On: Consumer prices rose 8.5% in March – highest since 1981

[iambateman]

While it’s confusing, it’s the industry standard to express inflation percentages on an annual basis.

[tommiegannert → iambateman]

Nah, this headline is just wrong.

The standard way to formulate YoY changes is what GP said, or "Consumer prices rose 8.5% in the year ending in March".

The MoM change for March is a hefty 1.2% in its own right.

[thehappypm → tommiegannert]

Gas is dominating the March spike though; not saying it isn’t accurate, but it’s not a clear indicator that inflation is actually spiking right now.

[parkingrift → tommiegannert]

This headline may be "wrong" in your eyes but this is the way that inflation is universally reported. Even finance centric news sites such as Bloomberg or WSJ report inflation in this way. It is universally understood to mean year ending.

[colinmhayes → parkingrift]

You're just not right. Saying prices rose 8.5% in March means prices rose 8.5% in March, not in the year ending in march. Reputable journalists say inflation rose to 8.5% in march, which isn't the same as saying prices rose 8.5% at all. I really don't think this is petty at all. Saying prices rose 8.5% in a month is incredibly misleading.

[parkingrift → colinmhayes]

My comment isn't that the wording is right. It's that there is no ambiguity on what is actually being reported. This "issue" only exists in the mind of grammar warriors on message boards.

[stickfigure → parkingrift]

Given the amount of confusion here, it's not universal. HN can do better than Bloomberg or WSJ. Clarity matters, mods should change the title.

[parkingrift → stickfigure]

The only thing I see here is people making petty semantics arguments. No one seems confused as to what we're actually discussing.

[ask_b123 → parkingrift]

I was confused because it really is a confusing wording.

[tedunangst → parkingrift]

The WSJ headline is "U.S. Inflation Accelerated to 8.5% in March". It doesn't say prices rose 8.5% in March alone.

[6gvONxR4sf7o → parkingrift]

“Inflation was X% in march” is what you’re suggesting. But the title just says “Consumer prices rose X% in march.”

[mFixman → iambateman]

That's how you know you are talking about a first-world country. My dear home country had an official (likely underreported) inflation rate of 5.5% in March alone.

[vernie → iambateman]

Also bigger number means more clicks.