“rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments have failed to keep pace with inflation for years, even as the costs of maintaining buildings have continued to rise

“the overall cost figures do not capture the full range of benefits because they are "not possible to monetise"

“this growing gap is leaving some building owners increasingly unable to cover basic operating expenses, which can lead to deferred maintenance and reduced investment in the city’s existing housing stock.

“underneath, inflation remained sticky and food prices are undercounted by Bureau of Labor Statistics methods

“the problem goes beyond new construction, arguing that government limits on rents can reduce the number of apartments available and discourage investment in existing properties.

“And not only do you end up with fewer housing units available, but the quality of those units consistently goes down as well,

“slowly but surely, landlords have less to invest in their properties.

“Underlying economic pressures in the U.S. remain stickier than the consumer price index figure released Wednesday implies