The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for Tampa declined 0.1 percent from July to September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that a decline in the gasoline index was a main factor in the bi-monthly all items decrease. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, bi-monthly changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

The all items CPI-U increased 1.2 percent for the 12 months ending in September. (See chart 1 and table A.) The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.0 percent over the past year. The food index continued to increase, up 1.6 percent over the last 12 months. In comparison, the energy index fell 9.1 percent over the past year. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index rose 0.8 percent from July to September. The food at home index increased 1.0 percent over the same period. The six major grocery store food group indexes were split over the two-month period, with three increases and three decreases. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 5.3 percent from July to September. The indexes for dairy and related products (+4.8 percent) and cereals and bakery products (+2.5 percent) also increased over the bi-monthly period.

The index for food away from home increased from July to September, up 0.4 percent.

The food index increased 1.6 percent for the 12 months ending in September. The food at home index rose 1.4 percent over the past year. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the last 12 months: meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+2.5 percent); dairy and related products (+4.6 percent); fruits and vegetables (+2.8 percent); and other food at home (+1.6 percent). In contrast, the cereals and bakery products index declined over the past year, as did the index for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials.

The index for food away from home increased 1.8 percent over the past 12 months.

Energy

The energy index declined 4.2 percent from July to September, largely due to a 7.6-percent fall in the gasoline index. The index for electricity was little changed over the bi-monthly period, down 0.1 percent.

The energy index fell 9.1 percent for the 12 months ending in September, reflecting declines in the gasoline (-10.7 percent) and electricity (-10.1 percent) indexes.  

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent from July to September. The shelter index increased 0.4 percent over the bi-monthly period. The index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.8 percent over the two-months and the index for rent of primary residence increased 0.9 percent. Other indexes with notable increases from July to September include apparel (+6.7 percent) and education and communication (+1.4 percent). In comparison, the index for recreation declined 3.0 percent over the same period.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.0 percent for the 12 months ending in September. The index for shelter (+5.1 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 (+4.3 percent) and rent of primary residence (+6.9 percent) also increased over the past year. Notable indexes to decline over the last 12 months include household furnishings and operations (-4.0 percent), education and communication (-2.4 percent), and new vehicles (-2.2 percent).

Table A. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, CPI-U 2-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted

Month	2020		2021		2022		2023		2024
	2-month	12-month	2-month	12-month	2-month	12-month	2-month	12-month	2-month	12-month
January	0.7	3.8	0.9	3.4	2.4	9.6	1.7	8.9	0.5	3.9
March	0.2	2.1	1.6	4.9	2.1	10.2	1.1	7.7	0.9	3.7
May	-0.3	0.9	1.0	6.2	2.1	11.3	1.7	7.3	-0.1	1.8
July	1.0	1.8	1.4	6.6	1.3	11.2	-0.1	5.9	0.5	2.4
September	1.4	3.3	1.0	6.1	0.3	10.5	1.1	6.7	-0.1	1.2
November	0.1	3.2	1.8	8.0	1.0	9.6	-0.4	5.2

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Consumer Price Index for November 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

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 Tampa is published bi-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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Core Based Statistical Area includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties.

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.