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News Release Information

16-407-KAN
Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (816) 285-7000

Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region – February 2016

Prices in the Midwest unchanged in February and 0.4 percent higher over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest was unchanged in February due to offsetting movements within the index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A decline of 5.0 percent in prices for energy had the largest downward impact on the index. Food prices (-0.2 percent) were also lower over the month. Conversely, the all items less food and energy index recorded a broad-based increase of 0.4 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

The CPI-U for the Midwest advanced 0.4 percent from February 2015 to February 2016. (See chart 1 and table A.) The energy index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, fell 14.8 percent, but prices for food were up 0.6 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 1.9 percent over the year. (See table 1.)

Food

Food prices in the Midwest were 0.2 percent lower in February following an increase of 0.4 percent in the prior month. The index for food at home led the decline with a 0.4-percent decrease while prices for food away from home (0.1 percent) changed little over the month.

From February 2015 to February 2016, the index for food advanced 0.6 percent. Rising costs for food away from home (2.3 percent) were responsible for the yearly advance. Prices for food at home registered their fifth consecutive over-the-year decline, down 0.4 percent since February 2015.

Energy

The energy index registered its eighth consecutive monthly decline, falling 5.0 percent in February, and had the greatest downward impact on the all items index. The decrease in energy costs was largely attributable to an 11.4-percent drop in motor fuel prices, though lower costs for electricity (-0.6 percent) also contributed to the decline. Prices for utility (piped) gas service were unchanged over the month.

Energy prices fell 14.8 percent from February 2015 to February 2016. Prices for motor fuel and utility (piped) gas service were down 26.9 and 13.8 percent, respectively. Costs for electricity were 0.5 percent higher over the year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy for the Midwest rose 0.4 percent for the second month in a row. Expenditure categories registering higher prices over the month included shelter (0.3 percent), recreation (0.8 percent), and medical care (0.5 percent). Apparel prices, which typically rise in February reflecting the introduction of spring-summer wear, rose 2.2 percent. A decline in costs for education and communication (-0.3 percent) moderated the overall increase.

The index for all items less food and energy was up 1.9 percent from February 2015 to February 2016. A 2.7-percent rise in shelter costs led the advance. Prices for medical care services had the next largest upward impact with a 3.7-percent increase. Costs for household furnishings and operations (-0.8 percent) were among those that were lower than a year ago.

The Midwest Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) stood at 223.196 in February 2016. A typical market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in the 1982-84 base period cost $223.20 in February 2016. Because regional CPI data are not adjusted for seasonal price variation, consumers and businesses should be cautious in drawing conclusions about long-term retail price trends from short-term changes in the regional indexes.

CPI-W

In February, the Midwest Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 217.002, down 0.2 percent over the month. The CPI-W was unchanged over the year.

Table A. Midwest region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20122013201420152016
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.62.80.11.30.51.4-0.6-0.30.30.8

February

0.22.71.12.20.60.90.3-0.50.00.4

March

1.02.80.21.40.91.50.6-0.9  

April

0.22.3-0.11.20.31.90.1-1.1  

May

-0.11.50.51.80.21.60.4-0.8  

June

-0.11.40.32.20.51.70.5-0.7  

July

0.01.3-0.41.8-0.31.80.0-0.5  

August

0.71.80.11.2-0.21.60.0-0.3  

September

0.31.90.11.00.11.6-0.3-0.8  

October

-0.32.2-0.50.8-0.51.6-0.1-0.3  

November

-0.41.8-0.21.0-0.61.2-0.5-0.2  

December

-0.21.8-0.21.0-0.70.7-0.60.0  

The March 2016 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest region is scheduled to be released on Thursday, April 14, 2016.


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 89 percent of the total population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 28 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 87 urban areas across the country from about 6,000 housing units and approximately 24,000 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/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 areas; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period.

The Midwest region is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.

