The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in April on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The April level of 123.845 (December 1999=100) was 3.5 percent higher than in April 2007. Please note that the indexes for the post-2006 period are subject to revision.
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U advanced 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.3 percent increase in March. The index for energy was virtually unchanged after advancing 1.9 percent in March. In April, the index for petroleum-based energy fell 1.6 percent, offsetting a 2.5 percent increase in the index for energy services. The food index rose 0.9 percent in April. The index for food at home increased 1.5 percent, reflecting substantial increases in all six major grocery store food groups. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.1 percent in April, following a 0.2 percent rise in March. Downturns in the indexes for public transportation, for household furnishings and operations, and for recreation, coupled with a larger decline in the index for lodging away from home, more than offset an upturn in the index for apparel.
During the first four months of 2008, the CPI-U rose at a 3.0 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 4.1 percent for all of 2007. The deceleration thus far this year reflects smaller increases in the indexes for energy and for all items less food and energy. The index for energy advanced at a 6.3 percent SAAR in the first four months of 2008 compared with 17.4 percent in 2007. Petroleum- based energy costs decreased at a 0.7 percent annual rate while charges for energy services rose at a 17.7 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 6.9 percent SAAR thus far this year, following a 4.9 percent rise for all of 2007. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.8 percent SAAR in the first four months, following a 2.4percent rise for all of 2007.
The food and beverages index rose 0.9 percent in April. The index for food at home increased 1.5 percent, following a 0.2 percent rise in March. Each of the six major grocery store food groups contributed to the larger advance in April. The index for fruits and vegetables, which rose 0.1 percent in March, increased 2.0 percent in April. The indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables increased 3.2 and 3.4 percent, respectively, while the index for fresh vegetables declined 0.2 percent. The index for cereal and bakery products, which increased 1.3 percent in March, rose 1.4 percent in April. Prices for bread increased 1.5 percent and were 14.1 percent higher than a year earlier. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which was virtually unchanged in March, advanced 0.9 percent in April. A 1.1 percent decline in beef prices was more than offset by increases in the indexes for pork, for fish and seafood, and for poultry - up 3.4, 2.6, and 0.7 percent, respectively. The index for dairy products turned up in April, increasing 1.2 percent. Milk prices rose 0.9 percent and were 13.5 percent higher than in April 2007. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 1.7 percent, reflecting large price increases for coffee and for carbonated drinks - up 4.0 and 2.2 percent, respectively. The index for other food at home rose 1.9 percent in April, reflecting large increases in most categories. In particular, the indexes for butter and for margarine increased 7.8 and 6.5 percent, respectively. The other two components of the food and beverages index - food away from home and alcoholic beverages-increased 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in April. The index for shelter increased 0.1 percent in April, the same as in March. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively. The index for lodging away from home declined for the third consecutive month - down 1.9 percent in April. The index for household energy registered its third consecutive large increase - up 2.6 percent in April. The index for fuel oil rose 4.4 percent and was 52.6 percent higher than in April 2007. The indexes for natural gas and for electricity rose 4.8 and 1.5 percent, respectively. During the last 12 months charges for natural gas and for electricity increased 10.9 and 5.0 percent, respectively. The index for household furnishings and operations, which increased 0.5 percent in March, declined 0.1 percent in April.
The transportation index declined 0.7 percent in April, reflecting a 2.0 percent decrease in the index for gasoline. The index for new vehicles declined 0.2 percent and was 1.3 percent lower than in April 2007. The index for used cars and trucks declined 0.3 percent in April, but was 1.8 percent higher than a year ago. The index for public transportation declined 0.4 percent in April, reflecting a 0.5 percent decrease in the index for airline fares. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, airline fares rose 0.9 percent and were 10.1 percent higher than a year ago.)
The index for apparel rose 0.5 percent in April, following a 1.3 percent decrease in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 1.0 percent. Prices for men's and boys' apparel rose 1.4 percent and women's and girls apparel increased 0.5 percent. During the last 12 months, prices for men's and boys' apparel increased 1.3 percent, while prices for women's and girls' clothing fell 5.0 percent.)
Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in April and are 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for medical care commodities - prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies - decreased 0.2 percent. The index for medical care services increased 0.3 percent. Within the latter group, the indexes for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively.
The index for recreation, which rose 0.3 percent in March, declined 0.1 percent in April. A 0.4 percent decrease in the index for video and audio was largely responsible for the April decrease. Declines in the indexes for photography, for toys, and for admissions to movies, theaters, and concerts also contributed to the April decrease.
The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in April. Educational costs rose 0.6 percent and the index for communication costs rose 0.2 percent. Within the latter category, increases in charges for telephone services more than offset a decline in the index for information technology, hardware and services. Local land-line telephone charges rose 0.8 and long distance land-line telephone charges and wireless telephone services each rose 0.3 percent. The index for information technology, hardware and services declined 0.7 percent, reflecting decreases in the indexes for personal computers and peripheral equipment and for internet services.
The index for other goods and services increased 0.5 percent in April. The index for personal care products rose 0.6 percent, reflecting a 1.2 percent increase in the index for hair, dental, shaving and miscellaneous personal care products. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.3 percent.
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.2 percent in April.
