The Consumer Price Index edged up 0.2% in October on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, the same increase as in each of the previous 3 months, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.6% before seasonal adjustment.
The index for all items less food and energy, the “core CPI”, rose 0.3% in October as it did in August and September and 3.3% over the last 12 months.
The index for shelter increased 0.4% in October. The shelter index increased 0.2% in September and 0.5% in August.
The food index rose 0.2% in October, after rising 0.4% in September. The food at home increased 0.1% in October after rising 0.4% in September. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the month. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs fell 1.2% in October as the index for eggs decreased 6.4%. The index for fruits and vegetables index rose 0.9 percent. The food away from home index rose 0.2 percent in October, after rising 0.3 percent in both August and September.
The energy index was unchanged after falling 1.9% in September. The gasoline index decreased 0.9% over the month. The electricity index increased 1.2% over the month, while natural gas index rose 0.3%. The energy index decreased 4.9% over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 12.2% over a 12-month span, and the fuel oil index fell 20.8% over that period. The index for electricity increased 4.5% over the last 12 months, and the index for natural gas rose 2.0%.
Read the BLS release.
