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News Release Information

17-1134-KAN
Friday, August 11, 2017

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

Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region – July 2017

Prices in the Midwest unchanged in July and 1.3 percent higher over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest was unchanged for the third month in a row in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Higher costs for recreation and medical care had the largest upward impact on the index, while lower prices for lodging away from home, airline fares, and household furnishings and operations had the largest offsetting downward movements. The all items less food and energy index was essentially unchanged (+0.1 percent) in July, energy costs were down 0.5 percent and food prices were unchanged. (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 rose 1.3 percent from July 2016 to July 2017. (See chart 1 and table A.) The energy index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, rose 3.5 percent and food prices increased 0.4 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced 1.3 percent over the year. (See table 1.)

 

Food

Food prices in the Midwest were unchanged from June to July. Costs for food away from home edged up 0.1 percent while prices for food at home recorded no change.

From July 2016 to July 2017, the index for food was 0.4 percent higher and attributable to an increase of 0.9 percent in costs for food away from home. Prices for food at home were little changed (+0.1 percent).

Energy

The energy index declined 0.5 percent in July following an increase of 2.2 percent in June. Lower prices for both gasoline (-1.0 percent) and utility (piped) gas service (-0.6 percent) were responsible for the decline in the energy component. A 0.2 percent increase in electricity costs in July moderated the overall decline.

Energy costs were 3.5 percent higher from July 2016 to July 2017 due to increases among all three major subcategories: utility (piped) gas service (7.6 percent), electricity (2.9 percent), and gasoline (2.4 percent).

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy for the Midwest was little changed, +0.1 percent, in July after registering little movement in June, -0.1 percent. Increases in the indexes for recreation (1.4 percent) and medical care (0.9 percent) had the largest upward impact on the index. Costs for lodging away from home, airline fares, and household furnishings and operations were down in July.

The index for all items less food and energy was up 1.3 percent from July 2016 to July 2017. Higher costs for shelter (2.5 percent), medical care (2.5 percent), and recreation (2.9 percent) led the increase. Annual declines in the indexes for education and communication (-2.8 percent) and new and used motor vehicles (-2.2 percent) only partially offset these advances.

The Midwest Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) stood at 229.820 in July 2017. A typical market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in the 1982-84 base period cost $229.82 in July 2017.

CPI-W

In July, the Midwest Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 223.626, unchanged over the month. The CPI-W increased 1.2 percent over the year.

Table A. Midwest region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20132014201520162017
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.11.30.51.4-0.6-0.30.30.80.72.2

February

1.12.20.60.90.3-0.50.00.40.22.4

March

0.21.40.91.50.6-0.90.60.50.11.9

April

-0.11.20.31.90.1-1.10.40.80.41.8

May

0.51.80.21.60.4-0.80.40.80.01.4

June

0.32.20.51.70.5-0.70.60.80.00.9

July

-0.41.8-0.31.80.0-0.5-0.50.40.01.3

August

0.11.2-0.21.60.0-0.30.10.6  

September

0.11.00.11.6-0.3-0.80.21.1  

October

-0.50.8-0.51.6-0.1-0.3-0.11.0  

November

-0.21.0-0.61.2-0.5-0.2-0.31.2  

December

-0.21.0-0.70.7-0.60.00.11.8  

The August 2017 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest region is scheduled to be released on Thursday, September 14, 2017.


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: (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-
May
2017
Jun.
2017
Jul.
2017
Jul.
2016
May
2017
Jun.
2017

Expenditure category

 
 

All Items

229.705229.780229.8201.30.10.0

All items (December 1977=100)

373.743373.866373.930   

Food and beverages

241.489240.701240.7940.5-0.30.0

Food

240.989240.139240.2370.4-0.30.0

Food at home

226.674226.024225.9590.1-0.30.0

Food away from home

265.048263.857264.2330.9-0.30.1

Alcoholic beverages

246.153246.259246.2880.90.10.0

Housing

221.420223.325222.8092.30.6-0.2

Shelter

262.233263.258262.7792.50.2-0.2

Rent of primary residence(1)

