| Internet: www.bls.gov/ro5/ | FOR RELEASE: |
| GENERAL INFORMATION: (312) 353-1880 | Tuesday, August 11, 2009 |
| MEDIA CONTACT: Paul LaPorte | |
| (312) 353-1138 |
Cleveland area consumers paid 1.8 percent more than the U.S. average for a gallon of gasoline in June 2009, but paid less for utility (piped) gas, (15.4 percent) and electricity (5.3 percent) as measured by the Consumer Price Index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Regional Commissioner Jay A. Mousa noted that although the local price of gasoline in June fell sharply from a year ago, it exceeded the national average for the first time since 2000, while the percent difference between the price for utility (piped) gas in Cleveland and the nation was its widest since 2004. The difference between the local price for electricity and the national average in June 2009 narrowed to its lowest since 2004. (See table A.)
| Year | Gasoline per gallon | Utility (piped) gas per therm | Electricity per kWh | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Cleveland | Percent Difference | United States | Cleveland | Percent Difference | United States | Cleveland | Percent Difference | |
1999 |
1.204 | 1.140 | -5.3 | 0.667 | 0.563 | -15.6 | 0.089 | 0.127 | 42.7 |
2000 |
1.666 | 1.845 | 10.7 | 0.781 | 0.641 | -17.9 | 0.090 | 0.127 | 41.1 |
2001 |
1.731 | 1.608 | -7.1 | 0.937 | 1.063 | 13.4 | 0.097 | 0.098 | 1.0 |
2002 |
1.489 | 1.462 | -1.8 | 0.771 | 0.575 | -25.4 | 0.095 | 0.097 | 2.1 |
2003 |
1.558 | 1.492 | -4.2 | 0.992 | 0.911 | -8.2 | 0.097 | 0.096 | -1.0 |
2004 |
2.083 | 1.871 | -10.2 | 1.047 | 0.939 | -10.3 | 0.099 | 0.096 | -3.0 |
2005 |
2.218 | 2.124 | -4.2 | 1.124 | 1.137 | 1.2 | 0.104 | 0.096 | -7.7 |
2006 |
2.963 | 2.850 | -3.8 | 1.210 | 1.218 | 0.7 | 0.118 | 0.101 | -14.4 |
2007 |
3.100 | 2.931 | -5.5 | 1.299 | 1.227 | -5.5 | 0.122 | 0.101 | -17.2 |
2008 |
4.115 | 4.009 | -2.6 | 1.578 | 1.628 | 3.2 | 0.128 | 0.107 | -16.4 |
2009 |
2.681 | 2.728 | 1.8 | 1.060 | 0.897 | -15.4 | 0.132 | 0.125 | -5.3 |
The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Cleveland was $2.728 in June 2009, a sharp decline of $1.281 or 32.0 percent from June a year ago. Nationally, the average price of gasoline fell 34.8 percent over the year. Although Cleveland area gasoline prices tended to trend upward, the recent decline is the largest recorded in the past ten years, bringing the price to its lowest level since 2005. (See chart A.)
A therm—a measure of constant heating value—of utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, in the Cleveland area averaged $0.897 in June 2009. The local cost of natural gas fell 44.9 percent over the year, and was at its lowest June level since 2002. Nationwide, natural gas cost 32.8 percent less than a year earlier. (See chart B.)
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity cost Cleveland area consumers $0.125 in June 2009, 16.8 percent higher than in June 2008. Local area electricity prices have risen steadily since 2006 after remaining stable from 2001-2005. However, since 2003, Cleveland area households consistently spent less for electricity than the national average. Nationwide, electricity prices rose 3.1 percent over the year and were at their highest June level in the past decade. (See chart C.)
Chart A. Average prices for gasoline, United States and Cleveland-Akron area, June 1999-2009
Chart B. Average prices for utility (piped) gas, United States and Cleveland-Akron area, June 1999-2009
Chart C. Average prices for electricity, United States and Cleveland-Akron area, June 1999-2009
The Cleveland-Akron, Ohio Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) includes the counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit.
Additional information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
For personal assistance or further information on CPI data, as well as other Bureau data, contact the Midwest Information Office at 312-353-1880 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Technical Information
Average prices for electricity, utility (piped) gas, and gasoline are published monthly for the U.S. city average, the 4 regions, the 3 population size classes, 10 region/size-class cross-classifications, and the 14 largest local index areas. For electricity, average prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and per 500 kWh are published. For utility (piped) gas, average prices per therm, per 40 therms, and per 100 therms are published. For gasoline, the average price per gallon is published. Average prices for commonly available grades of gasoline are published as well as the average price across all grades.
Price quotes for 40 therms and 100 therms of utility (piped) gas and for 500 kWh of electricity are collected in sample outlets for use in the average price programs only. Since they are for specified consumption amounts, they are not used in the CPI. All other price quotes used for average price estimation are regular CPI data.
With the exception of the 40 therms, 100 therms, and 500 kWh price quotes, all eligible prices are converted to a price per normalized quantity. These prices are then used to estimate a price for a defined fixed quantity.
Last Modified Date: August 12, 2009
