Search Results for keywords:"Consumer Price Index"

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new reimbursement rates for meals provided under the Summer Food Service Program for 2025. These rates have been adjusted to account for inflation, resulting in an average increase of 3.6% from the previous year. The adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and will apply to both operating and administrative costs of the program, which will take effect from January 1, 2025. The changes aim to simplify accounting procedures and ensure sponsors can manage reimbursements efficiently while maintaining nutrition standards.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is releasing a final rule to update regulations on the maximum civil monetary penalties for breaking laws under its control. This change is in line with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which requires annual inflation adjustments. The rule outlines how to calculate the new adjusted penalties, which will take effect immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. The Commission asserts that public notice and comment were not needed due to legal obligations dictating both the method and amount of these adjustments.

The notice from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs) for fiscal year 2025, which are used to adjust contract rents for units under certain Section 8 housing assistance programs. These adjustments are based on changes in residential rent and utility costs. The AAFs, which help ensure rents keep up with market changes, are applied to contracts on their anniversary dates. Different Section 8 programs have specific guidelines on how to apply these adjustments, which involve either Tables 1 or 2 that indicate whether utilities are included in the rent. The notice also outlines the methodology for calculating these factors using various data sources, such as the Consumer Price Index and private rent data.

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) has issued a final rule to adjust its maximum civil monetary penalties for inflation experienced from October 2019 to October 2020. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and affects penalties related to violations under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act. The new rates are based on the Consumer Price Index and are effective immediately as of February 2, 2021. The rulemaking complies with various executive orders and acts, including the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Federal Election Commission is updating the financial penalties they impose to keep up with inflation, as required by law. This affects fines under several election-related acts, including penalties for late or missing reports. The adjustments are calculated using a specific formula linked to the Consumer Price Index and will be applied to fines assessed from January 3, 2025. The Commission does not need to follow usual procedural requirements because these updates are mandated by Congress with no room for policy changes.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has issued a final rule to adjust the maximum civil penalties for inflation, as required by federal law. These adjustments, effective January 13, 2021, apply to penalties related to failure to provide certain required notices under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The maximum penalty under ERISA section 4071 is now $2,259, and the maximum under section 4302 is $301. This change is part of an annual process to ensure penalties keep pace with inflation.

The Surface Transportation Board has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule is effective from January 14, 2021, and the adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The decision to implement this without a public comment period is due to the lack of discretion allowed by Congress in setting penalty levels, which are determined by a statutory formula. The rule does not impose any new information collection requirements.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a final rule to adjust maximum civil monetary penalties for inflation for the year 2021 as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments apply to penalties for false loan guaranty certifications and fraudulent claims related to VA programs. The rule, which became effective on February 2, 2021, specifies increased penalty amounts based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The VA has complied with requirements and regulations, finding no need for public comment or impact on small entities.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This rule, effective January 15, 2025, ensures that penalties keep up with inflation, applying a cost-of-living adjustment multiplier based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjustments apply to penalties assessed after the effective date, maintaining the penalties' deterrent effect. This regulation does not consider public comments due to the non-discretionary nature of the inflation adjustments mandated by the Act.

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.