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) Friday, August 14, 2009
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, NEW YORK-NORTHERN NEW JERSEY: JULY 2009 Area prices edge up 0.2 percent in July; down 1.1 percent over the year-largest drop since 1955 Retail prices in the greater New York area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), increased 0.2 percent in July, after rising 0.5 percent in June. Michael L. Dolfman, Regional Commissioner of the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributed the July rise to higher prices for housing and transportation. An increase in education and communication also contributed to the rise. These increases were partially offset by lower prices for food and apparel. For the 12 months ended in July 2009, the CPI-U decreased 1.1 percent, primarily due to falling energy prices. (See chart A.) The over-the-year decline for all items was the largest since 1955. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent. The housing index advanced 0.5 percent in July, the largest increase recorded since last July. The shelter component turned up 0.4 percent, after inching down 0.1 percent in both May and June. A seasonal increase in out-of-town lodging charges contributed to the upturn. Owners' equivalent rent rose 0.3 percent, and residential rent was unchanged for the second consecutive month. Among fuels and utilities, electricity charges rose 1.2 percent, and natural gas prices turned up 2.8 percent, following six successive declines. Over the year, natural gas prices fell 19 percent, the largest decline recorded in 37 years. In addition to that drop, a large decline in fuel oil charges also contributed to a 0.3-percent decrease in the housing index, the first 12-month decline since its 1977 series start. 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 0.2 0.8 April 0.3 3.7 0.0 4.2 0.9 3.6 0.5 2.5 0.3 3.6 0.2 0.8 May 0.2 3.9 -0.5 3.4 0.6 4.8 0.6 2.5 1.0 4.0 0.2 -0.1 June 0.8 4.6 -0.3 2.3 0.5 5.6 0.5 2.5 1.0 4.5 0.5 -0.6 July -0.2 3.9 0.9 3.4 0.2 5.0 0.2 2.5 0.7 5.1 0.2 -1.1 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 Transportation prices rose 0.6 percent over the month, with higher fares for intracity transportation (including buses and subways) and for airline flights. Car and truck rental charges also increased. In contrast, gasoline prices declined 0.7 percent, after five consecutive monthly increases. For the year ended in July, transportation prices were down 10.8 percent; gasoline prices were down 35.7 percent. The education and communication index rose 0.6 percent, after edging down 0.2 percent in June. Local and long distance telephone charges, as well as delivery services, contributed to the increase. The apparel index, often down in July with seasonal sales, fell 3.6 percent. Price reductions were reported for women's apparel, including suits and separates, outerwear, and dresses, along with boys' and girls' apparel. Since July 2008, however, apparel prices rose 0.4 percent. Food and beverage prices fell 0.4 percent. The food-at-home component dropped for the sixth consecutive month (0.8 percent), and away-from-home food inched down 0.1 percent. Groceries with lower July prices included carbonated drinks, pork chops, and other pork, including roasts and picnics. On the other hand, alcoholic beverages edged up 0.2 percent over the month. Over the year, food and beverage prices were up 1.6 percent. Among other expenditure categories, the recreation index edged up 0.2 percent, with higher-priced items including audio discs, tapes, and other media. Medical care and other goods and services were little changed over the month. With the New York-Northern New Jersey CPI-U at 237.600 in July (1982-84=100), $23.76 was required to purchase what $10 could in the 1982-84 base period. The purchasing power of the dollar was 42.1 cents in 1982-84 dollars and 14.6 cents in 1967 dollars. In July, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 232.177, up 0.1 percent. The CPI-W fell 1.4 percent over the year. On a 1967 base, the July CPI-W was 661.065. 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, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-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 - 7391 Labor - New York 08/12/09 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 May June July July May June 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 Expenditure category All items................................ 235.975 237.172 237.600 -1.1 0.7 0.2 All items (1967=100)..................... 682.171 685.631 686.869 - - - Food and beverages..................... 227.592 227.801 226.852 1.6 -.3 -.4 Food................................... 226.791 226.990 225.951 1.5 -.4 -.5 Food at home.......................... 225.640 225.508 223.722 .2 -.9 -.8 Food away from home................... 234.244 234.850 234.689 3.1 .2 -.1 Alcoholic beverages.................... 235.253 235.594 236.022 2.5 .3 .2 Housing................................. 256.573 257.537 258.912 -.3 .9 .5 Shelter................................ 311.898 311.507 312.820 1.8 .3 .4 Rent of primary residence 1/.......... 308.207 308.199 308.110 3.6 .0 .0 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence 1/ 2/ .................. 320.917 320.054 320.895 2.4 .0 .3 Fuels and utilities.................... 189.738 200.556 204.170 -13.7 7.6 1.8 Household energy...................... 189.769 201.806 205.178 -15.4 8.1 1.7 Gas (piped) and electricity 1/....... 188.011 201.922 205.305 -8.3 9.2 1.7 Electricity 1/...................... 178.303 198.293 200.612 -2.6 12.5 1.2 Utility (piped) gas service 1/...... 202.854 202.047 207.766 -19.0 2.4 2.8 Household furnishings and operations... 126.125 124.874 124.909 -2.2 -1.0 .0 Apparel................................. 114.625 110.931 106.906 .4 -6.7 -3.6 Transportation.......................... 187.017 193.317 194.565 -10.8 4.0 .6 Private transportation................. 177.567 183.941 184.060 -11.7 3.7 0.1 Motor fuel............................ 177.544 206.065 204.565 -35.9 15.2 -.7 Gasoline (all types)................. 177.011 205.660 204.143 -35.7 15.3 -.7 Gasoline, unleaded regular 3/........ 178.411 207.992 205.783 -36.4 15.3 -1.1 Gasoline, unleaded midgrade 3/ 4/.... 178.114 205.809 206.605 -34.2 16.0 .4 Gasoline, unleaded premium 3/....... 176.508 202.158 201.522 -34.6 14.2 -.3 Medical care............................ 369.782 370.231 369.953 .1 .0 -.1 Recreation 5/........................... 117.106 117.369 117.590 1.9 .4 .2 Education and communication 5/.......... 133.760 133.559 134.311 3.5 .4 .6 Other goods and services................ 360.425 360.942 361.314 2.4 .2 .1 Commodity and service group All items................................ 235.975 237.172 237.600 -1.1 .7 .2 Commodities............................. 175.320 176.476 175.333 -5.8 .0 -.6 Commodities less food and beverages... 141.418 142.976 141.795 -10.9 .3 -.8 Nondurables less food and beverages... 168.614 172.919 170.812 -14.6 1.3 -1.2 Durables.............................. 105.470 103.864 103.773 -2.9 -1.6 -.1 Services................................ 287.824 289.061 290.802 1.4 1.0 0.6 Special aggregate indexes All items less medical care.............. 229.875 231.087 231.535 -1.2 .7 .2 All items less shelter................... 206.023 207.930 207.978 -3.0 .9 .0 Commodities less food.................... 145.129 146.661 145.520 -10.3 .3 -.8 Nondurables.............................. 199.560 201.968 200.383 -6.5 .4 -.8 Nondurables less food.................... 172.734 176.844 174.864 -13.6 1.2 -1.1 Services less rent of shelter 2/......... 270.897 274.306 276.673 .9 2.1 .9 Services less medical care services...... 280.371 281.658 283.420 1.5 1.1 .6 Energy................................... 185.418 204.363 205.720 -25.3 10.9 .7 All items less energy.................... 242.560 242.028 242.369 1.6 -.1 .1 All items less food and energy.......... 246.949 246.276 246.879 1.6 .0 .2 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: August 14, 2009