SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: RUSSIA’S THREAT OF WAR HELPED FUEL FEBRUARY’S INFLATION NUMBERS – HITTING A NEW 4-DECADE HIGH OF 7.9%.
THOSE PRICES DON’T INCLUDE THE SPIKES WE’VE BEEN SEEING THE PAST WEEK OR SO – SO MARCH HOLD ON TIGHT.
ENERGY, FOOD AND SHELTER ARE THE LARGEST DRIVERS BEHIND THE PRICE HIKES.
WITH TOTAL ENERGY PRICES UP 25.6% COMPARED WITH A YEAR AGO. GAS PRICES, UP 38%.
FOOD MATCHES THE TOTAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AT 7.9%.
BUT IF YOU TAKE FOOD AND ENERGY OUT OF THE MIX, WE’RE LOOKING AT AN INFLATION RATE OF 6.4 – WHICH IS STILL WAY HIGHER THAN THE FED’S 2% TARGET.
LOOK – ECONOMISTS HAD PREVIOUSLY HOPED WE WERE CLOSE TO PEAKING ON THESE 40-YEAR-HIGH INFLATION NUMBERS SINCE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WERE STARTING TO SMOOTH OUT AND THE FED IS TIGHTENING MONETARY POLICY.
BUT RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS PUT ALL OF THAT INTO QUESTION, PUTTING ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON PRICES OF OIL AND WHEAT, ALONG WITH METALS LIKE NICKEL AND GOLD.
I’M SIMONE DEL ROSARIO. FROM NEW YORK, IT’S JUST BUSINESS.