July 2013 Consumer Price Index

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The rise in the seasonally adjusted all items index was the result of increases in a broad array of indexes including shelter, gasoline, apparel, and food. Despite the gasoline increase, the energy index rose only 0.2 percent as the natural gas and electricity indexes declined. The increase in the food index was caused by a sharp rise in the fruits and vegetables index; other food indexes were mixed.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in July, the third straight such increase. Along with the advances in the shelter and apparel indexes, the indexes for medical care, tobacco, and new vehicles all rose. In contrast, the indexes for household furnishings and operations, airline fares, and used cars and trucks all declined in July.

The all items index increased 2.0 percent over the last 12 months. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.7 percent over the last year; this compares to 1.6 percent for the 12 months ending June. The energy index has risen 4.7 percent over the last 12 months, its largest increase since the 12 months ending February 2012. The food index has risen 1.4 percent, the same figure as in May and June.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July ended 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 July 2013

Consumer Price Index Data for July 2013

Food

The food index increased 0.1 percent in July after rising 0.2 percent in June. The food at home index rose 0.1 percent, though only two of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 1.5 percent, with the index for fresh vegetables rising 2.4 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs also increased, rising 0.2 percent, while the index for other food at home was unchanged. Indexes for the other groups declined. The index for nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.6 percent, its third decline in the last five months. The cereals and bakery products index declined 0.3 percent and the index for dairy and related products fell 0.1 percent. Over the past year, the food at home index has increased 1.0 percent. The fruits and vegetables index posted the largest increase over the span, rising 2.7 percent. The index for nonalcoholic beverages was the only one to decline, falling 1.2 percent. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in July, its third straight such increase, and has risen 2.1 percent over the past year.

Energy

The energy index rose 0.2 percent in July after increasing 3.4 percent in June; this was its third increase in a row. The gasoline index increased 1.0 percent in July after a 6.3 percent increase in June. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 0.4 percent in July.) The fuel oil index also increased, rising 1.1 percent. However, other household energy indexes declined. The electricity index fell 0.3 percent after increasing in each of the previous three months. The index for natural gas declined sharply in July, falling 2.8 percent. Despite the July decline, it has still increased 8.8 percent over the last 12 months. The other major energy component indexes have also risen over the same span: gasoline (5.2 percent), fuel oil (3.4 percent), and electricity (3.1 percent).

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in July. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent, the same increase as in June, with the rent index increasing 0.2 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent rising 0.1 percent. The apparel index increased for the third month in a row, rising 0.6 percent. The index for medical care rose 0.2 percent in July. The medical care commodities index increased 0.4 percent as the index for prescription drugs rose 0.5 percent for the second month in a row. The medical care services index advanced 0.1 percent. The tobacco index increased 1.4 percent in July, its largest increase since July 2010. The index for new vehicles also rose in July, increasing 0.1 percent. In contrast to these increases, the index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.4 percent, its largest decrease since April 2010, as the indexes for furniture and bedding and for appliances declined. The index for airlines fares, which fell 1.7 percent in June, declined 1.3 percent in July. The index for used cars and trucks also continued to fall, decreasing 0.4 percent, the same decline as in June. The indexes for recreation and personal care were both unchanged in July.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending July. The shelter index increased 2.3 percent over that span while the new vehicles index rose 1.2 percent; both figures were unchanged from last month. The index for medical care rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months, with the medical care services index rising 2.6 percent but the medical care commodities index declining 0.1 percent over that span. Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.596 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 230.084 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.8 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index was unchanged 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.

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) Annual Average Indexes Discontinued

The final revisions of the C-CPI-U indexes for 2012 will be available in February 2014. Annual average indexes for C-CPI-U series will not be published for time periods after 2012. (Monthly C-CPI-U indexes will continue to be published.) In February 2014, the annual average indexes for the final estimates for 2012 C-CPI-U series will be published in the public CPI database. Table 1CA will not be published.

Publication Changes for Average Price Series

The Bureau of Labor Statistics discontinued 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, however, continues 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 are no longer published. Data for fuel oil #2, per gallon (3.785 liters) continues 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.