The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent in February on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The February level of 121.901 (December 1999=100) was 0.3 percent lower than in February 2008. Please note that the indexes for the post-2007 period are subject to revision.
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.4 percent in February after rising 0.3 percent in January. The energy index rose 3.3 percent in February following a 1.7 percent increase in January as the gasoline index rose 8.3 percent in February after a 6.0 percent increase in January. In contrast, the indexes for fuel oil and natural gas both declined in February. About two-thirds of the all items increase was due to the rise in the gasoline index. Compared to the July 2008 peak, the energy index was 29.2 percent lower and the gasoline index was down 44.0 percent. The food index turned down slightly in February, falling 0.1 percent. The food at home index fell 0.4 percent with five of the six major grocery store food group indexes posting declines in February. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February, the same increase as in January. The indexes for new vehicles and apparel increased substantially in February, and the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased slightly. Partly offsetting these increases were continuing declines in the indexes for lodging away from home and airline fares.
The food and beverages index declined 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.1 percent in January. The food at home index, which declined 0.1 percent in January, fell 0.4 percent in February. Within food at home, the dairy and related products index fell 2.4 percent in February, with the milk index declining 5.7 percent. The milk index has declined 10.0 percent over the past year. The fruits and vegetables index was the only major grocery store food group to post an increase, rising 0.4 percent in February after declining in each of the past five months. The other four groups posted modest declines, from 0.1 percent for the meats, poultry, fish and eggs index to 0.5 percent for the cereals and bakery products index. Over the last year the food at home index has risen 4.8 percent. Among the major grocery store food groups, the cereals and bakery products index had the largest increase over the past year at 8.9 percent, while dairy and related products was the only index to decline, falling 1.7 percent. Among the other indexes within the food and beverages major group, the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in February, while the index for alcoholic beverages declined 0.2 percent, the first decline since December 2005.
The housing index was virtually unchanged in February for the third straight month. The shelter index, which rose 0.2 percent in January, was virtually unchanged in February. The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent both rose 0.1 percent in February after increasing 0.3 percent in January. The lodging away from home index fell 1.8 percent in February, the fifth straight monthly decline. It has declined 5.7 percent over the past year. The index for household energy fell 0.2 percent in February and was down 8.1 percent from its July peak. Within household energy, the index for fuel oil fell 3.8 percent and the index for natural gas declined 1.6 percent, while the electricity index rose 0.5 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.2 percent in February after declining 0.1 percent in January. Over the past year, the housing index increased 1.9 percent, with the shelter index up 1.7 percent.
The index for transportation rose 1.9 percent in February after a 1.3 percent increase in January. The new and used motor vehicles index rose 0.5 percent in February. The new vehicles index increased 0.8 percent in February, while the index for used cars and trucks declined 1.7 percent. The motor fuel index rose 7.6 percent in February but was down 35.4 percent over the past year. The airline fare index fell in February for the sixth straight month, declining 2.6 percent, and has fallen 14.0 percent since August 2008. The transportation index has declined 11.0 percent over the past year.
The apparel index rose 1.3 percent in February after increasing 0.3 percent in January. The index for men's and boys' apparel rose 2.8 percent and the index for women's and girls' apparel advanced 0.8 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 3.5 percent in February and were up 0.8 percent over the past year.)
Among other CPI groups, the medical care index rose 0.3 percent with the prescription drug index rising 0.6 percent. The index for recreation rose 0.4 percent as the indexes for toys, for sporting goods, and for pets, pet products and services all increased. The education and communication index rose 0.2 percent, with the education index rising 0.4 percent and the communication index virtually unchanged. The index for other goods and services advanced 0.2 percent with the tobacco and smoking products index posting a 0.7 percent increase.
