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Consumer Price Index - May 2011
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.2 percent in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all
items index increased 3.6 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in
May, its largest increase since July 2008. The indexes for apparel,
shelter, new vehicles, and recreation all contributed to the
acceleration, rising more in May than in April. These increases more
than offset declines in the indexes for airline fare, tobacco, and
personal care.
The food index rose in May as well. The food at home index repeated
its April increase of 0.5 percent as four of the six major grocery
store food group indexes increased, with the index for meats,
poultry, fish, and eggs rising the most. In contrast, the energy
index, which had been rising sharply, declined in May. The gasoline
index decreased for the first time since last June, although the
index for household energy increased.
The upward trend among the 12 month increases of major indexes
continued in May. The 12 month change in the all items index, which
was 1.1 percent as recently as November, reached 3.6 percent in May.
The energy index has increased 21.5 percent over the last 12 months,
the food index has risen 3.5 percent and the index for all items less
food and energy has increased 1.5 percent. All of these figures have
been rising in recent months.
Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city
average
Seasonally adjusted changes from
preceding month
Un-
adjusted
Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May 12-mos.
2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 ended
May 2011
All items.................. .1 .4 .4 .5 .5 .4 .2 3.6
Food...................... .2 .1 .5 .6 .8 .4 .4 3.5
Food at home............. .2 .2 .7 .8 1.1 .5 .5 4.4
Food away from home (1).. .1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 2.2
Energy.................... .1 4.0 2.1 3.4 3.5 2.2 -1.0 21.5
Energy commodities....... .7 6.4 4.0 4.8 5.5 3.1 -1.9 36.2
Gasoline (all types).... .7 6.7 3.5 4.7 5.6 3.3 -2.0 36.9
Fuel oil (1)............ 4.2 4.9 6.8 5.8 6.2 3.2 -.8 36.0
Energy services.......... -.8 .6 -.6 1.1 .2 .6 .6 1.1
Electricity............. .6 .3 -.5 .4 .7 .2 .8 1.8
Utility (piped) gas
service.............. -5.3 1.7 -1.2 3.4 -1.4 1.9 -.3 -1.2
All items less food and
energy................. .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 .3 1.5
Commodities less food and
energy commodities.... .0 -.1 .2 .2 .1 .4 .5 1.2
New vehicles............ -.2 -.1 -.1 1.0 .7 .7 1.1 3.4
Used cars and trucks.... .1 -.1 -.3 .1 .8 1.2 1.1 4.1
Apparel................. .1 .1 1.0 -.9 -.5 .2 1.2 1.0
Medical care commodities
(1).................. .2 .1 .5 .7 .5 .5 .0 3.0
Services less energy
services.............. .2 .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 1.6
Shelter................. .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 1.1
Transportation services .4 .2 .6 .5 .5 .2 .1 3.3
Medical care services... .2 .3 -.1 .4 .1 .3 .3 3.0
1 Not seasonally adjusted.
Consumer Price Index Data for May 2011
Food
The food index rose 0.4 percent in May, the same increase as in
April. The food at home index increased 0.5 percent and has risen 3.7
percent since December. Among major grocery store food groups, the
index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.5 percent and the
cereals and bakery products index increased 1.0 percent. The dairy
and related products index and the index for other food at home
posted smaller increases, while the index for nonalcoholic beverages
was unchanged. The only group to decline was the fruits and
vegetables index, which declined 1.3 percent as a sharp decline in
the index for tomatoes caused the fresh vegetables index to fall for
the second straight month after sharp increases early in the year.
The food at home index has risen 4.4 percent over the last 12 months
with all major grocery store food groups posting increases. The index
for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in May after rising 0.3
percent in each of the previous two months.
Energy
The energy index declined 1.0 percent in May ending a series of ten
consecutive advances. After a series of several sharp increases, the
gasoline index declined 2.0 percent in May. (Before seasonal
adjustment, gasoline prices rose 3.6 percent in May.) Despite the May
decline, the gasoline index has increased 23.7 percent over the past
six months. The index for household energy increased in May, rising
0.5 percent after a 0.7 percent increase in April. The index for
electricity rose 0.8 percent, more than offsetting a 0.8 percent
decline in the fuel oil index and a 0.3 percent decrease in the index
for natural gas. The household energy index has risen 2.9 percent
over the last 12 months, with the fuel oil index up 36.0 percent and
the electricity index up 1.8 percent but the index for natural gas
down 1.2 percent.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in May
after increasing 0.1 percent in March and 0.2 percent in April. The
shelter index rose 0.2 percent in May after increasing 0.1 percent in
each of the seven previous months. Both rent and owners' equivalent
rent rose 0.1 percent; the acceleration in shelter was due to the
index for lodging away from home, which rose 2.9 percent in May after
being unchanged in April. The apparel index increased in May, rising
1.2 percent after a 0.2 percent increase in April. The index for new
vehicles rose 1.1 percent in May after increasing 0.7 percent in
April; the index for used cars and trucks also rose 1.1 percent. The
index for recreation, which was unchanged in April, rose 0.3 percent
in May. The medical care index rose 0.2 percent, with the index for
medical care commodities unchanged and the index for medical care
services up 0.3 percent. The index for household furnishings and
operations advanced 0.2 percent, the same increase as in April. In
contrast to these increases, the index for airline fares fell 1.3
percent in May, and the indexes for tobacco and for personal care
both declined 0.2 percent.
The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.5 percent
over the last 12 months, with virtually all of its major component
indexes rising at a faster rate over the past six months than they
did from May to November of 2010.
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
3.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 225.964
(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 4.1 percent over the last 12 months to an index
level of 222.954 (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 3.3 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 post-2009 period are subject to
revision.
The Consumer Price Index for June 2011 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, July 15, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).