The rate of so-called core inflation (which excludes energy purchases) was 1.8%. Even that understates the impact of energy on measured inflation, because lower gasoline prices reduce shipping costs, lowering a wide range of prices.
当前通胀状况比较令人难以厘清。过去12个月的年标题通胀率（headline rate）只有0.2%，远低于美联储2%的目标。这反映出此前一年中能源价格的大幅下跌，消费物价指数中的能源价格下降了13%。所谓的核心通胀率（剔除能源成本）为1.8%。即使这个数字也低估了能源对测得通胀率的影响，因为汽油价格的下降降低了运输成本，从而降低了各种价格。