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BLS 09-15 FOR RELEASE: Friday, February 20, 2009

Consumer prices in the Anchorage metropolitan area advanced 4.5 percent from one year prior and 2.0 percent in the second half of 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden said higher housing and transportation prices contributed strongly to the all items index increase. Additionally, the all items less food and energy special aggregate index increased 3.2 percent in 2008 and the special energy aggregate index was up 17.3 percent over the past year. Local Consumer Price Index data are not seasonally adjusted.

Transportation prices increased 10.7 percent during the past year and 4.6 percent since the first half of 2008. Annual gasoline prices soared 26.6 percent over the past year. In the past six months, gasoline prices increased 8.0 percent.

The housing index rose 2.9 percent for the year and 1.7 percent for the past six months. Prices for the shelter component of housing advanced 2.8 percent and the fuels and utilities component rose 2.1 percent for the year. During the past six months, costs for shelter increased 1.4 percent and costs for fuels and utilities increased 2.3 percent. Within fuels and utilities index, (utility) piped gas service prices declined 2.0 percent for the year and 0.2 percent for the past six months. Electricity prices increased 6.7 percent for the year and 8.0 percent for the past six months.

Prices paid for food and beverages rose 3.8 percent since last year. During this period, the food at home index advanced 5.7 percent and the food away from home index increased 1.7 percent. For the past six months, the overall food and beverages index rose 1.7 percent. Food at home prices were up 3.2 percent over the past six months and food away from home increased 0.7 percent. Alcoholic beverages prices edged up 0.1 percent since the second half of 2007, but inched down 0.1 percent since the first half of 2008.

Over the year, medical care prices rose 2.9 percent. Between the first half and second half of 2008, prices for medical care crept down 0.1 percent.

Over the year, apparel prices increased 1.5 percent, but decreased over the past six months by 3.7 percent. Prices for recreation increased 2.2 percent since the second half of 2007 and 1.0 percent since the first half of 2008.

Education and communication prices advanced 1.6 during the past year and 1.5 percent during the past six months. Other goods and services rose 7.9 percent on an annual basis and 3.2 percent since six months ago.

The Anchorage area's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced to 191.335 (1982-84=100) during the second half of 2008. This means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost $191.34 during the last six months of 2008.

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Last Modified Date: February 20, 2009