Denver

area inflation falls to 6.4%

Gasoline prices return to $4 level

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

Price relief at home? Not quite yet, according to the latest Consumer Price Index for the Denver area. e one-year change in CPI, aka in ation, slowed its pace to 6.4% in January, which happened to be the same as the U.S. at’s lower than the 6.9% in November for Denver and 7.1% in the U.S. But that 6.4% means consumer prices are not only still growing, in ation is still at a 40year high.

Nearly everything that contributes to the index was more expensive in January than it was a year earlier in

Denver. Nonalcoholic beverages? Up 16.7%. Breakfast cereal? Up 14%. Fruits and vegetables? Up 12.9%. Household energy? Up 13.4%. Add in the in ation from the prior year and the double-digit increases likely match what consumers have been feeling for the past couple of years — or at least some consumers. While government relief helped many people and businesses get through the pandemic, the severe disruptions resulted in job losses, aggravated supply chain issues and changed consumer demand. e higher prices are being felt unequally, especially if someone is a homeowner or a renter, works remotely or in person, or hasn’t seen their paycheck increase at the same rate.

“Earnings are going up about 5%