The index for all items less food and energy also rose in January. The indexes for apparel, shelter, airline fares, and recreation all posted increases. In contrast, the indexes for new vehicles and for used cars and trucks declined in January.
Over the last 12 months, the food index has risen 1.8 percent with the food at home index up 2.1 percent; both 12-month changes are the highest since 2009. The energy index has increased 7.3 percent over the last 12 months, with the gasoline index up 13.4 percent. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.0 percent.
Food
The food index rose 0.5 percent in January. The food at home index increased 0.7 percent, the largest increase since 2008. All six major grocery store food groups posted increases. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased the most, rising 1.5 percent, with the indexes for carbonated drinks and coffee both rising sharply. The fruits and vegetables index increased 1.3 percent with the index for fresh vegetables up 2.1 percent. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for cereals and bakery products increased 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. The indexes for dairy and related products and for other food at home posted slight increases. Over the past 12 months, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs has risen 6.2 percent with the other grocery store food group indexes posting smaller increases. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in January and has risen 1.5 percent over the past 12 months.
Energy
The energy index continued its recent string of increases, rising 2.1 percent in January. The gasoline index rose 3.5 percent and has increased seven months in a row. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 3.8 percent in January.) The index for household energy declined in January, falling 0.2 percent. A 6.8 percent increase in the index for fuel oil was more than offset by a 1.2 percent decrease in the natural gas index and a 0.5 percent decline in the electricity index. The indexes for gasoline and fuel oil have risen significantly over the last 12 months, but the index for natural gas has declined 6.4 percent.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in January after increasing 0.1 percent in each of the previous two months. The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in January, with the rent index increasing 0.2 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent rising 0.1 percent. The apparel index, which increased 0.1 percent in December, rose 1.0 percent in January. The index for airline fares increased for the fifth month in a row, rising 2.2 percent in January. The medical care index rose slightly, edging up 0.1 percent, with the medical care commodities index increasing 0.5 percent while the index for medical care services declined 0.1 percent. The recreation index turned up in January, rising 0.2 percent after declining 0.2 percent in December, as did the index for household furnishings and operations, which increased 0.1 percent in January after declining in each of the four prior months. In contrast to these increases, the index for new vehicles fell 0.1 percent in January and the index for used cars and trucks declined 0.3 percent.
The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.0 percent over the last 12 months. The shelter index has gone up 0.6 percent over that time period with the rent index up 1.0 percent. The index for airline fares has risen 9.8 percent and the indexes for medical care, for used cars and trucks, and for tobacco also increased. The apparel index is unchanged from a year ago, while the indexes for household furnishings and operations and for recreation have declined.
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 220.223 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 216.400 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.4 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.5 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2009 period are subject to revision.
