February 2017 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 February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The February increase was the smallest 1-month rise in the seasonally adjusted all items index since July 2016. The gasoline index declined, partially offsetting increases in several indexes, including food, shelter, and recreation. The energy index fell 1.0 percent, with the decline in gasoline outweighing increases in the other energy component indexes. The food index increased 0.2 percent over the month, its largest rise since September 2015.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February. The indexes for shelter, recreation, apparel, airline fares, motor vehicle insurance, education, and medical care were among those that increased in February. Indexes that declined include communication, used cars and trucks, new vehicles, and household furnishings and operations.

The all items index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending February; the 12-month increase has been trending upward since a July 2016 trough of 0.8 percent. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.2 percent over the last 12 months; this was the fifteenth straight month the 12-month change remained in the range of 2.1 to 2.3 percent. The energy index rose 15.2 percent over the last year, while the food index was unchanged.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. ended 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 Feb. 2017

Food

The food index rose 0.2 percent in February following a 0.1-percent increase in January. The food at home index rose 0.3 percent, its largest advance since June 2015. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes rose in February. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 1.5 percent, its largest increase since January 2011. The index for dairy and related products rose 0.8 percent, the same increase as last month. The fruits and vegetables index increased 0.7 percent after declining in each of the last 6 months. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.2 percent in February.

The indexes for cereals and bakery products and for other food at home both declined 0.4 percent in February. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in February after a 0.4-percent increase in January. Over the last 12 months the index for food at home fell 1.7 percent, while the food away from home index increased 2.4 percent, leaving the overall food index unchanged.

Energy

The energy index fell 1.0 percent in February, its first decline since July 2016. The gasoline index fell 3.0 percent after a 7.8-percent increase in January. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices decreased 2.1 percent in February.) Other major energy component indexes increased in February. The index for natural gas rose 1.5 percent, the same increase as last month. The electricity index increased 0.8 percent after being unchanged the prior 3 months.

The index for energy increased 15.2 percent over the past year, with all of its major components rising. The gasoline index rose 30.7 percent, its largest 12-month increase since September 2011. The index for natural gas rose 10.9 percent, and the electricity index advanced 1.9 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in February. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent in February, with the indexes for rent and owner's equivalent rent both advancing 0.3 percent. The recreation index rose 0.6 percent in February, its largest increase since April 2001. The apparel index also rose 0.6 percent in February. The index for motor vehicle insurance continued to rise, increasing 0.5 percent. The index for airline fares also continued to increase, rising 2.4 percent following a 2.0-percent increase in January.

The index for medical care rose 0.1 percent in February. The index for hospital services rose 0.4 percent, while the index for prescription drugs declined 0.2 percent. The education index increased 0.3 percent in February, and the index for tobacco advanced 0.4 percent.

In contrast to these increases, the communication index fell in February, declining 0.6 percent. The index for used cars and trucks also fell 0.6 percent, and the index for new vehicles, which rose 0.9 percent in January, declined 0.2 percent in February. The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.1 percent, as did the index for alcoholic beverages. The index for personal care was unchanged in February.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.2 percent over the past 12 months. The indexes for shelter and for medical care both increased 3.5 percent over the past year. The index for new vehicles increased 0.5 percent, and the apparel index rose 0.4 percent. The indexes for used cars and trucks and for airline fares both declined over the past 12 months.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.7 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 243.603 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 237.477 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.9 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index rose 0.3 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.

Consumer Price Index Geographic Revision for 2018

In January 2018, BLS will introduce a new geographic area sample for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 2018 revision utilizes the 2010 Decennial Census and incorporates an updated area sample design, changes the frequency of publication for several local area indexes, and establishes some new local area and aggregate indexes. The first indexes using the new structure will be published in February 2018. Additional information on the geographic revision is available at: www.bls.gov/cpi/georevision2018.htm.

A Note on the Use of Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

Introduction

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) produces both unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data. Seasonally adjusted data are computed using seasonal factors derived by the X-13ARIMA-SEATS Seasonal Adjustment Method. These factors are updated each February, and the new factors are used to revise the previous five years of seasonally adjusted data. For more information on data revisions and exceptions to the usual revision schedule, please see the Fact Sheet on Seasonal Adjustment (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisaqanda.htm) and the Timeline of Seasonal Adjustment Methodological Changes (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpiseastimeline.htm).

How to Use Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

For analyzing short-term price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year—such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. This allows data users to focus on changes that are not typical for the time of year. The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index before adjustment for seasonal variation. BLS advises against the use of seasonally adjusted data in escalation agreements because seasonally adjusted series are revised annually.

Intervention Analysis

The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. Sometimes extreme values or sharp movements can distort the underlying seasonal pattern of price change. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment is a process by which the distortions caused by such unusual events are estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. The resulting seasonal factors, which more accurately represent the seasonal pattern, are then applied to the unadjusted data.

2017 Series Adjusted Using Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2017, BLS adjusted 40 series using Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, including selected food and beverage items, motor fuels and natural gas. For example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the effects of events such as the 2009 return to normal pricing after the worldwide economic downturn in 2008.

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Indexes

Seasonally adjusted data, including the U.S. city average All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their original release. Every year, economists in the CPI calculate new seasonal factors for seasonally adjusted series and apply them to the last five years of data. Seasonally adjusted indexes beyond the last five years of data are considered to be final and not subject to revision. In January 2017, revised seasonal factors and seasonally adjusted indexes for 2012-2016 were calculated and published. For directly adjusted series, the seasonal factors for 2016 will be applied to data for 2017 to produce the seasonally adjusted 2017 indexes.

Determining Seasonal Status

Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. Using these criteria, BLS economists determine whether a series should change its status: from "not seasonally adjusted" to "seasonally adjusted", or vice versa. If any of the 81 components of the U.S. city average all items index change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of the dependent series for the last five years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes before that period will not be changed. 27 of the 81 components of the U.S. city average all items index are not seasonally adjusted for 2017.

Contact Information

For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI, please contact us at (202)691-6968 or cpiseas@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-7000 or cpi_info@bls.gov.

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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