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Consumer prices up 1.3 percent in 12 months ended August 2020

September 17, 2020

Over the 12 months ended August 2020, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 1.3 percent. Food prices increased 4.1 percent over the last 12 months. Within the food category, food at home prices rose 4.6 percent, including a 7.1-percent increase in prices for meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Food away from home increased 3.5 percent over this period.

12-month percent change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, August 2020, not seasonally adjusted
Category 12-month percent change

All items

1.3%

Food

4.1

Food at home

4.6

Cereals and bakery products

2.8

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

7.1

Dairy and related products

5.7

Fruits and vegetables

2.7

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

5.1

Other food at home

4.2

Food away from home

3.5

Full service meals and snacks

2.8

Limited service meals and snacks

4.8

Energy

-9.0

Energy commodities

-16.7

Fuel oil

-23.6

Gasoline (all types)

-16.8

Energy services

-0.1

Electricity

-0.1

Natural gas (piped)

-0.5

All items less food and energy

1.7

Commodities less food and energy commodities

0.4

Apparel

-5.9

New vehicles

0.7

Used cars and trucks

4.0

Medical care commodities

0.8

Alcoholic beverages

1.7

Tobacco and smoking products

5.0

Services less energy services

2.2

Shelter

2.3

Rent of primary residence

2.9

Owners' equivalent rent of residences

2.7

Medical care services

5.3

Physicians' services

2.7

Hospital services

4.0

Transportation services

-4.0

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair

3.2

Motor vehicle insurance

-1.5

Airline fare

-23.2

Despite increasing in recent months, energy prices were down 9.0 percent from August 2019 to August 2020. Prices for energy commodities, such as fuel oil and gasoline, were 16.7 percent lower in August 2020 compared with a year earlier. Gasoline prices decreased 16.8 percent, while fuel oil prices fell 23.6 percent over the year. Prices for energy services, such as electricity and piped natural gas, were little changed over this 12-month period.

Prices for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months. Within this category, shelter prices rose 2.3 percent. Medical care prices increased 4.5 percent. Prices for used cars and trucks increased 4.0 percent over the year. (Prices for used cars and trucks increased 5.4 percent in August, the largest monthly increase since 1969.)

Prices that decreased over the August 2019 to August 2020 period include apparel (−5.9 percent), airline fares (−23.2 percent), and motor vehicle insurance (−1.5 percent).

These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index — August 2020." Also see more charts on consumer prices.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Consumer prices up 1.3 percent in 12 months ended August 2020 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/consumer-prices-up-1-point-3-percent-in-12-months-ended-august-2020.htm (visited March 29, 2024).

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