Your Money Minute: "Inflation At Its Highest Since January"

Host: Jessica Edinger (CNBC)
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This quick "Your Money Minute" episode focuses on the recent spike in inflation, discussing its causes, impacts on consumers, and one area where prices have seen a slight break: gasoline. Jessica Edinger summarizes the latest statistics, provides economic context with insights from Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi, and gives listeners actionable awareness of how headline inflation is affecting daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inflation Hits a 2025 High

• [00:00] Jessica Edinger:
  Outlines that inflation, as measured in August, has reached its highest annual pace since January 2025. "If you're feeling like your wallet is getting pinched, it pretty much is."
• The overall message: Prices have been increasing throughout the year and "some believe it's only going higher."

2. Why Is Inflation Rising?

• [00:17] Mark Zandi (Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist):
  Provides economic reasoning behind rising inflation:
  "It's really about the direction of travel. Inflation will continue to accelerate because of the higher tariffs and the immigration policy and the effect that's going to have on labor markets."
• Points to:
  • Higher tariffs increasing import costs
  • Shifts in immigration policy affecting labor markets, possibly reducing worker supply and increasing costs

3. The Job Market Is Slowing

• [00:26–00:33] Jessica Edinger & Mark Zandi:
  The discussion shifts to employment, highlighting weakening conditions:
  • Jessica: "On top of rising inflation, the job market is weakening."
  • Mark Zandi: "Obviously the economy is struggling. Job market is really now at a standstill. Job growth is flat at best."

4. Gas Prices: One Small Relief

• [00:41] Jessica Edinger:
  Points out that while prices are up generally, gasoline is a modest bright spot:
  • As of mid-September, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was about $3.20 (AAA figures)—"about a nickel a gallon cheaper" than this time last year.
  • But even so, prices are higher than January, when a gallon averaged $3.05 (EIA data).

5. Where to Get More Information

• Jessica encourages listeners to learn more about inflation and the economy at CNBC’s website.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jessica Edinger [00:00]:
  "If you're feeling like your wallet is getting pinched, it pretty much is."
• Mark Zandi [00:17]:
  "It's really about the direction of travel. Inflation will continue to accelerate because of the higher tariffs and the immigration policy and the effect that's going to have on labor markets."
• Mark Zandi [00:33]:
  "Obviously the economy is struggling. Job market is really now at a standstill. Job growth is flat at best."
• Jessica Edinger [00:41]:
  "There is one bright spot for your wallet that's gasoline...the national average for a gallon of regular was about $3.20, according to AAA. That's about a nickel a gallon cheaper than the same time last year."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] Episode start, inflation headline
• [00:17] Mark Zandi: causes behind inflation's rise
• [00:26] Job market weakening, macroeconomic outlook
• [00:41] Snapshot on gas prices vs. inflation
• [00:52] Pointer to CNBC for further resources

Summary

In this brisk 60-second episode, Jessica Edinger lays out the concerning trend of rising inflation, reinforced by expert commentary from Mark Zandi. While consumers may find some relief at the pump, broader economic pressures—tied to global trade policies and immigration—are fueling price increases, even as the job market stalls. The episode underscores that these economic headwinds are tangible in Americans’ daily lives, positioning CNBC as a resource for further insight.