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News Release Information

24-2353-PHI
Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – October 2024

Area prices were up 0.1 percent over the past month, up 3.5 percent from a year ago.

Prices in the Northeast Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), ticked up 0.1 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the rise was primarily due to increases in the shelter index. This contributed to the 0.2-percent rise in the all items less food and energy index. The food index was down 0.2 percent over the month while the energy index declined 1.1 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 3.5 percent, mainly due to rises in the shelter index which contributed to the 4.4-percent increase in the all items less food and energy index. (See chart 1.)  Food prices rose 1.6 percent, the smallest increase in that index since May 2021. Energy prices decreased 2.9 percent. (See table 1.)

Food

In October, the food index was down 0.2 percent over the month. It was mainly due to a 0.4-percent decline in prices for food at home. (See table 1.) Within food at home, the decrease was led by the miscellaneous other food at home index, down 1.2 percent as prices for snacks and candy and chewing gum were down. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index declined 1.4 percent, the largest decline in the index since May 2023, as prices for eggs and chicken were down. The cereals and bakery products index counteracted the decline as it increased 1.1 percent this month. The food away from home index rose 0.1 percent.

From October 2023 to October 2024, the food index increased 1.6 percent as the food away from home index advanced 3.7 percent. Prices for food at home were up 0.4 percent. The nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials index had a 4.5-percent increase while the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index rose 2.6 percent, moderating from 4.5 percent in September. Two indexes were down over the year, fruits and vegetables with a 2.3-percent decline and other food at home with a decrease of 1.2 percent.

Energy

The energy index decreased 1.1 percent over the month, mostly due to a 3.4-percent decrease in prices for gasoline. The electricity index ticked down 0.2 percent. Tempering the index decline, utility (piped) gas service rose 1.5 percent, and the fuel oil index also increased.

Over the year, energy prices were down 2.9 percent, predominantly due to the gasoline index as it declined 13.7 percent. The fuel oil index also decreased. Prices for electricity increased 11.0 percent over the year, the first double-digit increase in the index in 2024. Utility (piped) gas service prices rose 8.4 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy was up 0.2 percent in October. This was primarily because of the shelter index, which rose 0.3 percent over the month. Within shelter, the owners’ equivalent rent of residences index and the rent of primary residence index were up 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. The lodging away from home index declined. Prices for public transportation and motor vehicle maintenance repair were up over the month as the recreation index rose 0.9 percent and the other goods and services index was up 0.5 percent. A 0.2-percent increase in the medical care index, and within that a 0.4-percent rise in prices for medical care services, contributed as well. Prices for medical care commodities were down 0.9 percent over the month. Other indexes also declined over the month and reduced the overall increase. These included prices for apparel, down 2.4 percent, and a 0.3-percent decline in prices for education and communication.

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy was up 4.4 percent, mainly because of the 6.0-percent rise in the shelter index. Within shelter, the owners’ equivalent rent of residences index rose 6.5 percent, and the rent of primary residence index increased 5.7 percent. The medical care index rose 4.5 percent, driven by a 4.6-percent advance in prices for medical care services. Two indexes declined over the year- apparel was down 0.4 percent while new and used motor vehicles declined 1.2 percent.

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 0.1 percent while the New England division remained unchanged.

Over the year, the all items index rose 3.6 percent in the Middle Atlantic division and 3.3 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
Month 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month

January

0.7 2.3 0.4 1.1 0.8 6.3 0.7 6.0 0.6 2.5

February

0.3 2.4 0.4 1.2 0.7 6.6 0.5 5.9 0.5 2.4

March

-0.2 1.7 0.6 2.1 1.3 7.3 -0.2 4.3 0.7 3.4

April

-0.4 0.8 0.7 3.3 0.6 7.2 0.2 3.8 0.4 3.6

May

0.0 0.6 0.6 3.9 0.9 7.5 0.1 3.1 0.4 3.9

June

0.3 0.8 1.0 4.6 1.2 7.6 0.3 2.2 0.3 3.8

July

0.4 1.1 0.2 4.3 -0.2 7.3 0.2 2.6 0.0 3.6

August

0.1 1.1 0.1 4.4 0.3 7.4 0.5 2.8 0.2 3.4

September

0.1 1.2 0.3 4.6 0.1 7.2 0.3 3.0 0.3 3.4

October

-0.2 1.1 0.6 5.4 0.3 6.9 0.0 2.7 0.1 3.5

November

0.1 1.1 0.6 6.0 0.1 6.4 0.0 2.5

December

0.2 1.4 0.2 5.9 -0.1 6.1 0.0 2.6
Table B. CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, Northeast region and divisions, not seasonally adjusted
Area 1-month change 12-month change

Northeast

0.1 3.5

New England Division

0.0 3.3

Middle Atlantic Division

0.1 3.6

The November Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region is scheduled to be released on December 11, 2024.

Notice Regarding Ceasing Publication of Utility Indexes

With the publication of January 2025 data in February 2025, several indexes and average price series will be discontinued.

