October 17, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Consumer prices up 0.3 percent in September

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3 percent in September, the same as in August.

[Chart data—TXT]

Energy costs advanced sharply for the second consecutive month—up 3.0 percent in September—reflecting a 6.3 percent increase in the index for gasoline.

The index for food rose 0.2 percent with the index for food at home up 0.3 percent. Increases in the indexes for dairy products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were partially offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, for cereal and bakery products, and for nonalcoholic beverages.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in September, the same as in August. A smaller increase in the index for shelter was offset by larger increases in the indexes for medical care and apparel.

For the 12-month period ended in September, the CPI-U increased 2.3 percent (as shown in the chart).

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program. Find out more in "Consumer Price Index: September 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 03-549.