Energy costs push up April consumer prices - INFLATION ALERT

[Coexist]

Is it officially inflation yet?

VIDEO of Economists Steve Stanley and Scott Brown debate whether inflation is a looming threat to the U.S. economy.


WASHINGTON - Consumer prices — propelled by higher gasoline, clothing medical care costs — jumped sharply in April, stoking inflation fears and sending stocks tumbling.

The 0.6 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index, the government’s most closely watched inflation barometer, was the largest in three months, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. The rise came after a strong 0.4 percent advance in March.

On Wall Street, stocks plunged on the news.

[WePurrsevere]

1. and yet many must live on incomes that are fixed & with no way to increase

their income. Those that can work and have a minimum wage (or a bit higher if they're lucky), job need to work a second job but that can only happen if there are jobs to be had that haven't been shipped overseas.

Inflation impacts the working class poor/low income especially hard. People who are barely scrapping by on minimum wage must wait and hope for their next raise; Seniors and the disabled must wait until January and hope that Congress grants them an increase that isn't totally nibbled away by yet another Medicare increase. As our dollar is worth less and less and buys less and less despair grows with no help in sight... certainly it won't come from the Republican party politicians. They think trickle down works great... as long as it trickles down low enough to effect them.

[Ksec]

2. Ive read that fuel and food prices arent used when figuring

cost of living . How convenient. The most costly things in our budgets are ignored.

[Why Syzygy]

3. But yet ..

the WH is saying that we have a "good" economy? Maybe they need to define "good".

[PA Democrat]

4. Hubby and I got a renewal notice from our health insurance provider

Our rates are going up 16% effective June 1. We are self-employed and so we will be paying the entire increase ourselves- more than $200 a month. Add in higher expenses for food, gas, natural gas to heat our home and office, and I can tell you that inflation has definitely hit our household in a significant way.