261.025261.592262.2372.90.50.2

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

265.570266.170266.6012.60.40.2

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

265.537266.136266.5612.50.40.2

Fuels and utilities

220.578230.574230.3624.24.4-0.1

Household energy

180.686190.907190.6304.35.5-0.1

Energy services(1)

188.212199.401199.3204.25.90.0

Electricity(1)

203.168219.647220.1162.98.30.2

Utility (piped) gas service(1)

152.087153.965152.9957.60.6-0.6

Household furnishings and operations

114.194113.930113.055-1.3-1.0-0.8

Apparel

119.265115.627115.6041.7-3.10.0

Transportation

196.661195.076193.9710.3-1.4-0.6

Private transportation

190.495189.157188.5560.4-1.0-0.3

New and used motor vehicles(3)

97.29296.98696.767-2.2-0.5-0.2

New vehicles

138.683138.148137.862-1.0-0.6-0.2

New cars and trucks(3)(4)

97.98297.59897.375-1.0-0.6-0.2

New cars(4)

135.482134.571134.005-0.6-1.1-0.4

Used cars and trucks

141.096140.044139.402-4.7-1.2-0.5

Motor fuel

209.895206.410204.4362.5-2.6-1.0

Gasoline (all types)

208.788205.304203.3422.4-2.6-1.0

Gasoline, unleaded regular(4)

202.827199.448197.4152.3-2.7-1.0

Gasoline, Unleaded midgrade(4)(5)

243.102238.057237.2533.3-2.4-0.3

Gasoline, unleaded premium(4)

233.053229.497228.3693.5-2.0-0.5

Medical Care

478.245478.231482.5912.50.90.9

Medical care commodities

388.795389.037401.1255.13.23.1

Medical care services

508.201508.096509.6821.80.30.3

Professional services

415.343414.938415.7022.40.10.2

Recreation(3)

121.097121.091122.8122.91.41.4

Education and communication(3)

136.537136.183136.245-2.8-0.20.0

Other goods and services

414.166413.821415.4681.80.30.4
 

Commodity and Service Group

 
 

All Items

229.705229.780229.8201.30.10.0

Commodities

177.144175.889175.7960.1-0.8-0.1

Commodities less food & beverages

145.955144.551144.388-0.1-1.1-0.1

Nondurables less food & beverages

189.499187.076187.4251.7-1.10.2

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

235.593233.934234.5231.7-0.50.3

Durables

103.708103.157102.624-2.3-1.0-0.5

Services

283.900285.334285.5092.10.60.1

Rent of shelter(2)

269.496270.545270.0442.50.2-0.2

Transportation services

308.659307.070305.0392.1-1.2-0.7

Other services

333.809333.611336.1110.40.70.7
 

Special aggregate indexes:

 
 

All items less medical care

217.940218.019217.8541.20.0-0.1

All items less food

227.750227.974228.0041.50.10.0

All items less shelter

220.255219.993220.2180.90.00.1

Commodities less food

149.095147.724147.5650.0-1.0-0.1

Nondurables

215.106213.451213.6791.0-0.70.1

Nondurables less food

192.491190.209190.5401.6-1.00.2

Nondurables less food and apparel

235.144233.649234.1851.6-0.40.2

Services less rent of shelter(2)

316.146318.083319.0031.80.90.3

Services less medical care services

267.175268.720268.7922.10.60.0

Energy

194.062198.416197.4053.51.7-0.5

All items less energy

236.075235.729235.8731.2-0.10.1

All items less food and energy

235.900235.645235.7981.30.00.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities

144.929143.785143.863-0.5-0.70.1

Energy commodities

209.325205.849203.7032.6-2.7-1.0

Services less energy services

296.177296.590296.7932.00.20.1

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-
May
2017
Jun.
2017
Jul.
2017
Jul.
2016
May
2017
Jun.
2017

Expenditure category

 
 

All Items

223.575223.625223.6261.20.00.0

All items (December 1977=100)

