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Consumer Price Index up 0.3% in March, Ex Fd & Engy up 0.2%
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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The indexes for food, energy, and all items less food and energy all increased in March. The gasoline index continued to rise, more than offsetting a decline in the household energy index and leading to a 0.9 percent increase in the energy index. The food index rose 0.2 percent as the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased notably.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in March after increasing 0.1 percent in February. Most of the major components increased in March, with the indexes for shelter and used cars and trucks accounting for about half the total increase for all items less food and energy. The indexes for medical care, apparel, recreation, new vehicles, and airline fares increased as well, while the indexes for tobacco and household furnishings and operations were among the few to decline in March.
The all items index has risen 2.7 percent over the last 12 months, a decline from last month's 2.9 percent figure. The energy index has risen 4.6 percent and the food index has increased 3.3 percent; both increases are smaller than last month. In contrast, the 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy, which was 2.2 percent last month, edged up to 2.3 percent in March.
Posted: April 13, 2012 Friday 08:30 AM