Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until NYLS - 7412 8:30 a.m. (EST), Friday, January 15, 2010 Technical information: Martin Kohli (646) 264-3620 • BLSInfoNewYork@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ro2 Media contact: Michael L. Dolfman (212) 337-2500 Consumer Price Index, New York-Northern New Jersey - December 2009 Area prices down 0.1 percent over the month; up 2.3 percent from year ago Retail prices in the greater New York area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), ticked down 0.1 percent in December, after increasing 0.2 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Michael L. Dolfman, Regional Commissioner, attributed the December downturn to declining prices for apparel, recreation, groceries, and gasoline. These decreases were largely offset by slightly higher prices for shelter. For the 12 months ended in December 2009, the CPI-U rose 2.3 percent. (See chart 1.) The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.8 percent. The apparel index, usually down in December with seasonal price reductions, fell 2.6 percent. Women's suits and separates, outerwear, and dresses posted lower prices, along with girls' apparel. Despite the fall over the month, the apparel index was up 7.6 percent since December 2008, the largest 12-month change since August 2005. The recreation index recorded its fourth consecutive decline, -1.3 percent; lower prices for photographic equipment and supplies contributed to the December drop, the largest one-month decrease since the series start in 1998.New York-Northern New Jersey CPI monthly and annual percent changes (not seasonally adjusted) | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Month | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann January 0.3 2.7 0.6 4.1 0.8 3.7 0.2 2.7 0.2 3.7 0.2 1.5 February 0.6 2.5 0.4 3.9 0.2 3.6 0.6 3.1 0.5 3.6 0.5 1.6 March 1.1 3.2 1.7 4.4 0.8 2.7 0.7 2.9 0.9 3.8 0.2 0.8 April 0.3 3.7 0.0 4.2 0.9 3.6 0.5 2.5 0.3 3.6 0.2 0.8 May 0.2 3.9 -0.5 3.4 0.6 4.8 0.6 2.5 1.0 4.0 0.2 -0.1 June 0.8 4.6 -0.3 2.3 0.5 5.6 0.5 2.5 1.0 4.5 0.5 -0.6 July -0.2 3.9 0.9 3.4 0.2 5.0 0.2 2.5 0.7 5.1 0.2 -1.1 August 0.1 3.3 0.8 4.1 0.4 4.7 -0.1 1.9 0.1 5.4 0.3 -0.9 September 0.1 3.2 0.8 4.8 -0.5 3.3 0.0 2.4 -0.2 5.2 0.1 -0.6 October 0.7 3.7 0.4 4.5 -0.5 2.4 0.1 3.1 -0.7 4.3 -0.1 0.0 November 0.0 3.9 -0.6 3.9 -0.4 2.6 0.4 3.9 -1.6 2.2 0.2 1.8 December -0.2 3.8 -0.5 3.6 0.2 3.3 0.0 3.7 -0.6 1.6 -0.1 2.3 The food and beverages index inched down 0.1 percent after three consecutive increases. A 0.3-percent fall in the food-at-home component reflected lower prices for fresh vegetables (other than potatoes, lettuce, and tomatoes); salad dressing; and bacon, breakfast sausage, and related products. Food away from home and alcoholic beverages were little changed. From December 2008 to December 2009, the food and beverages index was unchanged. The housing index was unchanged over the month, after rising 0.1 percent in November. A 0.1-percent increase in shelter prices was offset by a 0.5-percent drop in household furnishings and operations coupled with a 0.1-percent decline in fuels and utilities. Within shelter, owners' equivalent rent and residential rent each rose by 0.1 percent. Over the year, owners' equivalent rent increased by 0.9 percent, the smallest 12-month change since the start of the series in 1983. Residential rent advanced 1.9 percent since December 2008, marking the smallest increase since July 1994. The transportation index rose 0.4 percent, with higher prices for used cars and trucks, motor vehicle insurance, and intercity transportation (other than airline). These increases outweighed a 0.7-percent decrease in the price of gasoline. For the year ending in December 2009, transportation prices advanced 12.4 percent; gasoline prices jumped 48 percent. In contrast, in December 2008, transportation prices were down 10 percent, and gasoline prices had fallen 40.6 percent from a year earlier. Among other expenditure categories, medical care declined 0.4 percent. Other goods and services dipped 0.1 percent, and education and communication was unchanged. With the New York-Northern New Jersey CPI-U at 238.427 in December (1982-84=100), $23.84 was required to purchase what $10 could in the 1982-84 base period. The purchasing power of the dollar was 41.9 cents in 1982-84 dollars and 14.5 cents in 1967 dollars. In December, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI- W) was 233.448, down 0.2 percent. The CPI-W increased 2.7 percent over the year. On a 1967 base, the December CPI-W was 664.684. Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to- month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences. The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. consolidated area comprises Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties in New York State; Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren Counties in New Jersey; Fairfield County and parts of Litchfield, Middlesex, and New Haven Counties in Connecticut; and Pike County in Pennsylvania. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change from- Item and Group Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Oct. Nov. 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 Expenditure category All items............................... 238.380 238.777 238.427 2.3 0.0 -0.1 All items (1967=100).................... 689.123 690.272 689.261 - - - Food and beverages..................... 227.547 228.525 228.186 .0 .3 -.1 Food.................................. 226.554 227.570 227.198 -.1 .3 -.2 Food at home......................... 224.186 225.807 225.118 -1.4 .4 -.3 Food away from home.................. 235.475 235.786 235.787 1.5 .1 .0 Alcoholic beverages................... 238.102 238.482 238.653 1.1 .2 .1 Housing................................ 256.273 256.464 256.523 .4 .1 .0 Shelter............................... 311.411 310.570 310.819 1.1 -.2 .1 Rent of primary residence 1/......... 307.574 308.977 309.229 1.9 .5 .1 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence 1/2/3/ ................ 319.705 319.987 320.430 .9 .2 .1 Fuels and utilities................... 193.113 198.359 198.210 -2.5 2.6 -.1 Household energy..................... 192.766 198.499 198.325 -3.2 2.9 -.1 Gas (piped) and electricity 1/...... 189.744 194.372 194.175 -4.2 2.3 -.1 Electricity 1/..................... 184.199 184.115 182.422 3.5 -1.0 -.9 Utility (piped) gas service 1/..... 194.827 210.228 213.523 -16.5 9.6 1.6 Household furnishings and operations.. 123.386 123.901 123.291 -3.5 -.1 -.5 Apparel................................ 122.091 119.304 116.240 7.6 -4.8 -2.6 Transportation......................... 195.770 198.462 199.307 12.4 1.8 .4 Private transportation................ 185.250 188.110 188.823 14.1 1.9 0.4 Motor fuel........................... 201.648 211.602 210.128 46.9 4.2 -.7 Gasoline (all types)................ 201.023 210.955 209.510 48.0 4.2 -.7 Gasoline, unleaded regular 4/...... 202.677 213.059 211.357 51.5 4.3 -.8 Gasoline, unleaded midgrade 4/ 5/.. 202.567 212.114 211.335 41.3 4.3 -.4 Gasoline, unleaded premium 4/...... 199.149 207.729 206.941 39.7 3.9 -.4 Medical care........................... 374.115 373.340 371.910 1.2 -.6 -.4 Recreation 6/.......................... 116.856 116.310 114.834 -.3 -1.7 -1.3 Education and communication 6/......... 135.506 135.354 135.364 1.1 -.1 .0 Other goods and services............... 366.539 369.386 369.117 5.5 .7 -.1 Commodity and service group All items............................... 238.380 238.777 238.427 2.3 .0 -.1 Commodities............................ 178.506 179.414 178.568 4.5 .0 -.5 Commodities less food and beverages... 146.008 146.839 145.789 8.3 -.1 -.7 Nondurables less food and beverages.. 178.199 179.635 177.401 12.3 -.4 -1.2 Durables............................. 104.242 104.356 104.685 1.3 .4 .3 Services............................... 289.590 289.564 289.626 1.2 0.0 0.0 Special aggregate indexes All items less medical care............. 232.200 232.632 232.320 2.4 .1 -.1 All items less shelter.................. 209.723 210.667 210.050 3.2 .2 -.3 Commodities less food................... 149.699 150.521 149.500 7.9 -.1 -.7 Nondurables............................. 204.677 205.916 204.556 5.4 -.1 -.7 Nondurables less food................... 181.995 183.381 181.266 11.4 -.4 -1.2 Services less rent of shelter 3/........ 275.712 276.737 276.561 1.5 .3 -.1 Services less medical care services..... 282.011 282.017 282.114 1.2 .0 .0 Energy.................................. 197.212 204.724 204.008 13.4 3.4 -.3 All items less energy................... 244.062 243.767 243.450 1.5 -.3 -.1 All items less food and energy......... 248.790 248.244 247.936 1.8 -.3 -.1 1/ This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 2010. The expenditure class will include weight from secondary residences, and will be re-titled Owners’ equivalent rent of residences. The item stratum Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residences, which prior to January, 2010 is identical to the EC, will be published as well. 3/ Index is on a December 1982=100 base. 4/ Special index based on a substantially smaller sample. 5/ Indexes on a December 1993=100 base. 6/ Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. - Data not available.
Last Modified Date: January 15, 2010
