This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the CPI-U increased 0.3% in June, seasonally adjusted—significantly higher than May’s 0.1%—while the annual inflation rate rose to 2.7%  Food prices increased 0.3%, including +0.3% for food at home and +0.4% for food away from home. Year-over-year food inflation is up 3.0%, with particularly sharp increases in eggs and non-alcoholic beverages  Energy rose 0.9%, led by gasoline (+1.0%), electricity (+1.0%), and natural gas (+0.5%), although energy is down 0.8% year-over-year  Shelter—a major cost category—rose 0.2%, continuing upward pressure on both commercial and residential rents  Core CPI (excluding food and energy) increased 0.2%, with broad gains across medical care, household furnishings, apparel, and vehicle insurance, despite declines in used-car prices  🧩 Impact on Black & Minority-Owned Businesses 1. Food & Hospitality Pressure Intensifies: With food inflation steady at 0.3%, small, minority-ow...

  The CPI for All Urban Consumers rose 0.1% in May (seasonally adjusted), down from 0.2% in April, with the annual inflation rate at 2.4% , up from 2.3% in April. Core CPI ( excluding food and energy ) also saw a 0.1% increase , holding steady at 2.8% year-over-year. Food prices climbed 0.3% , and energy costs dropped 1.0% for the month, driven largely by 2.6% lower gasoline prices. Key service categories like medical care, motor vehicle insurance, home furnishings, personal care, and education posted monthly increases between 0.3%–0.7% , while airline fares and used car prices declined. 🧩 Impact on Minority and Black-Owned Businesses 1. Food & Hospitality Impact: Food price increases (+0.3%) put pressure on grocery stores and restaurants, many of which are Black- and Hispanic-owned. They face rising packaging and ingredient costs. Action: These businesses should diversify suppliers and consider modest menu price adjustments to preserve margins. ...

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 0.2% monthly increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April 2025, bringing the annual inflation rate down to 2.3%—the lowest in over four years. Core inflation (excluding food and energy) remained steady at 2.8%. While these headline figures suggest that inflation is easing, many Black and minority-owned businesses continue to experience cost pressures across critical sectors such as food, transportation, and housing. Important Note: Ethics Adjusted CPI Given the documented pattern of dishonest and unethical behavior by the current administration, we express serious concern that the CPI data may have been deliberately manipulated downward for political or market-calming purposes. This suspicion is heightened by other economic discrepancies—such as the reported 225,000 job increase in March despite a simultaneous 40,000 rise in Black unemployment—which undermine the credibility of official statistics. Sector-Specific Impacts on Minori...

In March 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers decreased by 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.2% increase in February. Over the past 12 months, the all-items index rose by 2.4% before seasonal adjustment. Key Highlights: Energy Prices: A significant contributor to the monthly decline was a 6.3% drop in gasoline prices, leading to an overall 2.4% decrease in the energy index.  Core Inflation: Excluding volatile food and energy components, the core CPI increased by 0.1% in March and 2.8% over the past year, down from 3.1% in February.  Implications for Minority-Owned Businesses: 1. Transportation and Logistics:     Impact: The decline in gasoline prices offers temporary relief in operational costs for minority-owned businesses in transportation and delivery services.     Consideration: Given the volatility of energy prices and potential future tariff impacts, businesses should strategize for possible cost increases. 2. ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2% in February 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.5% increase in January. Over the past 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.8% before seasonal adjustment. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2% in February and is up 3.1% year-over-year. Inflationary pressures continue at a higher than 2% target level rate. Cost increases in shelter, transportation, and services continue to affect minority-owned businesses across various industries. Industry Analysis: 1. Retail & Consumer Goods (Black and Hispanic-Owned) Impact: Food at home prices were unchanged, but food away from home rose 0.4%, indicating ongoing cost pressures for restaurants and hospitality. Apparel rose by 0.6%, potentially affecting profitability positively for minority-owned retail businesses specializing in clothing and personal accessories. Strategic Advice: Retailers must balance pricing strategies carefully, considerin...

Source:  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes The January 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5% from December 2024, pushing the 12-month inflation rate to 3.0% . This continued rise in inflation presents distinct challenges for Black and minority-owned businesses, particularly in key industries such as retail, construction, transportation, and food services. Source:  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes Sector-Specific Impacts on Minority Businesses 1. Retail & Consumer Goods (Black and Hispanic-Owned Businesses) Key Data: The index for food at home rose 0.5% , while food away from home increased 0.2% . Apparel prices declined 1.4% , and household furnishings dropped 0.2% . Impact: Minority-owned grocery stores and restaurants face higher procurement costs. Retail businesses may see reduced demand due to price-sensitive consumers adjusting spending. Strategy: B...

