November 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) decreased 0.8 percent in November, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The November level of 197.6 (1982-84=100) was 3.5 percent higher than in November 2004.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.9 percent in November, prior to seasonal adjustment. The November level of 193.4 was 3.5 percent higher than in November 2004.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.5 percent in November on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The November level of 114.4 (December 1999=100) was 2.8 percent higher than in November 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 decreased 0.6 percent in November, its largest decline since a 0.9 drop in July 1949. The index for energy declined for the second consecutive month, down a record 8.0 percent in November. Within energy, a 15.2 percent decrease in the index for petroleum-based energy more than offset a 2.1 percent increase in the index for energy services. The index for food rose 0.3 percent in November, the same as in each of the preceding two months. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in November, the same as in October, after registering increases of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding five months. Shelter costs rose 0.3 percent in November, largely as a result of a 1.3 percent increase in the index for lodging away from home, and accounted for over half of the advance in the index for all items less food and energy.

During the first 11 months of 2005, the CPI-U rose at a 3.8 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.3 percent for all of 2004. The index for energy, which increased 16.6 percent in 2004, advanced at a 21.7 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2005. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 22.0 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 21.3 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 2.4 percent rate thus far in 2005, following a 2.7 percent rise for all of 2004. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.1 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2005 after advancing 2.2 percent in 2004.

The food and beverages index rose 0.3 percent in November. The index for food at home also increased 0.3 percent, the same as in each of the preceding two months. While the overall increases were the same, the composition was markedly different in November. The index for fruits and vegetables, which advanced sharply in September and October, decreased 0.2 percent in November. Declines in the indexes for fresh vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables--down 0.8 and 0.2 percent, respectively-- more than offset a 0.5 percent increase in the index for fresh fruits. The index for other food at home, which increased 0.4 percent in October, declined 0.3 percent in November. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, for nonalcoholic beverages, and for dairy products each turned up in November. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.7 percent after declining 0.2 percent in October. The indexes for meats, for poultry, and for fish and seafood rose 0.8, 0.6, and 1.0 percent, respectively, while the index for eggs declined 1.9 percent. The index for nonalcoholic beverages, which declined 0.1 percent in October, rose 0.8 percent in November, reflecting an upturn in prices for carbonated drinks. The index for dairy products rose 0.9 percent, following no change in October. The index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.2 percent, following a 0.6 percent increase in October. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.2 percent.

The index for housing rose 0.5 percent in November, following an increase of 0.9 percent in October. . Shelter costs rose 0.3 percent in November. The index for lodging away from home increased 1.3 percent, following a 3.5 percent advance in October. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for lodging away from home declined 3.5 percent.) The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.2 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively.) The index for fuels and utilities registered its fifth consecutive increase of more than one percent--up 1.4 percent in November. A 3.8 percent increase in the index for electricity more than offset declines in the indexes for fuel oil and natural gas--down 6.1 and 0.5 percent, respectively. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for natural gas increased 2.7 percent in November.) During the last 12 months, charges for natural gas have risen 36.1 percent, fuel oil prices 26.5 percent, and charges for electricity 11.4 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations increased 0.2 percent in November, the same as in October.

The index for apparel increased 0.2 percent in November. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 1.0 percent, reflecting seasonal discounting on women's and girls' apparel.)

The transportation index declined 4.8 percent in November, reflecting a 16.0 percent decrease in the index for motor fuels. Gasoline prices have fallen 20.1 percent from their peak level recorded in September. The index for new and used motor vehicles declined 0.3 percent in November. The index for new vehicles decreased 0.1 percent. (As of November, about 55 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 2006 models. The 2006 models will continue to be phased in, with appropriate adjustments for quality change, over the next several months as they replace old models at dealerships. For a report on quality changes for the 2006 vehicles represented in the Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL-05-2199, dated November 15, 2005.) The indexes for used cars and trucks and for leased cars and trucks declined 0.9 and 0.5 percent, respectively, while the index for car and truck rental increased 2.4 percent. Airline fares, which rose 1.5 percent in October, declined 1.5 percent in November to a level 6.4 percent higher than in November 2004.

Medical care costs rose 0.6 percent in November to a level 4.5 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities-- prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.6 percent, as did the index for medical care services. Charges for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 1.1 percent, respectively.

The index for recreation was unchanged in November. Increases in the indexes for recreation services and for pets, pet products and services were offset by declines in the indexes for video and audio, for sporting goods, and for toys.

The index for education and communication rose 0.4 percent in November. Educational costs rose 0.6 percent and the index for communication rose 0.2 percent. Within the communication index, charges for telephone services increased 0.6 percent, reflecting a 2.0 percent rise in land-line long distance charges. The index for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 1.6 percent in November and has fallen 15.5 percent over the last 12 months.

The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in November. The indexes for tobacco and smoking products and for personal care each increased 0.4 percent.

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers decreased 0.8 percent in November.

Consumer Price Index data for December are scheduled for release on Wednesday, January 18, 2006, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). Releases for the remainder of 2006:

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.