Internet Address: www.bls.gov/ro2/home.htm FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Media Contact: Michael L. Dolfman,(212) 337-2500 Information: Martin Kohli,(646) 264-3620
NORTHEAST REGION CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2009
Smallest Ever Over-the-Year Increase
Retail prices in the Northeast region, as measured by the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), increased 0.2 percent in
March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today. Michael L. Dolfman, the Bureau's regional
commissioner, noted that higher prices for housing, other goods and
services, and apparel were partially offset by lower prices for food
and beverages; the four remaining major categories had little or no
change over the month. (See chart A.) The March level of 227.309
(1982-84 = 100) was 0.2 percent higher than in March 2008-the smallest
12-month increase since the inception of the index in December 1966.
Over the same period, the core inflation rate, as measured by the all
items less food and energy index, rose 2.1 percent. (See table 1.)
The housing index rose 0.2 percent since February, due entirely to
a 0.6-percent increase in shelter prices. The shelter index, which
includes rent of primary residence, lodging away from home, owners'
equivalent rent of primary residence, and tenants' and household
insurance, rose 1.6 percent over the year. Prices for fuels and
utilities decreased 1.2 percent over the month, as lower utility
(piped) gas service prices more than offset higher electricity prices.
Utility gas service prices decreased for the fourth straight month,
down 9.2 percent since November and 2.9 percent since February.
Despite the recent declines, utility gas service prices were 0.2
percent higher than last March. Electricity prices were 0.2 percent
higher over the month and 6.7 percent higher over the year. The fuels
and utilities index fell 3.0 percent over the year-the largest 12-month
decrease since September 2002. The household furnishings and
operations index declined 0.4 percent in March but was 0.8 percent
higher from its year-ago level. The overall housing index rose 0.9
percent over the last 12 months.
The other goods and services index (which includes tobacco and
smoking products, personal care products, personal care services, and
miscellaneous personal services such as legal, funeral, and laundry and
dry cleaning services) rose 3.0 percent in March-the largest one-month
gain since December 1998. Over the year, the other goods and services
index advanced 7.1 percent.
Following a 5.4-percent increase in February, apparel prices rose
2.5 percent in March. The recent one-month advance was lower than the
3.9-percent average seasonal increase in March for the previous five
years. Over the year, apparel prices rose 3.0 percent.
Following a 0.1-percent decrease in February, the education and
communication index inched up 0.1 percent in March to a level 4.4
percent higher than last year.
Medical care prices were unchanged over the month as lower prices
for medical care commodities were offset by higher prices for medical
care services. Following four months of increases totaling 2.2
percent, medical care commodities prices were down 0.6 percent in
March. Over the year, medical care commodities prices were 1.9 percent
higher. Medical care services prices edged up 0.2 percent over the
month and were 2.7 percent higher than last year. The medical care
index rose 2.5 percent over the last 12 months.
The remaining indexes had lower prices in March. Food and
beverages prices were down 0.3 percent in March dominated by a 0.7-
percent decrease in food at home prices. Despite the recent decline,
food at home prices were 4.3 percent higher over the year. Prices for
alcoholic beverages were 0.4 percent lower since February but were 3.2
percent higher since last year. Prices for food away from home inched
up 0.1 percent since February and were 4.4 percent higher since March
2008. The overall food and beverages index increased 4.3 percent from
its year-ago level.
Transportation prices declined 0.1 percent over the month as lower
prices for new and used motor vehicles, particularly used cars and
trucks, were nearly offset by higher gasoline prices. Used cars and
trucks prices declined for the eighth straight month, down 10.2 percent
since July and 1.4 percent since last month. Over the year, prices for
used cars and trucks were down 11.1 percent. Following a 9.0-percent
jump in February, gasoline prices increased 1.0 percent in March.
Despite the recent increases, gasoline prices were 38.2 percent lower
than 12 months ago. The overall transportation index declined 11.2
percent over the year.
The recreation index inched down 0.1 percent since February and
was 2.5 percent higher than a year ago.
Following a 2.0-percent rise in February, the energy index, which
reflects prices for gasoline and household fuels, fell 0.6 percent in
March. The recent decline was dominated by lower utility gas service
prices (-2.9 percent). Moderating the decrease in the overall energy
index were higher prices for gasoline (1.0 percent) and electricity
(0.2 percent). Over the year, energy prices were down 20.6 percent-the
largest 12-month decline since December 1986.
