By Russ Wiles | Arizona Republic
Americans got a dose of somber inflation news Tuesday, and the results were especially disappointing for metro Phoenix.
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area leads all major cities with a 13% inflation rate over the past 12 months, followed by second-place Atlanta at 11.7% and 11.2% in the area around Tampa, Florida. Miami and Baltimore round out the top five.
Nationally, inflation ran at an 8.3% rate over the past 12 months.
Many economists were expecting inflation to moderate more, reflecting lower gasoline prices, but the surge continued with higher prices for shelter, food, medical care, natural gas and electricity. Higher prices for homes and apartments contributed to the 13% jump in Phoenix-area inflation over the past 12 months.
