April core CPI seen rising as housing component jumps
Updated
Updated · Barron's · May 11
April core CPI seen rising as housing component jumps
11 articles · Updated · Barron's · May 11
Economists expect April core CPI up 0.4% month on month and 2.7% annually, with shelter adding about 0.25 percentage points after 2025 shutdown-related distortions.
Missing October 2025 housing data were effectively set to zero during the 43-day shutdown; April's new six-month survey panel is expected to reverse that softness in rents and owners' equivalent rent.
Analysts still expect housing inflation to cool later in 2026, but tariffs, price momentum and firmer continuing rents could keep inflation above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
Is the expected CPI housing spike a statistical ghost, or does it signal worsening affordability for American families?
With inflation fueled by tariffs and energy shocks, can the Federal Reserve still steer the economy to its 2% target?