Inflation slowed in the United States in December, to 5.0% year on year against 5.5% the previous month, according to the PCE index published on Friday by the Commerce Department, and which is the one favored by the bank. US central (Fed).
In just one month, however, price increases remained stable at 0.1%, disappointing analysts who had expected zero inflation. And so-called underlying inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, is rising again over one month, for the first time since August, at +0.3% against +0.2% . This rebound was, however, expected by analysts.
Over one year, however, this underlying inflation also slowed, to 4.4%, as expected, against 4.7%. In addition, household income rose by 0.2%, a little less rapidly than in November, and their expenditure fell by 0.2%. PCE inflation is the one favored by the American central bank (Fed), and which it wants to bring back to around 2%.
Read alsoThe fear of inflation pushes the French to rush to SCPIs
To achieve this, it has been raising its key rate since March, which is prompting commercial banks to offer their customers loans at higher rates, in order to slow down consumption and, ultimately, to ease the pressure on price. Rates are now in a range of 4.25 to 4.50%. The next Fed meeting is scheduled for Tuesday January 31st and Wednesday February 1st, and a further hike is expected.
These rate increases, combined with inflation, greatly reduce the purchasing power of Americans. Consumption nonetheless held up, supporting the U.S. economy in 2022. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 2.1% for the year, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. .
Another measure of inflation, the CPI index, which refers to and on which pensions are indexed, in particular, had shown that the rise in prices over one year slowed sharply in December, to 6.5% against 7, 1% the previous month.
HAVEALSO – What is inflation? The response of our journalist