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BLS 09-31 FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden of the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that a 2.1 percent decrease in gasoline prices was the primary reason for the 1.3 decline in the special aggregate index for energy in March 2009. Gasoline prices dropped 39.7 percent over the year, strongly influencing the 27.2 percent fall in overall energy prices. The household energy index increased 0.5 percent for the month and rose 1.2 percent over the year. Within household fuels, electricity prices moved up 4.0 percent for the month and advanced 11.0 percent for the year. The utility (piped) gas service index declined 10.1 percent from February to March and was 21.9 percent lower than one year ago.

Area grocery prices decreased 1.0 percent from February to March, but were 0.9 percent higher than a year ago. The food at home index now stands at 225.401. This means grocery shoppers in the greater Bay Area spent $225.40 in March for a basket of food items that cost $100.00 in 1982-84.

The shelter index was unchanged in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area in March 2009, yet was 1.9 percent higher compared to one year earlier. Within shelter, the rent of primary residence rose 0.3 percent last month and was 4.7 percent higher than in March 2008. The owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence index increased 0.2 percent over the month and advanced 3.2 percent over the year. Local area CPI data are not seasonally adjusted.

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Last Modified Date: April 15, 2009