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News Release Information

24-2438-ATL
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

Consumer Price Index, South Region — November 2024

Area prices unchanged in November; up 2.7 percent over the past year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the South was unchanged in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A decline in the gasoline index was more than offset by an increase in the index for shelter. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

The all items CPI-U for the South increased 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending in November, after increasing 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in October. (See chart 1 and table A.) The index for all items less food and energy advanced 3.1 percent over the past 12 months. The food index continued to increase, up 2.1 percent over the past year. In contrast, the energy index declined 1.1 percent over the same period. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index was little changed in November, down 0.1 percent. The index for food at home declined 0.4 percent over the month, while the index for food away from home rose 0.4 percent over the same period. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes declined in November, including cereals and bakery products (-1.8 percent) and other food at home (-0.7 percent). In comparison, the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (+1.0 percent) and meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+0.2 percent) increased in November.

The food index rose 2.1 percent for the 12 months ending in November. The index for food away from home increased 3.4 percent over the past year, while the index for food at home rose 1.3 percent over the same period. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the past year, led by a 3.8-percent increase in the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index. In comparison, the cereals and bakery products index declined 0.5 percent over the past 12 months.

Energy

The energy index declined 1.5 percent in November, reflecting decreases in the gasoline (-2.2 percent) and electricity (-1.5 percent) indexes. In contrast, the natural gas index rose 3.8 percent in November.

The energy index declined 1.1 percent for the 12 months ending in November. The index for gasoline fell 4.1 percent over the past 12 months. The indexes for electricity (+2.4 percent) and natural gas (+3.4 percent) increased over the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy was little changed in November, up 0.1 percent. The shelter index rose 0.2 percent in November. The index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.2 percent over the month, as did the index for rent of primary residence. Recreation (+0.8 percent) was also among the indexes to increase in November. In comparison, the index for apparel declined 2.3 percent over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy advanced 3.1 percent for the 12 months ending in November, as it did for the 12-month period ending in October. The index for shelter (+4.8 percent) was the largest contributor to the total 12-month increase in the all items less food and energy index. The indexes for owners’ equivalent rent (+4.8 percent) and rent of primary residence (+4.0 percent) also increased over the past year.

Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the three divisions of the South. In November, the all items index increased 0.2 percent in the East South Central division and 0.1 percent in the South Atlantic division. In comparison, the all items index declined 0.3 percent in the West South Central division.

Over the year, the all items index increased 4.0 percent in the East South Central division, 2.7 percent in the South Atlantic division, and 2.0 percent in the West South Central division.


Table A. South region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20202021202220232024
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.32.30.51.60.97.80.86.90.63.4

February

0.21.90.52.01.18.40.66.40.93.7

March

-0.11.10.82.91.49.10.45.30.43.8

April

-0.8-0.20.74.40.58.80.75.50.23.3

May

-0.2-0.40.85.61.29.20.24.40.13.2

June

0.60.30.95.81.59.80.33.30.02.9

July

0.60.60.55.80.19.40.23.40.22.9

August

0.41.10.35.6-0.28.90.64.10.02.3

September

0.21.30.35.80.28.70.24.20.12.1

October

0.11.31.06.60.48.1-0.13.70.32.5

November

-0.11.20.47.20.17.7-0.23.40.02.7

December

0.21.40.37.4-0.37.0-0.13.7

The Consumer Price Index for December 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

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 South 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 South region is comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods
South (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted)
Item and Group

IndexesPercent change from-
Sep.
2024
Oct.
2024
Nov.
2024
Nov.
2023
Sep.
2024
Oct.
2024

Expenditure category

All Items

306.078306.889306.8772.70.30.0

All items (December 1977=100)

