| Sumario: | This article analyzes regional trends in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for rent of primary residence across the four U.S. census regions (West, Northeast, South, Midwest) from 2013 to 2023, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while rent inflation increased nationwide during this period, the pandemic’s effects varied regionally: the South experienced the fastest rent inflation post-pandemic, the Midwest saw rent increases surpassing the national average for the first time, the West’s rent inflation slowed to align more closely with the national average, and the Northeast maintained the lowest rent inflation rates. The article uses data from multiple surveys conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and highlights how specific metropolitan areas within each region contributed to these trends. These findings illustrate the geographic variability in rent-driven inflation and its influence on overall consumer inflation in the United States.
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