April 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) decreased 0.4 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.

As was the case in March, a sharp decrease in the gasoline index was the primary cause of the decline in the seasonally adjusted all items index. The fuel oil index also declined while the electricity and natural gas indexes increased; the net result was a 4.3 percent decrease in the energy index. The food index, unchanged in March, rose 0.2 percent in April.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in April, the same increase as in March. The indexes for shelter, used cars and trucks, new vehicles, and tobacco all increased in April. These increases were partially offset by declines in the indexes for apparel, airline fares, and recreation.

The all items index increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest 12-month increase since November 2010. The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent over the span; this was its smallest 12-month increase since June 2011. The food index rose 1.5 percent while the energy index declined 4.3 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. ended 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Apr. 2013

Consumer Price Index Data for April 2013

Food

The food index increased 0.2 percent in April after being unchanged in March. The index for food at home turned up in April, increasing 0.1 percent after declining 0.1 percent the prior month. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in April. The largest increase was for the cereals and bakery products index, which rose 0.6 percent. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, and for other food at home both increased 0.4 percent, while the nonalcoholic beverages index rose 0.3 percent. In contrast, the index for fruits and vegetables fell 1.4 percent in April as the indexes for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables both declined for the second straight month. The index for dairy and related products was unchanged in April after declining in February and March. Over the last 12 months, the food at home index has risen 1.0 percent with all the major component groups increasing over that span except nonalcoholic beverages, which fell 0.2 percent. The index for food away from home increased 0.3 percent in April; this was its largest increase since August and it has risen 2.3 percent over the past year.

Energy

The energy index declined significantly for the second straight month, falling 4.3 percent in April after a 2.6 percent decline in March. The gasoline index, down 4.4 percent in March, fell 8.1 percent in April. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices decreased 3.7 percent in April.) The index for fuel oil also continued to decline, falling 4.4 percent after decreasing 2.1 percent the prior month. However, the index for natural gas increased sharply in April; its 4.4 percent increase was its largest since July 2008. The electricity index also rose, increasing 0.5 percent. Over the past 12 months, the index for gasoline has declined 8.3 percent and the fuel oil index has fallen 5.6 percent. In contrast to these declines, the index for natural gas has risen 7.6 percent and the electricity index has increased 1.1 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in April, the same increase as in March. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent for the fourth month in a row. The indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent both advanced 0.2 percent. The index for used cars and trucks increased for the fourth month in a row, rising 0.6 percent in April. The index for new vehicles rose as well, advancing 0.3 percent. The tobacco index turned up, rising 0.6 percent in April after declining in February and March. The medical care index was unchanged in April, the first time it failed to rise since July 2010. The index for medical care commodities rose 0.1 percent, while the medical care services index fell 0.1 percent with the hospital services index declining 0.7 percent. Among the indexes declining in April was the apparel index, which fell 0.3 percent, its third consecutive decrease. The index for airline fares also fell, declining 0.7 percent, and the recreation index decreased 0.1 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations also fell 0.1 percent, its fourth decline in the last five months.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending April. This is slightly below the 1.9 percent average annual increase for the past ten years. The shelter index rose 2.2 percent over the past year, with the rent index increasing 2.7 percent and owners' equivalent rent rising 2.1 percent.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 232.531 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 228.949 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2011 period are subject to revision.

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.