|
CONTACT: Media Interviews (415) 625-2270 (415) 625-2283 Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/ro9/news.htm |
BLS 09-73 |
Consumer prices in the Anchorage metropolitan area advanced 1.3 percent from one year prior, but declined 0.7 percent in the first half of 2009 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden said the increase in the housing index contributed to the higher annual all items index increase.
The housing index rose 3.9 percent for the year and 2.2 percent for the past six months. Over the year prices for the shelter component of housing advanced 2.4 percent and the fuels and utilities component rose 15.0 percent. During the past six months costs for shelter increased 1.0 percent and costs for fuels and utilities increased 12.4 percent. Within the fuels and utilities index, (utility) piped gas service prices increased 21.1 percent for the year and 21.3 percent for the past six months. Electricity prices increased 25.0 percent for the year and 15.7 percent for the past six months. The household furnishings and operations index rose 4.7 percent since the first half of 2008 and 1.6 percent since the second half of 2008.
Partially offsetting the increase in the all items index, transportation prices decreased 5.4 percent during the past year and 9.6 percent since the second half of 2008. Annual gasoline prices fell 28.4 percent over the past year. In the past six months, gasoline prices plummeted 33.7 percent.
Prices paid for food and beverages rose 1.0 percent since last year. During this period, the food at home index advanced 2.3 percent and the food away from home index increased 0.9 percent. For the past six months, the overall food and beverages index decreased 0.6 percent. Food at home prices were down 0.9 percent over the past six months, but food away from home prices increased 0.2 percent. Alcoholic beverages prices decreased 2.6 percent since the first half of 2008 and 2.4 percent since the second half of 2008.
In the past 12 months medical care prices rose 3.5 percent. Prices for medical care advanced 3.7 percent in the last six months.
Over the year, apparel prices decreased 0.7 percent, but over the past six months increased 3.1 percent. Prices for recreation increased 1.3 percent since the first half of 2008 and 0.2 percent since the second half of 2008.
Education and communication prices advanced 1.3 percent during the past year, but edged down 0.2 percent during the past six months. Other goods and services rose 6.3 percent on an annual basis and 3.0 percent since six months ago.
The Anchorage area’s Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced to 190.032 (1982-84=100) during the first half of 2009. This means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost $190.03 in the first six months of 2009. Local area CPI data are not seasonally adjusted.
__________________________________________________________________
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.
Voice phone 202-691-5200
TDD message referral phone number: 800-877-8339
__________________________________________________________________
Please click here for a text formatted copy of the table issued with this release.
Last Modified Date: August 14, 2009
