Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

19-86-PHI
Friday, January 11, 2019

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – December 2018

Regional prices decreased 0.1 percent over the month; up 1.7 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast inched down 0.1 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that this was due to a 2.8-percent decline in the energy index. The all items less food and energy index and the food index increased over the month, up 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the Northeast all items CPI-U increased 1.7 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) The all items less food and energy index led the advance, rising 1.8 percent. The food index and the energy index also rose, up 1.7 and 1.1 percent, respectively, since December 2017. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index edged up 0.2 percent since November as prices increased for both food away from home (0.3 percent) and food at home (0.2 percent).

From December 2017 to December 2018, the food index increased 1.7 percent. Prices for both food away from home and food at home increased over the year, up 2.7 and 0.9 percent, respectively.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, declined 2.8 percent in December. Gasoline prices decreased 6.6 percent since November, while prices increased for utility (piped) gas service (3.8 percent) and electricity (0.4 percent).

The energy index advanced 1.1 percent since December 2017. The increase reflected higher prices for utility (piped) gas service, up 4.7 percent. Electricity prices also rose (0.7 percent) over the year, while gasoline prices decreased 0.6 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy inched up 0.1 percent over the month. Higher prices for shelter (0.4 percent) and new and used vehicles (0.8 percent) were moderated by lower apparel prices (-3.3 percent).

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.8 percent since December 2017, led by higher prices for shelter, up 2.6 percent. Prices also rose over the year for medical care (2.0 percent) and education and communication (1.3 percent), but were lower for new vehicles (-2.7 percent).

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20142015201620172018
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.61.5-0.2-0.40.00.70.62.50.51.6

February

0.11.00.2-0.20.20.70.32.60.41.7

March

0.51.50.3-0.40.20.6-0.12.20.12.0

April

0.01.60.1-0.30.61.00.31.90.42.1

May

0.42.00.4-0.30.30.90.11.70.42.5

June

0.01.90.30.00.20.70.01.50.02.6

July

0.11.8-0.1-0.20.00.8-0.21.30.02.7

August

-0.31.3-0.2-0.10.11.00.31.60.22.7

September

0.01.20.0-0.10.21.30.51.90.12.2

October

-0.21.4-0.2-0.10.21.6-0.11.5-0.12.3

November

-0.40.90.00.30.01.60.01.6-0.41.9

December

-0.50.4-0.40.50.01.90.11.7-0.11.7
Geographic divisions

Additional prices indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U inched down 0.1 percent in the Middle Atlantic division; prices were unchanged in the New England division.

Over the year, the all items index advanced 2.2 percent in the New England division. (See table B.) Prices also rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 1.6 percent.

 Table B. CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, Northeast region and divisions, not seasonally adjusted
Area1-month change12-month change

Northeast

-0.11.7

New England Division

0.02.2

Middle Atlantic Division

-0.11.6

The Consumer Price Index for January 2019 is scheduled to be released Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) a CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 93 percent of the total population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 29 percent of the total population. The CPI-U includes, in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor force.

The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs, and the other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Each month, prices are collected in 75 urban areas across the country from about 5,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 retail establishments--department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.

The index measures price changes from a designated reference date (1982-84) that equals 100.0. An increase of 16.5 percent, for example, is shown as 116.5. This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period "market basket" of goods and services in the CPI has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. For further details see the CPI home page on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 17, The Consumer Price Index, available on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch17.pdf.

In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights that represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Because the sample size of a local area is smaller, the local area index is subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error than the national index. In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are quite similar. Note: Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices between cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period.

The Northeast region is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The New England division is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Middle Atlantic division is comprised of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods, Northeast Region, (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted)
Expenditure categoryIndexesPercent change from
Historical
data
Oct.
2018
Nov.
2018
Dec.
2018
Dec.
2017
Oct.
2018
Nov.
2018

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
266.464265.487265.2861.7-0.4-0.1

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
419.600418.060417.745   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
260.464260.165260.6521.60.10.2

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
260.683260.486261.0881.70.20.2

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
248.743248.204248.5850.9-0.10.2

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
288.786290.822292.7912.21.40.7

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
250.458250.984249.562-0.8-0.4-0.6

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
228.682227.607228.0001.4-0.30.2

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
313.208311.019317.0722.31.21.9

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
174.389172.694172.0710.1-1.3-0.4

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
223.396222.785221.3180.7-0.9-0.7

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
281.948282.244283.1762.70.40.3

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
256.375254.841253.9280.9-1.0-0.4

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
283.911283.660284.8542.60.30.4

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
352.035351.890353.3722.60.40.4

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
353.833354.649355.5132.50.50.2

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
364.549365.388366.0782.80.40.2

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
364.265365.097365.7812.70.40.2

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
227.864228.761229.4562.60.70.3

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
201.897202.792203.3022.30.70.3

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
196.096197.834200.9652.22.51.6

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
204.470200.395201.1230.7-1.60.4

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
167.178178.279185.0964.710.73.8

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
120.606119.170119.8642.0-0.60.6

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
134.089128.267124.0920.0-7.5-3.3

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
208.570205.639202.5270.1-2.9-1.5

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
201.181198.184195.5000.2-2.8-1.4

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
94.76194.81195.611-0.10.90.8

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
142.613141.826142.086-2.7-0.40.2

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
98.84998.30298.487-2.6-0.40.2

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
132.918131.632131.357-3.2-1.2-0.2

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
141.893143.578143.6921.71.30.1

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
248.302234.717219.308-0.5-11.7-6.6

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
247.148233.474218.038-0.6-11.8-6.6

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
244.737230.811215.103-0.8-12.1-6.8

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
260.701248.923234.5900.6-10.0-5.8

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
253.383242.038229.3840.7-9.5-5.2

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
623.094622.117622.1221.1-0.20.0

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
508.049508.360509.7552.00.30.3

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
390.418393.018393.0471.20.70.0

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
541.836541.442543.2512.20.30.3

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
385.673383.705384.1841.6-0.40.1

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
123.586124.174124.0410.50.4-0.1

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
142.199142.042142.0621.3-0.10.0

Tuition, other school fees, and child care(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,242.2091,244.3341,246.1312.80.30.1

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
487.718488.435490.1911.90.50.4

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
192.109189.817188.0050.6-2.1-1.0

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
154.689151.753149.150-0.1-3.6-1.7

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
204.047198.378192.4850.1-5.7-3.0

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
101.471100.936101.133-0.4-0.30.2

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
338.222338.384339.6042.30.40.4

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
237.004235.710234.8841.2-0.9-0.4

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
255.855254.816254.5421.7-0.5-0.1

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
158.395155.484152.917-0.1-3.5-1.7

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
232.603229.349226.3350.9-2.7-1.3

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
207.080201.662196.0710.1-5.3-2.8

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
335.007335.509336.4551.90.40.3

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
324.187324.387325.5672.30.40.4

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
221.078215.922209.7801.1-5.1-2.8

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
273.789273.243273.6681.80.00.2

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
277.855277.248277.6471.8-0.10.1

Footnotes
(1) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
(2) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 1977=100 base.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, January 11, 2019