Inflation threatens California’s economic recovery, but solution may prove elusive

CALIFORNIA’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY from the devastations of the pandemic was stronger than previously estimated — but skyrocketing inflation could rob the state of its hard-earned gains.

Those were the main takeaways from a report this month from the state Employment Development Department, which pinpointed California’s January unemployment rate at 5.8 percent — the same as its December rate, which was revised down from 6.5 percent due to updated figures showing sizable job gains that month. Other key takeaways: