Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/ro2/home.htm Transmission of material in Media Contact: Michael L. Dolfman,(212) 337-2500 this release is embargoed Information: Martin Kohli,(646) 264-3620 until after 8:30 A.M. (ET) Wednesday, March 18, 2009 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, NEW YORK-NORTHERN NEW JERSEY: FEBRUARY 2009 Area prices post 0.5-percent increase, largest in seven months Retail prices in the greater New York area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.5 percent in February. Michael L. Dolfman, Regional Commissioner of the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, said that the February index largely reflected a seasonal price rise in apparel along with higher prices for transportation and shelter. These increases were partially offset by lower prices for household energy. Dolfman pointed out that the index for all items rose only two times during the previous six months, and both increases were less than 0.3 percent. For the year ended in February 2009, the CPI-U rose 1.6 percent, and the index for all items less food and energy rose 2.8 percent. The apparel index jumped 6.7 percent in February, after three months of declines. With the introduction of spring lines, higher prices were reported for women's footwear, men's furnishings, and girls' apparel. Over the year, apparel prices rose 3.7 percent. The transportation index increased 1.7 percent, following six monthly declines. (See chart A.) The upturn was driven by a turnaround in gasoline prices, which rose 7.5 percent over the month after declining 1.5 percent in January and 19.7 percent in December. Prices also increased for motor vehicle insurance along with car and truck rental. Despite these increases, transportation prices were 8.5 percent lower than they were 12 months ago; gasoline prices were 36.4 percent lower.New York-Northern New Jersey CPI monthly and annual percent changes (not seasonally adjusted) | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Month | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann | Mo | Ann January 0.3 2.7 0.6 4.1 0.8 3.7 0.2 2.7 0.2 3.7 0.2 1.5 February 0.6 2.5 0.4 3.9 0.2 3.6 0.6 3.1 0.5 3.6 0.5 1.6 March 1.1 3.2 1.7 4.4 0.8 2.7 0.7 2.9 0.9 3.8 April 0.3 3.7 0.0 4.2 0.9 3.6 0.5 2.5 0.3 3.6 May 0.2 3.9 -0.5 3.4 0.6 4.8 0.6 2.5 1.0 4.0 June 0.8 4.6 -0.3 2.3 0.5 5.6 0.5 2.5 1.0 4.5 July -0.2 3.9 0.9 3.4 0.2 5.0 0.2 2.5 0.7 5.1 August 0.1 3.3 0.8 4.1 0.4 4.7 -0.1 1.9 0.1 5.4 September 0.1 3.2 0.8 4.8 -0.5 3.3 0.0 2.4 -0.2 5.2 October 0.7 3.7 0.4 4.5 -0.5 2.4 0.1 3.1 -0.7 4.3 November 0.0 3.9 -0.6 3.9 -0.4 2.6 0.4 3.9 -1.6 2.2 December -0.2 3.8 -0.5 3.6 0.2 3.3 0.0 3.7 -0.6 1.6 The housing index inched up 0.1 percent in February. A 0.4- percent increase in the shelter component was largely offset by declines in fuels and utilities and household furnishings. Owners' equivalent rent and residential rent each edged up 0.2 percent. Out- of-town lodging, often up at this time of year, also increased. On the other hand, lower charges for electricity (-2.8 percent), natural gas (-1.8 percent), and heating oil contributed to a decline in household energy. Over the year, shelter advanced 3.1 percent. In contrast, the 12-month price change for household energy turned negative (-0.4 percent) in February. Among other expenditure categories, the recreation index advanced 1.1 percent in February, while the medical care index rose 0.5 percent. The index for food and beverages inched down 0.1 percent during the month, the first decline since March 2007; a 0.4-percent increase in prices for food away from home was offset by a 0.5- percent decline in grocery prices, which included lower prices for milk. Prices for education and communication, as well as other goods and services, turned down in February after inching up in January. With the New York-Northern New Jersey Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers at 234.663 in February (1982-84=100), $23.47 was required to purchase what $10 could in the 1982-84 base period. The purchasing power of the dollar was 42.6 cents in 1982-84 dollars and 14.7 cents in 1967 dollars. In February, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 228.653, up 0.5 percent. The CPI-W rose 1.5 percent over the year. On a 1967 base, the February CPI-W was 651.031. Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences. The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA consolidated area comprises the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Orange Counties in New York State; Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren Counties in New Jersey; Fairfield County and parts of Litchfield, New Haven and Middlesex Counties in Connecticut; and Pike County in Pennsylvania. NYLS - 7369 Labor - New York 03/16/09 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA 1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change from- Item and Group Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Dec. Jan. 2008 2009 2009 2008 2008 2009 Expenditure category All items............................... 233.012 233.402 234.663 1.6 0.7 0.5 All items (1967=100)..................... 673.604 674.732 678.378 - - - Food and beverages.................... 228.213 229.014 228.886 5.8 .3 -.1 Food.................................. 227.406 228.324 228.195 5.9 .3 -.1 Food at home......................... 228.416 230.193 229.149 7.3 .3 -.5 Food away from home.................. 232.258 232.160 233.136 4.3 .4 .4 Alcoholic beverages................... 235.943 234.968 234.853 3.9 -.5 .0 Housing................................ 255.615 256.339 256.561 2.5 .4 .1 Shelter............................... 307.530 308.572 309.934 3.1 .8 .4 Rent of primary residence 1/......... 303.511 304.403 305.125 5.3 .5 .2 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence 1/ 2/.................. 317.595 317.430 317.982 3.3 .1 .2 Fuels and utilities................... 203.310 203.015 198.649 .2 -2.3 -2.2 Household energy..................... 204.909 204.783 199.904 -.4 -2.4 -2.4 Gas (piped) and electricity 1/...... 202.702 203.564 198.661 3.8 -2.0 -2.4 Electricity 1/..................... 176.269 181.843 176.791 2.6 .3 -2.8 Utility (piped) gas service 1/..... 255.854 245.716 241.363 6.1 -5.7 -1.8 Household furnishings and operations.. 127.748 128.092 127.193 -.5 -.4 -.7 Apparel................................ 108.045 106.555 113.702 3.7 5.2 6.7 Transportation......................... 177.308 176.963 179.901 -8.5 1.5 1.7 Private transportation................ 165.547 165.557 169.432 -9.4 2.3 2.3 Motor fuel........................... 143.045 140.776 150.888 -36.3 5.5 7.2 Gasoline (all types)................ 141.564 139.408 149.827 -36.4 5.8 7.5 Gasoline, unleaded regular 3/...... 139.517 138.879 149.887 -37.2 7.4 7.9 Gasoline, unleaded midgrade 3/ 4/.. 149.579 143.356 153.060 -35.1 2.3 6.8 Gasoline, unleaded premium 3/...... 148.179 143.160 152.194 -34.6 2.7 6.3 Medical care........................... 367.657 369.972 371.722 1.4 1.1 .5 Recreation 5/.......................... 115.148 115.503 116.724 2.8 1.4 1.1 Education and communication 5/......... 133.955 134.102 133.444 4.5 -.4 -.5 Other goods and services............... 349.842 350.251 349.370 2.7 -.1 -.3 Commodity and service group All items............................... 233.012 233.402 234.663 1.6 .7 .5 Commodities............................ 170.806 170.585 172.916 -1.9 1.2 1.4 Commodities less food and beverages... 134.645 133.942 137.346 -7.3 2.0 2.5 Nondurables less food and beverages.. 157.964 156.339 162.281 -9.1 2.7 3.8 Durables............................. 103.331 103.698 104.105 -3.8 .7 .4 Services............................... 286.137 287.039 287.415 3.4 0.4 0.1 Special aggregate indexes All items less medical care............. 226.907 227.232 228.468 1.6 .7 .5 All items less shelter.................. 203.633 203.744 204.978 .6 .7 .6 Commodities less food................... 138.530 137.815 141.138 -6.8 1.9 2.4 Nondurables............................. 194.149 193.661 196.785 -1.4 1.4 1.6 Nondurables less food................... 162.649 161.052 166.694 -8.3 2.5 3.5 Services less rent of shelter 2/........ 272.531 273.285 272.414 3.9 .0 -.3 Services less medical care services..... 278.870 279.668 280.034 3.5 .4 .1 Energy.................................. 179.954 178.936 180.278 -16.7 .2 .7 All items less energy................... 239.821 240.351 241.613 3.2 .7 .5 All items less food and energy......... 243.559 244.019 245.552 2.8 .8 .6 1/ This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 2/ Index is on a December 1982=100 base. 3/ Special index based on a substantially smaller sample. 4/ Indexes on a December 1993=100 base. 5/ Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. - Data not available.
Last Modified Date: April 15, 2009
