speaking of inflation ...

Import prices rose 0.2% in November vs. forecasts for a 0.1% rise. Excluding petroleum, prices jumped 0.7%, more than offsetting October's 0.5% "core" decline. Strip out ALL fuels (including natural gas) and you get a 0.1% rise. Food and beverage prices jumped 0.4% and industrial supply prices rose 0.6%, while most other categories were relatively flat. Export prices climbed 0.4%