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News Release Information

19-1815-PHI
Thursday, October 10, 2019

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – September 2019

Regional prices unchanged over the month; up 1.4 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast was unchanged in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that while there was an increase in the all items less food and energy index (0.2 percent), the energy index decreased over the month, down 1.6 percent. The food index also decreased since August, down 0.1 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the Northeast all items CPI-U increased 1.4 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) This was due almost entirely to an advance in the all items less food and energy index, up 2.3 percent. The food index also rose, up 1.2 percent since September 2018, while the energy index declined 6.3 percent. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index inched down 0.1 percent since August. Prices for food at home were down 0.3 percent, while those for food away from home edged up 0.2 percent.

From September 2018 to September 2019, the food index increased 1.2 percent. Prices for food away from home increased over the year, up 3.1 percent, while those for food at home declined 0.3 percent.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, declined 1.6 percent in September, due almost entirely to lower gasoline prices, down 3.3 percent. Prices were also lower for utility (piped) gas service (-1.1 percent) while those for electricity were higher (0.1 percent).

The energy index decreased 6.3 percent since September 2018. The decline reflected lower prices for gasoline (-10.0 percent), electricity (-2.4 percent), and utility (piped) gas service (-2.1 percent) over the year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy edged up 0.2 percent over the month. Higher prices for apparel (3.5 percent) and shelter (0.2 percent) were moderated by declines for new and used motor vehicles (-1.7 percent) and recreation (-1.4 percent), among others.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.3 percent since September 2018, led by higher prices for shelter, up 2.5 percent. Prices also rose over the year for medical care (4.9 percent) and education and communication (2.5 percent), among others.

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20152016201720182019
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

-0.2-0.40.00.70.62.50.51.60.31.5

February

0.2-0.20.20.70.32.60.41.70.21.3

March

0.3-0.40.20.6-0.12.20.12.00.51.7

April

0.1-0.30.61.00.31.90.42.10.41.7

May

0.4-0.30.30.90.11.70.42.50.31.5

June

0.30.00.20.70.01.50.02.60.11.6

July

-0.1-0.20.00.8-0.21.30.02.70.11.7

August

-0.2-0.10.11.00.31.60.22.70.11.5

September

0.0-0.10.21.30.51.90.12.20.01.4

October

-0.2-0.10.21.6-0.11.5-0.12.3

November

0.00.30.01.60.01.6-0.41.9

December

-0.40.50.01.90.11.7-0.11.7
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U edged up 0.2 percent in the New England division, while declining 0.1 percent in the Middle Atlantic division.

Over the year, the all items index advanced 1.8 percent in the New England division. (See table B.) Prices also rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 1.3 percent.

 Table B. CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, Northeast region and divisions, not seasonally adjusted
Area1-month change12-month change

Northeast

0.01.4

New England Division

0.21.8

Middle Atlantic Division

-0.11.3

The Consumer Price Index for October 2019 is scheduled to be released Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) a CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 93 percent of the total population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 29 percent of the total population. The CPI-U includes, in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, 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 CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs, and the other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Each month, prices are collected in 75 urban areas across the country from about 5,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 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.

The index measures price changes from a designated reference date (1982-84) that equals 100.0. An increase of 16.5 percent, for example, is shown as 116.5. This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period "market basket" of goods and services in the CPI has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. For further details see the CPI home page on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 17, The Consumer Price Index, available on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch17.pdf.

In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights that represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Because the sample size of a local area is smaller, the local area index is subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error than the national index. In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are quite similar. Note: Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices between cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period.

The Northeast region is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The New England division is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Middle Atlantic division is comprised of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods, Northeast Region, (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted)
Expenditure categoryIndexesPercent change from
Historical
data
Jul.
2019
Aug.
2019
Sep.
2019
Sep.
2018
Jul.
2019
Aug.
2019

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
270.381270.548270.5631.40.10.0

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
425.767426.030426.053   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
263.657264.398264.3641.10.30.0

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
264.282265.040264.8841.20.2-0.1

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
250.175250.784250.048-0.3-0.1-0.3

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
296.600301.038296.708-0.30.0-1.4

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
252.380250.926251.040-0.5-0.50.0

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
228.844228.880231.1711.21.01.0

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
312.912310.602308.132-2.2-1.5-0.8

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
175.045176.897177.4251.41.40.3

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
223.386225.010224.071-0.10.3-0.4

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
288.751289.738290.4223.10.60.2

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
254.608255.136256.5920.10.80.6

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
288.869288.578289.1421.80.10.2

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
359.887360.222361.0232.50.30.2

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
362.099363.327364.3063.20.60.3

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
369.958371.150372.1872.30.60.3

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
369.656370.844371.8812.30.60.3

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
225.985224.096223.836-2.2-1.0-0.1

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
198.572196.855196.550-3.1-1.0-0.2

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
196.140194.676194.092-2.3-1.0-0.3

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
203.907201.494201.717-2.4-1.10.1

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
168.209168.411166.552-2.1-1.0-1.1

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
121.195119.941120.3440.5-0.70.3

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
126.511128.731133.298-0.25.43.5

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
210.070208.236205.461-1.6-2.2-1.3

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
202.161200.355197.262-2.2-2.4-1.5

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
97.51197.26795.5940.7-2.0-1.7

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
145.271143.365142.589-0.2-1.8-0.5

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
100.68899.36898.833-0.2-1.8-0.5

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
134.019132.525131.742-1.1-1.7-0.6

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
149.210150.275144.8212.9-2.9-3.6

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
239.743232.861225.375-9.9-6.0-3.2

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
238.722231.814224.264-10.0-6.1-3.3

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
236.158228.994221.232-10.4-6.3-3.4

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
252.455247.018241.042-8.2-4.5-2.4

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
246.585241.819236.103-7.3-4.3-2.4

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
620.674620.674620.6710.30.00.0

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
526.016528.447531.4124.91.00.6

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
404.997409.247403.7463.4-0.3-1.3

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
560.760562.622568.1745.31.31.0

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
394.032393.389398.9753.71.31.4

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
126.962127.197125.3801.1-1.2-1.4

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
143.618145.094145.9642.51.60.6

Tuition, other school fees, and child care(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,258.4071,276.1251,289.0583.92.41.0

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
499.857502.699502.1592.70.5-0.1

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
192.355192.100191.429-0.5-0.5-0.3

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
153.777153.149152.269-1.5-1.0-0.6

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
199.845199.319198.855-2.5-0.5-0.2

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
103.196102.550101.4330.1-1.7-1.1

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
345.471346.016346.6362.40.30.2

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
239.495239.601239.3240.9-0.1-0.1

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
259.133259.196259.0751.10.00.0

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
157.454156.855156.038-1.4-0.9-0.5

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
231.770231.824231.553-0.6-0.1-0.1

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
203.026202.563202.215-2.3-0.4-0.2

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
341.788342.571343.0122.30.40.1

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
330.634331.088331.3702.10.20.1

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
215.570211.696208.392-6.3-3.3-1.6

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
278.737279.332279.6972.10.30.1

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
283.058283.631284.0842.30.40.2

Footnotes
(1) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
(2) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 1977=100 base.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, October 10, 2019