The Northeast region is comprised of Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
NYLS -7374 Labor - New York
4/15/09
The relative importance of a component of the CPI is its
expenditure or value weight expressed as a percentage of all
items within an area. Relative importance ratios show
approximately how the index population distributes expenditures
when the value weights are collected and represent an estimate of
how consumers would distribute their expenditures as prices
change over time. Relative importance ratios cannot be used as
estimates of current spending patterns or as indicators of
changing consumer expenditures in the intervals between weight
revisions because consumption patterns are influenced by
factors-including income, variations in climate, family size, and
availability of new and different kinds of goods and
services-other than price change. (See table A.)
Table A (2005-2006 Weights). Relative importance of components
in the Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region, December 2008
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Item and group CPI-U
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Expenditure category
All items............................................ 100.000
Food and beverages.................................. 15.794
Food............................................... 14.702
Food at home...................................... 8.174
Food away from home............................... 6.528
Alcoholic beverages............................... 1.093
Housing............................................. 44.880
Shelter............................................ 35.109
Rent of primary residence......................... 6.747
Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence...... 24.949
Fuels and utilities................................ 5.834
Household energy.................................. 5.137
Gas (piped) and electricity...................... 4.262
Electricity..................................... 2.758
Utility (piped) gas service..................... 1.504
Household furnishings and operations............... 3.937
Apparel............................................. 3.712
Transportation...................................... 14.128
Private transportation............................. 12.779
New and used vehicles............................. 6.150
New vehicles..................................... 3.963
Used cars and trucks............................. 1.205
Motor fuel......................................... 2.756
Gasoline (all types).............................. 2.624
Medical care........................................ 5.885
Medical care commodities........................... 1.498
Medical care services.............................. 4.387
Professional care services........................ 2.561
Recreation.......................................... 5.505
Education and communication......................... 6.700
Other goods and services............................ 3.395
Commodity and service group
Commodities......................................... 37.438
Commodities less food and beverages................ 21.644
Nondurables less food and beverages............... 12.954
Durables.......................................... 8.690
Services............................................ 62.562
Special aggregate indexes
All items less medical care......................... 94.115
All items less shelter.............................. 64.891
Commodities less food............................... 22.736
Nondurables......................................... 28.748
Nondurables less food............................... 14.046
Services less rent of shelter....................... 27.734
Services less medical care services................. 58.175
Energy.............................................. 7.893
All items less energy............................... 92.107
All items less food and energy..................... 77.405
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Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods
Northeast (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Indexes Percent change from-
Item and Group
Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Jan. Feb.
2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009
Expenditure category
All items.................................... 225.436 226.754 227.309 0.2 0.8 0.2
All items (December 1977=100) ............... 354.993 357.068 357.943 - - -
Food and beverages.......................... 224.635 224.135 223.369 4.3 -.6 -.3
Food....................................... 224.347 223.792 223.030 4.4 -.6 -.3
Food at home.............................. 225.544 223.870 222.341 4.3 -1.4 -.7
Food away from home....................... 225.957 226.805 226.997 4.4 .5 .1
Alcoholic beverages........................ 227.236 227.482 226.674 3.2 -.2 -.4
