Inflation in Seattle area tops 10% year over year

Inflation is escalating fast in Seattle's metro area.

By the numbers: As of the end of June, prices for consumer goods in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma metro area rose by 3.2% over the previous two months, per the latest Consumer Price Index figures.

• Inflation in the Puget Sound region has spiked by a whopping 10.1% over the past year, per the CPI, which gauges the average change in prices for consumer goods over time.

Why it matters: Already sky-high heading into this year, Seattle's cost of living is soaring amid expanding costs to consumers.

• The city's year-over-year CPI increase of 7.6% at the end of 2021 was among the worst in the nation, trailing only Atlanta's 9.8% spike among mid- and big-sized cities.

State of play: Gasoline (+48.4%), food (+10.3%) and shelter (+8.6%) have experienced the biggest price hikes among consumer goods in Seattle over the past year.

• One of the few bright spots: the price of apparel has dropped by 2.1% from a year ago.