Price Trends


Price pressures add to headwinds, weigh on retail

The economic headwinds appear to be gaining strength with price inflation edging higher through early 2018 as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The brunt of the headwinds likely will be felt by the (retail) goods sector of the economy, where…



Twin threats from price inflation and deflation

Although core consumer price pressures remain subdued, food and fuel price inflation represent a growing threat to consumer spending—especially among lower-income households. In the retail goods sector, the threat is from falling prices as much as rising prices. Deflation in (retail)…


Price threats persist, despite subsiding inflation

Overall consumer price pressure continued to ease through the summer, but remains a real threat to consumer spending in certain categories and a re-emerging threat in food and fuel. Despite the subsiding price pressure, expect the Federal Reserve to remain intent…


Fuel and food prices are a re-emerging threat

Overall price pressures eased a bit in March, but the underlying numbers suggest consumer spending will increasingly be squeezed by higher prices for fuel and food—as well as by prices for services. Higher prices for fuel—up about 20% from a year…