These figures feed the fear of stronger inflation and, especially, longer lasting, which will lead the Federal Reserve (Fed) to tighten its monetary policy.
Inflation in the United States reached 3.6% in 12 months in April, due to an increase in demand and global supply difficulties, according to data released on Friday by the Commerce Department.
The rise in prices simultaneously concerns goods and services and is much higher than in March, when inflation reached 2.4% in 12 months, according to slightly upwardly revised data.
Energy prices grew 24.8%. The 12-month increase in inflation is the most severe in a year.
In April, meanwhile, the price increase was similar to that of March, 0.6%, according to official data.
These figures feed the fear of stronger inflation and, especially, longer lasting, which will lead the Federal Reserve (Fed) to tighten its monetary policy, as suggested by several of its officials. However, its president, Jerome Powell, considers it premature to embark on that path due to the risk of slowing the rate of growth.
Household income, meanwhile, had a historic fall of 13.1% in April, much higher than expected, after a soaring in March (+ 20.9%) due to checks sent by the federal government to families to stimulate the economy.
Aid to the unemployed also fell, says the Commerce Department report.
The expenses in services grew 112.600 million dollars in the month, due to the reopening of places of recreation or restaurants and hotels as a corollary of the large number of Americans vaccinated against the covid. In contrast, spending on goods fell $ 32.3 billion.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile prices such as energy and food, was 3.1% for twelve months and 0.07% for one month, somewhat less than what analysts estimated.
The Fed is betting on long-term 2% inflation and full employment, before tightening monetary policy.
