October 2020 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) was unchanged in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.2 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Component indexes were mixed, with many offsetting increases and decreases. The food index rose 0.2 percent, with the food away from home index increasing by 0.3 percent and a smaller 0.1-percent rise in the food at home index. The energy index rose 0.1 percent in October as the index for electricity increased 1.2 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in October following an increase of 0.2 percent in September. The index for shelter increased 0.1 percent in October, which was offset by a 0.4-percent decrease in the index for medical care. The indexes for airline fares, recreation, and new vehicles were among those to rise, while the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, apparel, and household furnishings and operations declined.

The all items index rose 1.2 percent for the 12 months ending October, a slightly smaller increase than the 1.4-percent rise for the 12-month period ending September. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the last 12 months after rising 1.7 percent in September. The food index increased 3.9 percent over the last 12 months, while the energy index declined 9.2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. ended 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 Oct. 2020

Food

The food index rose 0.2 percent in October after being unchanged in September. The index for food at home increased 0.1 percent in October as four of the six major grocery store food group indexes rose. The index for meat, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.4 percent in October following a 0.4-percent decrease in September. The indexes for other food at home and for cereals and bakery products both rose 0.3 percent in October, while the index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.1 percent.

The index for dairy and related products fell 0.9 percent in October, the largest monthly decrease since January 2015. The index for nonalcoholic beverages also declined in October, falling 0.1 percent over the month.

The index for food away from home continued to rise, increasing 0.3 percent in October, a smaller increase than the 0.6-percent rise reported in September. The indexes for limited service meals and full service meals both rose 0.3 percent in October.

The food at home index increased 4.0 percent over the last 12 months. All six major grocery store food group indexes rose over that span, with increases ranging from 2.6 percent (fruits and vegetables) to 6.1 percent (meats, poultry, fish, and eggs). The index for food away from home rose 3.9 percent over the last year, the largest 12-month increase reported for that index since May 2009. The index for limited service meals increased 5.7 percent and the index for full service meals rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months.

Energy

The energy index rose 0.1 percent in October, its fifth consecutive monthly increase. The electricity index was the largest contributor to this increase, increasing 1.2 percent. The gasoline index decreased slightly in October, falling 0.5 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 1.6 percent in October.) The index for natural gas also declined in October, decreasing 0.7 percent following a 4.2-percent increase in September.

The energy index fell 9.2 percent over the past 12 months with its component indexes mixed. The gasoline index decreased 18.0 percent and the fuel oil index fell 28.2 percent. In contrast, energy service indexes rose, with the index for natural gas increasing 1.8 percent and the index for electricity advancing 1.3 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in October after increasing 0.2 percent in September. The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in October, as it did in each of the previous 2 months. The indexes for rent and for owners’ equivalent rent both increased 0.2 percent in October. The index for lodging away from home declined in October, falling 3.2 percent. The airline fares index increased 6.3 percent in October after declining 2.0 percent in September. The index for recreation increased 0.4 percent in October, as did the index for new vehicles. The index for communication rose 0.1 percent in October, while the indexes for education and for personal care were unchanged.

The medical care index declined 0.4 percent in October after being unchanged in September. The index for hospital services fell 0.6 percent in October after rising 0.6 percent the previous month. The prescription drugs index fell 0.4 percent over the month, while the physicians’ services index was unchanged in October.

The index for motor vehicle insurance continued to decline in October, decreasing 2.3 percent after falling 3.5 percent in September. The apparel index declined 1.2 percent over the month following a 0.5-percent decrease in September. The used cars and trucks index, which had increased sharply in August and September, fell 0.1 percent in October.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index rose 2.0 percent over the last 12 months; the same 12-month increase as reported last month. The used cars and trucks index increased 11.5 percent over the last 12 months and the medical care index increased 2.9 percent over that period. In contrast, the indexes for apparel, airline fares, and motor vehicle insurance all declined over the past 12 months.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.2 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 260.388 (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 1.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 254.076 (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 0.9 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.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on October 2020 Consumer Price Index Data

Data collection by personal visit for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program has been suspended since March 16, 2020. When possible, data normally collected by personal visit were collected either online or by phone. Additionally, data collection in October was affected by the temporary closing or limited operations of certain types of establishments. These factors resulted in an increase in the number of prices considered temporarily unavailable and imputed. While the CPI program attempted to collect as much data as possible, many indexes are based on smaller amounts of collected prices than usual, and a small number of indexes that are normally published were not published this month. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-consumer-price-index.htm.