Twin Cities inflation rising slower than national average

Meanwhile, inflation in the Twin Cities was 5.1%, according to new Consumer Price Index data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Zoom in: Housing costs in the U.S. were up 8.2% year-over-year, but only 4.9% in the Twin Cities.

• As we wrote about in early February, renters in the Twin Cities are becoming less cost burdened because rents aren't rising as fast as wages.

Yes, but: Twin Cities consumers are still being hit hard in other areas, most notably at the grocery store. Food prices in January were up 12.2% year over year, compared to 9.9% nationally.

• It's not all bad news, though. Used vehicle prices in the Twin Cities are down 12.4%.