November 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 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in November, after rising 0.2 percent in each of the previous 4 months, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent in November, accounting for nearly forty percent of the monthly all items increase. The food index also increased over the month, rising 0.4 percent as the food at home index increased 0.5 percent and the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent. The energy index rose 0.2 percent over the month, after being unchanged in October.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in November, as it did in each of the previous 3 months. Indexes that increased in November include shelter, used cars and trucks, household furnishings and operations, medical care, new vehicles, and recreation. The index for communication was among the few major indexes that decreased over the month.

The all items index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending November, after rising 2.6 percent over the 12 months ending October. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.3 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 3.2 percent for the 12 months ending November. The food index increased 2.4 percent over the last year.

Food

The index for food increased 0.4 percent in November, after rising 0.2 percent in October. The food at home index rose 0.5 percent over the month. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in November. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.7 percent over the month, as the index for beef increased 3.1 percent and the index for eggs rose 8.2 percent. The nonalcoholic beverages index increased 1.5 percent in November, after rising 0.4 percent in October. The index for other food at home rose 0.1 percent over the month and the index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.2 percent.

The cereals and bakery products index fell 1.1 percent in November, the largest 1-month decrease ever reported for the index which was first published in 1989. The index for dairy and related products declined 0.1 percent over the month.

The food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in November, after rising 0.2 percent in October. The index for full service meals also rose 0.3 percent over the month as did the index for limited service meals.

The food at home index rose 1.6 percent over the last 12 months. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 3.8 percent over the last 12 months and the index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 2.8 percent. Over the same period, the fruits and vegetables index rose 1.1 percent and the other food at home index increased 0.7 percent. The index for dairy and related products increased 1.2 percent over the year. In contrast, the cereals and bakery products index declined 0.5 percent over the last year, the largest 12-month decline since December 2017.

The food away from home index rose 3.6 percent over the last year. The index for limited service meals increased 3.7 percent over the last 12 months and the index for full service meals rose 3.6 percent over the same period.

Energy

The energy index increased 0.2 percent in November, after being unchanged in October. The gasoline index increased 0.6 percent over the month. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices decreased 2.9 percent in November.) The natural gas index rose 1.0 percent over the month, after rising 0.3 percent in October. In contrast, the index for electricity fell 0.4 percent in November.

The energy index decreased 3.2 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 8.1 percent over this 12-month span and the fuel oil index fell 19.5 percent over that period. In contrast, the index for electricity increased 3.1 percent over the last 12 months and the index for natural gas rose 1.8 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in November, as it did in the preceding 3 months. The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in November. The index for owners' equivalent rent rose 0.2 percent over the month, as did the index for rent, the smallest 1-month increases since April 2021 and July 2021, respectively. The lodging away from home index rose 3.2 percent in November, after rising 0.4 percent in October.

The medical care index increased 0.3 percent over the month, the same as it did in October. The index for physicians' services increased 0.3 percent in November, while the prescription drugs index fell 0.4 percent over the month. The hospital services index was unchanged in November.

The used cars and trucks index rose 2.0 percent in November, after rising 2.7 percent in the previous month. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.6 percent over the month as did the index for new vehicles. Other indexes that increased in November include recreation, education, personal care, and apparel. In contrast, the index for communication fell 1.0 percent in November after falling 0.6 percent in October and September.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.3 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index increased 4.7 percent over the last year, the smallest 12-month increase since February 2022. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include motor vehicle insurance (+12.7 percent), medical care (+3.1 percent), education (+4.2 percent), and recreation (+1.5 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.7 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 315.493 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 308.998 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.6 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index decreased 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.

Consumer Price Index End of Year Supplemental Files and Revised Seasonal Adjustment Factors to be Available on February 12, 2025

Each year with the release of CPI data for January, relative importance weights are updated and seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price movements from the just-completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years.

* Consumer Price Index Seasonal Adjustment Factors (XLSX) * Consumer Price Index Relative Importance (XLSX) * Consumer Price Index Revised Seasonally Adjusted Indexes and Factors (XLSX) * CPI-U Median Price Change and Median Price Change Standard Errors (XLSX) * CPI-U Response Rates (XLSX) * Consumer Price Index Components for Seasonal Aggregation to All items (XLSX) * Consumer Price Index Series Subject to Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment (XLSX) * CPI-U Historical Cost Weights (XLSX) * CPI-W Historical Cost Weights (XLSX)

With the release of these files, the seasonal factors and selected end of year materials will be available in the API and FTP files. These files will be available for all U.S. city average CPI-U data and a subset of U.S. city average CPI-W data.

In preparation for the upcoming end of year supplemental files and revised seasonal adjustment factors, last year's end of year supplemental files and revised seasonal adjustment factors are now available on the CPI supplemental files page.

BLS posted last year's seasonal factors and other end of year materials in the API and FTP files on November 22, 2024.

For additional information, contact the CPI Information and Analysis section at cpi_info@bls.gov or (202) 691-7000.

Consumer Price Index Publication Changes to be Implemented on February 12, 2025

With the publication of January 2025 data in February 2025, several indexes and average price series will be discontinued, and one index title will change.

The following CPI indexes will continue to be published at the national level, but will be discontinued for all metropolitan areas, census divisions, and regional size classes:

* Electricity * Utility (piped) gas (often referred to as natural gas) * Energy services * Fuels and utilities * Household energy

The following CPI average price series will continue to be published at the national level, but will be discontinued for all metropolitan areas, census divisions, and regional size classes:

* Electricity per KWH * Utility (piped) gas per therm

The following CPI index will have a title change:

* Pet food will be changed to pet food and treats