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BLS 09-69 |
Consumer prices in the Portland-Salem metropolitan area decreased 0.2 percent from one year prior and decreased 1.0 percent in the first half of 2009 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted that the drop in transportation costs contributed to an overall decrease in the annual all items index.
The transportation index fell by 12.3 percent for the year and 9.9 percent for the past six months. Overall, gasoline prices were lower by 37.0 percent since the first half of 2008 and 31.1 percent since the second half of 2008.
Housing prices were up 2.5 percent for the year. Annual prices for fuels and utilities rose by 3.6 percent over the year and 3.1 percent over the past six months. Household furnishings and operations also saw increases of 2.1 percent for the year and 2.3 percent for the past six months.
Prices paid for food and beverages rose 5.1 percent over the course of the year. During this period, the food at home index increased 2.5 percent and the food away from home index surged 7.4 percent. Increases in the food and beverages index also occurred over the past six months, as prices advanced 1.0 percent. Food at home prices were down 1.1 percent over the past six months, while food away from home prices increased 2.7 percent. The price of alcoholic beverages rose by 4.7 percent for the year and by 2.3 percent since the second half of 2008
Medical care prices jumped 7.3 percent for the past twelve months and 5.2 percent for the past six months.
Apparel prices reported a 9.3 percent drop for the year and a 3.2 percent decrease since the second half of 2008. Yearly and semi-annual prices for recreation also fell by 1.3 and 2.3 percent, respectively.
Education and communication prices advanced 3.0 percent during the past year and 0.4 percent during the past six months. Other goods and services rose by 3.1 percent on an annual basis and 3.7 percent on a semi-annual basis.
The Portland area’s Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced to 214.102 (1982-84=100) during the first half of 2009. Therefore, a market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost $214.10 in the first six months of 2009. Local area CPI data are not seasonally adjusted.
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Last Modified Date: August 14, 2009