Housing..................................... 241.470 242.192 242.790 .9 .5 .2
Shelter.................................... 286.241 287.816 289.419 1.6 1.1 .6
Rent of primary residence 1/.............. 280.655 281.059 282.177 4.1 .5 .4
Owners' equivalent rent of primary
residence 1/ 2/ ...................... 297.258 298.020 299.165 2.4 .6 .4
Fuels and utilities........................ 219.799 217.454 214.764 -3.0 -2.3 -1.2
Household energy.......................... 205.871 203.047 200.153 -4.3 -2.8 -1.4
Gas (piped) and electricity 1/........... 214.030 211.253 209.525 4.5 -2.1 -.8
Electricity 1/.......................... 192.769 191.306 191.754 6.7 -.5 .2
Utility (piped) gas service 1/.......... 252.562 246.651 239.528 .2 -5.2 -2.9
Household furnishings and operations....... 129.562 129.640 129.155 .8 -.3 -.4
Apparel..................................... 113.182 119.300 122.298 3.0 8.1 2.5
Transportation.............................. 167.860 170.713 170.563 -11.2 1.6 -.1
Private transportation..................... 161.141 164.479 164.358 -11.7 2.0 -.1
New and used motor vehicles 3/............ 92.394 92.792 92.407 -.5 .0 -.4
New vehicles............................. 132.874 133.606 133.613 -.7 .6 .0
New cars and trucks 3/ 4/............... 92.065 92.581 92.584 -.8 .6 .0
New cars 4/............................. 132.008 132.234 132.230 -.5 .2 .0
Used cars and trucks..................... 130.200 128.260 126.522 -11.1 -2.8 -1.4
Motor fuel................................ 150.517 162.892 164.039 -38.3 9.0 .7
Gasoline (all types)..................... 147.842 161.170 162.810 -38.2 10.1 1.0
Gasoline, unleaded regular 4/........... 146.614 160.444 162.143 -39.0 10.6 1.1
Gasoline, unleaded midgrade 4/ 5/....... 153.995 167.095 168.526 -36.8 9.4 .9
Gasoline, unleaded premium 4/........... 149.944 161.190 162.710 -35.6 8.5 .9
Medical care................................ 393.464 395.126 395.059 2.5 .4 .0
Medical care commodities................... 322.969 325.899 324.067 1.9 .3 -.6
Medical care services...................... 412.216 413.277 413.980 2.7 .4 .2
Professional services..................... 321.954 321.836 321.854 2.3 .0 .0
Recreation 3/............................... 116.976 117.482 117.408 2.5 0.4 -0.1
Education and communication 3/.............. 130.356 130.210 130.347 4.4 .0 .1
Other goods and services.................... 374.995 375.980 387.325 7.1 3.3 3.0
Commodity and service group
All items.................................... 225.436 226.754 227.309 .2 .8 .2
Commodities................................. 169.361 171.192 171.538 -3.5 1.3 .2
Commodities less food and beverages........ 138.384 141.210 142.048 -8.4 2.6 .6
Nondurables less food and beverages....... 163.769 169.398 171.383 -11.7 4.6 1.2
Nondurables less food, beverages, and
apparel.............................. 204.118 209.546 210.862 -16.6 3.3 .6
Durables.................................. 107.671 107.654 107.342 -2.6 -.3 -.3
Services.................................... 280.383 281.194 281.955 2.5 .6 .3
Rent of shelter 2/ ........................ 299.416 301.072 302.760 1.6 1.1 .6
Transportation services.................... 236.822 237.263 236.479 3.4 -.1 -.3
Other services............................. 322.163 322.503 322.942 3.6 .2 .1
Special aggregate indexes
All items less medical care.................. 217.938 219.234 219.807 .0 .9 .3
All items less food.......................... 225.928 227.574 228.359 -.5 1.1 .3
All items less shelter....................... 204.787 206.022 206.178 -.6 .7 .1
Commodities less food........................ 141.620 144.379 145.171 -7.9 2.5 .5
Nondurables.................................. 193.918 196.661 197.347 -3.7 1.8 .3
Nondurables less food........................ 167.350 172.664 174.487 -10.8 4.3 1.1
Nondurables less food and apparel............ 204.603 209.489 210.590 -15.0 2.9 .5
Services less rent of shelter 2/. ........... 284.050 283.929 283.657 3.6 -.1 -.1
Services less medical care services.......... 270.838 271.628 272.384 2.5 .6 .3
Energy....................................... 182.447 186.018 184.825 -20.6 1.3 -.6
All items less energy........................ 232.149 233.236 233.985 2.5 .8 .3
All items less food and energy.............. 234.949 236.368 237.422 2.1 1.1 .4
Commodities less food and energy
commodities............................ 141.835 143.560 144.624 1.4 2.0 .7
Energy commodities......................... 166.892 176.705 175.924 -37.4 5.4 -.4
Services less energy services.............. 287.005 288.168 289.173 2.4 .8 .3
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/ Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
4/ Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
5/ Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
- Data not available.
Last Modified Date: April 16, 2009
