Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), were down 0.1 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) The November decrease was driven by a 3.1 percent decline in the energy index, with gasoline prices contributing most to the fall. The index for all items less food and energy and the index for food both rose 0.1 percent 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 advanced 2.6 percent. (See chart 1.) The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.2 percent over the year, and food prices advanced 2.4 percent. Energy prices declined 3.4 percent, led by a decrease in the index for gasoline. (See table 1.)

  

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

Month	All items	All items less food and energy
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
Oct 2024	2.6	3.1
Nov 2024	2.6	3.2

Food prices increased 0.1 percent for the month of November. The index for food at home (grocery store prices) advanced 0.1 percent, and the index for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) were unchanged for the same period. Within the food at home category, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs drove almost all of the rise, advancing 1.2 percent.

Over the year, food prices advanced 2.4 percent. The index for food at home increased 2.1 percent since a year ago, and the index for food away from home increased 2.9 percent. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+3.4 percent) and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (+5.3 percent) contributed most to the over-the-year-increase.

The energy index fell 3.1 percent over the month. The decrease was largely due to lower prices for gasoline (-5.0 percent), but prices paid for electricity also contributed (-2.8 percent). Prices for natural gas service rose 2.2 percent over the same period.

From November 2023 to November 2024, energy index declined -3.4 percent, almost entirely due to lower prices for gasoline (-7.9 percent). The indexes for natural gas service (+2.8 percent) and electricity (+0.7 percent) both rose during the past year.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in November. Higher prices were led by increases in the indexes for owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+0.4 percent), recreation (+0.5 percent), and rent of primary residences (+0.5 percent). Declines almost entirely offset gains; notable index decreases included apparel (-4.3 percent) and education and communication (-0.6 percent).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy rose 3.2 percent. Components contributing most to the increase included shelter (+5.6 percent) and medical care services (+2.6 percent). Declining prices for new and used motor vehicles (-3.0 percent) slightly offset the rise.

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