496.502497.817497.798---

Food and beverages

324.177325.457325.2272.20.3-0.1

Food

328.080329.284329.0452.10.3-0.1

Food at home

305.802307.013305.8291.30.0-0.4

Cereals and bakery products

365.993368.887362.137-0.5-1.1-1.8

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

326.451326.302327.0493.80.20.2

Dairy and related products

272.076274.119272.0671.80.0-0.7

Fruits and vegetables

335.299336.949334.8720.7-0.1-0.6

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

215.122216.045218.3002.01.51.0

Other food at home

272.812273.890272.0360.1-0.3-0.7

Food away from home

365.773366.957368.3863.40.70.4

Alcoholic beverages

269.818272.111272.0022.60.80.0

Housing

315.385316.182316.7744.00.40.2

Shelter

369.883371.389372.3164.80.70.2

Rent of primary residence

394.789395.963396.8064.00.50.2

Owners' equiv. rent of residences(1)

372.695374.541375.4624.80.70.2

Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence(1)

372.668374.495375.4124.80.70.2

Fuels and utilities

303.836303.107302.4963.1-0.4-0.2

Household energy

247.090246.184244.3412.4-1.1-0.7

Energy services

247.243246.366244.4902.5-1.1-0.8

Electricity

244.758243.270239.7342.4-2.1-1.5

Utility (piped) gas service

243.267246.568256.0043.45.23.8

Household furnishings and operations

146.462145.703145.816-1.3-0.40.1

Apparel

145.106142.819139.580-0.3-3.8-2.3

Transportation

268.606270.045269.0520.60.2-0.4

Private transportation

271.302271.898270.3790.2-0.3-0.6

New and used motor vehicles(2)

125.006125.050125.404-2.70.30.3

New vehicles

184.444184.200184.635-1.00.10.2

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

------

New cars(3)

181.387181.539182.160-1.30.40.3

Used cars and trucks

177.432178.076179.201-3.81.00.6

Motor fuel

262.527259.447253.770-4.6-3.3-2.2

Gasoline (all types)

261.513258.400252.696-4.1-3.4-2.2

Unleaded regular(3)

254.223251.151245.396-4.3-3.5-2.3

Unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

299.402295.663290.192-3.2-3.1-1.9

Unleaded premium(3)

294.942291.780286.773-2.8-2.8-1.7

Medical care

535.448537.012538.1353.20.50.2

Medical care commodities

384.229384.526383.111-0.5-0.3-0.4

Medical care services

585.915587.910589.9034.10.70.3

Professional services

407.690409.389410.0144.40.60.2

Recreation(2)

137.895137.835138.9871.70.80.8

Education and communication(2)

141.121141.356140.8850.5-0.2-0.3

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

1,551.0431,554.2951,557.7024.70.40.2

Other goods and services

535.578538.645539.4573.80.70.2

Commodity and service group

All Items

306.078306.889306.8772.70.30.0

Commodities

220.478220.198219.331-0.3-0.5-0.4

Commodities less food and beverages

174.876174.070173.022-1.7-1.1-0.6

Nondurables less food and beverages

229.343227.736225.144-0.9-1.8-1.1

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

280.378279.163276.937-1.1-1.2-0.8

Durables

125.070124.823124.804-2.9-0.20.0

Services

392.557394.460395.3024.40.70.2

Rent of shelter(1)

380.998382.517383.4954.80.70.3

Transportation services

501.927511.834511.4346.11.9-0.1

Other services

399.998401.417402.5852.70.60.3

Special aggregate indexes

All items less medical care

293.267294.037293.9712.60.20.0

All items less food

302.463303.217303.2372.70.30.0

All items less shelter

281.983282.497282.0711.50.0-0.2

Commodities less food

177.712176.976175.947-1.6-1.0-0.6

Nondurables

274.058273.787272.2850.8-0.6-0.5

Nondurables less food

231.264229.881227.433-0.7-1.7-1.1

Nondurables less food and apparel

277.944277.041275.012-0.8-1.1-0.7

Services less rent of shelter(1)

418.566421.061421.7293.90.80.2

Services less medical care services

374.146376.020376.7694.40.70.2

Energy

249.271247.333243.675-1.1-2.2-1.5

All items less energy

313.442314.525314.8672.90.50.1

All items less food and energy

311.479312.544312.9783.10.50.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities

167.503167.058166.595-1.1-0.5-0.3

Energy commodities

267.532264.422258.771-4.6-3.3-2.1

Services less energy services

407.857410.026411.1254.50.80.3

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.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

- Data not available.
Regions defined as the four Census regions. South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024