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BLS 09-14 FOR RELEASE: Friday, February 20, 2009

Consumer prices in the Honolulu metropolitan area advanced 3.6 percent from one year prior and 1.3 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 food and beverages prices contributed strongly to the all items index annual increase. In addition, the energy special aggregate index, composed of household energy and motor fuel, jumped 22.3 percent for the year. Local Consumer Price Index data are not seasonally adjusted.

The housing index rose 3.1 percent for the year and 1.6 percent for the past six months. Prices for the shelter component of housing advanced 1.0 percent and the fuels and utilities component soared 29.5 percent for the year. During the past six months costs for shelter increased 0.4 percent and costs for fuels and utilities advanced 13.1 percent. Within fuels and utilities index, (utility) piped gas service prices jumped 22.0 percent for the year and 3.7 percent for the past six months. Electricity prices soared 36.7 percent for the year and 14.0 percent for the past six months.

Prices paid for food and beverages rose 6.7 percent since last year. During this period, the food at home index advanced 10.3 percent and the food away from home index increased 4.5 percent. For the past six months, the overall food and beverages index rose 4.0 percent. Food at home prices were up 5.3 percent over the past six months, and food away from home prices increased 3.7 percent. Alcoholic beverages prices advanced 2.2 percent since the second half of 2007, but declined 1.1 percent since the first half of 2008.

Transportation prices increased 3.3 percent during the past year, but decreased 1.4 percent since the first half of 2008. Gasoline prices rose 11.9 percent over the past year. In the past six months, gasoline prices decreased 2.8 percent.

Over the year, medical care prices rose 3.0 percent. Between the first half and second half of 2008, prices for medical care advanced 0.4 percent.

Apparel prices decreased 1.0 percent for the year ending 2008 and 1.2 percent over the past six months. Prices for recreation increased 1.8 percent since the second half of 2007, but decreased 0.6 percent since the first half of 2008.

Education and communication prices advanced 3.5 percent for both the most recent 12-month and 6-month periods. Other goods and services rose 5.2 percent on an annual basis and 2.3 percent since six months ago.

The Honolulu area's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced to 230.387 (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 $230.39 during the last six months of 2008. Local area CPI data are not seasonally adjusted.

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Last Modified Date: February 20, 2009