What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPI-U) for the month? How does that rate of inflation compare with the rate in the previous month?

SEPTEMBER 2015 The Consumer Price Index for Al Show more QUESTIONS ARE AT THE END!!! CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SEPTEMBER 2015 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.2 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months the all items index was essentially unchanged before seasonal adjustment. The energy index fell 4.7 percent in September with all major component indexes declining. The gasoline index continued to fall sharply and was again the main cause of the seasonally adjusted all items decrease. The indexes for fuel oil electricity and natural gas declined as well. In contrast to the energy declines the indexes for food and for all items less food and energy both accelerated in September. The food index rose 0.4 percent its largest increase since May 2014. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in September. The indexes for shelter medical care household furnishings and operations and personal care all increased; the indexes for apparel used cars and trucks new vehicles and airline fares were among those that declined. The all items index was essentially unchanged for the 12 months ending September after posting a 0.2 percent increase for the 12 months ending August. The 18.4 percent decline in the energy index over the past year offset increases in the indexes for food (up 1.6 percent) and all items less food and energy (up 1.9 percent). Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. ended 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 Sep. 2015 All items .2 .1 .4 .3 .1 -.1 -.2 .0 Food. -.2 .0 .0 .3 .2 .2 .4 1.6 Food at home. -.5 -.2 -.2 .4 .3 .3 .3 .8 Food away from home (1).. .2 .2 .2 .2 .0 .2 .5 2.9 Energy.. 1.1 -1.3 4.3 1.7 .1 -2.0 -4.7 -18.4 Energy commodities. 3.8 -1.9 9.6 3.1 .7 -4.1 -8.6 -29.5 Gasoline (all types). 3.9 -1.7 10.4 3.4 .9 -4.1 -9.0 -29.6 Fuel oil (1) 5.9 -8.4 .7 -1.9 -3.4 -8.1 -2.4 -34.9 Energy services. -1.5 -.5 -1.0 .2 -.6 .5 -.4 -3.0 Electricity. -1.1 .0 -1.2 .2 -.4 .3 -.5 -.4 Utility (piped) gas service.. -2.7 -2.6 .0 .3 -1.4 1.2 -.3 -12.1 All items less food and energy.. .2 .3 .1 .2 .1 .1 .2 1.9 Commodities less food and energy commodities. .3 .1 -.1 -.1 -.1 -.1 .0 -.5 New vehicles .2 .1 .2 .1 -.2 .0 -.1 .5 Used cars and trucks. 1.2 .6 -.4 -.4 -.6 -.4 -.2 -1.7 Apparel.. .5 -.3 -.5 -.1 .3 .3 -.3 -1.4 Medical care commodities .1 .1 .4 .0 .1 .3 -.2 2.7 Services less energy services.. .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .1 .3 2.7 Shelter.. .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 .2 .3 3.2 Transportation services .0 .1 .7 .4 -.2 -.3 .1 2.2 Medical care services .4 .9 .2 -.2 .1 .0 .3 2.4 1 Not seasonally adjusted. Consumer Price Index Data for September 2015 Food The food index increased 0.4 percent in September after rising 0.2 percent in August. The index for food at home rose 0.3 percent in September the same increase as in August. The major grocery store food group indexes were split with three advances and three declines. The largest increase was in the other food at home group which rose 0.8 percent in September after falling in August. The index for dairy and related products also turned up in September rising 0.7 percent after declining 0.3 percent the prior month. The index for fruits and vegetables advanced 0.7 percent in September after rising 1.5 percent in August; the fresh fruits index rose 0.9 percent and the index for fresh vegetables increased 1.0 percent. In contrast the index for meats poultry fish and eggs turned down in September falling 0.3 after rising in August. The cereals and bakery products index fell 0.2 percent and the index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.1 percent. The index for food at home has risen 0.8 percent over the past 12 months. Five of the six major group indexes rose over that span though none more than 1.6 percent (other food at home). The dairy index was the only one to decline falling 2.3 percent. The index for food away from home increased 0.5 percent in September its largest increase since October 2008 and has risen 2.9 percent over the past 12 months. Energy The energy index which fell 2.0 percent in August declined 4.7 percent in September. The gasoline index declined 9.0 percent following a 4.1 percent decrease in August. (Before seasonal adjustment gasoline prices declined 10.1 percent in September.) The fuel oil index declined as well falling 2.4 percent after an 8.1 percent decrease in August. The electricity index which rose in August fell 0.5 percent in September. The index for natural gas also turned down in September falling 0.3 percent. All the major energy component indexes continue to show 12-month declines. The electricity index has fallen 0.4 percent over the span while the other indexes have fallen more sharply: Fuel oil has fallen 34.9 percent gasoline has declined 29.6 percent and natural gas has decreased 12.1 percent. All items less food and energy The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in September after rising 0.1 percent in July and August. The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in September after rising 0.2 percent the prior month. The rent index increased 0.4 percent and the index for owners equivalent rent increased 0.3 percent. The index for lodging away from home increased 0.8 percent in September after declining in August. The medical care index rose 0.2 percent in September with the indexes for physicians services and hospital services rising but the index for prescription drugs declining slightly. The index for household furnishings and operations increased 0.3 percent after declining in each of the four previous months. The index for personal care rose 0.3 percent and the alcoholic beverages index rose 0.1 percent. In contrast the apparel index fell 0.3 percent after rising in July and August. The index for used cars and trucks fell 0.2 percent while the new vehicles index declined 0.1 percent as did the tobacco index. The index for airline fares also declined 0.1 percent in September after declining more sharply in July and August. The recreation index was unchanged in September. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.9 percent over the past 12 months; this is a slight increase from the 1.8 percent rise for the 12 months ending August and is the highest 12-month change since July 2014. The shelter index has increased 3.2 percent over the past 12 months with the rent index up 3.7 percent; these figures have been gradually trending upward. Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was essentially unchanged over the last 12 months; the September index level is 237.945 (1982-84=100). For the month the index declined 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 232.661 (1982-84=100). For the month the index declined 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.5 percent over the last 12 months. For the month the index declined 0.3 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision. The Consumer Price Index for October 2015 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday November 17 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). Facilities for Sensory Impaired Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200 Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339. Brief Explanation of the CPI The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time of goods and services purchased by households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise approximately 28 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) which covers approximately 89 percent of the total population and includes in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households groups such as professional managerial and technical workers the self-employed short-term workers the unemployed and retirees and others not in the labor force. The CPIs are based on prices of food clothing shelter fuels transportation fares charges for doctors and dentists services drugs and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected each month in 87 urban areas across the country from about 6000 housing units and approximately 24000 retail establishments- department stores supermarkets hospitals filling stations and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index. Prices of fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls of the Bureaus trained representatives. In calculating the index price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. For the CPI-U and CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city by region of the country for cross-classifications of regions and population-size classes and for 27 local areas. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the…