gasoline

Don't Blame March Retail Sales -0.4% Drop on Gas Prices

March 2013 Retail Sales decreased, by -0.4%.   This is the lowest monthly change in retail sales since June 2012.  Gasoline sales declined the most, -2.2% for the month.  If one removes gasoline sales from retail sales, overall the decrease from February would have been -0.2%, or half of the monthly decline.  Auto sales decreased -0.6% and minus all autos & parts but including gas sales, retail sales dropped -0.4% from last month.  This report should amplify Wall Street's worries people are so tapped out they have stopped spending and ruin their stock market run up.

CPI Jumps 0.7% on High Gas Prices for February 2013

The February Consumer Price Index jumped 0.7% from January.  CPI measures inflation, or price increases.  The culprit is gas prices again, which skyrocketed 9.1% for the month and is 75% of the monthly increase.  This is the biggest monthly jump in CPI since June 2009.    Take food and energy items out of the index and CPI actually rose 0.2% from January.

Retail Sales Increase 1.1% on Gas and Autos for February 2013

February 2013 Retail Sales increased, by 1.1%.   Gasoline sales shot up 5.0% from January on higher prices. If one removes gasoline sales from retail sales, overall the increase from January would have been 0.6%.  Auto sales increased 1.1% and minus all autos & parts but including gas sales, retail sales increased 1.0% from last month.  This report should alleviate Wall Street's worries people are so tapped out they have stopped spending.    It didn't happen, yet.

Consumer Price Index Declines 0.3% on Falling Gas Prices for November 2012

The November Consumer Price Index decreased -0.3% from October. CPI measures inflation, or price increases. The culprit is gas prices. The gasoline index declined by -7.4%, the largest decline in gas prices since December 2008. The dramatic drop in gas prices offset inflation in other areas for the month which resulted in a decline not seen since May 2012 Below are CPI's monthly percentage changes.

Retail Sales Only Increase 0.3% Due to Lower Gas Prices for November 2012

November 2012 Retail Sales increased, by 0.3%. Gasoline sales tanked -4.0% from October on lower prices. If one removes gasoline sales from retail sales, overall the increase from October would have been 0.8%. Auto sales increased 1.6% and minus all autos & parts but including gas sales, retail sales had no change from last month. Retail sales are reported by dollars, not by volume with price changes removed.

CPI Increases 0.1% for October 2012 - Increasing Rent Drives Consumer Price Index

The October Consumer Price Index increased 0.1% from September. CPI measures inflation, or price increases. This month the culprit isn't gas prices, the gasoline index declined by -0.6% after July through September's meteoric 16.6% rise. The problem is the cost to rent a place to live increased 0.4% and had the highest monthly jump since June 2008.

Retail Sales Decline -0.3% for October 2012

October 2012 Retail Sales decreased, by -0.3%, Autos & Parts alone dropped -1.5% while auto dealers, part of autos & parts sales, declined by -1.6%. Minus autos & parts, retail sales had no change from last month. September's monthly percentage change was revised upward, from 1.1% to 1.3%. Retail sales are reported by dollars, not by volume, so dropping prices often reports as a decline in sales.

CPI increased 0.6% for September 2012

The September Consumer Price Index increased 0.6% from August. The CPI measures inflation. This is the second month in a row for CPI to increase 0.6% and these jumps are the largest since June 2009. The reason again is gas with a 7.0% increase in the gasoline index for September and August's CPI jump was also caused by gas at the pump with a 9.0% increase in gasoline prices.

PPI Jumps 1.1% Due to High Wholesale Gas Prices in September 2012

In September, Producer Price Index, or wholesale inflation, increased 1.1% for finished goods and is the 2nd month in row for a jump. August PPI increased 1.7%. Gasoline again is the cause, with prices surging 9.8%. Gasoline was the culprit for 80% of the energy index ballooning by 4.7%. Food also increased by 0.2%. Core PPI, which are finished goods minus food and energy prices, had no change for the month.

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