June 2025 CPI Report Masks True Inflation Burden for Black and Minority-Owned Businesses

WASHINGTON - July 15, 2025 - PRLog -- Creative Investment Research today released its expert analysis of the June 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI), warning that sector-level price increases continue to disproportionately affect Black and minority-owned businesses.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPI rose 0.3% in June, up from a modest 0.1% in May. Annual inflation reached 2.7%, fueled by higher costs in energy, food, healthcare, and shelter—core operating areas for many minority-owned firms.

"Headline numbers are misleading," said William Michael Cunningham, economist and founder of Creative Investment Research. "When you disaggregate the data, it's clear that Black and minority entrepreneurs are bearing the brunt of rising costs. And with unreliable federal data reporting, it's getting harder to prepare or respond."

📊 Sectoral Impacts on Minority-Owned Businesses

Creative Investment Research estimates the following CPI-driven pressure points for June:

Sector, CPI Change, Impact on Black-Owned Businesses (1–5 Scale)

Food & Hospitality,   +0.3%,   4.5
Energy & Utilities,   +0.9%,   4.3
Housing & Real Estate,   +0.2%,   4.6
Healthcare & Services,  +0.6%,   4.2
Transportation Services,   +0.2%,   3.8

A full Excel chart and infographic are available at: https://www.impactinvesting.online

⚠️ Data Integrity and Economic Disparities

The analysis also underscores data integrity concerns:

• Price Collection Gaps: The BLS has reduced price data collection in key states, limiting coverage in areas with high minority populations.
• Job Losses Unaligned with CPI Claims: Recent labor data showed over 106,000 jobs lost by Black women in April, yet inflation readings suggest minimal economic stress—exposing a troubling disconnect.
• Systematic Imputation: The BLS has replaced many direct observations with estimates, raising concerns of political interference and underreported inflation.

✅ Call to Action

Creative Investment Research urges:

• Congress to review and restore full geographic and demographic data transparency.
• Investors and policymakers to account for sector-specific inflation disparities when designing aid and financing programs.
• Minority-owned firms to proactively assess input costs and financial strategies, given inflation volatility.

About Creative Investment Research - Founded in 1989, Creative Investment Research provides economic forecasting, impact investing strategy, and ESG analysis with a focus on underserved communities and racial equity.