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This page provides further information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the April 2021 Consumer Price Index news release.
Data collection for April 2021 involved no personal visits, so all data were collected either online or through telephone interviews. An example of this is full-service restaurants; even if a restaurant was open for dine-in service, as well as open for take-out or delivery, the data collector attempted to obtain the price from the restaurant’s website or by telephone call with the respondent, rather than a personal visit.
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal visit | Telephone | Online | Personal visit | Telephone | Online | Personal visit | Telephone | Online | |
January |
73 | 10 | 17 | 72 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 16 | 84 |
February |
72 | 11 | 17 | 72 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 84 |
March |
74 | 10 | 16 | 44 | 14 | 42 | 0 | 16 | 84 |
April |
74 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 82 | 0 | 16 | 84 |
May |
74 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 17 | 83 | |||
June |
73 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 83 | |||
July |
74 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 17 | 83 | |||
August |
73 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 83 | |||
September |
73 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 83 | |||
October |
73 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 16 | 84 | |||
November |
73 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 84 | |||
December |
72 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 84 | |||
Average, Feb 2019–Feb 2020 |
73 | 10 | 17 | ||||||
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal visit | Telephone | Personal visit | Telephone | Personal visit | Telephone | |
January |
35 | 65 | 39 | 61 | 0 | 100 |
February |
36 | 64 | 40 | 60 | 0 | 100 |
March |
36 | 64 | 30 | 70 | 0 | 100 |
April |
38 | 62 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
May |
39 | 61 | 0 | 100 | ||
June |
38 | 62 | 0 | 100 | ||
July |
37 | 63 | 0 | 100 | ||
August |
37 | 63 | 0 | 100 | ||
September |
38 | 62 | 0 | 100 | ||
October |
39 | 61 | 0 | 100 | ||
November |
38 | 62 | 0 | 100 | ||
December |
39 | 61 | 0 | 100 | ||
Average, Feb 2019–Feb 2020 |
38 | 62 | ||||
For some CPI market basket categories, the percentage of the sample collected in April 2021 was notably lower than the average before the pandemic. These included food from leased cars and trucks, vending machines and mobile vendors, new vehicles, and fuel oil. There was not a lower percentage of collected rents in April 2021 compared with April 2020.
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collected prices | Uncollected prices | Collected prices | Uncollected prices | Collected prices | Uncollected prices | |
January |
85 | 15 | 86 | 14 | 77 | 23 |
February |
85 | 15 | 87 | 13 | 79 | 21 |
March |
87 | 13 | 76 | 25 | 78 | 22 |
April |
86 | 14 | 65 | 35 | 78 | 22 |
May |
87 | 13 | 68 | 32 | ||
June |
86 | 14 | 70 | 30 | ||
July |
86 | 14 | 70 | 30 | ||
August |
86 | 14 | 72 | 28 | ||
September |
86 | 14 | 73 | 27 | ||
October |
86 | 14 | 74 | 26 | ||
November |
87 | 13 | 75 | 25 | ||
December |
86 | 14 | 77 | 23 | ||
Average, Feb 2019–Feb 2020 |
86 | 14 | ||||
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collected rents | Vacant units | Uncollected rents | Collected rents | Vacant units | Uncollected rents | Collected rents | Vacant units | Uncollected rents | |
January |
68 | 6 | 26 | 70 | 5 | 25 | 58 | 4 | 38 |
February |
67 | 5 | 28 | 69 | 6 | 25 | 61 | 4 | 35 |
March |
67 | 6 | 27 | 63 | 5 | 32 | 62 | 4 | 34 |
April |
68 | 6 | 26 | 61 | 4 | 35 | 62 | 3 | 35 |
May |
69 | 6 | 25 | 61 | 4 | 35 | |||
June |
68 | 6 | 26 | 62 | 4 | 34 | |||
July |
69 | 6 | 25 | 60 | 4 | 36 | |||
August |
67 | 6 | 27 | 62 | 4 | 34 | |||
September |
65 | 6 | 29 | 60 | 4 | 36 | |||
October |
69 | 5 | 26 | 59 | 4 | 37 | |||
November |
69 | 6 | 25 | 60 | 4 | 36 | |||
December |
67 | 6 | 27 | 62 | 4 | 34 | |||
Average, Feb 2019–Feb 2020 |
68 | 6 | 26 | ||||||
In April 2021, the CPI continued to impute the majority of uncollected prices from collected prices within the same item and geographic area (home cell). There were no instances where the data from the previous month was imputed to the current month (carry forward).
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Home cell | Different cell | Carry forward | Home cell | Different cell | Carry forward | Home cell | Different cell | Carry forward | |
January |
93 | 7 | 0 | 92 | 8 | 0 | 89 | 11 | 0 |
February |
91 | 9 | 0 | 93 | 7 | 0 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
March |
94 | 6 | 0 | 90 | 10 | 0 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
April |
92 | 8 | 0 | 84 | 16 | 0 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
May |
92 | 8 | 0 | 85 | 15 | 0 | |||
June |
92 | 8 | 0 | 86 | 14 | 0 | |||
July |
92 | 8 | 0 | 86 | 14 | 0 | |||
August |
91 | 9 | 0 | 86 | 14 | 0 | |||
September |
93 | 7 | 0 | 87 | 13 | 0 | |||
October |
91 | 9 | 0 | 88 | 12 | 0 | |||
November |
93 | 7 | 0 | 89 | 11 | 0 | |||
December |
92 | 8 | 0 | 88 | 12 | 0 | |||
Nonvacant units with respondents previously reporting, but not currently reporting, receive noninterview imputation for use in the CPI. Vacant units that were previously occupied by renters are also imputed for use in estimation by separate methods. Table 6 below shows a reduction in vacancy imputation performed in the current month relative to the same time in 2019.
