Amid A Cooling Inflation, Floridians Are Now Paying More For Some Goods

FLORIDA — Inflation in the U.S. has reached its smallest year-over-year rise since February 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still prevalent, federal officials recently stated.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Monday released its latest consumer report, which showed the consumer price index for all urban consumers was 2.3 percent in the year ending in April - a 0.1 percent decline from March.

According to the BLS, April's rate was the most minuscule compared to other all items indices since February 2021.

In Florida, a recent WalletHub study showed the Tampa metro has one of the nation's highest inflation concerns as the metro's consumer price index rose by 0.70 percent in May compared to March.

In the last year, inflation has grown 2.10 percent in the Tampa metro, according to WalletHub experts, who said national contributors were the Ukranian war and labor shortages.

The Miami metro was in the middle of the pack, only seeing a 0.30 percent upward spiral since March and a 2.20 percent upward trend from last year.

Data from Labor Statistics show a cooling in the Tampa metro as of March.

Food costs in restaurants, cafeterias and vending machines did not swell more than 0.4 percent from January-March in the Tampa metro, according to Labor Statistics.

Cereals and bakery products rose the most by 7.9 percent in the Tampa metro. Dairy and other related items followed suit by growing by 7.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the metro has used less energy in the last year. While clothing costs were up 6.8 percent in January, rent and transportation did not see large inflation jumps. (See a full breakdown of inflation impacts on the Tampa metro expenditures).

The Miami metro did not share in Tampa's experience. The South Florida area had year-over-year leaps of at least 7 percent in the costs of medical care (7.2), nonalcoholic beverages (7.6), clothing (11.8) and household furniture (8.3). (See a full breakdown of inflation impacts on the Miami metro expenditures).

Miami's energy prices fell by 5.9 percent, according to Labor Statistics.

Overall food costs in the U.S. were 2.8 percent higher in April than last year, according to Labor Statistics. On the flip side, energy costs dropped by 3.7 percent.

Meats, poultry, fish and eggs - household regulars - were among the foods with a 7 percent increase in the last year, according to Labor Statistics. The price of eggs alone skyrocketed by 49.3 percent.

These same items rose by 5.8 percent from February-April and by 7.3 percent in the last year in the Miami metro.

Other dairy and related products saw a 1.6 percent national rise, while nonalcoholic beverages now cost 3.2 percent more than last year. Fruits and vegetables reached a less than 1 percent decline.

As for gas, national prices plummeted 11.8 percent in the last year, and fuel oil prices saw a 9.6 percent reduction. On Thursday, the price for a regular gallon of gas in Florida was $3.13, according to AAA.

It now costs 3.6 percent more to have electricity nationally than a year ago as natural gas prices increased by 15.7 percent, according to Labor Statistics.

WalletHub explains its full methodology in a report.

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