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  • CPI Remains Steady

    The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers remained flat for a second straight month in December. Once again a decrease in the energy index countered rises in the other indexes (the food index and the all items less food and energy index ). Over the last year, CPI rose 3.0% (seasonally adjusted). Here are some year-in-review details rom the Bureau of Labor Statistics release: The energy index increased 6.6 percent in 2011, a deceleration from the 2010 increase of 7.7 percent. The gasoline index, which rose 13.8 percent in 2010, increased 9.9 percent in 2011. In contrast, the household energy index accelerated in 2011, rising 1.8 percent after a 0.8 percent increase in 2010. The fuel oil index rose 18.0 percent and the electricity index increased 2.2 percent, although the index for natural gas declined for the third straight year, falling 3.7 percent. The index for food accelerated in 2011, rising 4.7 percent compared to a 1.5 percent increase in 2010. The index for food at home rose 6.0 percent in 2011 compared to 1.7 percent in 2010. All six major grocery store food group indexes rose in 2011, with increases ranging from 2.3 percent (fruits and vegetables) to 8.1 percent (dairy and related products). The index for food away from home rose 2.9 percent in 2011 after increasing 1.3 percent in 2010. The index for all items less food and energy also accelerated in 2011, increasing 2.2 percent after its historical low 2010 increase of 0.8 percent. This was the largest increase since 2007. Several indexes turned up in 2011. The apparel index rose 4.6 percent after a 1.1 percent decline the previous year. Similarly, the new vehicles index rose 3.2 percent in 2011 after a slight decline in 2010. The indexes for recreation and household furnishings and operations also rose in 2011 after declining in 2010. A number of other indexes rose more quickly in 2011 than in 2010. The shelter index accelerated notably, advancing 1.9 percent in 2011 after rising only 0.4 percent the previous year. The indexes for used cars and trucks, medical care, education, and personal care also rose more quickly in 2011 than in 2010. In contrast, the indexes for tobacco and airline fare posted smaller increases in 2011 than 2010. Here's a look at the CPI for All Urban Consumers over the last year: Read the full release here .

  • CPI Unchanged in November

    The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers was flat in November. The index climbed for most of the year, before decreasing slightly in October. A decrease in the energy index , driven by lower gasoline costs, countered rises in the other indexes (the food index and the all items less food and energy index ). climbing 3.5% (seasonally adjusted) over the last year, the CPI decreased 0.1%. The key factor was energy costs. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics release: The energy index declined for the second month in a row and offset increases in the indexes for food and all items less food and energy. As in October, the gasoline index fell sharply and the index for household energy declined as well. The food index rose slightly in November, though the index for food at home declined as four of the six major grocery store food group indexes fell. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in November following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the prior two months. The indexes for shelter, medical care, apparel, and personal care all rose. These increases more than offset declines in the indexes for new vehicles and used cars and trucks. The all items index has risen 3.4 percent over the last 12 months. This is a slightly smaller increase than last month’s 3.5 percent figure, as the 12-month change in the energy index declined from 14.2 percent to 12.4 percent. The 12-month change in the food index also declined slightly, from 4.7 percent to 4.6 percent. In contrast, the 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy continued to rise, reaching 2.2 percent in November. Here's a look at the CPI for All Urban Consumers over the last year: Read the release here .

  • Lower Energy Costs Pull CPI-U Down, Reverse 12-Month Trend

    The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers reversed course slightly in October. After climbing 3.5% (seasonally adjusted) over the last year, the CPI decreased 0.1%. The key factor was energy costs. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics release: A decline in the energy index more than offset small increases in the indexes for food and all items less food and energy to create the all items decline. The energy index turned down in October after increasing in each of the three previous months as the gasoline and household energy indexes declined after a series of seasonally adjusted increases. The food index rose in October, but posted its smallest increase of the year as the fruits and vegetables index declined sharply. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in October; this was the same increase as last month and matches its smallest increase of the year. While the shelter and medical care indexes accelerated in October and the apparel index turned up, the indexes for new vehicles, used cars and trucks, airline fare, and recreation all declined. Here's a look at the CPI for All Urban Consumers over the last year: Read the release here .

  • BLS: Real Wages Rose in May

    Unemployment numbers continue to look bad, as the Department of Labor yesterday reported that unemployment insurance claims rose slightly last week . For those people who do have jobs, real wages have gone up, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Real average hourly earnings went up 0.5 percent (seasonally adjusted) from April to May, while real average weekly hours rose 0.8 percent. One key factor: the Consumer Price Index declined 0.2 percent . Here's a look at the trend in real wages over the last year: Read the report from the BLS here .

  • Rising Gas Prices Lift CPI

    The Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in June. The seasonally adjusted rate of growth was 0.7%. The rise in energy prices seems to be a key factor, as the gasoline index rose 17.3 % in the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , but it was not the only index that turned up. Food reversed price declines from May, and the housing index held steady after three months of decline. The year to-date trends look strong overall: The CPI-U all items index advanced at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 3.3 percent in the second quarter of 2009 after increasing at a 2.2 percent rate in the first quarter. This brings the year-to-date SAAR to 2.7 percent and compares with a 0.1 percent increase in all of 2008. The index for energy, which fell 21.3 percent during 2008, rose at a 14.8 percent SAAR in the first six months of 2009. Energy commodities increased at a 52.1 percent rate in the first half of the year, while energy services declined at a 13.6 percent rate. The index for food declined at a 1.1 percent SAAR in the first six months of 2009 after rising 5.9 percent in all of 2008. The food at home index declined at a 3.8 percent rate during the first half of 2009 after rising 6.6 percent in 2008. Read the BLS report here .