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Consumer Price Index - July 2019

Regional News Releases

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 a.m. (ET) August 13, 2019.

Top Takeaways

July 2019, 1-month percent change +0.3% CPI, All Items, seasonally adjusted
July 2019, 12-month percent change +1.8% CPI, All Items, not seasonally adjusted

CPI, 1-month changes

1-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, all items, July 2017 to July 2019, seasonally adjusted
Month 1-month percent change, Jul 2019
July 2017 0.1%
Aug 2017 0.4%
Sept 2017 0.5%
Oct 2017 0.1%
Nov 2017 0.3%
Dec 2017 0.2%
Jan 2018 0.4%
Feb 2018 0.2%
Mar 2018 0.1%

Apr 2018

 0.2%
May 2018 0.3%
June 2018 0.2%

July 2018

 0.2%
Aug 2018 0.1%
Sept 2018 0.1%
Oct 2018 0.3%
Nov 2018 0.0%

Dec 2018

 0.0%
Jan 2019 0.0%
Feb 2019 0.2%

Mar 2019

 0.4%
Apr 2019 0.3%
May 2019 0.1%
June 2019 0.1%
July 2019 0.3%

All items

  • The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in July after rising 0.1 percent in June.
1-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, July 2019, seasonally adjusted
Category 1-month percent change, Jul 2019
All items 0.3%
Food 0.0%
Energy 1.3%
All items less food and energy 0.3%

Major categories

  • The energy index rose in July as the gasoline and electricity indexes increased, though the natural gas index declined.
  • The index for food was unchanged in July for the second consecutive month.
  • The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in July, the same increase as in June. The July rise was broad-based.
1-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, July 2019, seasonally adjusted
Category 1-month percent change, Jul 2019
Food at home -0.1%
Cereals and bakery products 0.3%
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs 0.1%

Dairy and related products

 -0.3%
Fruits and vegetables 0.3%
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials -0.4%
Other food at home -0.7%
Food away from home 0.2%
Full service meals and snacks 0.2%
Limited service meals and snacks  

Food

  • The food index was unchanged in July.
  • The index for food at home declined 0.1 percent in July after falling 0.2 percent in June.
  • The index for other food at home fell 0.7 percent in July after rising 0.7 percent in June.
  • The index for nonalcoholic beverages fell in July for the second consecutive month, declining 0.4 percent.
  • The index for dairy and related products declined 0.3 percent in July after rising in each of the previous 5 months.
  • In contrast, the index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.3 percent in July after declining in recent months, as the index for fresh vegetables increased 1.3 percent in July.
  • The index for cereals and bakery products increased 0.3 percent in July, and the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.1 percent; both indexes declined in June.
  • The food away from home index rose 0.2 percent in July with the indexes for full service meals and for limited service meals both rising 0.2 percent.
1-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, July 2019, seasonally adjusted
Category 1-month percent change, Jul 2019
Fuel oil 0.6%
Gasoline (all types) 2.5%
Electricity 0.6%
Natural gas (piped) -1.8%

Energy

  • The energy index increased 1.3 percent in July after falling 2.3 percent in June.
  • The gasoline index rose 2.5 percent in July following a 3.6-percent decline in June. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 0.8 percent in July.)
  • The index for electricity also increased in July, rising 0.6 percent after falling in May and June.
  • The index for natural gas decreased in July, falling 1.8 percent, its seventh consecutive decline.
1-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, July 2019, seasonally adjusted
Category 1-month percent change, Jul 2019
Apparel 0.4%
New vehicles -0.2%
Used cars and trucks 0.9%
Medical care commodities 0.2%
Alcoholic beverages 0.4%
Tobacco and smoking products 1.0%
Shelter 0.3%
Medical care services 0.5%
Transportation services 0.3%

All items less food & energy

  • The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in July.
  • The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in July, the same increase as in June. The index for rent increased 0.3 percent in July and the index for owners' equivalent rent advanced 0.2 percent.
  • The apparel index rose 0.4 percent in July, after rising 1.1 percent in June.
  • The medical care index rose 0.5 percent in July as the hospital services index increased 0.5 percent, the prescription drugs index rose 0.4 percent, and the physicians' services index advanced 0.2 percent.
  • The index for used cars and trucks rose 0.9 percent in July following a 1.6-percent increase in June.
  • The index for airline fares rose 2.3 percent in July after declining in June.
  • The index for household furnishings and operations increased 0.4 percent in July, its third consecutive monthly increase, and the indexes for communication, for apparel, and for personal care each also rose 0.4 percent in July.
  • Also increasing in July were the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, for tobacco, and for alcoholic beverages.
  • The recreation index was unchanged in July after a decline in June. The index for new vehicles declined in July, falling 0.2 percent after increasing in each of the previous 4 months.

