February 2025 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 in February, after rising 0.5 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.8 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent in February, accounting for nearly half of the monthly all items increase. The shelter increase was partially offset by a 4.0-percent decrease in the index for airline fares and a 1.0-percent decline in the index for gasoline. Despite the decrease in the gasoline index, the energy index rose 0.2 percent over the month as the indexes for electricity and natural gas increased. The index for food also increased in February, rising 0.2 percent as the index for food away from home increased 0.4 percent. The food at home index was unchanged over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February, following a 0.4-percent increase in January. Indexes that increased over the month include medical care, used cars and trucks, household furnishings and operations, recreation, apparel, and personal care. The indexes for airline fares and new vehicles were among the few major indexes that decreased in February.

The all items index rose 2.8 percent for the 12 months ending February, after rising 3.0 percent over the 12 months ending January. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 0.2 percent for the 12 months ending February. The food index increased 2.6 percent over the last year.

Food

The index for food increased 0.2 percent in February, after rising 0.4 percent in January. The food at home index was unchanged over the month as declines in four of the six major grocery store food group indexes were offset by increases in the remaining two. The index for other food at home decreased 0.5 percent in February as did the index for fruits and vegetables and the index for nonalcoholic beverages. The dairy and related products index declined 1.0 percent over the month.

Driven primarily by a 10.4-percent increase in the index for eggs, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.6 percent in February. The beef index also increased over the month, rising 2.4 percent. The index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.4 percent in February, after falling 0.4 percent in January.

The food away from home index rose 0.4 percent in February. The index for full service meals rose 0.4 percent over the month and the index for limited service meals rose 0.3 percent.

The food at home index rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 7.7 percent over the last 12 months as the index for eggs increased 58.8 percent. The nonalcoholic beverages index increased 2.1 percent over the same period, while the dairy and related products index rose 0.8 percent, and the cereals and bakery products index increased 0.3 percent. The index for other food at home increased 0.1 percent over the year. In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index decreased 0.2 percent over the same period.

The food away from home index rose 3.7 percent over the last year. The index for full service meals also rose 3.7 percent and the index for limited service meals rose 3.5 percent over the same period.

Energy

The energy index increased 0.2 percent in February, after rising 1.1 percent in January. The gasoline index decreased 1.0 percent over the month. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 1.3 percent in February.) The index for natural gas rose 2.5 percent over the month and the index for electricity increased 1.0 percent.

The energy index decreased 0.2 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 3.1 percent over this 12-month span and the fuel oil index fell 5.1 percent over that period. In contrast, the index for electricity increased 2.5 percent over the last 12 months and the index for natural gas rose 6.0 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February, following a 0.4-percent increase in January. The shelter index increased 0.3 percent over the month. The index for owners' equivalent rent rose 0.3 percent in February, as did the index for rent. The lodging away from home index increased 0.2 percent in February.

The medical care index increased 0.3 percent over the month. The index for physicians' services increased 0.4 percent in February and the index for hospital services rose 0.1 percent over the month. The prescription drugs index was unchanged in February.

The used cars and trucks index rose 0.9 percent in February. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.4 percent over the month and the index for recreation increased 0.3 percent. Other indexes that increased in February include apparel, personal care, and motor vehicle insurance. In contrast, the index for airline fares fell 4.0 percent in February, after rising 1.2 percent in January. The index for new vehicles also declined over the month, falling 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.1 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index increased 4.2 percent over the last year, the smallest 12-month increase since December 2021. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include motor vehicle insurance (+11.1 percent), medical care (+2.9 percent), recreation (+1.8 percent), and education (+3.7 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 319.082 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.4 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.7 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 312.460 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.4 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 increased 0.4 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.

Changes to leased cars and trucks source data and methodology

With the release of April 2025 data on May 13, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will replace the survey data collected for the CPI's leased cars and trucks index with transaction data purchased from a vendor to increase the accuracy of the index.

The Measuring Price Change in the CPI: Leased cars and trucks factsheet at https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/leased-cars-and-trucks.htm will be updated on release day to reflect these changes.