August 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) increased 0.1 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Increases in the indexes for shelter and medical care contributed to the increase in the seasonally adjusted all items index; they also accounted for most of the 0.1 percent increase in the index for all items less food and energy. Within all items less food and energy, the indexes for personal care, tobacco, and apparel rose as well, while the indexes for airline fares, household furnishings and operations, and used cars and trucks declined.

The food index rose slightly in August, with the fruits and vegetable index rising 1.2 percent and four of the six major grocery store group indexes increasing. The energy index declined 0.3 percent, due mostly to a sharp decline in the index for natural gas. The gasoline and electricity indexes also declined slightly, while the index for fuel oil rose.

The all items index increased 1.5 percent over the last 12 months. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.8 percent over the last year; the 12-month change has remained in the range of 1.6 percent to 2.3 percent since June of 2011. The food index rose 1.4 percent over the last 12 months, a figure that has held steady since May. The energy index declined 0.1 percent over the last 12 months.

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

Consumer Price Index Data for August 2013

Food The food index increased 0.1 percent in August, the same increase as in July. The food at home index also rose 0.1 percent for the second straight month. The index for fruits and vegetables continued to rise, increasing 1.2 percent after a 1.5 percent advance in July. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose for the third month in a row, increasing 0.6 percent. The index for dairy and related products turned up in August, increasing 0.4 percent after declining in each of the three previous months, and the index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.3 percent in August after declining 0.3 percent in July. In contrast to these increases, the index for other food at home fell 1.0 percent in August, its largest decline since 2002. The index for nonalcoholic beverages also declined in August, falling 0.1 percent. The food at home index has risen 1.0 percent over the last 12 months. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes rose over the span, with the fruits and vegetables index posting the largest increase at 3.6 percent. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in August and has increased 2.0 percent over the past year.

Energy

The energy index declined 0.3 percent in August after rising 0.2 percent in July. The gasoline index, which increased in June and July, declined 0.1 percent in August. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 0.5 percent in August.) The electricity index also decreased 0.1 percent in August, its second decline in a row. The index for natural gas fell as well, declining 2.3 percent after a 2.8 percent decrease in July. Fuel oil was the only major energy component index to increase in August; it rose 1.2 percent after a 1.1 percent increase in July. Major energy components are mixed over the last 12 months. Despite the recent declines, the index for natural gas has increased 4.8 percent over the past year, while the electricity index has increased 2.8 percent. However, the gasoline index has declined 2.4 percent over the span, while the index for fuel oil is unchanged.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in August after increasing 0.2 percent in each of the three previous months. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent, the same increase as in June and July, with the rent index increasing 0.4 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent rising 0.2 percent, but the index for lodging away from home falling 0.7 percent. The index for medical care increased 0.6 percent in August. The medical care services index rose 0.7 percent with the index for hospital services increasing 1.9 percent. The medical care commodities index rose 0.4 percent. Also rising in August were the indexes for personal care, which rose 0.3 percent, tobacco, which advanced 0.4 percent, and apparel, which increased 0.1 percent. The new vehicles index, which rose in June and July, was unchanged in August, while the recreation index was unchanged for the second straight month. The index for airline fares declined sharply in August, falling 3.1 percent. This was the third consecutive decline for the index, but it has still risen 1.5 percent over the past 12 months. The indexes for used cars and trucks and household furnishings and operations both declined slightly in August, falling 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending August. The medical care index rose 2.3 percent over that span, with the index for medical care services up 3.1 percent and the medical care commodities index unchanged. The shelter index increased 2.4 percent, and the index for new vehicles rose 1.1 percent.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.5 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.877 (1982- 84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.1 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 230.359 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.4 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 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.

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.

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.