Policymakers struggle to rein in sticky core inflation Quick Take
- Core inflation is the change in the cost of goods and services that do not include sectors such as energy and food.
- They are dismissed due to volatile prices or can fluctuate wildly.
- Core inflation in the U.S. has only declined 1% point from the peak in March 2021 — while they have a significantly tight labor market.
- U.S. core inflation is at 5.54% compared to 6.41% last year.
- In Europe, core inflation doesn’t slow; it continues to rise as wages grow and services remain elevated.
- Economists have raised their projections for U.S. core inflation.
- The same is true for the U.K., as core inflation accelerated to more than 6% from 5.7%.
- The best way to fight core inflation is with positive real rates — which hasn’t happened for almost a decade.
- Will they bring the economy down to combat inflation?
Analyst 
James Van Straten
James fervently appreciates data, technology, and trend-spotting. As a tech and liberty maximalist, he hails Bitcoin as the 21st century's paramount invention.
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