If you still have one of those Whip Inflation Now buttons lying around from the 1970s, you can probably throw it away. Inflation pretty much doesn't exist.
The government reported Wednesday morning that consumer prices have risen just 1.3% over the past 12 months. When you exclude the prices of food and energy, prices were up just 1.7%.
Overall prices fell 0.3% in November, driven largely by the dramatic fall in gas prices. This is the biggest drop in the monthly inflation rate and gas prices since December 2008. Prices actually rose 0.1% last month when you factor out oil and food costs.
Many economists, as well as members of the Federal Reserve, prefer to look at that so-called core number that doesn't take into account food and oil.
The argument is that the prices of food and energy tend to be very volatile because they are largely dependent on commodity prices.
Related: Why oil is scaring the stock market
Others argue that it's silly to pretend that consumers don't spend a lot of money to eat, drink, drive and fuel their homes. So the latest data are yet another sign that consumers may have more money in their pockets.
The rapid plunge in oil and gas prices has been touted as a positive for the economy since consumers may treat it like a tax cut and spend more.
Related: Cheap oil is like a $60 billion tax cut
And with inflation being so low right now, Americans do have more purchasing power. Although average wages are up just 2.1% over the past 12 months, that's still much higher than the increase in consumer prices.
But there are growing concerns that if oil prices continue to slide, economists may have to worry about the threat of deflation ... persistently falling prices that are a sign of an unhealthy economy.
When deflation takes hold, consumers tend to hold off on making purchases because they are waiting for prices to fall further. That could lead to a downward spiral that pushes the prices of houses, stocks and many other assets lower.
Deflation is a much scarier economic phenomenon than inflation. It was a big part of the "lost decade" that plagued Japan's economy. And it's harder for central banks to fight deflation. They can usually nip inflation pressures in the bud with interest rate hikes.
What it means for interest rates. The Fed will release its latest outlook on inflation at 2pm ET Wednesday. Fed chair Janet Yellen is also holding a press conference, and she is expected to be asked about what the drop in energy prices may mean for the economy next year.
When the Fed last released economic projections in September, central bankers were expecting an annual inflation rate of about 1.6% to 1.9% in 2015. That's below the 2% target that the Fed has said it feels comfortable with as a goal for a healthy economy.
So it will be interesting to see if the Fed feels the need to cut its inflation outlook in light of lower gas prices. And if it does, that could change the timing of any plans to raise interest rates.
The Fed has two jobs: keeping prices stable and doing what it can to promote the highest level of employment possible.
The job market has steadily improved throughout 2014, which is why most economists expect the Fed to begin raising rates in the summer of next year. But if inflation remains this low, that could wind up being a proverbial monkey wrench in the Fed's carefully laid out plans.
