December's US consumer prices climbed again—rental costs and food prices were the main culprits. This bounce-back comes right after November's dip, which was partly artificial due to the government shutdown dampening inflation readings. The pattern matters: when traditional inflation accelerates, it typically shifts how investors view asset classes and risk appetite in markets like crypto. Those tracking macro trends know these CPI swings often precede volatility in digital assets. Whether it's real demand pressure or seasonal noise, the data confirms prices aren't cooling as quickly as some hoped, which reshapes expectations for rate policies and capital flows across sectors.