FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:                                                                  FOR RELEASE:
Cheryl Abbot, Regional Economist                                                          April 15, 2009
(972) 850-4800 
http://www.bls.gov/ro6/home.htm



                                  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR DALLAS-FORT WORTH
                                                  MARCH 2009

                             Area Prices Register First Increase Since Summer 2008


     Prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area rose 0.7 percent during February and March, the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman 
noted that this was the first two-month increase since June and July 2008.  The latest advance was primarily 
the result of higher transportation costs, although increased apparel and tobacco prices were also large 
contributors.  During the year ended in March 2009, total prices rose 0.7 percent.  These data are based on 
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).


                             2-Month and 12-Month Percent Change Ended March 2009 
                                 CPI-U by Major Category for Dallas-Fort Worth
          


     The transportation index registered its first increase since June and July 2008, rising 3.1 percent in 
February and March.  The biggest factor in the increase was higher gasoline costs which advanced 11.1 percent 
during the period.  The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the Dallas-Fort Worth area stood at $1.849 in 
March.  Higher prices for motor vehicle repair also contributed to the bimonthly gain, while declines were 
registered in used car prices and airline fares.  Despite the recent rise in gasoline costs, prices were 41.6 
percent below a year ago and were the primary cause of the 12.6-percent annual decline in total transportation 
costs.

     Apparel prices increased 7.0 percent in February and March, the biggest two-month increase since August 
and September 2007.  Sharp price advances often occur at this time of year as new spring and summer lines are 
introduced.  Higher prices were noted for many clothing items including women's suits and separates, girls' 
apparel, boys' apparel, men's shirts and sweaters, and footwear.  During the 12 months ended in March 2009 the 
apparel index rose 4.4 percent.

     The cost of other goods and services increased 3.4 percent in February and March, the sharpest rise since 
the two months ended in January 2007.  The current increase was largely the result of sharply higher prices for 
cigarettes, although increases were also noted for personal care services.  During the last 12 months, the cost 
of other goods and services advanced 6.2 percent, the fastest annual rate of gain among the major categories.

     The indexes for both medical care and recreation rose 0.8 percent in February and March.  Higher prices 
for prescription drugs and dental care were factors in the medical care advance while increases for sporting 
goods led the recreation advance.  Over the year the cost of medical care was up 3.4 percent and recreation 
costs rose 3.6 percent.

     Offsetting some of the other bimonthly increases, the housing index registered a 0.6-percent decline in 
February and March as a result of lower costs for household energy.  Charges for utility (piped) gas service 
dropped 28.0 percent during the period and electricity prices fell 3.5 percent.  The cost of household 
furnishings and operations rose 1.8 percent while the shelter index was unchanged during the two-month period.  
During the last 12 months, total housing costs rose 3.6 percent led by a 4.2-percent increase in shelter costs.

     Price movements were minimal in the two remaining categories in February and March.  The education and 
communication index slipped 0.1 percent, due in part to lower prices for long distance land-line telephone 
services, while food and beverages costs edged up 0.1 percent.  Higher charges for alcoholic beverages and food 
away from home (restaurant meals) were nearly balanced by a 0.6-percent decline in prices for food at home 
(grocery items).  On an annual basis, the food and beverages index increased 4.9 percent and costs for 
education and communication rose 1.7 percent.

     The CPI-U for the Dallas-Fort Worth area stood at 200.039 on the 1982-84=100 reference base, meaning that 
a market basket of goods and services which averaged $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost local consumers $200.04 
in March 2009.

     The Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Area (CMSA) includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, 
Henderson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant Counties.  Local area CPI indexes are 
by-products of the national CPI program.  Because each local area index is a small subset of the national 
index, the sample size is smaller and therefore subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement 
error than the national index.  In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences.  As a 
result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are 
quite similar.


Next Release Date:  The Dallas-Fort Worth April CPI for Energy, Food At Home, and Shelter will be released on 
May 15, 2009.

Last Modified Date: April 15, 2009