Inflation - Azzet - Business news, investments companies & executives

Sign inJoin Now

Inflation

Inflation
Eurozone inflation rises to 2.2%, above ECB target
Eurozone inflation rose unexpectedly to 2.2% in November from the month prior, according to flash data from Eurostat. The latest data shows that inflation in the Eurozone is just above the European Central Bank’s target of 2%, and came in higher than market expectations of 2.1%. Underlying figures excluding volatile food and fuel prices held steady at 2.4% on continued quick price growth in services, but muted figures for durable goods. Services are expected to have the highest annual rate in November at 3.5% compared to 3.4% in October, according to Eurostat. The ECB held its key deposit facility rate at 2% for the third consecutive time in late October, having last cut rates in June. The Eurozone hitting the 2% inflation target was part of a rate-cutting cycle that brought rates down from last year’s record high of 4%. Natural gas prices are currently 40% lower than a year ago, and crude oil has decreased by over 10%, setting the scene for more energy deflation. Energy prices were also down 0.5% in November from a year earlier, and inflation in non-energy industrial goods was 0.6%. Following the Ocotbe trump, ECB President Christine Lagarde told CNBC that from a monetary standpoint, the economy is in a go
Inflation
Runaway inflation threatens RBA’s easing path
Given all the levers the Reserve Bank (RBA) has at its disposal to manipulate the economy, cynics could be forgiven for concluding that its ability to rein in inflation ‘blows big ones’. Early last week, we learned that headline inflation rose by 3.8% in October, up from 3.6% in the previous month. The trimmed mean - often a better indication of the underlying trend – also rose from 3.2% year-on-year in September to 3.3% year-on-year in October. Housing inflation was the largest contributor to headline inflation, accounting for 1.2 percentage points of the 3.8% number.Housing inflationRising inflation numbers took analysts by surprise with the dropping off of previous subsidies, which dampened prices, resulting in electricity alone - a major contributor to housing inflation - accounting for 37.1% in the 12 months to October. Based on the ABS’s long-awaited first “full” monthly consumer price index (CPI) – a major milestone for Australia - which provides a more timely and accurate gauge of the short-term challenges confronting the 87 components in the CPI basket, the RBA appears unlikely to lower interest rates soon. Having concluded that the recent spike in inflation data is largely down to temporary factors, the
Inflation
ABS: Australian inflation rises to 3.8%
Australia’s inflation rate rose 3.8% in the 12 months to October 2025 after flatlining last month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This was higher than the 3.6% increase in the consumer price index (CPI) expected by financial markets, which was based on a 0.2% fall in October, and the 3.6% lift in the year ended September. ABS Head of Prices Statistics Michelle Marquardt said in a media release that the release marked the transition from the quarterly CPI to the complete monthly CPI as Australia’s primary measure of headline inflation. The largest contributor was housing, which rose 5.9%, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages and recreation and culture (both 3.2%). Trimmed mean inflation, which measures underlying inflation, was 3.3% in the year to October 2025, up from 3.2% and higher than the Reserve Bank of Australia’s preferred 2-3% band over the medium term. Goods inflation was 3.8%, up from 3.7%, mainly due to a 37.1% hike in electricity prices as rebates ran out, while services inflation was 3.9% (3.5%) and housing inflation was 5.9% (5.7%). Excluding the impact of the Commonwealth and State Government electricity rebates over the last year, electricity prices rose 5%. Fru
Inflation
China CPI rises 0.2% in October; food prices fall
China’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.2% in October despite a drop in food prices, its first positive growth since June. Consumer goods prices dropped by 0.2% year-over-year while service prices were up 0.8%, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics. This is the country’s strongest CPI increase since January, with Reuters analysts having projected it would remain flat. “In October, policies aimed at expanding domestic demand continued to take effect, coupled with the boost from the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays,” said National Bureau of Statistics chief urban statistician Dong Lijuan. Urban prices were up 0.3% in October, with rural prices down 0.2%. Food prices declined by 2.9%, and non-food prices increased by 0.9%. The price of eggs fell by 11.6% and the price of livestock and meat dropped by 7.4%, negatively impacting the CPI by 0.08 and 0.23 percentage points. Fresh fruit, vegetable, and grain prices were down 2.0%, 7.3%, and 0.7%. Clothing prices increased by 1.7% year-over-year. Housing prices were up 0.1%, and transportation and communication prices decreased 1.5%. China’s CPI was also up 0.2% month-over-month, with urban prices growing by 0.2% and rural prices rising 0.1%.
Inflation
Electricity costs power Australian inflation increase
Australia’s inflation rate rose 1.3% in the September 2025 quarter and 3.2% annually, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ABS Head of Prices Statistics Michelle Marquardt said the increase in the consumer price index (CPI) in the three months ending 30 September was the highest quarterly rise since March 2023. She said the largest contributors to this quarterly movement were electricity costs, which rose by 9% in the quarter and 23.6% year-on-year. The 3.2% increase in annual inflation to the end of September 2025 quarter was up from 2.1% in the year to the end of June 2025 quarter. “This is the highest annual inflation rate since the June 2024 quarter when annual inflation was 3.8%,” Marquardt said in a media release. Annual trimmed mean inflation, the underlying rate which strips out large movements in items like food, was 3.0% in the latest three month period, up from 2.7% to the end of the June quarter and the first increase since December 2022. This result was higher than market expectations of 2.8% year-on-year, which is expected to reduce the chances the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lowers the official cash interest rate when it next meets in November. The ABS said the main contri

