FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:                             TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
Cheryl Abbot                                         THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
Regional Economist                                   UNTIL: 7:30 A.M. (CT),
(214) 767-6970                                       Wednesday, April 16, 2008
http://www.bls.gov/ro6/home.htm


                        MARCH 2008 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
                            DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TEXAS

     Prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area rose 0.8 percent during February and 
March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported 
today.  Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman stated that increases within 
the transportation category accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total gain.  
During the year ended in March 2008, overall prices advanced 4.4 percent and 
the index for all items less food and energy (frequently referred to as the 
core index) rose 2.5 percent.  These data are based on the Consumer Price Index 
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).




     Transportation costs advanced 2.6 percent in February and March following 
a 0.4-percent rise in December and January.  Although higher prices were noted 
for vehicle maintenance and servicing, airline fares, and auto rentals, the 
latest increase was primarily attributable to an 8.2-percent rise in gasoline 
costs.  The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the Dallas-Fort Worth 
area stood at $3.190 in March.  On an annual basis, gasoline prices climbed 
32.8 percent and were the largest factor in the 10.3-percent yearly 
transportation gain.

     Medical care costs registered a 1.9-percent increase in February and 
March, after rising 1.1 percent in the previous two-month period.  Higher 
prices were noted for physicians’ services, as well as prescription and 
nonprescription drugs.  During the year ended in March, the medical care index 
advanced 3.8 percent.

     While the housing index rose a relatively modest 0.3 percent during 
February and March, it was the third-largest contributor to the overall CPI 
rise.  The biggest factor in the housing increase was a 2.4-percent gain in 
household energy costs as higher electricity prices more than offset a decline 
in natural gas costs.  Prices for household furnishings and operations also 
rose during the two-month period, advancing 0.6 percent.  The cost of shelter 
was little changed, dipping 0.1 percent, as lower charges for hotels and motels 
countered increases in the indexes for rent of a primary residence and owners’ 
equivalent rent.  Annual movements within the housing category were mixed with 
electricity prices up 2.8 percent, shelter costs rising 2.7 percent, household 
furnishings and operations falling 0.7 percent, and natural gas prices 
declining 8.7 percent.  When combined, these annual movements left the total 
housing index 2.2 percent higher than a year ago. 

     After declining in the last two bimonthly periods, the recreation index 
rose 1.5 percent in February and March, the largest two-month gain since 
October and November 2002.  The leading cause was higher charges for cable and 
satellite television, but increases for pets and pet products, as well as 
sporting goods, also played a role in the gain.  As a result of previous 
bimonthly declines, the recreation index rose just 0.5 percent over the year.

     Higher prices were registered in three additional categories during the 
latest period, but their impact on the overall CPI was not as substantial.  
Costs for food and beverages edged up 0.2 percent in February and March due to 
a 0.6-percent rise in the cost of food away from home (restaurant meals).  
Prices for food at home (grocery items) were unchanged as lower costs for 
fruits and vegetables balanced higher costs for other foods.  Alcoholic 
beverage prices declined 1.1 percent during the bimonthly period.  On an annual 
basis, the total food and beverages index rose 5.5 percent, led by a 6.4-
percent advance in grocery prices.

     The education and communication index increased 0.8 percent during the 
two-month period, due in part to higher prices for personal computers and 
peripheral equipment.  During the year ended in March, education and 
communication costs rose 4.8 percent.  The other goods and services index rose 
0.3 percent during the bimonthly period and 1.6 percent over the year.

     Partially countering the increases in the other categories, apparel prices 
fell 3.3 percent in February and March.  This decline followed a 6.0-percent 
decrease in December and January.  Individual movements were mixed during the 
latest period and included lower prices for women’s suits and separates, but 
higher prices for women’s footwear and girls’ apparel.  During the last 12 
months, apparel prices rose 3.9 percent.

     The CPI-U for the Dallas-Fort Worth area stood at 198.596 on the 1982-
84=100 reference base, meaning that a market basket of goods and services which 
averaged $100.0 in 1982-84 would have cost local consumers $198.60 in March 
2008.

     The Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Area (CMSA) includes 
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Henderson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, 
Rockwall, and Tarrant Counties.  Local area CPI indexes are by-products of the 
national CPI program.  Because each local area index is a small subset of the 
national index, the sample size is smaller and therefore 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.



Next Release Date: The Dallas-Fort Worth April CPI for Energy, Food At Home, 
and Shelter will be released on May 14, 2008.

Last Modified Date: April 16, 2008