The latest inflation data included a number that was shocking, though not exactly surprising to anyone who has been booking their summer travel lately: Airfares rose 18.6% in April, the most on record for a single month, which accounted for about a quarter of the overall surge in core inflation last month.
Why it matters: A challenge with interpreting inflation data is determining what to "look through" as a mere one-time adjustment and when to show more alarm. The experience of the last year shows the risks of being too willing to brush off high inflation just because one or two categories are disproportionately responsible.