Bureau of Labor Statistics
Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/ro2/ Transmission of material in Media Contact: Michael L. Dolfman,(212) 337-2500 this release is embargoed Information: Martin Kohli,(646) 264-3620 until after 8:30 A.M. (EDT) Friday, March 14, 2008
NEW YORK-NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CPI RISES 0.5 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY,
UP 3.6 PERCENT FROM YEAR AGO
Retail prices in the greater New York area, as measured by the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), rose 0.5
percent in February following a 0.2-percent increase in January.
Michael L. Dolfman, Regional Commissioner of the U. S. Department of
Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributed the February rise to
higher prices for shelter along with seasonal increases for apparel.
These increases were partially offset by declining prices for food at
home, gasoline, and recreation. For the year ended in February 2008,
the CPI-U rose 3.6 percent. Core inflation, as measured by the all
items less food and energy index, was up 1.9 percent over the year.
The housing index increased 0.7 percent in February, primarily
reflecting a 0.8-percent increase in the shelter component. The
increase in shelter follows four months of relatively little change.
For the year ended in February 2008, shelter prices rose 2.9 percent,
compared to a 5.5-percent increase for the year ended in February
2007. (See Chart A.) Within shelter, out-of-town lodging charges
rose, as they often do at this time of year. Owners' equivalent rent
and residential rent each increased by 0.3 percent. Aside from
shelter, the fuels and utilities component inched down 0.1 percent in
February due to lower prices for household energy. The household
furnishings and operations component rose 0.5 percent, partially
reflecting price increases for household paper products.
New York-Northern New Jersey CPI monthly and annual percent changes
(not seasonally adjusted)
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
Month | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann
January 0.8 3.3 0.3 2.7 0.6 4.1 0.8 3.7 0.2 2.7 0.2 3.7
February 0.8 3.3 0.6 2.5 0.4 3.9 0.2 3.6 0.6 3.1 0.5 3.6
March 0.5 3.1 1.1 3.2 1.7 4.4 0.8 2.7 0.7 2.9
April -0.2 2.6 0.3 3.7 0.0 4.2 0.9 3.6 0.5 2.5
May 0.1 2.8 0.2 3.9 -0.5 3.4 0.6 4.8 0.6 2.5
June 0.1 2.8 0.8 4.6 -0.3 2.3 0.5 5.6 0.5 2.5
July 0.4 3.0 -0.2 3.9 0.9 3.4 0.2 5.0 0.2 2.5
August 0.7 3.1 0.1 3.3 0.8 4.1 0.4 4.7 -0.1 1.9
September 0.3 3.3 0.1 3.2 0.8 4.8 -0.5 3.3 0.0 2.4
October 0.2 3.3 0.7 3.7 0.4 4.5 -0.5 2.4 0.1 3.1
November -0.3 3.1 0.0 3.9 -0.6 3.9 -0.4 2.6 0.4 3.9
December -0.1 3.2 -0.2 3.8 -0.5 3.6 0.2 3.3 0.0 3.7
The volatile apparel index jumped 4.5 percent over the month, with
the introduction of new spring lines for women's suits and separates
and women's dresses. The index also reflected higher prices for
men's shirts and sweaters and infants' and toddlers' apparel.
Despite the February advance, the index retreated 3.6 percent over
the year.
The food and beverages index inched up 0.1 percent. A 0.6-percent
advance in prices for food away from home was largely offset by a 0.5-
percent decline in grocery store prices. The drop in grocery store
prices contrasted with monthly increases that ranged from 0.3 to 1.0
percent over the past six months. Prices for alcoholic beverages
rose 0.8 percent over the month.
The transportation index was unchanged in February. Increases in
airline fares and new vehicle prices were counterbalanced by a 1.3-
percent dip in gasoline prices. Prices for leased cars and trucks
also declined. Over the year, transportation prices rose 9.4
percent, and gasoline prices climbed 35.6 percent.
Recreation prices were down 0.3 percent. Lower prices for
televisions outweighed price increases for pets and pet products.
The medical care index fell 0.4 percent over the month.
Among other expenditure categories, the education and
communication index posted its third consecutive 0.1 percent
increase. The other goods and services index edged down 0.2 percent.
With the New York-Northern New Jersey Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers at 231.020 in February (1982-84=100), $23.10 was
required to purchase what $10 could in the 1982-84 base period. The
purchasing power of the dollar was 43.3 cents in 1982-84 dollars and
15.0 cents in 1967 dollars. In February, the Consumer Price Index
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 225.281, up
0.3 percent over the month. The CPI-W rose 3.9 percent over the
year. On a 1967 base, the February CPI-W was 641.431.
Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly,
month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.
The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
consolidated area comprises the five boroughs of New York City,
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Orange
Counties in New York State; Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer,
Monmouth, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union
and Warren Counties in New Jersey; Fairfield County and parts of
Litchfield, New Haven and Middlesex Counties in Connecticut; and Pike
County in Pennsylvania.
NYLS - 7321 Labor - New York
03/13/08
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods
New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Indexes Percent change from-
Item and Group
Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Dec. Jan.
2007 2008 2008 2007 2007 2008
Expenditure category
All items........... 229.395 229.869 231.020 3.6 0.7 0.5
All items (1967=100) 663.150 664.520 667.848 - - -
Food and beverages 214.980 216.257 216.392 4.1 .7 .1
Food.............. 214.058 215.453 215.477 4.1 .7 .0
Food at home..... 212.435 214.574 213.504 3.7 .5 -.5
Food away from
home......... 221.743 222.274 223.624 4.6 .8 .6
Alcoholic
beverages..... 224.702 224.177 225.980 3.8 .6 .8
Housing............ 247.786 248.563 250.328 3.1 1.0 .7
Shelter........... 298.163 298.233 300.736 2.9 .9 .8
Rent of primary
residence 1/ 287.618 288.886 289.775 4.4 .7 .3
Owners'
equivalent
rent of
primary
residence 1/
2/.. ....... 306.658 306.943 307.776 2.9 .4 .3
Fuels and
utilities..... 192.700 198.529 198.303 11.1 2.9 -.1
Household energy 194.516 200.992 200.732 11.8 3.2 -.1
Gas (piped) and
electricity
1/.......... 185.232 191.337 191.300 7.5 3.3 .0
Electricity 1/. 164.300 172.635 172.351 12.8 4.9 -.2
Utility (piped)
gas service
1/......... 226.303 226.969 227.510 .0 .5 .2
Household
furnishings
and operations 127.440 127.203 127.781 -3.8 .3 .5
Apparel............ 107.346 104.895 109.602 -3.6 2.1 4.5
Transportation..... 196.916 196.532 196.627 8.7 -.1 .0
Private
transportation 187.630 187.682 187.105 9.4 -0.3 -0.3
Motor fuel....... 239.185 239.795 236.792 35.7 -1.0 -1.3
Gasoline (all
types)...... 238.237 238.853 235.739 35.6 -1.0 -1.3
Gasoline,
unleaded
regular 3/ 241.355 241.606 238.519 36.1 -1.2 -1.3
Gasoline,
unleaded
midgrade
3/4/... 237.900 239.142 235.959 35.6 -.8 -1.3
Gasoline,
unleaded
premium 3/ 234.366 235.776 232.596 33.5 -.8 -1.3
Medical care....... 363.978 368.031 366.619 3.5 .7 -.4
Recreation 5/...... 113.346 113.854 113.525 -.9 .2 -.3
Education and
communication
5/............ 127.393 127.531 127.671 3.6 .2 .1
Other goods and
services....... 340.127 340.952 340.327 2.2 .1 -.2
Commodity and service group
All items........... 229.395 229.869 231.020 3.6 .7 .5
Commodities........ 175.296 175.430 176.202 4.2 .5 .4
Commodities less
food and
beverages..... 147.478 147.054 148.095 4.3 .4 .7
Nondurables less
food and
beverages.... 177.513 176.863 178.595 8.4 .6 1.0
Durables......... 108.097 107.944 108.165 -2.4 .1 .2
Services........... 275.742 276.502 277.976 3.2 0.8 0.5
Special aggregate indexes
All items less
medical care.... 223.320 223.675 224.900 3.6 .7 .5
All items less
shelter......... 202.478 203.135 203.711 4.0 .6 .3
Commodities less
food............ 150.741 150.311 151.381 4.3 .4 .7
Nondurables......... 198.282 198.545 199.539 6.0 .6 .5
Nondurables less
food............ 180.633 179.987 181.729 8.0 .6 1.0
Services less rent
of shelter 2/ .. 260.397 262.046 262.256 3.7 .7 .1
Services less
medical care
services........ 268.376 269.000 270.599 3.2 .8 .6
Energy.............. 213.865 217.924 216.522 20.8 1.2 -.6
All items less
energy.......... 232.507 232.633 234.042 2.3 .7 .6
All items less food
and energy..... 237.345 237.232 238.911 1.9 .7 .7
1/This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item
stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
2/ Index is on a December 1982=100 base.
3/ Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
4/ Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
5/ Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
- Data not available.
Last Modified Date: April 16, 2008
