August 2015 Consumer Price Index

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 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 rose 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index declined sharply in August and was the main cause of the seasonally adjusted all items decrease. Other energy indexes were mixed, with the fuel oil index continuing to decline but the indexes for electricity and natural gas increasing in August. The food index rose 0.2 percent in August, with the indexes for eggs and for fruits and vegetables rising notably.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in August, the same increase as in July. The index for shelter rose, as did the indexes for apparel, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages. However the index for airline fares declined sharply, and the indexes for household furnishings and operations, recreation, and used cars and trucks also decreased in August, with the indexes for new vehicles and medical care unchanged.

The all items index increased 0.2 percent for the 12 months ending August, the same increase as for the 12 months ending July. The 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy also remained the same, at 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending August. The food index rose 1.6 percent over the last 12 months, while the energy index declined 15.0 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. ended 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 Aug. 2015

Consumer Price Index Data for August 2015

Food

The food index increased 0.2 percent in August, the same increase as in July. The index for food at home advanced 0.3 percent, also the same increase as the prior month. Major grocery store food group indexes were mixed in August. The largest increase was the fruits and vegetables index, which rose 1.5 percent with both fresh fruits and fresh vegetables posting their largest increases of the year. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs also increased, rising 0.5 percent. The indexes for beef, poultry, and pork all declined, but the eggs index rose 7.7 percent and is now up 35.3 percent over the past year. The index for nonalcoholic beverages rose for the third month in a row, increasing 0.1 percent. The other three groups all turned down in August after rising in July. The index for dairy and related products fell 0.3 percent, the index for other food at home declined 0.2 percent, and the cereals and bakery products index decreased 0.1 percent. The index for food at home has risen 0.8 percent over the past 12 months, with only the dairy group showing a decline over that span. The index for food away from home, which was unchanged in July, increased 0.2 percent in August and has risen 2.7 percent over the past 12 months.

Energy

The energy index fell 2.0 percent in August after rising in five of the past 6 months. The gasoline index, which had risen 3 months in a row, fell 4.1 percent in August. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices declined 5.4 percent in August.) The fuel oil index also declined, falling 8.1 percent, its third straight decrease. The index for natural gas rose, however, increasing 1.2 percent after a 1.4 percent decline in July. The electricity index also turned up, rising 0.3 percent in August after declining in July. All the major energy components have declined over the past 12 months. The electricity index has fallen 0.6 percent, while the others have declined more sharply; the fuel oil index has decreased 34.6 percent, the index for gasoline has declined 23.3 percent, and the index for natural gas has fallen 11.5 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in August, as it did in July. The shelter index was the main source of the increase; it rose 0.2 percent in August following a 0.4 percent increase in July. The rent index rose 0.3 percent in August, the same increase as in July, while the index for owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2 percent. The index for lodging away from home, however, turned down in August, falling 0.6 percent after a 2.5 percent increase the prior month. The apparel index increased 0.3 percent in August, the same increase as last month. The tobacco index also rose in August, increasing 0.5 percent, and the index for alcoholic beverages advanced 0.1 percent. The medical care index was unchanged in August, with the indexes for hospital services and prescription drugs rising but the indexes for physicians' services and nonprescription drugs declining. The new vehicles index was unchanged in August, as was the index for personal care. Several indexes declined in August.

The index for airline fares fell 3.1 percent after decreasing 5.6 percent in July. The index for used cars and trucks decreased 0.4 percent, its fourth decline in a row. The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.3 percent, and the recreation index fell 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.8 percent over the past 12 months; the 12-month change has been 1.8 percent in five of the last 6 months. The indexes for shelter, medical care, new vehicles, recreation, and tobacco are among the indexes that have increased over the past year. In contrast, the indexes for airline fares, apparel, used cars and trucks, and household furnishings and operations have all declined over the last 12 months.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 238.316 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.366 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.

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