361.571361.651361.653   

Food and beverages

241.107240.324240.5130.4-0.20.1

Food

240.581239.755239.9350.3-0.30.1

Food at home

227.031226.382226.4440.0-0.30.0

Food away from home

266.201265.018265.4390.9-0.30.2

Alcoholic beverages

247.930247.837248.1921.00.10.1

Housing

216.239218.158217.8812.40.8-0.1

Shelter

250.764251.552251.4972.50.30.0

Rent of primary residence(1)

261.657262.225262.8952.90.50.3

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

247.408247.956248.3372.50.40.2

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

247.401247.946248.3262.50.40.2

Fuels and utilities

221.758231.734231.5124.14.4-0.1

Household energy

181.549191.653191.3644.15.4-0.2

Energy services(1)

187.606198.700198.6804.15.90.0

Electricity(1)

201.420217.404217.8622.88.20.2

Utility (piped) gas service(1)

153.407155.296154.4337.50.7-0.6

Household furnishings and operations

112.003111.753110.536-1.7-1.3-1.1

Apparel

117.574114.369114.0803.3-3.0-0.3

Transportation

193.291191.559190.617-0.1-1.4-0.5

Private transportation

189.555187.924187.225-0.1-1.2-0.4

New and used motor vehicles(3)

96.95296.54396.251-3.0-0.7-0.3

New vehicles

141.898141.350140.861-1.1-0.7-0.3

Used cars and trucks

141.604140.551139.916-4.7-1.2-0.5

Motor fuel

210.279206.544204.7092.4-2.6-0.9

Gasoline (all types)

209.080205.342203.5242.4-2.7-0.9

Gasoline, unleaded regular(4)

202.965199.310197.4332.3-2.7-0.9

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(4)(5)

242.796237.732237.0513.2-2.4-0.3

Gasoline, unleaded premium(4)

232.684228.978227.9863.5-2.0-0.4

Medical Care

483.564483.419488.1322.40.91.0

Medical care commodities

380.008380.131392.8294.83.43.3

Medical care services

515.617515.377517.1961.80.30.4

Professional services

417.520417.051417.9622.40.10.2

Recreation(3)

117.037117.155117.9352.40.80.7

Education and communication(3)

127.204126.698126.707-4.0-0.40.0

Other goods and services

463.284463.219464.8422.00.30.4
 

Commodity and Service Group

 
 

All Items

223.575223.625223.6261.20.00.0

Commodities

179.541178.263178.0610.1-0.8-0.1

Commodities less food & beverages

149.654148.221147.871-0.1-1.2-0.2

Nondurables less food & beverages

197.108194.696194.7252.0-1.20.0

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

246.119244.066244.2691.7-0.80.1

Durables

105.512104.881104.280-2.9-1.2-0.6

Services

275.578277.036277.2521.90.60.1

Rent of shelter(2)

249.162249.936249.8802.50.30.0

Transportation services

308.970307.506306.4872.2-0.8-0.3

Other services

306.541306.304307.372-0.60.30.3
 

Special aggregate indexes:

 
 

All items less medical care

213.610213.667213.4871.0-0.1-0.1

All items less food

220.105220.295220.2671.30.10.0

All items less shelter

216.315216.102216.1240.6-0.10.0

Commodities less food

152.603151.193150.857-0.1-1.1-0.2

Nondurables

219.389217.739217.8461.1-0.70.0

Nondurables less food

199.701197.403197.4491.9-1.10.0

Nondurables less food and apparel

244.688242.795243.0091.6-0.70.1

Services less rent of shelter(2)

278.841280.898281.3871.30.90.2

Services less medical care services

259.720261.274261.3921.90.60.0

Energy

194.116197.763196.7583.31.4-0.5

All items less energy

229.080228.702228.8230.9-0.10.1

All items less food and energy

226.924226.630226.7391.1-0.10.0

Commodities less food and energy commodities

147.789146.709146.638-0.7-0.80.0

Energy commodities

209.868206.141204.0912.5-2.8-1.0

Services less energy services

287.247287.540287.7861.70.20.1

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: Friday, August 11, 2017