FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: FOR RELEASE: Cheryl Abbot, Regional Economist July 15, 2009 (972) 850-4800 http://www.bls.gov/ro6/home.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR ENERGY, FOOD AT HOME, AND SHELTER DALLAS-FORT WORTH, JUNE 2009 Energy Prices Record Sharpest Monthly Increase Since 2005 Energy prices rose 10.3 percent in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area during June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that June’s increase was the largest for the energy index since September 2005. In contrast, costs for food at home decreased 0.3 percent during the month and the shelter index slipped 0.2 percent. These data are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The 10.3-percent increase in the energy index resulted primarily from a 19.0-percent surge in gasoline prices, although a 3.3-percent rise in electricity charges also contributed. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area stood at $2.520 in June. These energy advances were partially countered by a 0.8-percent decrease in prices for utility (piped) gas service. Movements over the year were sharply different from the monthly changes as electricity prices decreased 10.4 percent and natural gas costs dropped 50.8 percent -- the largest annual decrease on record for the area since the inception of the series in 1972. When combined with a 35.8-percent annual decline in gasoline prices, total energy costs were 27.7 percent below a year ago. The index for food at home decreased 0.3 percent in June marking the sixth decline for the index in the previous 12 months. During June, lower prices were noted for a variety of foods, including ground beef, various fresh fruits, and bakery products, particularly bread. These decreases were partially offset by higher prices for fish and seafood, lettuce, beef roasts, ham, and eggs. Over-the-year, grocery prices in total decreased 0.6 percent – the first annual decline for the index since the 0.1-percent yearly decrease registered in August 2005. The food at home index (CPI-U, 1982-84=100) for Dallas-Fort Worth stood at 197.668 in June, meaning that a typical basket of grocery items priced at $100.00 in 1982-84 cost area consumers $197.67 last month. The shelter index slipped 0.2 percent in June after registering no change in May. The June decline resulted from a 0.1-percent dip in the owners' equivalent rent index (homeowners' costs) combined with a sharper decrease in charges for lodging away from home (hotels and motels). In contrast, costs for rent of a primary residence (renters' costs) rose 0.3 percent during the month. Over the year, renters' costs advanced 3.9 percent and homeowners' costs rose 2.4 percent. An annual decrease in hotel and motel charges held overall shelter costs to a 2.3-percent gain. The Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical 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 July 2009 Consumer Price Index for Dallas-Fort Worth for All Items will be released on August 14, 2009.
Last Modified Date: July 15, 2009
