Consumer prices rise in latest federal inflation data

(The Center Square) – Consumer prices rose again last month after dipping in June, according to newly released federal inflation data.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday released its Consumer Price Index, a key marker of inflation, which showed that consumer prices rose 0.2% in July, part of a 2.9% increase over the past 12 months.

The data is the latest step in Americans’ struggle with higher costs. Prices have risen more than 20% since President Joe Biden took office.

Inflation has slowed significantly since its peak increase earlier in the Biden-Harris administration, but prices still remain elevated.

The latest CPI increase comes after a 0.1% decrease in June. BLS said that shelter cost increases accounted for 90% of the increase.

The data, which is being closely watched by economists and business leaders, comes out just a few days after the stock market sunk over fears of a U.S. recession.

The data will have an influence over whether the Federal Reserve can stop raising interest rates and begin looking to cut them, something always welcomed by the market.

"Core CPI inflation (which excludes volatile food and energy) was moderate for the third straight month in a row in July," Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and former economic advisor for the Obama administration, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Federal Reserve is expected to hold its next meeting Sept. 17-18. Whether inflation has cooled off enough for rate cuts remains to be seen.

However, some experts were optimistic.

"The Fed has a green light to cut rates in September," Jesse Cohen, a Global Markets Analyst for Investing.com, wrote on X after the data's release.

The CPI data comes just one day after the BLS Producer Price Index data released Tuesday showed a 01.% increase, comprising a 2.2% rise over the previous 12 months.

As The Center Square previously reported , some goods saw a decrease in costs while others saw increases that far outpaced the average. For example, in the previous 12 months, roasted coffee prices rose 9.1% while dairy product prices increased 9.4%, according to BLS.