The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.5 percent in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The index for shelter was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase, accounting for nearly half of the monthly all items increase, with the indexes for food, gasoline, and natural gas also contributing. The food index increased 0.5 percent over the month with the food at home index ising 0.4 percent. The energy index increased 2.0 percent over the month as all major energy component indexes rose over the month.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in January. Categories which increased in January include the shelter, motor vehicle insurance, recreation, apparel, and household furnishings and operations indexes. The indexes for used cars and trucks, medical care, and airline fares were among those that decreased over the month.
The all items index increased 6.4 percent for the 12 months ending January; this was the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending October 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose5.6 percent over the last 12 months, its smallest 12-month increase since December 2021. The energy index increased 8.7 percent for the 12 months ending January, and the food index increased 10.1percent over the last year.
Food
The food index increased 0.5 percent in January, and the food at home index rose 0.4 percent over themonth. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the month. The index forother food at home rose 0.7 percent in January. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased0.7 percent over the month, as the index for eggs rose 8.5 percent. The index for cereals and bakeryproducts rose 1.0 percent over the month, while the index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 0.4percent in January.
In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index fell 0.5 percent over the month with the fresh vegetablesindex declining 2.3 percent. The index for dairy and related products was unchanged in January.
The food away from home index rose 0.6 percent in January, after increasing 0.4 percent in December.The index for limited service meals increased 0.7 percent over the month and the index for fullservice meals increased 0.5 percent.
The food at home index rose 11.3 percent over the last 12 months. The index for cereals and bakeryproducts rose 15.6 percent over the 12 months ending in January. The remaining major grocery storefood groups posted increases ranging from 7.2 percent (fruits and vegetables) to 14.0 percent (dairyand related products).
The index for food away from home rose 8.2 percent over the last year. The index for full service meals rose 8.1 percent over the last 12 months, and the index for limited service meals rose 6.7 percentover the same period.
Energy
The energy index rose 2.0 percent in January, as the gasoline index increased 2.4 percent over themonth. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 3.2 percent in January.) The index fornatural gas rose 6.7 percent over the month, and the index for electricity increased 0.5 percent.
The energy index rose 8.7 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index increased 1.5 percentover the span. The fuel oil index rose 27.7 percent over the last 12 months, while the index forelectricity rose 11.9 percent, and the index for natural gas increased 26.7 percent over the sameperiod.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in January. The shelter index continuedto increase, rising 0.7 percent over the month. The rent index and the owners' equivalent rent indexeach rose 0.7 percent since December. The index for lodging away from home increased 1.2 percent inJanuary.
The shelter index was the dominant factor in the monthly increase in the index for all items less foodand energy, while other components were a mix of increases and declines. Among the other indexes thatrose in January was the index for motor vehicle insurance, which increased 1.4 percent over the month,while the index for recreation rose 0.5 percent, and the index for apparel increased 0.8 percent. Thehousehold furnishings and operations index rose 0.3 percent in January, and the communication indexincreased 0.4 percent.
The medical care index fell 0.4 percent in January, as the physicians' services index declined 0.1percent. The index for hospital services increased 0.5 percent over the month and the index forprescription drugs rose 2.1 percent in January.
Other indexes which declined over the month include the index for used cars and trucks, which fell 1.9percent in January, continuing a recent downward trend. The index for airline fares fell 2.1 percentover the month.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 5.6 percent over the past 12 months. The shelterindex increased 7.9 percent over the last year, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total increasein all items less food and energy. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year includehousehold furnishings and operations (+5.9 percent), medical care (+3.1 percent), recreation (+4.8percent), and new vehicles (+5.8 percent).
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 6.4 percent over the last 12 monthsto an index level of 299.170 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.8 percent prior toseasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 6.3 percentover the last 12 months to an index level of 293.565 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased0.9 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 6.6 percent over the last12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.8 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Pleasenote that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.
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