FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: |
FOR RELEASE: |
WEST REGION CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) - AUGUST 2008 The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the August 2008 All Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the West decreased 0.5 percent compared to July. During the past 12 months, the overall index increased 4.9 percent. Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that the annual increase was primarily due to higher transportation prices. The special all items less food and energy index rose by 0.2 percent in August, but the energy index decreased 6.1 percent. On an annual basis, these indexes rose by 2.5 percent and 28.0 percent, respectively. Regional CPI area data are not seasonally adjusted. The transportation index, which comprises approximately 19 percent of the all items index, declined 2.8 percent in August. For the year ending August 2008, transportation prices jumped 12.4 percent. Gasoline prices decreased 7.8 percent for the month, but increased 40.4 percent since August 2007. Additionally, new cars and trucks prices were down 0.4 percent in August and were 1.2 percent lower than a year ago. The housing index was unchanged for August, but rose 3.0 percent since August 2007. The index for shelter, the largest housing component, edged up 0.1 percent for the month and was 2.8 percent higher for the year. Prices for household fuels and utilities decreased 1.6 percent from July to August, but increased 7.8 percent since last year. Within the fuels and utilities index, electricity prices were unchanged in August and advanced 3.9 percent from a year ago. Prices for utility (piped) gas service fell 7.8 percent for the month, but jumped 18.1 percent over the year. Prices for household furnishings and operations crept up 0.3 percent for the month and increased 1.0 percent for the year. Food and beverages prices rose 0.2 percent in August 2008 and increased 5.3 percent over the past 12 months. Both grocery prices, as measured by the food at home index, along with the food away from home index, advanced 0.2 percent in August. Over the year, prices for groceries increased 6.9 percent, and prices for food away from home increased 3.8 percent. Prices for alcoholic beverages declined 0.2 percent in August, but rose 2.8 percent over the year. The medical care index edged up 0.1 percent and increased 3.6 percent for the year. In August, prices for medical care services changed little and prices for medical care commodities increased 0.3 percent. Over the latest 12-month period, prices for medical care services and prices for medical care commodities advanced 4.3 and 1.5 percent, respectively. Apparel prices were up 0.3 percent in August, but decreased 0.8 percent over the past 12 months. Among the remaining major expenditure categories, prices for education and communication increased 0.7 percent, and prices for other goods and services were up 0.3 percent. Over the past year, prices for education and communication were 3.4 percent higher, and prices for other goods and services were up 3.7 percent. The recreation index inched up 0.1 percent in August and advanced 1.4 percent for the year. The All Items Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the West stands at 222.823 (1982-84=100). This means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in 1982-84 would have cost $222.82 in August 2008.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods West (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change from- Item and Group June July Aug. Aug. June July 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 Expenditure category All items.................................... 223.040 223.867 222.823 4.9 -0.1 -0.5 All items (December 1977=100) ............... 360.532 361.869 360.181 - - - Food and beverages.......................... 219.494 221.139 221.506 5.3 .9 .2 Food....................................... 218.806 220.636 221.063 5.5 1.0 .2 Food at home.............................. 224.337 226.684 227.153 6.9 1.3 .2 Food away from home....................... 210.792 211.971 212.342 3.8 .7 .2 Alcoholic beverages........................ 226.529 225.897 225.552 2.8 -.4 -.2 Housing..................................... 227.629 228.864 228.814 3.0 .5 .0 Shelter.................................... 254.387 255.242 255.593 2.8 .5 .1 Rent of primary residence (1)............. 254.677 255.331 255.857 3.9 .5 .2 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (1) (2) .................... 266.587 267.153 267.752 3.2 .4 .2 Fuels and utilities........................ 