The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the March Consumer Price Index (CPI) today, showing that it rose 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, month over month, after being up 0.3 percent in February, and rose 3.3 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. Energy was the biggest gainer, up 12.5 percent, with fuel oil up 44.2 percent and gasoline up 21.2 percent. Gasoline accounted for nearly three-quarters of the monthly CPI. The energy index was impacted by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; there are an estimated 3,200 ships that have been blocked from passing through the strait. Gas and fuel prices are expected to reverse once the prices normalize; however, the timing of that is uncertain at b...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.