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BLS Excludes Coffee from April CPI Calculation, Prices Up 78% Since Last Year

May 12, 2024, 06:04 PM

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has made a significant change to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation by excluding coffee prices starting from the April 2024 report, ahead of its release on May 15. This decision follows a notable increase in coffee prices, which surged 78% since September 2023 and 27% in the last month alone. Critics argue that this move could misrepresent actual inflation rates, as coffee is a common consumer staple. The change is perceived by some as an attempt to manipulate economic indicators during an election period, referencing Yellen's version of YenTervention.