 

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods

Midwest (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Item and Group

 
Indexes
 
Percent change from-
Dec.
2015
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Feb.
2015
Dec.
2015
Jan.
2016

Expenditure category

 
 

All Items

222.722223.301223.1960.40.20.0

All items (December 1977=100)

362.381363.324363.153   

Food and beverages

240.283241.228240.8390.70.2-0.2

Food

239.965240.910240.4250.60.2-0.2

Food at home

229.594230.695229.779-0.40.1-0.4

Food away from home

257.281257.959258.2142.30.40.1

Alcoholic beverages

242.342243.266244.2640.90.80.4

Housing

212.751213.978214.5111.60.80.2

Shelter

251.159252.717253.5122.70.90.3

Rent of primary residence (1)

250.954251.478252.3752.80.60.4

Owners' equiv. rent of residences (1) (2)

255.603256.205256.9602.50.50.3

Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence (1) (2)

255.593256.195256.9482.50.50.3

Fuels and utilities

207.707209.516209.027-2.80.6-0.2

Household energy

170.228171.981171.352-4.60.7-0.4

Energy services (1)

177.472179.413178.723-3.90.7-0.4

Electricity (1)

196.090197.846196.7350.50.3-0.6

Utility (piped) gas service (1)

136.057138.180138.218-13.81.60.0

Household furnishings and operations

114.930114.861115.264-0.80.30.4

Apparel

116.220115.113117.6231.11.22.2

Transportation

186.673185.470182.112-5.2-2.4-1.8

Private transportation

180.971179.619176.285-5.4-2.6-1.9

New and used motor vehicles (3)

98.06598.59299.0630.51.00.5

New vehicles

139.731141.020141.1950.81.00.1

New cars and trucks (3) (4)

98.89499.78699.9110.81.00.1

New cars (4)

135.869137.361137.3670.51.10.0

Used cars and trucks

142.725142.892144.3990.71.21.1

Motor fuel

174.035165.273146.354-26.9-15.9-11.4

Gasoline (all types)

172.760164.221145.296-26.9-15.9-11.5

Gasoline, unleaded regular (4)

167.221158.679139.779-28.2-16.4-11.9

Gasoline, Unleaded midgrade (4) (5)

203.700193.684174.959-23.3-14.1-9.7

Gasoline, unleaded premium (4)

196.843189.455171.411-18.0-12.9-9.5

Medical Care

456.158460.482462.9603.51.50.5

Medical care commodities

367.698372.142375.3382.82.10.9

Medical care services

485.853490.115492.3283.71.30.5

Professional services

393.920398.690399.6483.61.50.2

Recreation (3)

116.820117.035117.9770.41.00.8

Education and communication (3)

140.809140.759140.3290.5-0.3-0.3

Other goods and services

402.754404.001405.6292.00.70.4
 

Commodity and Service Group

 
 

All Items

222.722223.301223.1960.40.20.0

Commodities

173.956173.702172.721-2.1-0.7-0.6

Commodities less food & beverages

142.071141.346140.158-4.0-1.3-0.8

Nondurables less food & beverages

178.468176.365173.387-6.2-2.8-1.7

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

219.385216.630210.121-8.5-4.2-3.0

Durables

105.394105.740105.962-1.00.50.2

Services

273.027274.459275.2472.00.80.3

Rent of shelter (2)

257.965259.585260.3702.70.90.3

Transportation services

294.734295.273295.7891.70.40.2

Other services

329.098329.565330.8881.50.50.4
 

Special aggregate indexes:

 
 

All items less medical care

211.674212.075211.8470.10.1-0.1

All items less food

219.819220.340220.2950.40.20.0

All items less shelter

214.664214.900214.473-0.6-0.1-0.2

Commodities less food

145.198144.511143.374-3.8-1.3-0.8

Nondurables

208.707208.046206.289-2.5-1.2-0.8

Nondurables less food

181.867179.932177.175-5.7-2.6-1.5

Nondurables less food and apparel

220.113217.696211.880-7.7-3.7-2.7

Services less rent of shelter (2)

305.354306.664307.5021.40.70.3

Services less medical care services

257.153258.377259.0601.80.70.3

Energy

172.607169.831161.307-14.8-6.5-5.0

All items less energy

230.433231.350232.0741.70.70.3

All items less food and energy

229.402230.318231.2631.90.80.4

Commodities less food and energy commodities

144.724144.964145.8620.30.80.6

Energy commodities

174.361165.933147.858-26.6-15.2-10.9

Services less energy services

285.208286.596287.5472.50.80.3

Footnotes
(1) This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
(2) Index is on a December 1982=100 base.
(3) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(4) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(5) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
 

Regions defined as the four Census regions. Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Data not seasonally adjusted.
 

