December 20, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

CPI in November

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in November 2004, following a 0.6-percent rise in October.

[Chart data—TXT]

Energy costs, which advanced 4.2 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. Within energy, the index for household fuels rose 2.5 percent, while the index for motor fuels decreased 1.8 percent.

The index for food, which rose 0.6 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.2 percent in November, the same as in October.

During the first 11 months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 3.7-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003.

For the 12-month period ended in November, the CPI-U rose 3.5 percent, as shown in the chart.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program. For more information, see "Consumer Price Index: November 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-2518.