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News Release Information

20-1746-PHI
Friday, September 11, 2020

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – August 2020

Regional prices up 0.1 percent over the month; up 1.1 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast inched up 0.1 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that the recent increase reflected an increase in the all items less food and energy index, up 0.2 percent since July. The energy index and food index declined over the month, down 0.8 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 1.1 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) This reflected an advance in the all items less food and energy index, up 1.6 percent. The food index also rose, up 3.8 percent, while the energy index fell 9.8 percent since August 2019. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index edged down 0.2 percent since July. Lower prices for food at home, down 0.4 percent, were offset by higher prices for food away from home, up 0.1 percent over the month.

From August 2019 to August 2020, the food index increased 3.8 percent. Prices for food at home increased over the year, up 4.0 percent; those for food away from home also rose, up 3.4 percent.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, declined 0.8 percent in August, led by a 2.6-percent decrease in electricity prices. Prices were also lower for gasoline (-0.2 percent) while prices were higher for utility (piped) gas service (0.9 percent) over the month.

The energy index decreased 9.8 percent since August 2019. The decrease reflected a drop in prices for gasoline (-18.4 percent). Prices for utility (piped) gas service also decreased over the year, down 3.3 percent, while those for electricity increased 1.7 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy edged up 0.2 percent over the month. The increase was led by higher prices for apparel (3.5 percent) and recreation (1.2 percent) since July.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.6 percent since August 2019, led by higher prices for shelter and medical care, up 2.1 and 4.4 percent, respectively. Prices also increased for education and communication, up 2.6 percent over the year.

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20162017201820192020
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.00.70.62.50.51.60.31.50.72.3

February

0.20.70.32.60.41.70.21.30.32.4

March

0.20.6-0.12.20.12.00.51.7-0.21.7

April

0.61.00.31.90.42.10.41.7-0.40.8

May

0.30.90.11.70.42.50.31.50.00.6

June

0.20.70.01.50.02.60.11.60.30.8

July

0.00.8-0.21.30.02.70.11.70.41.1

August

0.11.00.31.60.22.70.11.50.11.1

September

0.21.30.51.90.12.20.01.4

October

0.21.6-0.11.5-0.12.3-0.11.5

November

0.01.60.01.6-0.41.90.11.9

December

0.01.90.11.7-0.11.7-0.11.9
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U increased in the New England division, up 0.2 percent, while the Middle Atlantic division was unchanged.

Over the year, the all items index increased in the New England division (0.7 percent). (See table B.) Prices rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 1.3 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

0.11.1

New England Division

0.20.7

Middle Atlantic Division

0.01.3

The Consumer Price Index for September 2020 is scheduled to be released Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on August 2020 Consumer Price Index Data

Data collection by personal visit for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program has been suspended since March 16, 2020. When possible, data normally collected by personal visit were collected either online or by phone. Additionally, data collection in August was affected by the temporary closing or limited operations of certain types of establishments. These factors resulted in an increase in the number of prices considered temporarily unavailable and imputed.

While the CPI program attempted to collect as much data as possible, many indexes are based on smaller amounts of collected prices than usual, and a small number of indexes that are normally published were not published this month. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-consumer-price-index.htm.


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
Jun.
2020
Jul.
2020
Aug.
2020
Aug.
2019
Jun.
2020
Jul.
2020

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
272.283273.347273.5971.10.50.1

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
428.762430.438430.831   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
275.422274.510274.0943.7-0.5-0.2

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
276.511275.506275.0023.8-0.5-0.2

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
263.522261.877260.7754.0-1.0-0.4

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
318.380316.387312.8083.9-1.8-1.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
277.864269.532266.9956.4-3.9-0.9

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
242.169237.521240.4985.1-0.71.3

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
318.167323.536322.0933.71.2-0.4

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
180.292179.745178.8041.1-0.8-0.5

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
231.093232.015231.6533.00.2-0.2

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
299.261299.243299.6663.40.10.1

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
260.041260.391261.1812.40.40.3

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
293.283293.550293.4171.70.00.0

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
367.321367.962367.7532.10.1-0.1

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
369.973370.379370.8062.10.20.1

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
380.135380.755381.1162.70.30.1

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
379.810380.423380.7862.70.30.1

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
223.222222.193220.042-1.8-1.4-1.0

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
194.986193.728191.319-2.8-1.9-1.2

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
201.147198.819195.5550.5-2.8-1.6

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
212.556210.574205.0001.7-3.6-2.6

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
164.255161.440162.837-3.3-0.90.9

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
120.756120.699121.8061.60.90.9

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
117.665117.501121.598-5.53.33.5

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
193.629197.215197.217-5.31.90.0

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
188.195191.958193.697-3.32.90.9

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
96.62997.67098.8381.62.31.2

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
145.161145.364144.6380.9-0.4-0.5

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
100.569100.738100.2320.9-0.3-0.5

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
135.008135.118134.6391.6-0.3-0.4

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
142.665147.569156.3074.09.65.9

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
184.823190.439190.108-18.42.9-0.2

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
183.774189.428189.108-18.42.9-0.2

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
180.212185.855185.523-19.02.9-0.2

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
203.737209.462209.337-15.32.7-0.1

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
201.483206.943206.731-14.52.6-0.1

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
563.674606.423620.243-0.110.02.3

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
552.744554.273551.6854.4-0.2-0.5

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
392.995392.571393.671-3.80.20.3

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
599.370601.504597.7726.2-0.3-0.6

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
407.393407.557407.3723.60.00.0

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
128.712128.781130.3172.51.21.2

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
146.720148.820148.7962.61.40.0

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

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,302.8561,305.9241,304.4882.20.1-0.1

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
507.516511.039513.3662.11.20.5

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
188.755189.329190.604-0.81.00.7

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
144.240145.387147.281-3.82.11.3

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
181.757183.094185.291-7.01.91.2

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
100.711101.585103.0370.52.31.4

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
352.420353.955353.2242.10.2-0.2

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
239.426240.644241.0580.60.70.2

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
259.905260.950261.3270.80.50.1

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
148.278149.411151.287-3.52.01.3

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
227.792228.048228.994-1.20.50.4

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
186.349187.627189.739-6.31.81.1

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
348.402350.931349.6242.10.4-0.4

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
335.406336.899336.3761.60.3-0.2

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
190.948192.472190.904-9.80.0-0.8

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
283.159284.195284.6131.90.50.1

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
286.141287.546288.1301.60.70.2

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, September 11, 2020