January 2013 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) 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.

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.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. ended 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 Jan. 2013

Consumer Price Index Data for January 2013

Food

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

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 household furnishings and operations was one of the few indexes to decline in January, falling 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.9 percent for the 12 months ending January. Airline fare (3.8 percent), medical care (3.1 percent), shelter (2.2 percent), and apparel (2.1 percent) were among the indexes that rose more quickly. New vehicles (1.7 percent) and recreation (0.6 percent) rose more slowly, while used cars and trucks (-1.3 percent) and household furnishings and operations (-0.2 percent) declined.

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.

C-CPI-U Index Revisions

As scheduled, effective with this release of data for January 2013, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) has undergone its annual revision. Because the current expenditure data required for the calculation of the C-CPI-U are available only with a time lag, the index is issued first in preliminary form, using the latest available expenditure data at the time of publication, and is subject to two subsequent revisions. Therefore, C-CPI-U indexes for the 12 months of 2011 are issued in final form - employing monthly expenditure weights from 2011. Values for the 12 months of 2012 are revised and issued as interim, using expenditure weights from the 2009-2010 period. Calculation of the initial value of the January 2013 C-CPI-U index, and all subsequent months in 2013, will also be based upon 2009-2010 expenditure weights.

Discontinuation of Department Store Inventory Indexes

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will discontinue publication of its Department Store Inventory indexes after the release of the December 2013 CPI in mid-January 2014, and these values will no longer be uploaded to the Labstat database. For further information please contact Sharon Gibson at 202-691-6968 or gibson.sharon@bls.gov.

Publication Changes for Average Price Series

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will discontinue publication of three average price series after the release of the June 2013 CPI in mid- July 2013. They are:

- utility (piped) gas, 40 therms; - utility (piped) gas, 100 therms; and - electricity, 500 kilowatt hours.

The Bureau will, however, continue to publish average prices for utility (piped) gas on a per therm basis, and will continue to publish electricity prices on a per kilowatt hour basis. As such, users will be able to convert these data to any consumption amount. CPI Detailed Report table P1. Average residential prices for utility (piped) gas, electricity, and fuel oil, U.S. city average and selected areas will no longer be published. Data for fuel oil #2, per gallon (3.785 liters) will continue to be available in the CPI Average Price Data public database.

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.