter Estimates

by July 11, 2024
July 11, 2024

Alan Reynolds

Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has been zero for two months. Over the past 12 months, prices of food at home are up 1.1 percent, and energy prices are up 1 percent. Yet headlines keep focusing on the 12-month averages of 3 percent for the total CPI and 3.3 percent for “core inflation” (less food and energy). But there is a big problem: Those 3–3.3 percent figures do not reflect a broadly defined measure of inflation since they are largely dominated by shelter costs.

Widely criticized Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of rent and owners’ equivalent rent (a price nobody pays) account for a third of the total CPI and over 40 percent of the core CPI.

That is why suspiciously extreme estimates of shelter inflation (known to lag reality by 12–18 months) have continually exaggerated reported inflation since July 2022.

As the new BLS CPI news report candidly emphasizes, “The shelter index increased 5.2 percent over the last year, accounting for nearly seventy percent of the total 12-month increase in the all items less food and energy index.”

Here is the unreported good news: Aside from shelter, CPI Inflation and core inflation rose only 1.8 percent over the past 12 months and were either flat or falling over the last two.

previous post
Do Public Schools Serve Everyone?
next post
Democrats don’t get a do-over just because of Biden’s debate meltdown

You may also like

Tariffs on Imports from China Are Still Too...

May 23, 2025

Financial Surveillance Is Expanding—But So Is the Resistance

May 23, 2025

Don’t Put a Tariff on Barbie: Global Trade...

May 23, 2025

The Best Way to Expand Naloxone Access? Clear...

May 22, 2025

Congress Should Repeal the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,...

May 22, 2025

Immigration is Good, Just Like Trade

May 27, 2025

Don’t Count on Tariff Revenue to Cover the...

May 27, 2025

Election Policy Roundup

May 27, 2025

Shifts, Not Shocks: Rethinking Rust Belt Decline

May 23, 2025

Friday Feature: LUMIN Schools

May 23, 2025

Tariffs on Imports from China Are Still Too...

May 23, 2025

Financial Surveillance Is Expanding—But So Is the Resistance

May 23, 2025

Don’t Put a Tariff on Barbie: Global Trade...

May 23, 2025

The Best Way to Expand Naloxone Access? Clear...

May 22, 2025

Congress Should Repeal the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,...

May 22, 2025

Immigration is Good, Just Like Trade

May 27, 2025

Don’t Count on Tariff Revenue to Cover the...

May 27, 2025

Election Policy Roundup

May 27, 2025

Shifts, Not Shocks: Rethinking Rust Belt Decline

May 23, 2025

Friday Feature: LUMIN Schools

May 23, 2025
Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get Premium Articles For Free


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Recent Posts

  • Trump claims Canada ‘considering’ offer of free Golden Dome in exchange for becoming 51st state

    May 28, 2025
  • Kennedy and Milei double down on WHO exit after meeting in Buenos Aires: ‘Free from totalitarian control’

    May 27, 2025
  • Biden aides considered ‘undemocratic’ actions to keep cognitive decline hidden, Trump out of power: author

    May 27, 2025
  • Dems drop $20M on bizarre ‘American men’ strategy plan study in effort to dig out of 2024 political hole

    May 27, 2025
  • Russia, China, North Korea condemn Trump’s $175 billion Golden Dome missile shield

    May 27, 2025
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 SecretAssetsOwners.com All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top
Secret Assets Owners
  • Investing
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Stock
  • Editor’s Pick