Despite trade uncertainties, the latest Consumer Price Index data shows inflation cooling across the U.S. CPI rose just 2.3% in April. While still above the Fed’s 2% target, it marks the slowest rise in inflation since February of 2021.
Southern California hasn’t been quite as lucky. A recent comparison of 23 major MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) shows SoCal’s major cities are still struggling with inflationary pressures. According to WalletHub’s analysis, the following 10 MSAs have the biggest inflation problem right now:
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
St. Louis, MO-IL
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
For the latest month versus two months prior, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the biggest inflation increase in California (1.20%). Los Angeles was was tied with St. Louis, MO for the largest increase nationwide. The third-largest increase nationally was in Riverside (1%).
For the latest month versus one year prior, San Diego had the biggest increase in California (3.8%).
Among California MSAs, San Francisco is experiencing the most notable price cooling. San Francisco’s inflation change for the latest month versus one year ago was just 1.3%.
According to WalletHub, these five MSAs currently have the smallest inflation problem in the country:
19. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
20. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
21. Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
22. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
23. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Read the full analysis from WalletHub.