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Economy in Brief
U.S. Import Prices Rise With Higher Fuel Costs; Export Prices Steady
Import prices increased 0.5% (3.5% y/y) during September...
EMU IP Gain Is Unexpectedly Strong
After two months of relatively deep declines, EMU IP has turned higher. It gained 1% in August...
U.S. CPI & Core CPI Edge Higher
The CPI rose 0.1% (2.3% y/y) during September...
U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Show Modest Increase
Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 214,000 (-11.2% y/y) during the week ended October 6...
U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Decline As Interest Rates Rise
The MBA total Mortgage Applications Index was fell 1.7% (-14.4% y/y) in the week ending October 5...
by Robert Brusca October 15, 2007
Italy’s inflation has fallen for the overall measure. But the chart also shows that the CORE inflation has been on a gradually elevating trend. Both the core and headline rate accelerated slightly in terms of their Yr/Yr rates in September. Still, the core and the overall rates are nicely below the ECB’s overall 2% inflation ceiling.
In September, Italy’s inflation report was turbulent. It was bifurcated, with six categories showing inflation on the month (m/m %) of 0.3% or greater. But there were also five main categories with the monthly price level actually falling by 0.2% or more. Food, alcohol and education prices were up the most in the month. The weakest prices were at restaurants and hotels, for recreation and culture and for communications. With this sort of turbulence in the market, it is a difficult time to get a read on true inflation trends in Italy. Diffusion readings show that over 3 months and 6 months inflation is accelerating in more categories that it is decelerating. Year-over-year, Italy’s trends are neutral.
| Italy HICP and CPI details | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo/Mo % | Saar % | Yr/Yr | |||||
| Sep-07 | Aug-07 | Jul-07 | 3-Mo | 6-Mo | 12-Mo | Yr Ago | |
| HICP Total | 0.3% | 0.2% | -0.1% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2.3% |
| Core | #N/A | 0.2% | 0.0% | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | 2.0% |
| CPI | |||||||
| All | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| CPI excl Tobacco | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 2.1% |
| Food | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 6.1% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Alcohol | 0.6% | 0.6% | -0.7% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 5.1% |
| Clothing & Shoes | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Rent & Utilities | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 5.7% |
| Housing & Furniture | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
| Health Care | -0.2% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | -0.8% | -0.2% | 0.0% |
| Transport | -0.2% | -0.7% | 0.6% | -1.4% | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Communication | -0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.1% | -1.4% | -8.8% | -3.4% |
| Recreation & Culture | -0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% | -0.5% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Education | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 5.4% | 4.0% | 3.1% | 2.1% |
| Restaurant & Hotel | -0.5% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Diffusion | 58.3% | 66.7% | 50.0% | ||||
| Type: | Diffusion: Compared to | 6-mo | 12-mo | Yr-Ago | -- | ||
