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News Release Information

24-1001-PHI
Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – April 2024

Area prices were up 0.4 percent over the past month, up 3.6 percent from a year ago.

Prices in the Northeast Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), were up 0.4 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the rise was due to increases throughout the component indexes, led by the all items less food and energy index (up 0.3 percent). The energy index rose 1.3 percent over the month while the food index increased 0.4 percent. (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 index increased 3.6 percent. (See chart 1.) The April advance was primarily due to a 4.1-percent rise in the all items less food and energy index (which has been above the all items index since March 2023). The food index rose 2.1 percent and the energy index increased 1.2 percent over the year. (See table 1.) 

Food

In April, the food index was up 0.4 percent over the month, mainly driven by a 0.5-percent rise in prices for food at home. (See table 1.) Within the food at home index, most of the grocery categories had index increases. Prices for other food at home were up 1.0 percent (the largest increase in the index since March 2023) and prices for cereals and bakery products were up 1.2 percent (after declining 0.7 percent in March). Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.8 percent, mainly due to higher prices for processed fish and seafood. The only grocery category to decline was the nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials index, down 2.1 percent over the month (the largest decline in that index since July 2019). The food away from home index increased 0.3 percent over the month.

From April 2023 to April 2024, the food index increased 2.1 percent as the food away from home index advanced 4.6 percent (the same as in March). Prices for food at home were up 0.9 percent, led by a 3.9-percent increase in the index for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (down from March’s 4.7-percent rise). The fruits and vegetables index remained unchanged over the year. The dairy and related products index was the only grocery category to decline, down 1.0 percent from last April as it declined for the 5th consecutive month.

Energy

The energy index increased 1.3 percent over the month (the same as March) due to a 5.5-percent advance in the gasoline index (the largest increase in the index since June 2022). The other energy index components tempered the rise as they decreased. The electricity index was down 1.9 percent, the utility (piped) gas service index down 1.8 percent, and the fuel oil index also declined.

Over the year, energy prices were up 1.2 percent, rising for the first time since February 2023. This was mainly because the electricity index increased 3.0 percent, up from 2.4 percent in March. The gasoline index rose 0.8 percent (following five consecutive months of decline). The utility (piped) gas service index was down 2.4 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy was up 0.3 percent in April, led by a 0.3-percent rise in the shelter index and within shelter, the owners’ equivalent rent of residences index (up 0.5 percent). Rent of primary residence was up 0.4 percent. Prices for public transportation increased over the month as well. Some indexes declined and offset some of the index rise, including apparel (down 1.4 percent), lodging away from home, and medical care services (down 0.3 percent).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy was up 4.1 percent, mainly due to a 5.8-percent increase in the shelter index. Within shelter, the owners’ equivalent rent of residences index increased 6.1 percent and rent of primary residence was up 5.5 percent (both rising the same percent as seen in March). The new and used motor vehicle index decreased (down 0.7 percent) and tempered some of the overall rise with a 5.8-percent decline in prices for used cars and trucks.

Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U index for the Middle Atlantic division was up 0.4 percent. The CPI-U for the New England division rose 0.3 percent.

Over the year, the all items index rose 3.7 percent in the Middle Atlantic division and 3.2 percent in the New England division. (See table B.)

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20202021202220232024
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.72.30.41.10.86.30.76.00.62.5

February

0.32.40.41.20.76.60.55.90.52.4

March

-0.21.70.62.11.37.3-0.24.30.73.4

April

-0.40.80.73.30.67.20.23.80.43.6

May

0.00.60.63.90.97.50.13.1

June

0.30.81.04.61.27.60.32.2

July

0.41.10.24.3-0.27.30.22.6

August

0.11.10.14.40.37.40.52.8

September

0.11.20.34.60.17.20.33.0

October

-0.21.10.65.40.36.90.02.7

November

0.11.10.66.00.16.40.02.5

December

0.21.40.25.9-0.16.10.02.6
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

0.43.6

New England Division

0.33.2

Middle Atlantic Division

0.43.7

The May 2024 Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2024.


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region is published monthly. 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 U.S. population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 29 percent of the total U.S. 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, 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 6,000 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; for most of the CPI-U the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100. An increase of 7 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown as 107.000.  Alternatively, that relationship can also be expressed as the price of a base period market basket of goods and services rising from $100 to $107. For further details see the CPI home page on the internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the CPI section of the BLS Handbook of Methods available on the internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cpi/.

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 individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

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
Feb.
2024
Mar.
2024
Apr.
2024
Apr.
2023
Feb.
2024
Mar.
2024

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
319.577321.741323.0353.61.10.4

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
503.237506.645508.682   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
327.137327.161328.4422.00.40.4

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
329.662329.700331.1432.10.40.4

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
308.361307.985309.5710.90.40.5

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
387.709385.043389.7661.30.51.2

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
308.753310.715313.2360.71.50.8

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
277.943274.334276.738-1.0-0.40.9

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
360.819354.327356.2190.0-1.30.5

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
221.102226.084221.4393.90.2-2.1

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
279.156279.385282.2180.91.11.0

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
367.438368.267369.4234.60.50.3

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
292.405292.242291.3610.4-0.4-0.3

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
346.555348.586349.1284.70.70.2

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
425.974428.807430.2315.81.00.3

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
428.770430.137431.8225.50.70.4

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
441.139443.041445.1616.10.90.5

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
440.700442.589444.7096.10.90.5

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
299.600301.048296.5531.5-1.0-1.5

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
268.062269.460264.5451.3-1.3-1.8

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
261.801264.152259.2001.4-1.0-1.9

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
272.024276.287271.0383.0-0.4-1.9

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
223.513221.949217.923-2.4-2.5-1.8

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
144.672144.696145.1320.40.30.3

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
133.770137.397135.4940.81.3-1.4

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
258.911261.965267.7904.53.42.2

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
257.930260.322265.9324.83.12.2

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
124.644125.142125.251-0.70.50.1

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
174.890174.742174.9730.50.00.1

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
164.792164.540164.580-0.4-0.10.0

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
191.771192.925192.122-5.80.2-0.4

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
280.019286.761302.2140.77.95.4

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
279.095285.969301.6580.88.15.5

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
273.415280.617296.6790.78.55.7

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
308.449314.144328.5341.56.54.6

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
307.156312.090325.5281.96.04.3

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
562.889573.512572.2012.11.7-0.2

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
412.870415.865416.8454.11.00.2

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
606.782619.757617.7271.71.8-0.3

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
428.869428.332425.509-1.1-0.8-0.7

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
141.310141.669141.6712.30.30.0

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
155.401155.399155.4050.60.00.0

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

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,410.1511,410.2451,410.5032.20.00.0

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
608.833610.058609.9243.80.20.0

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
227.473228.379229.3620.70.80.4

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
176.018177.238178.052-0.31.20.5

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
226.697229.285231.1101.51.90.8

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
120.252120.441120.504-2.50.20.1

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
407.988411.357412.9505.21.20.4

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
282.454284.386285.6432.41.10.4

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
308.913310.700312.1113.71.00.5

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
180.268181.457182.229-0.31.10.4

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
276.282277.617279.1781.81.00.6

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
230.540232.953234.6071.41.80.7

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
401.467405.547407.3954.51.50.5

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
394.307397.019398.8595.61.20.5

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
273.665277.320280.9861.22.71.3

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
327.759329.836330.9603.81.00.3

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
329.505331.953333.0294.11.10.3

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: Wednesday, May 15, 2024