In the 12 months through April, the personal consumption expenditures price index vaulted 3.1 percent, the most since July 1992, after rising 1.9 percent in March, data on Friday showed.
Consumer prices as measured by the personal consumption expenditures price index, excluding food and energy components, increased 0.7 per cent last month.
6 Min Read
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices surged in April, with a measure of underlying inflation blowing past the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and posting its largest annual gain since 1992, because of pent-up demand and supply constraints as the economy reopens.
The strong inflation readings reported by the Commerce Department on Friday had been widely anticipated as the pandemic’s grip eases, thanks to vaccinations, and will have no impact on monetary policy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly stated that higher inflation will be transitory.
The U.S. central bank slashed its benchmark overnight interest rate to near zero last year and is pumping money into the economy through monthly bond purchases. It has signaled it could tolerate higher inflation for some time to offset years in which inflation was lodged below its target, a flexible average.
Live Updates: Latest News on Coronavirus and Higher Education
By
Washington State Public Four-Year Colleges Go Test Optional, Permanently
May 21, 6:18 a.m. Public four-year colleges in Washington State have gone test optional, permanently. The decision to move to permanent test-optional policies reaffirm our sector’s commitment to reduce barriers for students. Further, as we enter a period of post-COVID-19 recovery, we continue our commitment to learn from this historic challenge and embrace long-term changes that best serve our students and state, said a joint statement from the provosts or vice president of academic affairs of the eight universities.
They are Central Washington, Eastern Washington, Washington State and Western Washington Universities, Evergreen State College and the Universities of Washington at Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma.