Smartphone Prices Rose 1.4%. Used Cars Went the Other Way.

Some goods in October's inflation report moved in opposite directions. The figures were published Tuesday, Nov. 10. CNBC said used cars and trucks fell 1.2%, while new vehicle prices rose 0.2%. Apparel, which CNBC described as sensitive to tariffs, rose 0.1%. Medical care commodities rose 0.5%.

NBC reported a record 1.4% rise in smartphone prices. It said memory demand from data centers had led consumer-electronics companies, including Apple, to raise prices. That is NBC's explanation of the index, not a new Apple price list in the evidence gathered here. A category index is not a quote for one car, phone, or prescription.

No retailer announced a Nov. 10 price change alongside these October figures. A lower used-car index does not mean a dealer cut a vehicle you are shopping for, and a higher phone index does not identify which model changed.

Did the used-car decline mean a vehicle you want is already cheaper? No sale price has been announced. Used cars and trucks fell 1.2% in the October index, while smartphones rose 1.4% and new vehicles rose 0.2%.