The following CPI indexes will continue to be published at the national level, but will be discontinued for all metropolitan areas, census divisions, and regional size classes:

  • Electricity
  • Utility (piped) gas (often referred to as natural gas)
  • Energy services
  • Fuels and utilities
  • Household energy

The following CPI average price series will continue to be published at the national level, but will be discontinued for all metropolitan areas, census divisions, and regional size classes:

  • Electricity per KWH
  • Utility (piped) gas per therm

 


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 Consumer Price Index for the Northeast region is published monthly. The set of components and sub-aggregates published for regional and metropolitan indexes is more limited than at the U.S. city average level; these indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a much smaller sample size than the national or regional indexes and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local-area indexes are more volatile than the national or regional indexes. In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. 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 category Indexes Percent change from
Historical
data
Aug.
2024
Sep.
2024
Oct.
2024
Oct.
2023
Aug.
2024
Sep.
2024

All items

326.140 327.156 327.421 3.5 0.4 0.1

All items (December 1977 = 100)

513.571 515.171 515.588      

Food and beverages

329.911 331.677 331.010 1.5 0.3 -0.2

Food

332.435 334.297 333.548 1.6 0.3 -0.2

Food at home

308.935 311.030 309.656 0.4 0.2 -0.4

Cereals and bakery products

387.374 383.808 387.878 0.3 0.1 1.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

318.729 321.462 316.945 2.6 -0.6 -1.4

Dairy and related products

279.124 280.619 281.335 0.5 0.8 0.3

Fruits and vegetables

352.107 354.844 354.236 -2.3 0.6 -0.2

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

221.129 224.999 225.595 4.5 2.0 0.3

Other food at home

278.451 280.835 277.371 -1.2 -0.4 -1.2

Food away from home

374.390 375.790 376.241 3.7 0.5 0.1

Alcoholic beverages

295.188 295.662 296.095 0.4 0.3 0.1

Housing

355.938 357.067 358.275 5.6 0.7 0.3

Shelter

439.750 441.126 442.607 6.0 0.6 0.3

Rent of primary residence

441.048 443.231 445.347 5.7 1.0 0.5

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

456.323 458.636 461.175 6.5 1.1 0.6

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

455.868 458.182 460.710 6.5 1.1 0.6

Fuels and utilities

299.076 300.684 302.948 5.9 1.3 0.8

Household energy

266.603 267.917 269.507 6.0 1.1 0.6

Energy services

265.459 268.020 268.850 10.4 1.3 0.3

Electricity

285.238 285.266 284.796 11.0 -0.2 -0.2

Utility (piped) gas service

208.168 215.519 218.843 8.4 5.1 1.5

Household furnishings and operations

146.292 146.491 146.415 2.1 0.1 -0.1

Apparel

134.137 138.114 134.796 -0.4 0.5 -2.4

Transportation

267.101 266.495 265.975 1.1 -0.4 -0.2

Private transportation

267.717 266.229 264.142 0.7 -1.3 -0.8

New and used motor vehicles(2)

125.016 124.902 124.739 -1.2 -0.2 -0.1

New vehicles

174.634 174.659 174.392 -0.7 -0.1 -0.2

New cars(3)

164.462 164.021 163.540 -1.2 -0.6 -0.3

Used cars and trucks

190.911 190.349 191.294 -2.7 0.2 0.5

Motor fuel

295.782 279.895 270.546 -13.8 -8.5 -3.3

Gasoline (all types)

295.432 279.428 269.998 -13.7 -8.6 -3.4

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

289.880 273.394 263.796 -14.2 -9.0 -3.5

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

325.231 311.312 302.024 -11.7 -7.1 -3.0

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

322.489 309.385 301.101 -10.6 -6.6 -2.7

Medical care

573.346 572.052 572.947 4.5 -0.1 0.2

Medical care commodities

423.427 418.825 414.876 3.7 -2.0 -0.9

Medical care services

617.137 616.903 619.330 4.6 0.4 0.4

Professional services

425.014 423.270 425.238 0.5 0.1 0.5

Recreation(2)

142.980 141.504 142.810 1.2 -0.1 0.9

Education and communication(2)

156.370 158.684 158.250 2.1 1.2 -0.3

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

1,434.313 1,471.231 1,472.856 4.2 2.7 0.1

Other goods and services

606.702 609.443 612.540 2.3 1.0 0.5

Commodity and service group

Commodities

229.046 228.994 227.665 -1.0 -0.6 -0.6

Commodities less food and beverages

177.027 176.240 174.707 -2.8 -1.3 -0.9

Nondurables less food and beverages

228.710 226.642 223.393 -4.2 -2.3 -1.4

Durables

120.490 120.621 120.383 -1.1 -0.1 -0.2

Services

419.327 421.367 423.155 6.0 0.9 0.4

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

286.349 287.240 287.046 2.1 0.2 -0.1

All items less medical care

315.305 316.426 316.663 3.4 0.4 0.1

Commodities less food

181.332 180.575 179.086 -2.7 -1.2 -0.8

Nondurables

278.671 278.479 276.491 -0.9 -0.8 -0.7

Nondurables less food

232.598 230.690 227.675 -3.9 -2.1 -1.3

Services less rent of shelter(1)

410.055 412.921 415.166 5.9 1.2 0.5

Services less medical care services

405.710 407.905 409.649 6.1 1.0 0.4

Energy

279.467 273.529 270.508 -2.9 -3.2 -1.1

All items less energy

334.475 336.057 336.585 4.0 0.6 0.2

All items less food and energy

336.956 338.498 339.254 4.4 0.7 0.2

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: Wednesday, November 13, 2024