October 2011 Consumer Price Index

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

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.

The all items index has risen 3.5 percent over the last 12 months, a lower figure than last month's 3.9 percent increase, as the 12-month change in the energy index fell from 19.3 to 14.2 percent. In contrast, the 12-month change for all items less food and energy edged up from 2.0 to 2.1 percent. The food index 12-month change was 4.7 percent, the same figure as in September.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. ended 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 Oct. 2011

Consumer Price Index Data for October 2011

Food

The food index decelerated in October, rising 0.1 percent after rising 0.4 percent in September. The food at home index, which had risen 0.6 percent in each of the last three months, rose 0.1 percent in October. The deceleration was largely due to the fruits and vegetables group, which fell 1.7 percent as the indexes for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables both declined sharply. The other five major grocery store food groups all posted modest increases. The indexes for nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.5 percent, as did the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. The indexes for cereals and bakery products and for other food at home both rose 0.4 percent, while the index for dairy and related products increased 0.1 percent. The food at home index has risen 6.2 percent over the past 12 months with all six major groups up between 4.9 percent (nonalcoholic beverages) and 9.0 percent (dairy and related products). The index for food away from home advanced 0.2 percent in October and has risen 2.7 percent over the past 12 months.

Energy

The energy index fell 2.0 percent in October following a 2.0 percent increase in September. The gasoline index, up 2.9 percent in September, fell 3.1 percent in October. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 4.3 percent in October.) Despite the October decline, the gasoline index has risen 23.5 percent over the past 12 months. The household energy index also declined in October, falling 0.3 percent. The electricity index rose 0.4 percent, but this increase was more than offset by a 3.0 percent decline in the index for natural gas and a 0.5 percent decrease in the fuel oil index. The household energy index has risen 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. The fuel oil index has risen 26.8 percent and the electricity index has increased 2.9 percent, while the index for natural gas has declined 2.2 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in October, the same increase as in September. The shelter index, which rose 0.1 percent in September, increased 0.2 percent in October. The rent index rose 0.4 percent in October after a 0.2 percent increase in September, while the index for owners' equivalent rent rose 0.2 percent in October after a 0.1 percent increase in September. These increases more than offset the third consecutive decline in the index for lodging away from home, which fell 1.7 percent in October. The medical care index, which rose 0.2 percent in September, increased 0.5 percent in October. The index for medical care commodities rose 0.3 percent and the medical care services index rose 0.5 percent with the indexes for hospital services rising 0.7 percent and the physicians' services index increasing 0.5 percent. The indexes for household furnishings and operations and personal care posted slight increases in October. In contrast to these increases, the index for new vehicles declined in October, falling 0.3 percent after being unchanged for three months in row, and the index for used cars and trucks fell 0.6 percent, while the indexes for recreation and for airline fares posted slight declines.

The index for all items less food and energy has increased 2.1 percent over the last 12 months. Indexes with larger 12-month increases include airline fares (9.6 percent), used cars and trucks (5.2 percent), education (4.7 percent), apparel (4.2 percent), new vehicles (3.4 percent), and medical care (3.1 percent). Indexes with smaller increases include shelter (1.8 percent) and recreation (0.3 percent), while the communication index declined (-1.8 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.5 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 226.421 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 223.043 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 3.4 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index decreased 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2009 period are subject to revision.

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