September 2021 Consumer Price Index

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.3 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 5.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The indexes for food and shelter rose in September and together contributed more than half of the monthly all items seasonally adjusted increase. The index for food rose 0.9 percent, with the index for food at home increasing 1.2 percent. The energy index increased 1.3 percent, with the gasoline index rising 1.2 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in September, after increasing 0.1 percent in August. Along with the index for shelter, the indexes for new vehicles, household furnishings and operations, and motor vehicle insurance also rose in September. The indexes for airline fares, apparel, and used cars and trucks all declined over the month.

The all items index rose 5.4 percent for the 12 months ending September, compared to a 5.3-percent rise for the period ending August. The index for all items less food and energy rose 4.0 percent over the last 12 months, the same increase as the period ending August. The energy index rose 24.8 percent over the last 12 months, and the food index increased 4.6 percent over that period.

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. ended 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 Sep. 2021

Food

The food index increased 0.9 percent in September, following a smaller 0.4-percent increase in August. The food at home index increased 1.2 percent over the month as all six major grocery store food group indexes rose. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 2.2 percent over the month as the index for beef rose 4.8 percent. The index for other food at home increased 1.1 percent in September after rising 0.6 percent in August. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 1.2 percent in September, its fourth consecutive monthly increase. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.6 percent in September, a larger increase than the 0.2-percent increase reported in August. The index for cereals and bakery products increased 1.1 percent over the month, while the index for dairy and related products rose 0.7 percent.

The food away from home index rose 0.5 percent in September after increasing 0.4 percent in August. The indexes for limited service meals and for full service meals both increased 0.6 percent in September. These increases offset a decline in the index for food at employee sites and schools, which continued to fall, decreasing 6.4 percent in September.

The food at home index rose 4.5 percent over the past 12 months as all of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the period. The largest increase was the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which increased 10.5 percent as the index for beef rose 17.6 percent over the year. The smallest increase was the dairy and related products index, which rose 0.6 percent over the last 12 months. The index for food away from home rose 4.7 percent over the last year. The index for limited service meals rose 6.7 percent over the last 12 months, and the index for full service meals rose 5.2 percent, while the index for food at employee sites and schools declined sharply.

Energy

The energy index rose 1.3 percent in September, its fourth consecutive monthly increase. The gasoline index rose 1.2 percent in September after increasing 2.8 percent in August. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 0.3 percent in September.) The electricity index increased 0.8 percent in September following a 1.0-percent increase the prior month. The index for natural gas also increased in September, rising 2.7 percent; this was its eighth consecutive monthly increase.

The energy index rose 24.8 percent over the past 12 months as all the major energy component indexes increased. The gasoline index rose 42.1 percent over the last year. The index for electricity increased 5.2 percent and the index for natural gas rose 20.6 percent over the last 12 months.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in September. The shelter index increased over the month, rising 0.4 percent. The index for rent rose 0.5 percent in September, while the index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.4 percent over the month. Other indexes that increased over the month include the index for new vehicles, which rose 1.3 percent following a 1.2-percent increase the previous month; and the index for household furnishings and operations, which increased 1.0 percent in September as the indexes for furniture and bedding and for appliances rose.

The motor vehicle insurance index rose 2.1 percent in September, after falling 2.8 percent in August. The index for communication and the index for education both increased 0.4 percent over the month. The recreation index rose 0.2 percent in September after increasing 0.5 percent the prior month.

In contrast to these increases, several indexes declined in September. The index for airline fares continued to fall sharply, decreasing 6.4 percent over the month after falling 9.1 percent in August. The apparel index also decreased in September, declining 1.1 percent over the month after rising 0.4 percent in the previous month. The index for used cars and trucks fell 0.7 percent this month, continuing to decline after it decreased 1.5 percent in August.

The medical care index was unchanged in September, with its component indexes mixed. The index for prescription drugs rose 0.8 percent over the month and the index for hospital services increased 0.1 percent. In contrast, the physicians’ services index declined 0.3 percent in September.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 4.0 percent over the past 12 months. The index for used cars and trucks increased 24.4 percent over the span. The index for new vehicles rose 8.7 percent, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending September 1980. The shelter index increased 3.2 percent over the last 12 months, and the household furnishings and operations index rose 5.1 percent. The index for medical care rose 0.4 percent over the last year, with the index for physicians’ services rising 3.8 percent and the index for hospital services increasing 3.2 percent. The prescription drugs index fell 1.6 percent, one of the few indexes to show a 12-month decline.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 5.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 274.310 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 5.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 269.086 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 5.3 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 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.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on September 2021 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 September 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.