August 17, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Decrease in consumer prices in July

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) fell 0.3 percent in July, its first monthly decline since April 2000.

Percent change from 12 months ago, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, not seasonally adjusted, July 1992-July 2001
[Chart data—TXT]

The energy index—down 5.6 percent in July—recorded its largest drop since April 1986. The index for petroleum-based energy declined 10.3 percent and the index for energy services fell 1.0 percent. The food index, which increased 0.4 percent in June, rose 0.3 percent in July. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent, following a 0.3 percent increase in June.

For the 12-month period ended in July 2001, the CPI-U increased 2.7 percent.

These data are a product of the BLS Consumer Price Index program. Find out more in Consumer Price Indexes, July 2001, news release USDL 01-262.

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