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CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – DECEMBER 2012
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in December on a
seasonallyadjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months,
the all items index increased 1.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The gasoline index declined again in December, but other indexes, notably food and shelter, increased,
resulting in the seasonally adjusted all items index being unchanged. Gasoline was the only major
energy index to decline; the indexesfor natural gas and electricity both increased. Within the food
category, five of the six major grocery store food groups increased as the food at home index rose for the
third consecutive month.
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in December, the same increase as in
November. Besides shelter, the indexes for airline fares, tobacco, and medical care alsoincreased. The
indexes for recreation, household furnishings and operations, and used cars and trucks all declined in
December.
The all items index increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months, compared to a 1.8 percent figure in
November. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months, the
same figure as last month. The food index has risen 1.8 percent overthe last 12 months, and the energy
index has risen 0.5 percent.
Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Dec. 2011 - Dec. 2012
Percent change
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3

0.6

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

-0.3
Dec'11

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

-0.3
Jun

Jul

AugSep

Oct

Nov

Dec'12

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Dec. 2011 - Dec. 2012
Percent change
3.0
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
Dec'11

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

All items

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

All items less food and energy

-2-

Nov

Dec'12

Year in Review
The CPI rose 1.7percent in 2012 after a 3.0 percent increase in 2011. This was the third smallest
December-December increase of the past ten years and compares to a 2.4 percent average annual
increase over the span.
The energy index increased 0.5 percent in 2012, a sharp deceleration from its 6.6 percent increase in
2011. The gasoline index rose 1.7 percent in 2012 after increasing 13.8 percent in 2010 and 9.9percent
in 2011. The household energy index declined in 2012, falling 1.1 percent after increasing 1.8 percent in
2011. The fuel oil index rose 3.6 percent in 2012, but the electricity index decreased 0.5 percent and the
index for natural gas fell 2.9 percent, the fourth straight year it has declined.
The index for food rose 1.8 percent in 2012, a deceleration from its 4.7 percent increase in2011. The
index for food at home rose 1.3 percent in 2012 compared to 6.0 percent in 2011. Five of the six major
grocery store food group indexes rose in 2012, with increases ranging from 0.5 percent (dairy and
related products) to 2.0 percent (other food at home). The nonalcoholic beverages group was the only
index to decline, falling 0.2 percent. The index for food away from home rose 2.5percent in 2012 after
increasing 2.9 percent in 2011.
The index for all items less food and energy decelerated slightly in 2012, rising 1.9 percent after a 2.2
percent increase in 2011. This matches the average annual increase of 1.9 percent over the past ten
years. Several indexes decelerated in 2012. The apparel index, which rose 4.6 percent in 2011, increased
1.8 percent in 2012. The index...