November 2014 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) declined 0.3 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index posted its sharpest decline since December 2008 and was the main cause of the decrease in the seasonally adjusted all items index. The indexes for fuel oil and natural gas also declined, and the energy index fell 3.8 percent. The food index rose 0.2 percent with major grocery store food groups mixed.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in November. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent, and the indexes for medical care, airline fares, and alcoholic beverages also rose. In contrast, the indexes for apparel, used cars and trucks, recreation, household furnishings and operations, personal care, and new vehicles all declined in November.

The all items index increased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months, a notable decline from the 1.7 percent figure from the 12 months ending October. The index for all items less food and energy has increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months, compared to 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending October. The food index has risen 3.2 percent over the span. However, the energy index has declined 4.8 percent over the past 12 months, with the gasoline and fuel oil indexes both falling over 10 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. ended 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 Nov. 2014

Consumer Price Index Data for November 2014

Food

The food index rose 0.2 percent in November after increasing 0.1 percent in October. The index for food at home rose 0.1 percent in November and has risen 3.4 percent over the past year. Indexes for major grocery store food groups were mixed in November, with three increases and three declines. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.6 percent in November after declining in October. The index for beef and veal rose 0.8 percent, its tenth consecutive increase. The index for nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.5 percent, and the index for other food at home increased 0.4 percent. In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index turned down, falling 0.7 percent in November after a 0.9 percent increase in October. The index for fresh vegetables rose 1.8 percent, but the fresh fruits index fell 2.9 percent. The indexes for dairy and related products and for cereals and bakery products both fell 0.2 percent. All six groups increased over the past 12 months, with increases ranging from 0.2 percent (cereals and bakery products) to 9.1 percent (meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.) The index for food away from home increased 0.4 percent in November, its largest increase since January 2012, and has risen 2.9 percent over the past year.

Energy

The energy index declined for the fifth month in a row, falling 3.8 percent in November. The gasoline index continued to decrease sharply, falling 6.6 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 8.9 percent in November.) The fuel oil index fell 3.5 percent in November, its ninth consecutive decline. The gasoline index has fallen 10.5 percent over the last 12 months, and the fuel oil index has declined 10.1 percent. The index for natural gas also declined in November, decreasing 1.7 percent, but it has risen 3.2 percent over the last year. Electricity was the only major component index to rise in November; it increased 0.1 percent and has risen 2.8 percent over the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in November following a 0.2 percent increase in October. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent, with the rent index rising 0.3 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent increasing 0.2 percent. The index for lodging away from home was unchanged in November. The index for medical care rose 0.4 percent in November, its largest increase since August 2013. The index for prescription drugs rose 0.6 percent, while the physicians' services index increased 0.5 percent. The airline fares index increased 1.4 percent after a 2.4 percent increase in October. The index for alcoholic beverages rose as well, increasing 0.8 percent. In contrast to these increases, the apparel index fell 1.1 percent and the index for used cars and trucks declined 1.2 percent. Several indexes posted more modest declines; the indexes for recreation, for household furnishings and operations, and for personal care all declined 0.2 percent, and the new vehicles index fell 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.7 percent over the last 12 months. The shelter index rose 3.0 percent over that span, and the index for medical care increased 2.5 percent. Several indexes have declined over the last 12 months, including airline fares, used cars and trucks, household furnishings and operations, and recreation.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 236.151 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index fell 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 231.551 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index fell 0.7 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 fell 0.7 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2012 period are subject to revision.

Chained Consumer Price Index to be Revised Quarterly

Effective with the release of CPI data for January 2015 on February 26, 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will begin quarterly revisions of the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U). In addition, a Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) formula will replace the geometric mean formula for the calculation of Initial and Interim C-CPI-U indexes.

More frequent weight updates and index revisions. Whereas CPI-U and CPI-W indexes are considered final when released, the final C-CPI-U index is published with a lag for administration and processing of Consumer Expenditure Survey household data, the source of the final C-CPI-U monthly expenditure weights. Under the traditional annual revision process, the final C-CPI-U index was published 13 to 24 months after the CPI-U. The CPI program is implementing a new estimation system that calculates monthly expenditure weights and revised C-CPI-U indexes on a quarterly basis. Under the new quarterly process, the final C-CPI-U index will lag the CPI-U index by 10 to 12 months.

Final C-CPI-U indexes for 2014 will be published on the following quarterly schedule:

Index Month Release Month January 2013 - March 2014 February 2015 April - June 2014 May 2015 July - September 2014 August 2015 October - December 2014 November 2015

Initial C-CPI-U indexes will continue to be released concurrent with the CPI-U release, and will be updated as interim C-CPI-U indexes with every quarterly revision until the final version is published.

New formula for initial and interim C-CPI-U Indexes. The CES formula will replace the geometric mean formula for initial and interim C-CPI-U indexes effective with the February 26, 2015 release. The CES formula is an improvement over the geometric mean formula because the CES formula more closely models consumer substitution behavior.

With the use of the geometric mean formula, consumers are assumed to consistently substitute within item classification to goods whose prices are falling relative to others. Using a fixed quantity formula, such as a Laspeyres formula, consumers are assumed to make no substitutions between goods when faced with relative price change. In reality, consumers respond to relative price changes differently than either model implies. The CES formula attempts to capture the amount of substitution occurring in the marketplace as consumers respond to changing relative prices.

For further details on the implementation of the CES formula and the frequency of weight updates for the C-CPI-U, please contact the CPI Information and Analysis section at (202) 691-6966.

New Estimation System

Effective with the release of the January 2015 CPI on February 26, 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will utilize a new estimation system for the Consumer Price Index. The new estimation system, the first major improvement to the existing system in over 25 years, is a redesigned, state-of-the-art system with improved flexibility and review capabilities. For more information on this new system, please see http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpinewest.htm.

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.