April 2005 Consumer Price Index

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.7 percent in April, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The April level of 194.6 (1982-84=100) was 3.5 percent higher than in April 2004.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.8 percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The April level of 190.2 was 3.7 percent higher than in April 2004.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in April on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The April level of 113.1 (December 1999=100) was 2.9 percent higher than in April 2004. Please note that the indexes for the post-2003 period are subject to revision.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.5 percent in April, following an increase of 0.6 percent in March. Energy costs advanced sharply for the third consecutive month--up 4.5 percent in April. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy increased 6.3 percent and the index for energy services increased 2.3 percent. The index for food rose 0.7 percent. The index for food at home increased 1.1 percent, its largest advance since a similar rise in May 2004. The index for all items less food and energy, which increased 0.4 percent in March, was virtually unchanged in April. Declines in the indexes for apparel and for lodging while away from home, which had accounted for the acceleration in March, were largely responsible for the deceleration in April.

During the first four months of 2005, the CPI-U rose at a 4.8 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.3 percent for all of 2004. The index for energy, which rose 16.6 percent in 2004, advanced at a 31.7 percent SAAR in the first four months of 2005. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 54.1 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at an 8.9 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 3.1 percent SAAR thus far this year, following a 2.7 percent rise for all of 2004. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.6 percent SAAR in the first four months, following a 2.2 percent rise for all of 2004.

The food and beverages index increased 0.6 percent in April. The index for food at home, which rose 0.2 percent in March, advanced 1.1 percent in April. Increases in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, for nonalcoholic beverages and for other food at home--up 3.4, 1.1, and 1.3 percent, respectively--accounted for five-sixths of the advance in the April food at home index. The advance in the index for fruits and vegetables was its first increase since November. In April, the indexes for fresh vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables rose 7.9 and 2.8 percent, respectively, while the index for fresh fruits decreased 0.7 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for fresh fruits rose 0.8 percent.) Increases in the indexes for coffee and for carbonated drinks--up 4.6 and 1.9 percent, respectively--accounted for the rise in the index for nonalcoholic beverages. Upturns in the indexes for snacks, for sugar and sweets, and for butter and margarine were largely responsible for the increase in the index for other food at home. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for dairy products each increased 0.4 percent, while the index for cereals and bakery products was virtually unchanged. Within the first group, increases in the indexes for pork and for fish and seafood more than offset declines in poultry and egg prices. Beef prices were unchanged in April. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in April. Shelter costs, which advanced 0.6 percent in March, were virtually unchanged in April, largely as a result of a downturn in the index for lodging away from home. The index for lodging away from home declined 1.2 percent in April, following a 3.9 percent increase in March. In April, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The index for fuels and utilities rose 2.1 percent, following a 0.1 percent increase in March. The index for fuel oil increased 4.6 percent in April to a level 39.1 percent higher than in April 2004. The indexes for gas and for electricity rose 5.6 and 0.6 percent, respectively. During the last 12 months, charges for natural gas have risen 16.4 percent and charges for electricity have increased 4.1 percent. In April, the index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged for the second consecutive month.

The transportation index rose 1.8 percent in April, largely reflecting a 6.4 percent increase in the index for gasoline. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the price of gasoline was 10.2 percent higher than its previous peak level of last month and 24.2 percent higher than a year earlier.) The index for new vehicles declined for the second consecutive month--down 0.1 percent in April. Despite the recent declines, new vehicle prices have risen 0.9 percent during the last 12 months. The index for used cars and trucks rose 0.3 percent in April to a level 5.2 percent above April 2004. The index for public transportation increased 1.7 percent in April, reflecting increases in the indexes for airline fares and for other intercity transportation. Airline fares registered their third consecutive advance, up 3.6 percent in April, their largest monthly advance since a 5.0 percent increase in June 2001. With the recent advances, airline fares are 1.1 percent higher than in April 2004, but are 3.8 percent lower than in the month prior to the terrorist attacks in 2001.

The index for apparel decreased 0.6 percent in April after increasing 0.8 percent in March, reflecting discounting of women's and girls' apparel- -down 1.3 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 0.2 percent.)

Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in April to a level 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for medical care commodities-- prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was virtually unchanged in April. The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in April. Charges for professional services and for hospital and related services each increased 0.4 percent.

The index for recreation, which was unchanged in March, rose 0.2 percent in April. The index for recreational services rose 0.2 percent in April after declining 0.2 percent in March. Increases in the indexes for club membership dues and fees for participant sports and for fees for lessons and instructions more than offset a decline in the index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events.

The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in April. The education index rose 0.6 percent and the index for communication costs increased 0.1 percent. Within the latter group, the index for telephone services rose 0.3 percent, reflecting increases in both local and long distance land-line telephone charges. The index for personal computers and peripheral equipment was virtually unchanged in April, but has declined 15.7 percent during the last 12 months.

The index for other goods and services was virtually unchanged in April. The index for tobacco and smoking products increased 0.1 percent. The index for miscellaneous personal services rose 0.3 percent, reflecting a 1.4 percent increase in the index for tax return preparation and other accounting fees.

CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.6 percent in April.

Consumer Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339. For a recorded message of Summary CPI data, call (202) 691-5200.