The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the South region was unchanged in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The index for energy decreased 1.4 percent over the month. The all items less food and energy index increased 0.1 percent in October while index for food rose 0.3 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

Food

The food index increased 0.3 percent in October. The index for food at home (grocery store purchases) rose 0.1 percent over the pricing period. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in October. The index for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) rose 0.5 percent over the month.

Energy

The energy index fell 1.4 percent over the month. The gasoline index decreased 2.4 percent, and the electricity index fell 0.6 percent. The index for natural gas service rose 1.4 percent over the same period.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in October. The shelter index increased 0.2 percent over the month, led by a 0.3-percent increase in the owners’ equivalent rent index. Other notable indexes to increase over the month were recreation (+0.6 percent), medical care (+0.3 percent), as well as education and communication (+0.3 percent). In contrast, indexes that decreased in October were used cars and trucks (-1.8 percent) and household furnishings and operations (-0.9 percent).

The Consumer Price Index for November 2026 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 10, 2026, 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 the South region 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.

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.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.