The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged 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 1.6 percent before seasonal adjustment.
US Inflation: November 2012 – January 2013 Consumer Prices
| Nov 2012 |
Dec 2012 |
Jan 2013 |
12 Month |
|
| All items | -0.2 | .0 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Food | 0.2 | 0.2 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Food at home | 0.3 | 0.2 | .0 | 1.1 |
| Food away from home | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
| Energy | -3.4 | -0.8 | -1.7 | -1.0 |
| Energy commodities | -5.7 | -1.5 | -3.0 | -1.4 |
| Gasoline (all types) | -6.0 | -1.9 | -3.0 | -1.5 |
| Fuel oil | -0.2 | .0 | -0.2 | 2.0 |
| Energy services | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | -0.3 |
| Electricity | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| Utility (piped) gas service | 1.5 | 0.7 | -1.7 | -2.5 |
| All items less food, energy | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
| Comm. less food, energy | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| New vehicles | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| Used cars and trucks | -0.4 | -0.3 | 0.2 | -1.3 |
| Apparel | -0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.1 |
| Medical care | -0.3 | -0.3 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| Services less energy | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
| Shelter | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
| Transportation | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| Medical care | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in January. This increase offset another decline in the gasoline index and resulted in the seasonally adjusted all items index being unchanged, as it was last month. Increases in the indexes for shelter and apparel accounted for much of the increase in the index for all items less food and energy, with advances in the indexes for recreation, medical care, and airline fares also contributing.
The energy index fell 1.7 percent in January. Along with the gasoline index, the natural gas and fuel oil indexes also declined, while the electricity index increased. The index for food was unchanged in January after increasing in each of the previous ten months. The food at home index was unchanged with major grocery store food group indexes mixed.
The all items index increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months; the 12-month change has been slowing since its recent peak of 2.2 percent in October. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months, the same figure as the last two months. The food index has risen 1.6 percent over the last 12 months while the energy index has declined 1.0 percent.
Food Inflation
The food index was unchanged in January after rising 0.2 percent in each of the last three months. The index for food at home was also unchanged after recent increases. Three major grocery store food group indexes increased in January. The index for dairy and related products rose 0.4 percent in January, its sixth increase in a row. The fruits and vegetables index rose 0.3 percent, and the index for cereals and bakery products increased 0.1 percent. In contrast to these increases, the index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.5 percent in January, and the index for other food at home fell 0.2 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was unchanged. Over the last 12 months, the food at home index has risen 1.1 percent. The fruits and vegetables index posted the largest increase over that span, rising 2.9 percent, while the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages and dairy and related products both declined. The index for food away from home rose 0.1 percent in January and has increased 2.3 percent over the last 12 months.
Energy Inflation
The energy index declined 1.7 percent in January, its third consecutive decline. The gasoline index fell for the fourth straight month, declining 3.0 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 0.3 percent in January.) The index for fuel oil fell 0.2 percent in January. The index for natural gas, which rose in November and December, declined 1.7 percent. In contrast to these declines, the electricity index rose 1.1 percent in January. Over the last 12 months, the energy index has declined 1.0 percent, with the gasoline index falling 1.5 percent and the index for natural gas decreasing 2.5 percent. These declines more than offset the fuel oil and electricity indexes, which rose 2.0 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in January after rising 0.1 percent in November and December. The shelter index rose 0.2 percent in January. The indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent rent also increased 0.2 percent, while the index for lodging away from home rose 1.2 percent. The apparel index increased 0.8 percent, and the index for airline fares rose for the fifth month in a row, advancing 1.1 percent. The recreation index increased 0.3 percent and the index for medical care rose 0.1 percent. The index for used cars and trucks rose 0.2 percent, ending a string of six consecutive declines, while the new vehicles index advanced 0.1 percent. The tobacco index rose 0.5 percent, the same increase as in December, and the index for personal care increased 0.1 percent. In contrast, the index for house hold furnishings and operations was one of the few indexes to decline in January, falling 0.1 percent.
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 230.280 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.5 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 226.520 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.5 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2011 period are subject to revision.
The Consumer Price Index for February 2013 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 15, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).