April 2016 Consumer Price Index

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The seasonally adjusted all items increase was broad-based, with the indexes for food, energy, and all items less food and energy all rising in April. The food index rose 0.2 percent after declining in March, with the food at home index increasing slightly. The index for energy increased 3.4 percent, with the gasoline index rising 8.1 percent, and the indexes for fuel oil and natural gas also advancing.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in April. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent, as did the index for medical care, and the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, airline fares, recreation, and education increased as well. Several other component indexes increased slightly, including those for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and personal care. In contrast, the indexes for household furnishings and operations, apparel, new vehicles, used cars and trucks, and communication all declined.

The all items index rose 1.1 percent for the 12 months ending April, a larger increase than the 0.9-percent increase for the 12 months ending March. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.1 percent over the last 12 months, compared to a 2.2-percent rise for the 12 months ending March. The food index has risen 0.9 percent over the last 12 months, and the energy index has declined 8.9 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. ended 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 Apr. 2016

Consumer Price Index Data for April 2016

Food

The food index rose 0.2 percent in April after falling 0.2 percent in March. The food at home index increased 0.1 percent after declining 0.5 percent the prior month. Major grocery store food group indexes were mixed in April, with four increases and two declines, and generally small changes. The largest of the increases belonged to the other food at home group, which rose 0.5 percent. The index for dairy and related products, which fell in March, rose 0.4 percent in April. The indexes for cereals and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages both increased 0.3 percent.

The index for fruits and vegetables, however, declined for the second straight month, falling 0.5 percent as both the fresh fruits and fresh vegetables indexes decreased. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs fell 0.1 percent, as a 6.3 percent decline in the index for eggs more than offset increases in the indexes for meats, poultry, and fish. The food at home index has declined 0.3 percent over the past year, with the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs falling 3.1 percent. The index for food away from home advanced 0.2 percent in April and has risen 2.7 percent over the last 12 months.

Energy

The energy index rose 3.4 percent in April; this followed a 0.9 percent increase in March and was its largest increase since February 2013. Most of the rise was due to the gasoline index, which increased 8.1 percent in April. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 9.1 percent in April.) The fuel oil index also increased, rising 1.9 percent in April. The index for natural gas, which declined in March, advanced 0.6 percent in April. The electricity index, however, declined in April, falling 0.3 percent after rising in March. Despite the monthly increase, the energy index has declined 8.9 percent over the past year, with all major component indexes falling over the period. The gasoline index has decreased 13.8 percent over the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in April after increasing 0.1 percent in March. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent in April following a 0.2 percent rise the prior month. The indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent both increased 0.3 percent, while the index for lodging away from home declined for the second straight month, falling 0.4 percent. The medical care index rose 0.3 percent in April, with the index for prescription drugs rising 0.7 percent and the hospital services index advancing 0.3 percent, but the physicians' services index declining 0.1 percent. The motor vehicle insurance index rose 1.2 percent in April, and the index for airline fares advanced 1.1 percent after declining in March. The recreation index rose 0.3 percent in April, as did the index for education, and the indexes for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and personal care all posted slight increases.

In contrast, the index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.4 percent in April, its largest decline since April 2010. The indexes for apparel, for new vehicles, and for used cars and trucks also fell in April, each declining 0.3 percent. The index for communication declined as well, falling 0.2 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.1 percent over the past 12 months. Indexes posting larger increases include motor vehicle insurance (6.0 percent), tobacco (3.7 percent), shelter (3.2 percent), and medical care (3.0 percent). Indexes rising more slowly include personal care (1.7 percent), recreation (1.3 percent), and airline fares (0.4 percent). The index for new vehicles was unchanged over the past 12 months, and several indexes declined, including used cars and trucks (-1.5 percent), household furnishings and operations (-1.2 percent), and apparel (-0.6 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 239.261 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.5 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 233.438 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.7 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index rose 0.6 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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