236.250 242.120 238.144 7.8 .8 -1.6 Household energy.......................... 225.811 232.065 226.527 8.6 .3 -2.4 Gas (piped) and electricity (1).......... 226.727 232.998 227.545 7.7 .4 -2.3 Electricity (1)......................... 224.224 226.634 226.719 3.9 1.1 .0 Utility (piped) gas service (1)......... 254.479 271.903 250.776 18.1 -1.5 -7.8 Household furnishings and operations....... 133.320 133.764 134.122 1.0 .6 .3 Apparel..................................... 111.423 108.467 108.777 -.8 -2.4 .3 Transportation.............................. 213.387 214.211 208.298 12.4 -2.4 -2.8 Private transportation..................... 207.301 207.719 201.618 12.1 -2.7 -2.9 New and used motor vehicles (3)........... 93.329 93.306 93.047 -1.1 -.3 -.3 New vehicles............................. 133.785 133.658 133.072 -1.2 -.5 -.4 New cars and trucks (3) (4)............. 93.021 92.930 92.520 -1.2 -.5 -.4 New cars (4)............................ 135.531 136.059 136.451 1.7 .7 .3 Used cars and trucks..................... 133.631 133.558 133.153 -1.1 -.4 -.3 Motor fuel................................ 352.320 353.317 325.719 40.6 -7.6 -7.8 Gasoline (all types)..................... 350.024 351.110 323.707 40.4 -7.5 -7.8 Gasoline, unleaded regular (4).......... 350.122 351.523 323.909 41.2 -7.5 -7.9 Gasoline, unleaded midgrade (4) (5)..... 326.346 326.734 301.628 38.9 -7.6 -7.7 Gasoline, unleaded premium (4).......... 329.835 330.394 305.000 38.0 -7.5 -7.7 Medical care................................ 369.169 369.054 369.557 3.6 .1 .1 Medical care commodities................... 299.590 297.892 298.723 1.5 -.3 .3 Medical care services...................... 390.090 390.598 390.964 4.3 .2 .1 Professional services..................... 292.123 292.694 293.323 3.6 .4 .2 Recreation (3).............................. 109.155 109.522 109.664 1.4 0.5 0.1 Education and communication (3)............. 122.774 123.309 124.122 3.4 1.1 .7 Other goods and services.................... 346.887 347.269 348.239 3.7 .4 .3 Commodity and service group All items.................................... 223.040 223.867 222.823 4.9 -.1 -.5 Commodities................................. 179.351 179.590 177.335 6.6 -1.1 -1.3 Commodities less food and beverages........ 156.050 155.765 152.663 7.3 -2.2 -2.0 Nondurables less food and beverages....... 206.683 205.744 199.217 14.9 -3.6 -3.2 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel.............................. 273.060 273.438 262.284 20.1 -3.9 -4.1 Durables.................................. 111.520 111.723 111.264 -1.5 -.2 -.4 Services.................................... 262.185 263.600 263.842 3.8 .6 .1 Rent of shelter (2) ....................... 270.610 271.585 271.961 2.8 .5 .1 Transportation services.................... 250.189 252.805 253.395 6.5 1.3 .2 Other services............................. 292.090 293.133 294.607 4.1 .9 .5 Special aggregate indexes All items less medical care.................. 215.885 216.737 215.649 5.0 -.1 -.5 All items less food.......................... 223.841 224.516 223.246 4.8 -.3 -.6 All items less shelter....................... 211.703 212.525 210.876 6.0 -.4 -.8 Commodities less food........................ 159.068 158.771 155.722 7.1 -2.1 -1.9 Nondurables.................................. 215.290 215.535 212.116 10.0 -1.5 -1.6 Nondurables less food........................ 208.793 207.868 201.685 14.0 -3.4 -3.0 Nondurables less food and apparel............ 267.893 268.173 258.090 18.4 -3.7 -3.8 Services less rent of shelter (2) ........... 280.680 282.877 282.958 5.2 .8 .0 Services less medical care services.......... 252.661 254.106 254.339 3.7 .7 .1 Energy....................................... 301.821 305.028 286.478 28.0 -5.1 -6.1 All items less energy........................ 218.551 219.193 219.557 2.9 .5 .2 All items less food and energy.............. 219.162 219.605 219.959 2.5 .4 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities............................ 136.656 136.167 136.156 -.2 -.4 .0 Energy commodities......................... 355.450 356.642 329.118 40.5 -7.4 -7.7 Services less energy services.............. 265.119 266.230 266.833 3.6 .6 .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 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 4 Special index based on a substantially smaller sample. 5 Indexes on a December 1993=100 base. - Data not available. Regions defined as the four Census regions. West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Last Modified Date: September 16, 2008
Quick Links
Tools |
Calculators |
Help |
Info |