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U.S. consumer prices surge 4.2%, the biggest jump since 2008. The price of lumber has spiked since the beginning of this year, sending the price of new homes upward. A global microchip shortage has set back the building of new cars, sending the price of used cars soaring. Other sectors, like airfare and the hotel industry, had artificially low prices because of the pandemic last year but are seeing prices rise as Americans begin spending again.