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Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022

Are rising housing costs a key driver of inflation in Arizona?


yes

Housing and rental prices are a primary contributor to inflation, both in Arizona and nationally, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

BLS’s Consumer Price Index, which measures changes in averages costs for key consumer goods, heavily weights housing costs in its calculations. That means spikes in home prices and rental costs can have a significant impact on inflation rates.

In the most recent CPI report from August 2022, housing and shelter inflation in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area were up 17.1% and 19%, respectively, driving up the state’s overall inflation rate.

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The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.

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