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KUNC is among the founding partners of the Mountain West °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ Bureau, a collaboration of public media stations that serve the Western states of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The Mountain West has the nation’s highest inflation rate

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°µºÚ±¬ÁÏ Brief 

Inflation is the highest the nation’s seen since the 1980s with consumer prices increasing 7% over the last year. It’s even bleaker in the Mountain West.

Las t We dnesday , the Bureau of Labor Statistics put out that outlined consumer spending increases in the 12 months ending in December. Broken down by, the Mid-Atlantic saw a 5.8% increase in consumer prices in 2021, the lowest increase in the nation. Similarly, New England’s rose by 6.2%.

But the inflation rate in the Mountain West jumped 8.6%. That includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

Why is our dollar not going as far? Some driving factors include the rising costs of food, transportation and energy, including gas and electricity.

This story was produced by the Mountain West °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ Bureau, a collaboration between Nevada Public Radio, Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ Bureau is provided in part by the .

Copyright 2022 Boise State Public Radio °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ. To see more, visit .

Madelyn Beck is Boise State Public Radio's regional reporter with the Mountain West °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ Bureau.