CPI, 12-month changes

12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, all items, July 2017 to July 2019, not seasonally adjusted
Month 12-month percent change, Jul 2019
July 2017 1.7%
Aug 2017 1.9%
Sept 2017 2.2%
Oct 2017 2.0%
Nov 2017 2.2%
Dec 2017 2.1%
Jan 2018 2.1%
Feb 2018 2.2%
Mar 2018 2.4%
Apr 2018 2.5%

May 2018

 2.8%
June 2018 2.9%
July 2018 2.9%
Aug 2018 2.7%
Sept 2018 2.3%
Oct 2018 2.5%
Nov 2018 2.2%
Dec 2018 1.9%
Jan 2019 1.6%
Feb 2019 1.5%
Mar 2019 1.9%
Apr 2019 2.0%
May 2019 1.8%
June 2019 1.6%
July 2019 1.8%

All items

  • The all items index increased 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending July, a larger increase than the 1.6-percent rise for the period ending June.
12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, June 2019, not seasonally adjusted
Category 12-month percent change, Jun 2019
All items 1.6%
Food 1.9%
Energy -3.4%
All items less food and energy 2.1%

Major categories

  • The all items index increased 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending July, a larger increase than the 1.6-percent rise for the period ending June.
  • The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.2 percent over the last 12 months, slightly more than the 2.1-percent increase for the period ending June.
  • The food index rose 1.8 percent over the last year ending in July.
  • Despite the July monthly increase, the energy index decreased 2.0 percent over the past 12 months.
12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, June 2019, not seasonally adjusted
Category 12-month percent change, Jun 2019
Food at home 0.9%
Cereals and bakery products 1.2%
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs 0.3%
Dairy and related products 0.6%
Fruits and vegetables 1.0%
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials 2.3%
Other food at home 0.9%
Food away from home 3.1%
Full service meals and snacks 3.3%
Limited service meals and snacks 3.0%

Food

  • Over the last 12 months ending July, the food at home index increased 0.6 percent.
  • The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was unchanged over the year ending July. The remaining major grocery store food group indexes increased over the last year, but none more than 1.9 percent (nonalcoholic beverages).
  • The index for food away from home rose 3.2 percent over the last year ending July, with both the full service meals and limited service meals indexes increasing 3.2 percent.
12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, June 2019, seasonally adjusted
Category 12-month percent change, Jun 2019
Fuel oil -5.6%
Gasoline (all types) -5.4%
Electricity -0.3%
Natural gas (piped) -2.1%

Energy

  • Despite the July monthly increase, the energy index decreased 2.0 percent over the past 12 months.
  • The gasoline index fell 3.3 percent over the year ending in July, and the fuel oil index declined 6.0 percent.
  • The index for natural gas declined 2.9 percent over the past year ending in July, but the index for electricity increased, rising 0.5 percent.
12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, June 2019, not seasonally adjusted
Category 12-month percent change, Jun 2019
Apparel -1.3%
New vehicles 0.6%
Used cars and trucks 1.2%
Medical care commodities -1.5%
Alcoholic beverages 1.5%
Tobacco and smoking products 4.6%
Shelter 3.5%
Medical care services 2.8%
Transportation services 0.9%

All items less food & energy

  • The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.2 percent over the past 12 months ending in July.
  • Most major component indexes increased over the past year ending in July, including shelter (3.5 percent) and medical care (2.6 percent). Exceptions include communication (-1.3 percent) and apparel (-0.5 percent).

Additional Measures

  • The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.8 percent over the last 12 months ending in July to an index level of 256.571 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
  • The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months ending in July to an index level of 250.236 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
  • The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months ending in July. For the month, the index rose 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.
  • Definitions for the CPI-W and C-CPI-U are available in the About this Release section.

Additional Information

Contact Information

Next Release

  • September 12, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. ET

What is the Consumer Price Index?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services. The CPI reflects spending patterns for each of two population groups: all urban consumers and urban wage earners and clerical workers. The all urban consumer group represents about 93 percent of the total U.S. population. It is based on the expenditures of almost all residents of urban or metropolitan areas.

The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation, doctors’ and dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected each month in 75 urban areas across the country from about 5,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 retail establishments. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls by the Bureau's trained representatives.