[Epoch Times October 14, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Linda Jiang from Los Angeles) The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) surged again in September, pushing the nation’s annual inflation rate to the same level as in 2008 Peak.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data on Wednesday (October 13) showing that the CPI covering all items in September (before seasonal adjustment) rose 0.4% from August. In the past 12 months, the index has grown by 5.4%.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the increase in food and housing prices in September were the two main items that drove the increase in the consumer price index that month. Among them, the food price index rose by 0.9%, mainly due to the sharp increase in the cost of meat; with the rise in the housing index in September, the prices of new cars, household furniture and auto insurance also climbed.
Due to semiconductor shortages restricting car production, the number of cars at dealerships has decreased, and new cars have become more expensive. Costs rose by 1.3% in September, an increase of 8.7% compared to a year ago, which is the largest since the end of September 1980 The 12-month cycle increases; the cost of household furniture increased by 2.4% in September due to severe shipping delays.
In addition, the energy index rose by 1.3% in September, and the gasoline index rose by 1.2%. Excluding the most volatile food and energy, the Core Consumer Price Index (Core CPI) rose by 0.2% in September, a larger increase than the 0.1% increase in August.
Unlike the above-mentioned growth items, airline fares, clothing, and the prices of used cars and trucks fell in September.
As early as a few months ago, when the United States’ annual inflation growth rate in April and May was higher than 4.5% in a row, William Yu, an economist at the Anderson School of Management at the University of Los Angeles (UCLA), said that if the future Inflation continues to increase, I am afraid there will be an uncontrollable situation.
Today, inflation in the United States continues to rise, coupled with the current situation of bottlenecks in the global supply chain, economists worry that inflation is no longer temporary.
The strong demand has also caused congestion in the supply chain. Recently, one of the largest port operators in the world warned that the bottleneck of the global supply chain will last for about two years. As the largest port in the United States, the Port of LA (Port of LA) and the neighboring Port of Long Beach (Port of Long Beach) have continuously set new records in the past few months. Experts advise consumers to plan ahead for the upcoming holiday shopping season. .
According to the shipping report of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, as of October 13, a total of 138 ships were crowded in Shuanggang, including 86 container ships, of which 56 were waiting at anchorages or drifting areas. Thirty ships are at the berth.
Under normal circumstances, Kip Louttit, executive director of the Maritime Exchange, said that there should be only 0 to 1 container ships parked at anchorages or wandering areas.
On Wednesday (October 13), US President Joe Biden announced that the Port of Los Angeles will follow the example of the Port of Long Beach and begin operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ease the congestion of West Coast ports and the pressure on the entire supply chain. ◇#
Editor in charge: Fang Ping
.