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News Release Information

25-42-ATL
Wednesday, January 15, 2025

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

Consumer Price Index, South Region — December 2024

Area prices unchanged in December; up 2.8 percent over the past year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the South was unchanged in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. An increase in the shelter index was more than offset by declines in the gasoline and apparel indexes. (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 2.8 percent for the 12 months ending in December, after increasing 2.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in November. (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 2.5 percent over the past year. In contrast, the energy index declined 0.5 percent over the same period. (See table 1.)


Food

The food index rose 0.3 percent in December, reflecting increases for the food at home (+0.4 percent) and food away from home (+0.2 percent) indexes. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the month, including meats, poultry, fish and eggs (+0.8 percent); cereals and bakery products (+0.9 percent); and other food at home (+0.4 percent). In contrast, the nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials index and the fruits and vegetables index declined in December.

The food index rose 2.5 percent for the 12 months ending in December. The index for food away from home increased 3.4 percent over the past year, while the index for food at home rose 1.9 percent over the same period. Each of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the past year, led by a 4.8-percent increase in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.

Energy

The energy index declined 0.4 percent in December, reflecting a 1.4-percent decrease in the gasoline index. In contrast, the indexes for natural gas and electricity increased in December, up 2.3 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

The energy index declined 0.5 percent for the 12 months ending in December. The index for gasoline declined 1.9 percent over the past year. In comparison, the index for natural gas rose 5.4 percent over the past 12 months and the index for electricity increased 0.8 percent over the same period.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in December. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent over the month. The index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.3 percent in December, as did the index for rent of primary residence. Other notable indexes to increase in December include recreation (+0.3 percent) and medical care (+0.1 percent). Notable indexes to decline in December include apparel (-1.5 percent) and education and communication (-0.3 percent).

The index for all items less food and energy advanced 3.1 percent for the 12 months ending in December, as it did for the 12-month periods ending in November and October. The index for shelter (+4.7 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 (+3.8 percent) also increased over the past year.

Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the three divisions of the South. In December, the all items index rose 0.2 percent in the South Atlantic division. In comparison, the all items index declined in the East South Central (-0.2 percent) and West South Central (-0.1 percent) divisions in December.

Over the past 12 months, the all items index increased 4.1 percent in the East South Central division, 2.9 percent in the South Atlantic division, and 1.9 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

0.21.40.37.4-0.37.0-0.13.70.02.8

The Consumer Price Index for January 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 12, 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-
Oct.
2024
Nov.
2024
Dec.
2024
Dec.
2023
Oct.
2024
Nov.
2024

Expenditure category

All Items

306.889306.877307.0072.80.00.0

All items (December 1977=100)

497.817497.798498.008---

Food and beverages

325.457325.227325.9922.40.20.2

Food

329.284329.045330.0732.50.20.3

Food at home

307.013305.829306.9541.90.00.4

Cereal and bakery products

368.887362.137365.3741.1-1.00.9

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

326.302327.049329.5964.81.00.8

Dairy and related products

274.119272.067272.5891.9-0.60.2

Fruits and vegetables

336.949334.872334.6920.7-0.7-0.1

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

216.045218.300217.7541.70.8-0.3

Other food at home

273.890272.036273.1080.6-0.30.4

Food away from home

366.957368.386369.2373.40.60.2

Alcoholic beverages

272.111272.002269.2471.4-1.1-1.0

Housing

316.182316.774317.5223.90.40.2

Shelter

371.389372.316373.1304.70.50.2

Rent of primary residence

395.963396.806397.8713.80.50.3

Owners' equiv. rent of residences(1)

374.541375.462376.7664.80.60.3

Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence(1)

374.495375.412376.7124.80.60.3

Fuels and utilities

303.107302.496303.7592.30.20.4

Household energy

246.184244.341245.6211.3-0.20.5

Energy services

246.366244.490245.7861.4-0.20.5

Electricity

243.270239.734240.3200.8-1.20.2

Utility (piped) gas service

246.568256.004261.9655.46.22.3

Household furnishings and operations

145.703145.816146.094-0.90.30.2

Apparel

142.819139.580137.5100.7-3.7-1.5

Transportation

270.045269.052267.9121.1-0.8-0.4

Private transportation

271.898270.379269.2730.6-1.0-0.4

New and used motor vehicles(2)

125.050125.404125.347-2.10.20.0

New vehicles

184.200184.635184.718-0.80.30.0

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

------

New cars(3)

181.539182.160182.129-1.10.30.0

Used cars and trucks

178.076179.201179.453-3.70.80.1

Motor fuel

259.447253.770250.291-2.2-3.5-1.4

Gasoline (all types)

258.400252.696249.110-1.9-3.6-1.4

Unleaded regular(3)

251.151245.396241.754-2.0-3.7-1.5

Unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

295.663290.192286.623-1.2-3.1-1.2

Unleaded premium(3)

291.780286.773283.828-0.9-2.7-1.0

Medical care

537.012538.135538.8663.00.30.1

Medical care commodities

384.526383.111383.606-0.9-0.20.1

Medical care services

587.910589.903590.7133.90.50.1

Professional services

409.389410.014410.4214.60.30.1

Recreation(2)

137.835138.987139.4101.91.10.3

Education and communication(2)

141.356140.885140.4990.3-0.6-0.3

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

1,554.2951,557.7021,558.5004.70.30.1

Other goods and services

538.645539.457539.4194.10.10.0

Commodity and service group

All Items

306.889306.877307.0072.80.00.0

Commodities

220.198219.331218.9120.1-0.6-0.2

Commodities less food and beverages

174.070173.022172.215-1.3-1.1-0.5

Nondurables less food and beverages

227.736225.144223.6040.1-1.8-0.7

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

279.163276.937275.702-0.1-1.2-0.4

Durables

124.823124.804124.514-2.8-0.2-0.2

Services

394.460395.302395.9794.30.40.2

Rent of shelter(1)

382.517383.495384.3214.70.50.2

Transportation services

511.834511.434509.1106.4-0.5-0.5

Other services

401.417402.585403.4982.80.50.2

Special aggregate indexes

All items less medical care

294.037293.971294.0712.70.00.0

All items less food

303.217303.237303.2412.80.00.0

All items less shelter

282.497282.071281.9011.7-0.2-0.1

Commodities less food

176.976175.947175.091-1.2-1.1-0.5

Nondurables

273.787272.285271.8111.4-0.7-0.2

Nondurables less food

229.881227.433225.8280.2-1.8-0.7

Nondurables less food and apparel

277.041275.012273.6510.0-1.2-0.5

Services less rent of shelter(1)

421.061421.729422.2113.80.30.1

Services less medical care services

376.020376.769377.4304.30.40.2

Energy

247.333243.675242.627-0.5-1.9-0.4

All items less energy

314.525314.867315.1123.00.20.1

All items less food and energy

312.544312.978313.1003.10.20.0

Commodities less food and energy commodities

167.058166.595166.053-1.1-0.6-0.3

Energy commodities

264.422258.771255.344-2.2-3.4-1.3

Services less energy services

410.026411.125411.7484.50.40.2

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 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, January 15, 2025