![US Inflation Hits New 4-Decade High of 7.5% in January US Inflation Hits New 4-Decade High of 7.5% in January](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/hUaPnHFDBp2JNo9PEO51lL2dDHs=/800x600/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/F67ZZ55J2RC7JBSITXGTV3VZXU.jpg)
The biggest driver for overall inflation continued to be used-car prices, with an increase of 40.5% in January from a year ago and 1.5% higher than in December. Food prices surged 0.9% month-over-month, adding up to a 7% increase year-over-year, the highest since 1981. Energy costs advanced 0.9% in January.