As Major US Cities Like St. Louis Experience 7.5% Inflation, How Are Others Faring?
Of 14 major cities reporting October data, consumer prices have climbed 7.5 % in the St Louis area, one of the highest surges in the country, according to Labor Department data.
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The consumer price index surged 6.2% from a year ago in October, the most since December 1990, according to Labor Department data released November 10.
Consumer prices have climbed fastest in Atlanta, St. Louis and Phoenix. Residents of the Atlanta area are experiencing the worst inflation among major U.S. cities, with October prices up 7.9% from a year ago — more than double the rate in San Francisco.
The cities are above the national average of 6.2%, which itself was the fastest annual pace since 1990 in the county, according to Bloomberg.
“The numbers highlight a pandemic-era divide, with scorching inflation in regions that have attracted people during the Covid-19 crisis and more moderate increases in the East Coast and West Coast cities they fled,” according to Bloomberg.
Transportation costs were up 20% in the St. Louis area compared to a year ago, while the price of clothes was up 0.8%, according to the Labor Department data. The cost for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was up 7.6% compared to a year ago, while medical care costs were up 5.4%, according to the data.
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Jay Hatfield, founder and chief executive at Infrastructure Capital Advisors, told GOBankingRates that October’s numbers reiterates his belief that the Fed has “lost control of inflation.”
“We forecast that true run-rate inflation is currently over 10% as ultra-loose Fed policy has driven housing prices up at a record rate of 19.7% y/y and rents are increasing at over 10% per year for the first time since the 70s. In addition, energy prices are up 40% over the last 3 months and food prices are accelerating.”
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