Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), were unchanged in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) A 4.5-percent decrease in the energy index was balanced out by a 0.3-percent advance in the index for all items less food and energy and a 0.5-percent increase in the food index over the month. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U rose 2.5 percent. (See chart 1.) The index for all items less food and energy increased 3.4 percent over the year, while the food index advanced 2.0 percent. Energy prices declined 5.9 percent, largely the result of a decrease in the index for gasoline. (See table 1.)

  

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in CPI-U, Midwest region, September 2021–September 2024

Month	All items	All items less food and energy
Sep 2021	5.7	4.0
Oct 2021	6.6	4.6
Nov 2021	7.3	5.0
Dec 2021	7.5	5.7
Jan 2022	7.9	6.4
Feb 2022	8.0	6.4
Mar 2022	8.6	6.4
Apr 2022	8.2	6.0
May 2022	8.8	5.9
Jun 2022	9.5	5.7
Jul 2022	8.6	5.4
Aug 2022	8.1	5.8
Sep 2022	8.1	6.2
Oct 2022	7.4	5.8
Nov 2022	6.8	5.5
Dec 2022	6.0	5.2
Jan 2023	6.0	4.9
Feb 2023	5.6	5.0
Mar 2023	4.9	5.4
Apr 2023	4.9	5.5
May 2023	3.7	5.0
Jun 2023	2.4	4.8
Jul 2023	2.9	5.0
Aug 2023	3.4	4.5
Sep 2023	3.2	4.2
Oct 2023	2.9	4.3
Nov 2023	2.9	4.2
Dec 2023	3.2	4.1
Jan 2024	2.7	3.7
Feb 2024	2.8	3.4
Mar 2024	2.8	3.2
Apr 2024	2.8	3.1
May 2024	2.7	3.0
Jun 2024	2.5	2.9
Jul 2024	2.7	2.9
Aug 2024	2.6	3.2
Sep 2024	2.5	3.4

Food prices advanced 0.5 percent for the month of September. The index for food at home (grocery store prices) increased 0.7 percent, and the index for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) rose 0.3 percent during the same period. Within the food at home category, the indexes for fruits and vegetables (+1.8 percent) and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (+1.2 percent) led advances.

Over the year, food prices rose 2.0 percent. Prices for food away from home were up 3.4 percent, and prices for food at home advanced 1.2 percent since a year ago.  The increase within food at home was led by the index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, up 3.0 percent.

The energy index was down 4.5 percent over the month, largely due to lower prices for gasoline (-8.1 percent). The indexes for natural gas service and electricity also fell, 1.5 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, for the same period.

From September 2023 to September 2024, energy prices decreased 5.9 percent, almost entirely due to a decline in the gasoline index (-14.3 percent). The indexes for electricity and natural gas service both rose, 2.7 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively, somewhat moderating the fall in prices over the year.

The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.3 percent in September. Higher prices for apparel (+4.1 percent), owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+0.4 percent), and medical care services (+0.7 percent) were partially offset by lower prices for lodging away from home, and recreation (-1.5 percent).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy increased 3.4 percent.  The increase was primarily led by the index for owners’ equivalent rent of residence (+6.1 percent). A decrease in the index for used cars and trucks (-4.1 percent) led component declines.

The October 2024 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Region is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 13, 2024..

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

Refer to the national CPI news release technical note or the Handbook of Methods for more information.

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.