Inflation in the Midwest declined to 3% year-over-year in November, down from 3.1% in September, according to a new analysis from the Common Sense Institute (CSI) based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index data.
National inflation fell to 2.7% during the same period.
Consumer prices across the Midwest remain 25.8% higher than January 2020 levels. The typical Iowa household has spent more than $46,000 extra since 2020 to maintain the same standard of living and now spends about $1,266 more per month, according to the analysis.
November marked the first deflationary month of 2025 for the Midwest on a month-over-month basis, with prices declining 0.27%.
All major spending categories remain more expensive than a year ago. The largest year-over-year increases were in fuels and utilities at 9.3%, energy at 6.3% and housing at 4.6%.
Common Sense Institute Iowa is a nonpartisan research organization that examines fiscal impacts of policies and proposed laws. The organization was founded in Denver in 2010.
