Consumer prices up 1.5 percent over the year ended March 2014

From March 2013 to March 2014, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.5 percent before seasonal adjustment; this compares to a 1.1-percent increase for the 12 months ending February. 

The food index increased 1.7 percent over the year ended March 2014. The food at home index rose 1.4 percent over the last year, its largest 12-month increase since August 2012. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased the most over the span, rising 5.1 percent, while the index for nonalcoholic beverages was the only one to decline, falling 1.8 percent. The index for food away from home increased 2.3 percent over the last 12 months.

From March 2013 to March 2014, the energy index increased 0.4 percent, with the natural gas index rising 16.4 percent, the electricity index increasing 5.3 percent, and the fuel oil index advancing 2.1 percent. These increases more than offset a 4.7-percent decline in the gasoline index.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.7 percent from March 2013 to March 2014. The shelter index increased 2.7 percent over the same period; this is the largest 12-month increase since the period ending March 2008. Several components increased only slightly over the last year, including apparel (0.5 percent), recreation (0.3 percent), new vehicles (0.2 percent), and used cars and trucks (0.1 percent). The index for airline fares declined 4.1 percent over the past year.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index — March 2014" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL‑14‑0603.