The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis
in December, after rising 0.3 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the
last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The index for energy rose 2.6 percent in December, accounting for over forty percent of the monthly all items
increase. The gasoline index increased 4.4 percent over the month. The index for food also increased in December,
rising 0.3 percent as both the index for food at home and the index for food away from home increased 0.3
percent each.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December, after increasing 0.3 percent in each
of the previous 4 months. Indexes that increased in December include shelter, airline fares, used cars and trucks,
new vehicles, motor vehicle insurance, and medical care. The indexes for personal care, communication, and
alcoholic beverages were among the few major indexes that decreased over the month.
The all items index rose 2.9 percent for the 12 months ending December, after rising 2.7 percent over the 12
months ending November. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.2 percent over the last 12 months. The
energy index decreased 0.5 percent for the 12 months ending December. The food index increased 2.5 percent over
the last year.
Food
The index for food increased 0.3 percent in December, after rising 0.4 percent in November. The food at home
index also rose 0.3 percent over the month. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in
December. The index for cereals and bakery products rose 1.2 percent over the month, after falling 1.1 percent in
November. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index increased 0.6 percent in December, as the eggs index rose 3.2
percent. The index for other food at home rose 0.3 percent over the month and the index for dairy and related
products increased 0.2 percent.
The nonalcoholic beverages index fell 0.4 percent in December, after rising 1.5 percent the previous month. The
index for fruits and vegetables declined 0.1 percent over the month, after rising 0.2 percent in November.
The food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in December, as it did in November. The index for limited service
meals rose 0.4 percent over the month and the index for full service meals rose 0.2 percent.
The index for food at home rose 1.8 percent over the last 12 months. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index
rose 4.2 percent over the last 12 months and the nonalcoholic beverages index increased 2.3 percent. Over the
same period, the index for other food at home rose 0.8 percent and the index for fruits and vegetables increased
1.0 percent. The dairy and related products index increased 1.3 percent over the year and the cereals and bakery
products index rose 0.8 percent over the same period.
The food away from home index rose 3.6 percent over the last year. The index for limited service meals increased
3.7 percent over the last 12 months and the index for full service meals rose 3.6 percent over the same period.
Energy
The energy index increased 2.6 percent in December, after rising 0.2 percent in November. The gasoline index
increased 4.4 percent over the month. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices decreased 1.1 percent in
December.) The natural gas index rose 2.4 percent over the month and the index for electricity rose 0.3 percent
in December.
The energy index decreased 0.5 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 3.4 percent over this
12-month span and the fuel oil index fell 13.1 percent over that period. In contrast, the index for electricity
increased 2.8 percent over the last 12 months and the index for natural gas rose 4.9 percent.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December, after rising 0.3 percent in each of
the 4 preceding months. The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in December, as it did in November. The index for
owners’ equivalent rent also rose 0.3 percent over the month, as did the index for rent. The lodging away from
home index fell 1.0 percent in December, after rising 3.2 percent in November.
The medical care index increased 0.1 percent over the month, after rising 0.3 percent in October and November.
The index for physicians’ services increased 0.1 percent in December and the index for hospital services rose 0.2
percent over the month. The prescription drugs index was unchanged in December.
The airline fares index rose 3.9 percent in December, after rising 0.4 percent in the previous month. The index
for used cars and trucks rose 1.2 percent over the month and the index for new vehicles increased 0.5 percent.
Other indexes that increased in December include motor vehicle insurance, recreation, apparel, and education. In
contrast, the index for personal care fell 0.2 percent in December after rising 0.4 percent in November. The
indexes for communication and alcoholic beverages also declined over the month. The household furnishings and
operations index was unchanged in December.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.2 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index
increased 4.6 percent over the last year, the smallest 12-month increase since January 2022. Other indexes with
notable increases over the last year include motor vehicle insurance (+11.3 percent), medical care (+2.8 percent),
education (+4.0 percent), and recreation (+1.1 percent).
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.9 percent over the last 12 months to an
index level of 315.605 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.8 percent over the last
12 months to an index level of 309.067 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index was unchanged prior to seasonal
adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.7 percent over the last 12 months.
For the month, the index was unchanged on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the
past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.
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