Inflation
US CPI hits 3% ahead of Fed meeting
The United States’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in at 3% in September, slightly lower than expected ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision this week. The monthly inflation rate was 0.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Dow Jones estimates had included an annual inflation rate of 3.1% and a monthly reading of 0.4%. “The index for gasoline rose 4.1% in September and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase, as the index for energy rose 1.5% over the month. The food index increased 0.2% over the month as the food at home index rose 0.3% and the food away from home index increased 0.1%,” the BLS wrote. “The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2% in September, after rising 0.3% in each of the 2 preceding months.” The CPI had increased by 0.4% in August. Annual inflation rates excluding food and energy were also 3.0% in September. The total annual inflation rate had been 2.9% in August, and excluding food and energy was 3.1%. The CPI for commodities, excluding food and energy, fell from 0.3% in August to 0.2% in September. Annual commodity inflation rates were 1.5%. For services excluding energy, the CPI also dropped from 0.3% in August to
Inflation
Americans worry about finances as inflation fears rise
According to a New York Federal Reserve survey released yesterday, American consumers are increasingly concerned about their household financial situation amid growing speculation that inflation is again on the rise. The central bank’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations found that consumers expect inflation to be higher in the year ahead, and fewer expect their households’ financial situations to be better off a year from now. The Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations found that median inflation expectations increased at the one-year-ahead horizon to 3.4% from 3.2% and at the five-year-ahead horizon to 3.0% from 2.9%. Meanwhile, the mean perceived probability of losing one’s job in the next twelve months increased by 0.4 ppt to 14.9%, above the trailing twelve-month average of 14.1%. Surprisingly, while many Americans have expressed concerns over rising prices and the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, most have yet to change their spending habits. Up until now, many experts believe this consumer resolve to maintain living standards is what has helped the United States avoid a significant economic slowdown. Meanwhile, high food costs in particular are making it hard for American consumers
Inflation
Australian CPI rises to 3%, core inflation eases
Australia’s annual inflation rate climbed to 3% in August, the highest in a year, though easing core pressures may allow the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) room for further near-term rate cuts. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday showed the monthly consumer price index rose from 2.8% in July, slightly above market expectations of 2.9%. “The 3.0 per cent annual CPI inflation to August was up from 2.8 per cent to July, making this the highest annual inflation rate since July 2024,” said Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics. On a monthly basis, inflation was flat, as electricity prices dropped 6.3% following new government rebates in New South Wales and the ACT, while holiday travel and accommodation slid 3.5%. Ms Marquardt noted that the rebate programmes played a significant role in shaping energy costs: “The annual rise in electricity costs is primarily related to households in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania having higher out-of-pocket costs in August 2025 than they did in August 2024. "In August last year, State Government electricity rebates were in place for Queensland ($1000), Western Australia ($400) and Tasmania ($250). Over the year, those rebates
Inflation
US producer inflation drops 0.1% in August
United States producer prices dropped by 0.1% in August, their first decline since April, in a sign of weakening demand. This was below Dow Jones estimates of a 0.3% increase. Excluding food, energy, and trade services, the Producer Price Index rose by 0.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The August decline “is attributable to a 0.2% decline in prices for final demand services,” said the BLS. Final demand goods and services are used in the U.S. without further processing. “Three quarters of the August decrease in prices for final demand services can be attributed to a 3.9% decline in margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling.” Producer goods prices rose by 0.1% last month, or by 0.3% excluding food and energy. U.S.-produced energy prices were down 0.4%. In the 12 months to August, the Producer Price Index excluding food, energy, and trade services was up 2.8%. This is the largest yearly increase in 17 months. Wholesale prices rose by 0.7% in July and 0.1% in June, the BLS said. The Consumer Price Index is also due this week. In July, the Consumer Price Index was up 0.2% monthly and 2.7% for the previous 12 months. The Federal Reserve will meet on 16-17 September to consider a rate cu