Statement of Chairman Martin N. Baily, President’s Council of Economic Advisers: CPI (7/18/00)

Statement of Chairman Martin N. Baily, President’s Council of Economic Advisers: CPI (7/18/00)

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary
                          (Camp David, Maryland)

      _______________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  CONTACT:    AUDREY CHOI
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2000                         (202) 395-5084


                   STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN MARTIN N. BAILY
                 PRESIDENT?S COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS


     Today?s report on consumer prices, combined with last week?s report on
producer prices, shows that inflation remains low and stable, except for
the temporary effect of higher energy prices.

     While Americans are still feeling the effects of the run-up in oil
prices, the core CPI - which excludes the volatile food and energy
components - rose just 0.2 percent in June.  The total CPI rose 3.7 percent
over the 12 months ending in June, but core CPI rose just 2.4 percent over
that period - within the levels of the past three years.

     Gasoline prices rose 8.8 percent in June, driving the overall CPI up
0.6 percent.  Once the impact of high energy prices has passed, we can
expect a return to low and stable inflation and rising wages.

                                   # # #

Privacy Statement