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noninterview | Vacancy | Noninterview | Vacancy | Noninterview | Vacancy | |
January |
81 | 19 | 82 | 18 | 91 | 9 |
February |
84 | 16 | 81 | 19 | 89 | 11 |
March |
82 | 18 | 87 | 13 | 89 | 11 |
April |
82 | 18 | 90 | 10 | 92 | 8 |
May |
82 | 18 | 91 | 9 | ||
June |
81 | 19 | 89 | 11 | ||
July |
81 | 19 | 89 | 11 | ||
August |
83 | 17 | 91 | 9 | ||
September |
83 | 17 | 90 | 10 | ||
October |
83 | 17 | 90 | 10 | ||
November |
82 | 18 | 90 | 10 | ||
December |
82 | 18 | 90 | 10 | ||
Table 7 lists the data series that were both inadequate for publication in April 2021 because of insufficient sample and that were adequate over the year before March 2020.
LABSTAT ID | Item | Area |
---|---|---|
CPI-U Series |
||
CUUR0000SETA03 |
Leased cars and trucks | U.S. city average |
CUUR0000SS16014 |
Peanut butter | U.S. city average |
CUUR0000SS68023 |
Tax return preparation and other accounting fees | U.S. city average |
CUURS23BSAM |
Medical care | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CUURS23BSATCLTB |
Transportation commodities less motor fuel | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CUURS23BSETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CUURS23BSETA01 |
New vehicles | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CUURS35BSAF115 |
Other food at home | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL |
CUURS35CSETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
CUURS35CSETA01 |
New vehicles | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
CUURS35ESAEC |
Education and communication commodities | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD |
CUURS48ASAM |
Medical care | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CUURS48ASATCLTB |
Transportation commodities less motor fuel | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CUURS48ASETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CUURS48ASETA01 |
New vehicles | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CUURS49BSAD |
Durables | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
CUURS49BSATCLTB |
Transportation commodities less motor fuel | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
CUURS49BSETA |
New and used motor vehicles | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
CUURS49BSETA01 |
New vehicles | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
CUURS49DSAG |
Other goods and services | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
CUURS49DSAGS |
Other personal services | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
CPI-W Series |
||
CWUR0000SETA03 |
Leased cars and trucks | U.S. city average |
CWURS23BSAGC |
Other goods | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CWURS23BSAM |
Medical care | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CWURS23BSETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CWURS23BSETA01 |
New vehicles | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
CWURS35BSAF115 |
Other food at home | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL |
CWURS35CSETA01 |
New vehicles | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
CWURS35ESAEC |
Education and communication commodities | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD |
CWURS35ESAGC |
Other goods | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD |
CWURS48ASAM |
Medical care | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CWURS48ASETA01 |
New vehicles | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
CWURS49BSETA01 |
New vehicles | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
CWURS49DSAG |
Other goods and services | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
CWURS49DSAGS |
Other personal services | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
C-CPI-U Series |
||
No series were inadequate for publication. |
||
AP Series |
||
APU0000706311 |
Turkey, frozen, whole, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000711417 |
Grapes, Thompson Seedless, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712211 |
Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712406 |
Peppers, sweet, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712412 |
Broccoli, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0100710211 |
American processed cheese, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711211 |
Bananas, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711311 |
Oranges, Navel, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711415 |
Strawberries, dry pint, per 12 oz. (340.2 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100FJ1101 |
Milk, fresh, low-fat, reduced fat, skim, per gal. (3.8 lit) | Northeast |
APU0200702212 |
Bread, whole wheat, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Midwest |
APU0200709112 |
Milk, fresh, whole, fortified, per gal. (3.8 lit) | Midwest |
APU0200711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Midwest |
APU0200711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Midwest |
APU0300701111 |
Flour, white, all purpose, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300702212 |
Bread, whole wheat, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300702421 |
Cookies, chocolate chip, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300705121 |
Bologna, all beef or mixed, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300711311 |
Oranges, Navel, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300711415 |
Strawberries, dry pint, per 12 oz. (340.2 gm) | South |
APU0300711417 |
Grapes, Thompson Seedless, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300712211 |
Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300716116 |
Margarine, soft, tubs, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0400702212 |
Bread, whole wheat, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400705111 |
Frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400711415 |
Strawberries, dry pint, per 12 oz. (340.2 gm) | West |
APU0400714233 |
Beans, dried, any type, all sizes, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
The standard error of the CPI’s change can be used to construct confidence intervals to determine whether the change for a particular CPI series is significantly different from zero. Table 8 shows the 1- and 12-month standard error for selected indexes at the U.S. level.
Item | One month | Twelve month | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 2019 | Apr 2020 | Apr 2021 | Apr 2019 | Apr 2020 | Apr 2021 | |
All items |
0.04 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.10 | 0.09 |
Food and beverages |
0.06 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.21 |
Food |
0.06 | 0.17 | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.20 |
Housing |
0.04 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.11 |
Apparel |
0.51 | 0.54 | 0.30 | 0.79 | 0.66 | 0.84 |
Transportation |
0.07 | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.29 |
Medical care |
0.23 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.43 | 0.55 | 0.24 |
Recreation |
0.13 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.52 | 0.35 | 0.41 |
Education and communication |
0.07 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.19 | 0.31 | 0.30 |
Other goods and services |
0.13 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.32 | 0.39 | 0.30 |
Energy |
0.10 | 0.26 | 0.15 | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.41 |
All items less food and energy |
0.04 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.11 |
Last Modified Date: May 12, 2021