Inflation Held Steady in December as Lower Gas Prices Offset Higher Groceries

Inflation ended the year largely unchanged, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data, with lower gasoline prices helping to offset higher food and housing costs. Consumer prices were up 2.7 percent from a year earlier, while core inflation held at 2.6 percent.

According to reporting from The New York Times, falling used car prices and cooling apartment rents continued to ease inflation pressures, even as grocery prices posted their fastest monthly increase since 2022 and airline fares jumped amid strong holiday travel.

For real estate investors, the data highlights a shifting inflation landscape — moderating housing costs, mixed energy prices, and a Federal Reserve likely entering a wait-and-see phase as the new year begins.

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SOURCES: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/13/business/inflation-report-cpi?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20260113&instance_id=169202&nl=breaking-news®i_id=296486822&segment_id=213580&user_id=853319ec7216a16ba4212b5dbd28103e https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/december-inflation-report-rcna253681