November 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) increased 0.2 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis after being unchanged in October, 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.

The seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index was broad-based, with no component accounting for more than a quarter of the increase. The food index declined in November, as a decrease in the food at home index more than offset a small increase in the food away from home index. The index for energy rose in November, as increases in indexes for natural gas and electricity more than offset a decline in the index for gasoline.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in November after being unchanged the prior month. The indexes for lodging away from home, household furnishings and operations, recreation, apparel, airline fares, and motor vehicle insurance all increased in November. The indexes for used cars and trucks, medical care, and new vehicles all declined over the month.

The all items index rose 1.2 percent for the 12 months ending November, the same increase as for the period ending October. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the last 12 months, also the same increase as the period ending October. The food index rose 3.7 percent over the last 12 months, while the energy index fell 9.4 percent.

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

Food

The food index declined 0.1 percent in November following a 0.2-percent increase in October. The index for food at home declined 0.3 percent after rising in October. Major grocery store food group indexes were mixed in November. The index for nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.9 percent in November, its largest monthly decline since December 2010. The index for other food at home fell 0.6 percent in November, and the index for cereals and bakery products decreased 0.5 percent; both indexes increased in October.

The dairy and related products index rose 0.3 percent in November after falling in September and October. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.1 percent in November. The index for fruits and vegetables was unchanged in November after rising 0.1 percent in October. The index for food away from home rose in November, but the 0.1-percent increase was the smallest since April.

The food at home index increased 3.6 percent over the past 12 months. All six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the period. The largest increase was the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index which rose 5.9 percent as the beef index increased 7.5 percent. The smallest increase was for the cereals and bakery products index, which increased 2.4 percent over the last 12 months. The index for food away from home rose 3.8 percent over the last year. The index for limited service meals rose 5.9 percent, and the index for full service meals rose 2.9 percent over the span.

Energy

The energy index rose for the sixth month in a row in November, increasing 0.4 percent. The index for natural gas rose 3.1 percent in November after declining in October. The electricity index rose 0.5 percent in November, its third consecutive monthly increase. The index for fuel oil also increased in November, rising 3.6 percent. In contrast to these increases, the gasoline index declined for the second month in a row, falling 0.4 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 2.7 percent in November.)

The energy index fell 9.4 percent over the past 12 months. Energy commodity indexes fell sharply over the period, with the fuel oil index declining 26.4 percent and the gasoline index decreasing 19.3 percent. Energy service indexes rose over the last 12 months, with the index for natural gas increasing 4.4 percent and the index for electricity rising 1.6 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in November after being unchanged in October. The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in November, the fourth 0.1-percent increase in a row. However, the indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent rent were both unchanged in November after both rising 0.2 percent in October. The index for lodging away from home rose sharply in November, increasing 3.9 percent after falling 3.2 percent in October.

The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.7 percent in November after falling in each of the prior 2 months. The recreation index rose 0.4 percent in November; this was the same increase as last month and the fourth consecutive monthly advance. The apparel index rose 0.9 percent in November after declining in September and October. The index for airline fares rose 3.5 percent in November after increasing 6.3 percent in October. The index for motor vehicle insurance rose 1.1 percent in November after falling in September and October. The indexes for education, for alcoholic beverages, and for tobacco also increased in November.

The index for used cars and trucks fell 1.3 percent in November, its second consecutive monthly decline after sharp increases in prior months. The index for medical care declined slightly in November, falling 0.1 percent. The index for hospital services rose 0.3 percent and the index for physicians’ services rose 0.1 percent, while the index for prescription drugs declined 0.1 percent over the month. The new vehicles index declined 0.1 percent in November after rising in September and October.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months, its smallest 12-month increase since the period ending December 2011. The used cars and trucks index increased 10.9 percent over the last 12 months and the medical care index increased 2.4 percent. Despite the monthly increases in November, 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 260.229 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.1 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 253.826 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.1 percent 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 declined 0.1 percent 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 November 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 November 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.