The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for Tampa was unchanged from September to November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that declines in several indexes over the bi-monthly period, including education and communication, apparel, shelter, and gasoline, were more than offset by an increase in the medical care index. (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 1.6 percent for the 12 months ending in November. (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 1.1 percent over the last 12 months. In comparison, the energy index declined over the past year. (See table 1.)

  

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in CPI-U, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, November 2021–November 2024

Month	All items	All items less food and energy
Nov 2021	8.0	6.7
Jan 2022	9.6	9.0
Mar 2022	10.2	8.8
May 2022	11.3	9.9
Jul 2022	11.2	10.1
Sep 2022	10.5	10.1
Nov 2022	9.6	9.7
Jan 2023	8.9	8.7
Mar 2023	7.7	9.3
May 2023	7.3	9.0
Jul 2023	5.9	7.3
Sep 2023	6.7	7.3
Nov 2023	5.2	6.0
Jan 2024	3.9	4.8
Mar 2024	3.7	4.3
May 2024	1.8	2.0
Jul 2024	2.4	3.0
Sep 2024	1.2	2.0
Nov 2024	1.6	2.0

The food index declined 0.5 percent from September to November. The food at home index fell 0.9 percent over the two months, while the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent over the two-month period. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes declined from September to November, most notable, the index for dairy and related products (-5.6 percent). In comparison, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.7 percent over the two-month period, as did the index for fruits and vegetables.

The food index increased 1.1 percent for the 12 months ending in November. The food away from home index rose 1.9 percent over the past year, while the index for food at home increased 0.6 percent over the same period. The six major grocery store food group indexes were split over the past year, with three increases and three decreases.

The energy index declined 1.2 percent from September to November. The gasoline index contributed to the bi-monthly decrease in the energy index, down 2.2 percent. In comparison, the electricity index was unchanged over the two-month period.  

The energy index declined for the 12 months ending in November, reflecting a decline in the electricity index. In contrast, the gasoline index rose 1.1 percent over the past year.

The index for all items less food and energy was little changed from September to November, up 0.1 percent. The medical care index advanced 4.8 percent over the two-month period. Indexes with notable declines from September to November include education and communication (-2.7 percent), apparel (-5.6 percent), shelter (-0.2 percent), and recreation (-1.2 percent).  

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.0 percent for the 12 months ending in November. 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 (+4.7 percent) and rent of primary residence (+5.6 percent) also increased over the past year. Of note, the medical care index rose 4.9 percent over the past 12 months. In comparison, the index for education and communication fell 7.7 percent over the same period.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Consumer Price Index for January 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

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.