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BLS 10-05 |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that consumer prices in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area decreased 0.3 percent for the two months ending December 2009. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden said that the decrease in the all items index was mainly due to lower prices for housing and apparel, although rising transportation prices helped offset some of the decline. From December 2008 to December 2009, overall prices increased 1.4 percent and the special index for all items less food and energy index rose 0.4 percent. Local Consumer Price Index (CPI) data are not seasonally adjusted.
The housing index declined 0.4 percent for the two months ending December 2009 and was 1.3 percent lower over the year. Shelter, the primary component of housing, also decreased 0.4 percent over the past two months and declined 0.9 percent compared to one year ago. Within the shelter category, the rent of primary residence index moved down 0.6 percent from October to December and decreased 1.3 percent over the latest 12-month period. The owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence index edged down 0.1 percent since October and declined 1.1 percent since December 2008. Shelter also includes lodging away from home, an unpublished subcategory. Fuels and utilities, another component of housing, increased 0.4 percent during the past two months, yet was unchanged during the past 12 months. Prices for household furnishings and operations declined 0.9 percent over the past two months and 5.4 percent over the past year.
Meanwhile, the transportation index moved up 0.9 percent over the past two months, primarily due to a 1.2 percent increase in private transportation prices, which includes motor fuel and gasoline prices. Over the year, the transportation index increased 12.5 percent and private transportation prices were up 13.5 percent. Gasoline prices jumped 53.0 percent in the past year, strongly influencing the increase in transportation prices for the same period.
The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent for the two months ending December 2009, but decreased 2.4 on an annual basis. Grocery prices, as measured by the food at home index, declined 0.6 percent from October to December, and were 4.8 percent lower than a year ago. Food away from home prices advanced 1.9 percent for the two months ending in December, yet inched down 0.1 percent during the latest 12-month period.
Apparel prices decreased 8.3 percent for the latest two-month period, but were 0.2 percent higher over the past year.
Medical care prices moved down 0.2 percent for the two months ending in December, but advanced 3.0 percent over the year.
Among the remaining major expenditure categories, prices for education and communication decreased 0.9 percent and prices for recreation declined 1.1 percent for the latest two-month period. Over the past year, education and communication prices increased 1.6 percent, but recreation prices were down 1.7 percent. The other goods and services index rose 1.3 percent from October to December and moved up 2.6 percent over the latest 12-month period.
The All Items, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area measured 225.596 (1982-84=100). This means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost $225.60 in December 2009.
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Last Modified Date: January 15, 2010
