How does the cost of housing figure into the consumer price index? It's complicated.

Jun 14, 2024
Owners' equivalent rent measures the market cost of living in a home — which is a bit different from how much we actually spend on housing.
The cost of housing makes up more than a third of the CPI.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Inflation falls, but not as much as expected

Feb 13, 2024
The CPI rose 3.1% in January compared to a year ago.
A major factor in core inflation is shelter costs. But the way the CPI calculates rent lags a bit behind current rent prices.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

California town divided over downtown homeless shelter

Dec 28, 2015
The debate is over a historic hotel offering transitional housing.

Behind New York's Right to Shelter policy

Sep 30, 2015
The city's homeless owe their municipal shelters to an unprecedented lawsuit.
The government released new homeless figures. But how is the number counted?
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The economics of a Los Angeles homeless shelter

Jul 24, 2015
In the past 2 years, homelessness has jumped 12 percent.