November 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) rose 0.4 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 rose 2.2 percent.

The energy index rose 3.9 percent and accounted for about three-fourths of the all items increase. The gasoline index increased 7.3 percent, and the other energy component indexes also rose. The food index was unchanged in November, with the index for food at home declining slightly.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in November. The shelter index continued to rise, and the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, used cars and trucks, and new vehicles also increased. The indexes for apparel, airline fares, and household furnishings and operations all declined in November.

The all items index rose 2.2 percent for the 12 months ending November. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.7 percent, a slight decline from the 1.8-percent increase for the period ending October. The energy index rose 9.4 percent over the last 12 months, and the food index rose 1.4 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. ended 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 Nov. 2017

Food

The food index remained unchanged in November. The index for food at home declined 0.1 percent, with four of the six major grocery store food group indexes falling. The index for nonalcoholic beverages, which was unchanged in October, fell 0.6 percent in November. The fruits and vegetables index declined 0.5 percent in November after being unchanged in October. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs fell 0.3 percent, and the cereals and bakery products index declined 0.2 percent.

The index for other food at home rose in November, increasing 0.4 percent. The index for dairy and related products, which declined 0.3 percent in October, increased 0.3 percent in November. The index for food away from home also increased in November, rising 0.2 percent.

The food at home index increased 0.6 percent over the last 12 months. The index for meat, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.4 percent over the span, the largest increase among the six groups. The indexes for dairy and related products and for nonalcoholic beverages were unchanged over the last 12 months, and the index for cereals and bakery products declined 0.8 percent. The index for food away from home rose 2.4 percent over the last 12 months.

Energy

The energy index rose 3.9 percent in November after falling 1.0 percent the prior month. The gasoline index rose 7.3 percent in November after declining in October. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 2.6 percent in November.)The other major energy component indexes also increased, with the electricity index increasing 0.5 percent and the index for natural gas rising 0.6 percent.

The energy index increased 9.4 percent over the past 12 months, with all of the major component indexes rising over the span. The fuel oil index rose 18.6 percent and the gasoline index increased 16.5 percent. The index for natural gas advanced 3.6 percent, and the electricity index rose 2.5 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in November after rising 0.2 percent in October. The shelter index rose 0.2 percent, with the rent index increasing 0.3 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent rising 0.2 percent. The index for lodging away from home fell 1.3 percent in November after rising in each of the three prior months.

The index for used cars and trucks increased 1.0 percent in November, and the index for motor vehicle insurance rose 0.8 percent. The index for new vehicles, which declined in September and October, rose 0.3 percent in November. The indexes for wireless phones services, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco also increased in November.

The index for medical care was unchanged in November, with the index for prescription drugs increasing 0.6 percent and the hospital services index rising 0.1 percent, but the physicians' services index declining 0.8 percent. The indexes for recreation and for personal care were also both unchanged in November.

The apparel index fell in November; its 1.3-percent decline was its largest decrease since September 1998. The index for airline fares fell 2.4 percent in November after rising the prior month. The index for household furnishings and operations also declined, falling 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months. The 12-month change in the shelter index remained at 3.2 percent, and the index for motor vehicle insurance rose 8.0 percent over the span. The indexes for used cars and trucks, apparel, new vehicles, and airline fares all declined over the past year.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.2 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 246.669 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 240.666 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.1 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index was unchanged 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: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-2018.htm.