December 18, 2006 (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) was unchanged in November 2006, following declines of 0.5 percent in each of the preceding two months.

[Chart data—TXT]

Energy prices, which declined sharply in September and October, fell 0.2 percent in November. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy decreased 1.5 percent while the index for energy services increased 1.2 percent. 

The food index decreased 0.1 percent in November. The index for all items less food and energy was virtually unchanged in November, following an increase of 0.1 percent in October. A 0.4-percent increase in shelter costs was partially offset by declines in the indexes for apparel and for the non-energy portion of the transportation index, particularly the indexes for new and used vehicles and for airline fares.

During the first 11 months of 2006, the CPI-U rose at a 2.2 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.4 percent for all of 2005.

For the 12 months ended in November 2006, the CPI-U rose 2.0 percent, as shown in the chart.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index: November 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-2071.