October 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 0.1 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 1.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index fell 2.9 percent in October and led to the seasonally adjusted decline in the all items index. Other energy indexes were mixed, with the electricity index rising, but the indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas declining. The food index rose slightly, with major grocery store food group indexes evenly split between advances and declines.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in October. The shelter index rose, but posted its smallest increase since December 2012. The indexes for airline fares, for recreation, and for used cars and trucks also increased. The medical care index was unchanged, while the indexes for apparel, for household furnishings and operations, and for new vehicles all declined.

The all items index increased 1.0 percent over the last 12 months; this was the smallest 12-month increase since October 2009. The energy index has declined 4.8 percent over the last 12 months, its largest 12-month decline since July 2012. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.7 percent over the last year, while the food index has risen 1.3 percent.

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

Consumer Price Index Data for October 2013

Food

The food index rose 0.1 percent in October after being unchanged in September. Among major grocery store food groups, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.6 percent, the largest increase of any group and its fifth increase in a row. The index for nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.4 percent after declining in each of the three previous months, and the fruits and vegetables index rose 0.2 percent after declining in September. In contrast to these increases, the index for cereals and bakery products fell 0.4 percent in October after rising in August and September. The indexes for dairy and related products and for other food at home both fell 0.2 percent after rising in September. The food at home index has risen 0.8 percent over the last 12 months. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, for fruits and vegetables, and for cereals and bakery products have risen over the span, while the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages, for other food at home, and for dairy and related products have declined. The index for food away from home rose 0.1 percent in October and has increased 1.9 percent over the last 12 months.

Energy

The energy index declined 1.7 percent in October after increasing in September. The gasoline index, which rose 0.8 percent in September, fell 2.9 percent in October. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 4.9 percent in October.) The fuel oil index also turned down, falling 0.6 percent in October after rising in September. Similarly, the index for natural gas fell 1.0 percent after rising 1.8 percent in September. The electricity index was the only major component to increase, rising 0.1 percent. The energy index has declined 4.8 percent over the last year, with the gasoline index down 10.1 percent. The fuel oil index also fell, declining 4.6 percent. In contrast, the natural gas index rose 4.4 percent over the span, and the electricity index rose 3.0 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in October, the same increase as in August and September. The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in October after increasing 0.2 percent in each of the previous four months. The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent both increased 0.2 percent, but the index for lodging away from home declined 3.1 percent. The index for airline fares rose sharply in October, advancing 3.6 percent. The index for used cars and trucks, unchanged in September, rose 0.3 percent in October. The indexes for recreation and for tobacco also increased, each rising 0.1 percent. The index for medical care was unchanged in October, ending a string of four consecutive increases. The index for medical care commodities rose 0.3 percent as the prescription drug index rose 0.4 percent. However, the index for medical care services declined 0.1 percent as the hospital services index fell 0.3 percent after increasing sharply in recent months. The apparel index declined in October, falling 0.5 percent, the same decline as in September. The index for household furnishings and operations fell 0.2 percent, and the new vehicles index declined 0.1 percent after rising in September.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending October, the same increase as the 12 months ending September. The indexes for shelter and medical care have both risen 2.3 percent over the last 12 months, and the new vehicles index has increased 1.0 percent. The apparel index has declined over the last 12 months, falling 0.2 percent.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.546 (1982- 84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 229.735 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.0 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-2011 period are subject to revision.

IMPACT OF PARTIAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

As a result of the partial federal government shutdown, all CPI staff were furloughed from October 1, 2013 through October 16, 2013. Data collection, data review and index computation commenced shortly after the end of the shutdown. In order to minimize the impact of the shutdown on the quality and timeliness of the index, resources normally devoted to maintenance and improvement work were redirected into data collection and index production. The sample of prices used to calculate the October index was about 75 percent of the amount usually used in the CPI.

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.