September 2024 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 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in August and July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose 0.2 percent in September, and the index for food increased 0.4 percent. Together, these two indexes contributed over 75 percent of the monthly all items increase. The food at home index increased 0.4 percent in September and the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent over the month. The energy index fell 1.9 percent over the month, after declining 0.8 percent the preceding month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in September, as it did the preceding month. Indexes which increased in September include shelter, motor vehicle insurance, medical care, apparel, and airline fares. The indexes for recreation and communication were among those that decreased over the month.

The all items index rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending September, the smallest 12-month increase since February 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.3 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 6.8 percent for the 12 months ending September. The food index increased 2.3 percent over the last year.

Food

The food index increased 0.4 percent in September, after rising 0.1 percent in August. The index for food at home also rose 0.4 percent in September. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the month. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.8 percent in September as the index for eggs increased 8.4 percent. The fruits and vegetables index increased 0.9 percent over the month, following a 0.2-percent decline in August. The index for other food at home rose 0.2 percent in September and the index for cereals and bakery products increased 0.3 percent. The dairy and related products index increased 0.1 percent over the month, while the nonalcoholic beverages index was unchanged in September.

The food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in September, as it did in August. The index for full service meals rose 0.4 percent and the index for limited service meals increased 0.2 percent over the month.

The index for food at home rose 1.3 percent over the last 12 months. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index rose 3.9 percent over the last 12 months and the nonalcoholic beverages index increased 1.3 percent. Over the same period, the index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.7 percent and the index for other food at home increased 0.4 percent. The dairy and related products index increased 0.5 percent in September, and the cereals and bakery products index increased 0.1 percent over the year.

The food away from home index rose 3.9 percent over the last year. The index for limited service meals increased 4.1 percent over the last 12 months and the index for full service meals rose 3.9 percent over the same period.

Energy

The energy index fell 1.9 percent in September, after declining 0.8 percent in August. The gasoline index decreased 4.1 percent over the month. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices decreased 5.1 percent in September.) The electricity index increased 0.7 percent over the month, as did the natural gas index.

The energy index decreased 6.8 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 15.3 percent over this 12-month span, and the fuel oil index fell 22.4 percent over that period. In contrast, the index for electricity increased 3.7 percent over the last 12 months, and the index for natural gas rose 2.0 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in September, as it did in August. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent in September. The index for owners' equivalent rent and the index for rent both rose 0.3 percent over the month. The lodging away from home index fell 1.9 percent in September, after rising 1.8 percent in August.

The medical care index increased 0.4 percent over the month after declining in each of the previous 2 months. The index for physicians' services increased 0.9 percent in September. In contrast, the prescription drugs index declined 0.5 percent over the month.

The motor vehicle insurance index rose 1.2 percent in September, following a 0.6-percent increase the previous month. The index for apparel increased 1.1 percent over the month and the index for airline fares rose 3.2 percent in September. The indexes for education, household furnishings and operations, personal care, used cars and trucks, and new vehicles also increased in September.

The index for recreation fell 0.4 percent in September, following a 0.1-percent decrease the preceding month. The communication index decreased 0.6 percent over the month, also following a 0.1-percent decline in August.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.3 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index increased 4.9 percent over the last year, accounting for over 65 percent of the total 12-month increase in the all items less food and energy index. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include motor vehicle insurance (+16.3 percent), medical care (+3.3 percent), personal care (+2.5 percent), and apparel (+1.8 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 315.301 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.2 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 309.046 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.3 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 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.