The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9% before seasonal adjustment.
US Inflation: November 2011 – January 2012 Consumer Prices
| Nov 2011 |
Dec 2011 |
Jan 2012 |
12 Month |
|
| All items | .0 | .0 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| Food | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| Food at home | -0.1 | 0.3 | .0 | 5.3 |
| Food away from home | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
| Energy | -1.6 | -1.3 | 0.2 | 6.1 |
| Energy commodities | -2.1 | -1.9 | 0.9 | 10.0 |
| Gasoline (all types) | -2.4 | -2.0 | 0.9 | 9.7 |
| Fuel oil | 2.7 | -1.0 | 1.4 | 12.1 |
| Energy services | -0.7 | -0.3 | -0.8 | 0.5 |
| Electricity | 0.4 | -0.2 | .0 | 2.4 |
| Utility (piped) gas service | -4.4 | -0.8 | -2.9 | -5.5 |
| All items less food, energy | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
| Comm. less food, energy | 0.1 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
| New vehicles | -0.3 | -0.2 | .0 | 3.2 |
| Used cars and trucks | -0.1 | -0.9 | -1.0 | 3.2 |
| Apparel | 0.6 | -0.1 | 0.9 | 4.7 |
| Medical care | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.2 |
| Services less energy | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
| Shelter | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
| Transportation | 0.1 | 0.1 | .0 | 2.1 |
| Medical care | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.7 |
The indexes for food, energy, and all items less food and energy all rose in January, each increasing 0.2%. Within the food group, the index for food away from home increased while the index for food at home was unchanged; within the energy group the gasoline index increased while the index for household energy declined.
Within all items less food and energy, the apparel index rose sharply, and the indexes for shelter, recreation, medical care, and tobacco increased as well. The indexes for used cars and trucks and for airline fares both declined, while the new vehicles index was unchanged.
The all items index has risen 2.9% over the last 12 months, a slight decrease from last month’s 3.0% figure. The index for energy has risen 6.1% over the last year and the food index 4.4%; both figures are slight declines from last month. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 2.3%, its largest 12-month increase since September 2008.
Food Inflation
The food index rose 0.2% in January, the same increase as in December. The food at home index was unchanged, as the major grocery store food groups were mixed. The index for dairy and related products increased 0.9%, and the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for other food at home increased as well. In contrast, the index for fruits and vegetables fell 1.3%, its fourth consecutive decline, and the indexes for cereals and bakery products and nonalcoholic beverages also decreased. Over the last 12 months, the food at home index has risen 5.3%. The dairy and related products index rose 9.0% over that span, the largest increase among the major grocery store food groups, while the fruits and vegetables index fell 0.1%, the only decline among the groups. The index for food away from home rose 0.4% in January, its largest increase since August, and has increased 3.1% over the last 12 months.
Energy Inflation
The energy index rose slightly in January, increasing 0.2% after declining in each of the three previous months. The gasoline index rose 0.9% after declining the three previous months. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 3.6% in January.) In contrast, the household energy index declined 0.6%. The fuel oil index rose 1.4% but the natural gas index declined 2.9%, its fourth consecutive decrease. The index for electricity was unchanged in January. Over the last 12 months, the gasoline index has risen 9.7% while the household energy index has increased 1.2%. The indexes for fuel oil and electricity have risen over the last year, but the index for natural gas has declined.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2% in January. The shelter index increased 0.2%, with the indexes for rent, owners’ equivalent rent, and lodging away from home all rising 0.2%. The apparel index, which declined in December, rose sharply in January, increasing 0.9%. The recreation index rose 0.6% as the indexes for admissions and toys both rose notably. The medical care index increased 0.3%, with medical care commodities rising 0.6%. The index for tobacco rose 0.5% and the indexes for household furnishings and operations and for personal care increased slightly. In contrast to these increases, the index for used cars and trucks declined for the fifth month in a row, falling 1.0%, and the index for airline fares fell 0.9%. The new vehicles index was unchanged in January after declining in each of the prior four months.
The index for all items less food and energy has risen 2.3% over the last 12 months. The shelter index has risen 2.0% over that span, the first time its 12-month change has been that high since November 2008. The apparel index has increased 4.7% and the medical care index has risen 3.6%. The indexes for both new vehicles and used cars and trucks have each risen 3.2%.
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.9% over the last 12 months to an index level of 226.665 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.4% prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.1% over the last 12 months to an index level of 223.216 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.5% prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.7% over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.4% on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2010 period are subject to revision.
The Consumer Price Index for February 2012 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 16, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).