On a basis excluding the direct effects of the tax hike, the year-on-year rate of change in the CPI for April, excluding prices of food and energy-related goods such as petroleum products, climbed to 0.8 percent from minus 0.8 percent for March 2013.
Instead of seeing hours per week bunched around 40, we may see greater variation in the hours that individuals work. Lower barriers to workforce entry may make it more attractive for more individuals to work only a few hours a week if they desire—and can afford—to do so.