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

20-78-PHI
Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – December 2019

Regional prices down 0.1 percent over the month; up 1.9 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 the recent over-the-month decrease was due to a 0.1-percent decline in the all items less food and energy index. The food index and energy index were unchanged from November to December. (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 1.9 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) This was due largely to an advance in the all items less food and energy index, up 2.1 percent. The food index and energy index also rose, up 2.0 and 0.1 percent, respectively, since December 2018. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index was unchanged since November. Higher prices for food away from home (0.5 percent) were offset by lower prices for food at home (-0.3 percent).

From December 2018 to December 2019, the food index increased 2.0 percent. Prices for food away from home increased over the year, up 3.2 percent; those for food at home also rose, up 1.0 percent.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, was unchanged in December. Lower prices for gasoline (-0.3 percent) and electricity (-0.1 percent) were offset by higher prices for utility (piped) gas service (0.1 percent).

The energy index inched up 0.1 percent since December 2018. The increase reflected higher prices for gasoline (1.8 percent), while those for utility (piped) gas service and electricity decreased, down 3.2 and 0.8 percent, respectively, over the year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy inched down 0.1 percent over the month. Lower prices were led by apparel (-5.0 percent) while prices increased for a number of items including medical care and recreation, up 0.6 percent each.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.1 percent since December 2018, led by higher prices for shelter and medical care, up 2.0 and 5.9 percent, respectively. Prices also rose over the year for education and communication (3.2 percent) and recreation (2.0 percent).

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20152016201720182019
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

-0.2-0.40.00.70.62.50.51.60.31.5

February

0.2-0.20.20.70.32.60.41.70.21.3

March

0.3-0.40.20.6-0.12.20.12.00.51.7

April

0.1-0.30.61.00.31.90.42.10.41.7

May

0.4-0.30.30.90.11.70.42.50.31.5

June

0.30.00.20.70.01.50.02.60.11.6

July

-0.1-0.20.00.8-0.21.30.02.70.11.7

August

-0.2-0.10.11.00.31.60.22.70.11.5

September

0.0-0.10.21.30.51.90.12.20.01.4

October

-0.2-0.10.21.6-0.11.5-0.12.3-0.11.5

November

0.00.30.01.60.01.6-0.41.90.11.9

December

-0.40.50.01.90.11.7-0.11.7-0.11.9
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U decreased 0.1 percent in both the New England division and the Middle Atlantic division.

Over the year, the all items index advanced 2.1 percent in the New England division. (See table B.) Prices also rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 1.9 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

-0.11.9

New England Division

-0.12.1

Middle Atlantic Division

-0.11.9

The Consumer Price Index for January 2020 is scheduled to be released Thursday, February 13, 2020, 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.
2019
Nov.
2019
Dec.
2019
Dec.
2018
Oct.
2019
Nov.
2019

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
270.348270.643270.4291.90.0-0.1

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
425.715426.181425.844   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
265.226265.506265.5711.90.10.0

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
265.790266.106266.2092.00.20.0

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
251.386251.867251.1341.0-0.1-0.3

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
294.753299.492300.0082.51.80.2

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
252.590252.509253.6741.60.40.5

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
230.748231.561231.9141.70.50.2

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
318.688316.866312.132-1.6-2.1-1.5

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
177.088175.343174.0401.1-1.7-0.7

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
223.231224.830224.1691.30.4-0.3

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
290.713290.793292.1143.20.50.5

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
256.910256.753256.3461.0-0.2-0.2

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
288.158289.297289.3701.60.40.0

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
359.999360.772360.5992.00.20.0

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
364.141365.561366.0843.00.50.1

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
372.237373.820374.3022.20.60.1

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
371.941373.516373.9862.20.50.1

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
222.250227.679228.305-0.52.70.3

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
194.836200.435200.981-1.13.20.3

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
191.649197.678197.669-1.63.10.0

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
196.035199.705199.567-0.81.8-0.1

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
169.593179.008179.213-3.25.70.1

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
119.838119.253119.756-0.1-0.10.4

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
132.042125.174118.918-4.2-9.9-5.0

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
204.991205.488204.8291.1-0.1-0.3

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
196.710196.995197.3330.90.30.2

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
95.38095.30595.505-0.10.10.2

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
142.586142.643142.7260.50.10.1

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
98.82398.86998.9260.40.10.1

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
132.089132.003131.8980.4-0.1-0.1

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
144.517143.758143.268-0.3-0.9-0.3

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
223.918223.968223.2131.8-0.3-0.3

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
222.797222.833222.0681.8-0.3-0.3

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
219.798219.820219.0821.8-0.3-0.3

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
239.266239.249238.3471.6-0.4-0.4

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
234.466234.633233.7121.9-0.3-0.4

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
619.421624.748629.0131.11.50.7

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
535.250536.649539.8225.90.90.6

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
401.027396.928397.4931.1-0.90.1

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
574.009577.091581.0507.01.20.7

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
398.920399.567399.8804.10.20.1

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
125.822125.770126.4812.00.50.6

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
145.951146.347146.5953.20.40.2

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

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,289.6931,289.7861,291.4413.60.10.1

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
503.443502.804502.1272.4-0.3-0.1

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
191.268190.262189.4150.7-1.0-0.4

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
151.720150.271149.1190.0-1.7-0.8

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
198.011195.560193.2150.4-2.4-1.2

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
101.164100.633100.516-0.6-0.6-0.1

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
346.370347.822348.1632.50.50.1

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
239.408239.529239.2981.90.0-0.1

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
258.674258.919258.5491.60.0-0.1

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
155.511154.093152.9560.0-1.6-0.7

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
231.488230.270229.0111.2-1.1-0.5

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
201.441199.129196.9020.4-2.3-1.1

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
343.562345.780346.6823.00.90.3

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
330.685332.025332.1172.00.40.0

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
206.786210.061210.0630.11.60.0

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
279.627279.611279.3722.1-0.1-0.1

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
283.854283.784283.4872.1-0.1-0.1

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: Tuesday, January 14, 2020