May 16, 2012 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Consumer prices increase 2.3 percent from April 2011 to April 2012

Percent change, April 2011–April 2012, and relative importance, March 2012, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, by expenditure category
Expenditure category	Relative importance, March 2012	Percent change, April 2011–April 2012
All items	100.000	2.3
Housing	40.592	1.7
Transportation	17.577	2.9
Food and beverages	15.111	3.0
Medical care	7.047	3.4
Education and communication	6.712	2.0
Recreation	6.008	1.1
Apparel	3.612	5.1
Other goods and services	3.341	1.8

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