  The December 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicates a 0.2% increase from November, contributing to a 2.6% rise over the past 12 months. This inflationary environment presents both challenges and opportunities for minority-owned businesses. Impact on Minority Businesses by Sector Asian-Owned Businesses Relevant Industries: Technology, Professional Services, Retail, Hospitality, and Food Services Technology & Professional Services: Asian-owned businesses in tech and consulting are moderately affected by inflation. Rising operational costs, such as wages and office space, require careful cost management. They can leverage remote work trends and digital platforms to optimize resources. Retail & Hospitality: Higher food costs (+0.2% in December) and shelter costs (+0.4%) directly affect Asian-owned restaurants and hotels. Adopting efficient supply chains and energy-saving measures can help offset these increases. Strategic Insight: Diversifying offerings, such a...

The November 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report highlights inflation trends that carry several significant implications for minority-owned businesses. These businesses, often operating with tighter margins and more limited access to capital than their counterparts, are disproportionately affected by changes in key economic indicators.  Key Findings and Implications 1. Overall Inflation Increase:    - The CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 0.3% in November, following a steady 0.2% increase in prior months. This marks a slight acceleration in inflation, with the 12-month rate rising to 2.7%.    - Implication: While this increase remains moderate, it signals persistent inflationary pressures. Minority businesses may face higher costs for goods and services, potentially squeezing profitability unless they can pass on these costs to customers, which may be difficult in price-sensitive markets. 2. Shelter Costs:    - The shelter index increased ...

The October 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures present a mixed picture for minority-owned businesses, affecting their operational costs, consumer demand, and potential growth. With an overall 0.2% monthly increase and a year-over-year rise of 2.6% in the CPI, minority businesses are navigating both stable and volatile cost areas in a nuanced inflationary environment. Here’s a breakdown of implications:  1. Shelter Costs Impact on Business Costs and Consumer Spending    - Shelter, which increased by 0.4% in October and contributed to over half of the overall monthly CPI increase, remains a significant pressure point. Rising shelter costs impact minority business owners directly through increased rental or mortgage payments for business spaces. This can squeeze profit margins, particularly for small retail stores and service-based businesses that rely on leased spaces in urban areas.    - For consumers, higher shelter expenses may constrain disposable income,...

The September 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows a year-over-year increase of 2.4%, with core inflation, excluding food and energy, rising by 3.3%.  This slower pace of inflation cooling presents mixed impacts for minority-owned businesses. While reduced energy costs (down 1.9% for the month) could ease operational expenses, rising food prices (+0.4%) and core inflation might continue to strain consumer demand and profitability, particularly for businesses in food services or retail. The inflationary pressures are also likely to affect pricing strategies and cost management as these businesses navigate a still-challenging economic landscape.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2024 provides important insights into the current inflationary environment, critical for understanding the economic challenges faced by minority-owned businesses. Here's an analysis based on the key points from the CPI release: Overview of the CPI Data: - Overall CPI Increase: The CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 0.2% in July 2024, following a 0.1% decline in June. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index rose by 2.9% before seasonal adjustment, marking the smallest 12-month increase since March 2021. - Shelter Costs: The shelter index rose by 0.4% in July, contributing nearly 90% of the overall increase in the all-items index. Shelter remains a significant factor, crucial for minority-owned businesses operating in areas with high rent or property costs. - Energy and Food Prices: The energy index was unchanged in July, following declines in the previous two months. The food index increased by 0.2% for the month, consistent...

Chart of the Consumer Price Index, June 2024 . The June, 2024 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined by 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, following no change in May. Annually, the all items index saw a 3.0 percent rise before seasonal adjustment. Key Changes in CPI Components: - Gasoline: Prices fell by 3.8 percent in June, building on a 3.6 percent decline in May, contributing significantly to the overall decrease in the index. - Energy: Overall energy costs declined by 2.0 percent for two consecutive months. - Food: There was a modest increase of 0.2 percent in June, with food away from home rising by 0.4 percent and food at home by 0.1 percent. - Other Items (Excluding Food and Energy): This category saw a 0.1 percent rise in June, down from a 0.2 percent increase in May. Increases were noted in shelter, motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings and operations, medical care, and personal care. Conversely, there were decreases in airline fares, u...

  The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was basically unchanged in May, 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported . Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment. hashtag # inflation hashtag # cpi hashtag # prices