The consumer price index is a key measure of inflation. The CPI measures how quickly prices change in specific categories of consumer goods and services. Categories like housing, health insurance, and technology have idiosyncrasies that make inflation difficult to measure. Their inflation data may not reflect reality for consumers. Richard Newstead | Moment | Getty Images Housing is perhaps the most important category in the consumer price index, a key barometer of inflation. Housing is the largest expense for the average American family. The “shelter” category that measures costs for…
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Social Security, Medicare, Federal Salaries: What payments can be delayed if the debt ceiling stalls
The US reached its debt ceiling, or debt limit, in January. The nation could run out of money to pay all of its bills as soon as June 1, the so-called “X-date.” The government would not be able to pay everyone on time. It would likely prioritize payments to investors holding US Treasuries, to avoid a “technical default.” Payments like Social Security, Medicare, tax refunds, military paychecks, and others would likely be delayed. Democrats and Republicans have not yet reached an agreement to raise or suspend the debt ceiling and…
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