The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis after falling 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The indexes for gasoline and shelter were the largest factors in the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index, although the food index increased as well. The gasoline index increased 3.0 percent, more than offsetting declines in other energy component indexes and led to a 1.4-percent rise in the energy index. The food index rose 0.3 percent, with the food at home index rising 0.3 percent and the index for food away from home increasing 0.2 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in April. The shelter index rose 0.3 percent, with other indexes mixed. The indexes for household furnishings and operations, personal care, tobacco, medical care, and apparel all increased in April, while those for used cars and trucks, new vehicles, recreation,and airline fares all declined.

The all items index rose 2.5 percent for the 12 months ending April; this figure has been mostly trending upward since it was 1.6 percent for the period ending June 2017. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.1 percent for the 12 months ending April. The food index increased 1.4 percent, and the energy index rose 7.9 percent.

Food
The food index rose 0.3 percent in April after a 0.1-percent increase in March. The index for food at home rose 0.3 percent, the largest increase since March 2017. The fruits and vegetables index rose 1.0 percent in April after declining in February and March. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.7 percent, with the index for eggs rising 7.1 percent and the beef index rising 1.3 percent. The index for dairy and related products also increased in April, rising 0.4 percent.

In contrast, the index for nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.6 percent in April after rising in March. The index for cereals and bakery products fell 0.2 percent in April, and the index for other food at home was unchanged. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in April following a 0.1-percent increase in March.

Over the last 12 months, the index for food away from home increased 2.5 percent, and the food at home index rose 0.5 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 3.5 percent over the last year, the only one of the six major grocery store food group indexes to increase. The indexes for cereals and bakery products and for other food at home were unchanged, and the remaining indexes declined modestly over the last 12 months.

Energy
The energy index rose 1.4 percent in April after falling 2.8 percent in March. The gasoline index rose 3.0 percent following a 4.9-percent decline in March. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 6.2 percent in April.) In contrast, the electricity index fell 0.6 percent in April, and the index for natural gas fell 0.4 percent.

The energy index increased 7.9 percent over the past year, with all the major component indexes rising. The gasoline index increased 13.4 percent and the fuel oil index rose 22.6 percent. The remaining component indexes increased more moderately; the electricity index increased 1.2 percent, and the index for natural gas advanced 1.0 percent.

All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in April. The shelter index increased 0.3 percent, with the rent index rising 0.4 percent and the index for owners' equivalent rent increasing 0.3 percent. The index for lodging away from home increased 0.7 percent in April. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.5 percent in April, the largest increase since April 2015, and the personal care index increased 0.7 percent.

The apparel index rose 0.3 percent in April after declining in March, and the tobacco index increased 1.3 percent. The medical care index rose 0.1 percent in April, with the hospital services index rising 0.2 percent, the prescription drugs index increasing 0.1 percent, and the physicians' services index unchanged. The indexes for education and for alcoholic beverages also rose in April.

The index for used cars and trucks fell 1.6 percent in April, the largest decline since March 2009. The recreation index fell 0.4 percent, the largest decline since December 2009. The index for airline fares fell 2.7 percent in April, and the new vehicles index declined 0.5 percent. The index for motor vehicle insurance fell 0.2 percent, the first monthly decline since April 2017. The index for communication also declined 0.2 percent in April.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.1 percent over the past 12 months, the same increase as for the period ending March. The shelter index rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, and the medical care index rose 2.2 percent. Indexes that declined over the past 12 months include those for new vehicles, airline fares, used cars and trucks, and communication.

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.5 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 250.546 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.4 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 244.607 1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.3 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 past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.