America’s rental-market mystery
And why it may deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates
During the past few years of inflation, sceptics have insisted that governments are undercounting price rises—usually without much evidence to support their claims. But a new controversy in American economics has highlighted the challenge of accurately measuring prices. Only this time the implication points in the opposite direction, suggesting that inflation may prove a more stubborn foe.
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This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Spent on rent”
Finance & economics March 9th 2024
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