Search Results for keywords:"Consumer Price Index"

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a final rule to update the civil penalties for certain violations based on the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. As of January 16, 2025, the maximum penalty has been increased from $2,058 to $2,111, reflecting adjustments for inflation. The adjustment is calculated using the Consumer Price Index and is applied automatically each year. This rule is not anticipated to have a significant economic impact and follows federal guidelines to ensure compliance and reduce burdens.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has updated the cap on average total assets that determines if a Federal Home Loan Bank member qualifies as a "community financial institution" (CFI) to $1,239,000,000. This adjustment is based on the 1.2% increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) from November 2019 to November 2020, as published by the Department of Labor. The changes took effect on January 1, 2021. The aim of the adjustment is to reflect inflation and ensure that the cap is in line with current economic conditions.

The Railroad Retirement Board has announced updates to the fines for civil penalties to adjust for inflation, as mandated by a law from 2015. These adjustments are based on a calculation that compares changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) over the past year. For 2021, this resulted in an approximate 1.01% increase in penalties, which means certain fines under acts like the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act and the False Claims Act have increased slightly. These changes take effect from January 11, 2021.

The NCUA Board has finalized a rule to adjust the maximum amounts of civil monetary penalties (CMPs) it can impose, based on inflation, as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. These adjustments, which must be made annually, are calculated by comparing the consumer price index for previous years. The new rule takes effect immediately upon publication and applies to penalties assessed for violations from November 2, 2015, onward. The adjustments are largely technical and do not require public notice or comment.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the poverty guidelines to reflect a 2.9% price increase between 2023 and 2024, measured by the Consumer Price Index. These guidelines help determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid. Each year, HHS adjusts the guidelines based on inflation and ensures that the figures align with Census Bureau estimates. The guidelines are used by various federal and non-federal programs, and specific terms like "income" and "family" are defined by the regulations of each program.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has issued a final rule to adjust the fines for violations of the Ethics in Government Act in 2025, as required by law to keep up with inflation. These changes, effective January 15, 2025, include increasing penalties for activities such as falsifying financial disclosure reports and misuse of public reports. The adjustments ensure that penalties remain a deterrent and are calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. These updates only affect violations occurring after November 2, 2015, that are addressed after the new rule's effective date.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to adjust the maximum and minimum civil monetary penalties to keep pace with inflation, as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This move is part of an ongoing effort to maintain the deterrent impact of penalties and ensure compliance with laws. The adjustments, effective January 8, 2025, are made annually without requiring public feedback or notice and are based on a specific formula tied to the Consumer Price Index. The changes do not establish specific penalties for cases, as these are determined by the EPA considering the details of each case.

The Department of Transportation has introduced a new rule that clarifies rules around denied boarding compensation (DBC) and domestic baggage liability for airlines. Under the new rule, airlines are prohibited from involuntarily removing passengers from flights once their boarding passes are collected or scanned. It also raises the liability limits for denied boarding compensation from $675 to $775 and from $1,350 to $1,550, reflecting changes in the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the rule adjusts the maximum compensation for mishandled baggage from $3,500 to $3,800. These changes aim to enhance consumer protection without significantly impacting airlines' operations.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the Treasury Department, issued a final rule to adjust certain civil monetary penalties based on inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. These adjustments are calculated using a specific formula that considers changes in consumer prices, and the updated penalties will apply to violations occurring after the adjustments take effect. This rule does not require public notice or comments, as the changes are mandated by law and involve no new administrative procedures.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This adjustment ensures the penalties remain effective deterrents by increasing them to the maximum level prescribed by the law. The updated penalties use a multiplier, based on the Consumer Price Index, to calculate the rise for the year 2025. These changes will apply to violations assessed after the rule's effective date of December 27, 2024.