The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in January on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The January level of 121.208 (December 1999=100) was 0.5 percent lower than in January 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 0.3 percent in January after declining in each of the three previous months. The energy index climbed 1.7 percent in January, its first increase in six months, but it was still 31.4 percent below its July 2008 peak level. Within energy, the gasoline index rose 6.0 percent in January after a 19.3 percent decline in December. However, some energy components continued to decline; the fuel oil index fell 3.7 percent in January and the index for natural gas declined 3.6 percent. The food index, which rose sharply during the summer and moderated through the fall, increased 0.1 percent in January after being virtually unchanged in December. The food index has risen 5.3 percent over the past year food at home index declined 0.1 percent in January as the fruits and vegetables index continued to fall. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in January after being virtually unchanged in December. Contributing to the increase were larger advances in the indexes for rent and owners equivalent rent and upturns in the indexes for new vehicles and apparel.
The food and beverages index increased 0.1 percent in January, the same increase as in December. A 0.3 percent increase in the index for food away from home and a 0.2 percent rise in the alcoholic beverages index more than offset a 0.1 percent decline in the food at home index. The food at home index has risen 5.7 percent over the past year. Within food at home, the indexes for four of the six major grocery store food groups declined in January. The index for fruits and vegetables fell 1.3 percent, its fifth consecutive monthly decline. The index for fresh fruits fell 2.2 percent and the fresh vegetables index declined 1.6 percent. The dairy and related products index, down 1.1 percent in December, fell 0.6 percent in January, with the milk index declining 1.4 percent. Also declining in January were the indexes for meats, poultry, fish and eggs and for nonalcoholic beverages, each down 0.1 percent. The index for cereals and bakery products was virtually unchanged in January, but was still up 11.3 percent over the last year. The index for other food at home rose 0.6 percent in January, the only major grocery store food group index to increase for the month.
The housing index was virtually unchanged in January for the second straight month. However the shelter index, virtually unchanged in December, rose 0.2 percent in January. Over the last 12 months, the housing index has risen 2.2 percent and the index for shelter was up 1.8 percent. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent both rose 0.3 percent in January after rising 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, in December. The index for lodging away from home fell 1.1 percent in January and has declined 4.7 percent over the past 12 months.
The household energy index fell 0.9 percent in January, its sixth consecutive monthly decline. Within household energy, the electricity index rose 0.2 percent, but the indexes for fuel oil and natural gas both declined. Despite the recent declines, the household energy index was up 4.9 percent over the past 12 months. The index for household furnishings and operations turned down in January, declining 0.1 percent after increasing 0.1 percent in December.
The transportation index rose for the first time since July, increasing 1.3 percent in January. The index has declined 12.6 percent over the past 12 months. The index for motor fuel, which had been declining in recent months, rose 5.3 percent in January. However, the motor fuel index is still 48.1 percent below its peak in July. The index for new and used motor vehicles increased in January after posting 12 straight declines, rising 0.2 percent. The index for new vehicles rose 0.3 percent in January but has declined 2.6 percent over the past year. The index for public transportation continued to decline, falling 1.8 percent in January. The airline fare index fell 2.1 percent in January and was down 0.9 percent compared to a year ago.
After declining 0.6 percent in December, the apparel index turned up in January, rising 0.3 percent. The index for men's and boys' apparel rose 1.6 percent and the index for women's and girls' apparel rose 0.2 percent. (On a not seasonally adjusted basis, the apparel index declined 2.0 percent in January and was down 0.9 percent over the last 12 months.)
The medical care index climbed 0.4 percent in January following a 0.2 percent increase in November and a 0.3 percent advance in December. The index for medical care commodities rose 0.4 percent, with the prescription drugs index rising 0.5 percent. The medical care services index rose 0.5 percent in January. Within this group, the index for physicians' services rose 0.2 percent and the hospital and related services index increased 0.8 percent.
The index for recreation, down 0.2 percent in December, was virtually unchanged in January. The indexes for photography, toys, admissions, and for pets, pet products and services all rose in January. These increases offset declines in the indexes for video and audio and for sporting goods. The recreation index is up 1.6 percent over the past 12 months.
The education and communication index increased 0.3 percent in January and was up 3.6 percent over the past year. The education index, which rose 0.5 percent in December, advanced 0.3 percent in January. The index for communication climbed 0.2 percent for the second straight month. Within communication, the telephone services index rose 0.2 percent and the index for information technology, hardware and services increased 0.1 percent.
After being virtually unchanged in December, the index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in January and was up 3.3 percent over the past 12 months. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.8 percent in January, while the personal care index increased 0.1 percent.