Table 2. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods

Midwest (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Item and Group

 
Indexes
 
Percent change from-
Dec.
2015
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Feb.
2015
Dec.
2015
Jan.
2016

Expenditure category

 
 

All Items

217.076217.406217.0020.00.0-0.2

All items (December 1977=100)

351.060351.594350.941   

Food and beverages

240.429241.307240.9510.50.2-0.1

Food

240.126241.015240.5700.50.2-0.2

Food at home

230.145231.145230.355-0.50.1-0.3

Food away from home

258.382259.032259.3062.30.40.1

Alcoholic beverages

243.618244.304245.4081.20.70.5

Housing

208.019208.964209.4821.50.70.2

Shelter

240.820241.844242.6362.60.80.3

Rent of primary residence (1)

251.579252.081252.9732.80.60.4

Owners' equiv. rent of residences (1) (2)

238.259238.818239.5322.50.50.3

Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence (1) (2)

238.264238.820239.5342.50.50.3

Fuels and utilities

208.733210.607210.129-2.60.7-0.2

Household energy

171.065172.874172.252-4.40.7-0.4

Energy services (1)

176.948178.924178.226-3.70.7-0.4

Electricity (1)

194.528196.188195.0830.40.3-0.6

Utility (piped) gas service (1)

136.666139.096139.151-13.51.80.0

Household furnishings and operations

113.211113.211113.594-0.80.30.3

Apparel

114.942113.929115.2580.70.31.2

Transportation

182.979181.247177.526-6.2-3.0-2.1

Private transportation

179.465177.641173.913-6.3-3.1-2.1

New and used motor vehicles (3)

97.77098.09998.8410.61.10.8

New vehicles

142.957144.190144.5820.91.10.3

Used cars and trucks

143.365143.507145.0150.61.21.1

Motor fuel

174.645165.692146.423-27.1-16.2-11.6

Gasoline (all types)

173.289164.562145.317-27.1-16.1-11.7

Gasoline, unleaded regular (4)

167.620158.866139.683-28.5-16.7-12.1

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade (4) (5)

203.598193.747174.560-23.5-14.3-9.9

Gasoline, unleaded premium (4)

196.871189.441171.138-18.1-13.1-9.7

Medical Care

461.516466.316468.5823.51.50.5

Medical care commodities

361.494366.005369.0332.92.10.8

Medical care services

492.531497.385499.3563.81.40.4

Professional services

395.464401.087402.1603.91.70.3

Recreation (3)

113.007113.315114.1650.11.00.8

Education and communication (3)

132.688132.671132.2090.2-0.4-0.3

Other goods and services

449.210450.972451.9192.70.60.2
 

Commodity and Service Group

 
 

All Items

217.076217.406217.0020.00.0-0.2

Commodities

175.929175.493173.990-2.6-1.1-0.9

Commodities less food & beverages

144.999144.058142.150-4.7-2.0-1.3

Nondurables less food & beverages

184.028181.446176.450-7.7-4.1-2.8

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

226.980223.470214.891-9.9-5.3-3.8

Durables

107.240107.546107.992-0.80.70.4

Services

265.862267.013267.7651.90.70.3

Rent of shelter (2)

239.160240.189240.9572.70.80.3

Transportation services

295.372295.558296.8072.20.50.4

Other services

304.910305.329306.2171.10.40.3
 

Special aggregate indexes:

 
 

All items less medical care

207.707207.866207.359-0.3-0.2-0.2

All items less food

212.657212.896212.501-0.1-0.1-0.2

All items less shelter

210.973211.060210.225-1.1-0.4-0.4

Commodities less food

147.932147.024145.173-4.5-1.9-1.3

Nondurables

212.153211.209208.398-3.3-1.8-1.3

Nondurables less food

187.052184.632179.937-7.1-3.8-2.5

Nondurables less food and apparel

226.789223.618215.824-9.0-4.8-3.5

Services less rent of shelter (2)

270.312271.488272.1551.20.70.2

Services less medical care services

250.860251.781252.4561.70.60.3

Energy

172.019168.830159.565-15.6-7.2-5.5

All items less energy

224.377225.128225.7751.60.60.3

All items less food and energy

221.434222.160223.0081.80.70.4

Commodities less food and energy commodities

147.798148.090148.8330.50.70.5

Energy commodities

175.132166.562148.184-26.8-15.4-11.0

Services less energy services

277.612278.666279.5972.40.70.3

Footnotes
(1) This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
(2) Index is on a December 1984=100 base.
(3) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(4) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(5) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
 

Regions defined as the four Census regions. Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Data not seasonally adjusted.
 

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2016