Consumer Prices Rose 3.2 Percent in the Year through July, Slight Increase in the Inflation Rate

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent in July on a seasonally
adjusted basis, the same increase as in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase,
accounting for over 90 percent of the increase, with the index for motor vehicle insurance also
contributing. The food index increased 0.2 percent in July after increasing 0.1 percent the previous
month. The index for food at home increased 0.3 percent over the month while the index for food away
from home rose 0.2 percent in July. The energy index rose 0.1 percent in July as the major energy
component indexes were mixed.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in July, as it did in June. Indexes
which increased in June include shelter, motor vehicle insurance, education, and recreation. The
indexes for airline fares, used cars and trucks, medical care, and communication were among those
that decreased over the month.

The all items index increased 3.2 percent for the 12 months ending July, slightly more than the
3.0-percent increase for the 12 months ending in June. The all items less food and energy index rose
4.7 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 12.5 percent for the 12 months
ending July, and the food index increased 4.9 percent over the last year. 

Food

The food index rose 0.2 percent in July. The food at home index increased 0.3 percent over the
month, after being unchanged in June. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes 
increased over the month. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.5 percent in July as 
the index for beef increased 2.4 percent. The fruits and vegetables index increased 0.4 percent over
the month and the other food at home index rose 0.2 percent. The index for dairy and related
products increased 0.5 percent in July after decreasing in each of the previous 4 months. The
nonalcoholic beverages index and the cereals and bakery products index were both unchanged in July.

The food away from home index rose 0.2 percent in July. The index for full service meals and the
index for limited service meals both increased 0.2 percent over the month. 

The food at home index rose 3.6 percent over the last 12 months. The index for cereals and bakery
products rose 7.0 percent over the 12 months ending in July. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
index declined 0.2 percent over the year. The remaining major grocery store food groups posted
increases ranging from 1.3 percent (dairy and related products) to 5.4 percent (both nonalcoholic
beverages and other food at home).

The index for food away from home rose 7.1 percent over the last year. The index for full service
meals rose 5.8 percent over the last 12 months, and the index for limited service meals rose 7.1
percent over the same period. 

Energy

The energy index rose 0.1 percent in July after increasing 0.6 percent in June. The gasoline index
increased 0.2 percent in July, following a 1.0-percent increase in the previous month. (Before
seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 0.6 percent in July.) 

Other energy components were mixed in July. The natural gas index increased 2.0 percent over the
month, following five consecutive monthly decreases. The index for fuel oil also rose in July,
increasing 3.0 percent. The index for electricity fell 0.7 percent in July, after increasing 0.9
percent in June.

The energy index fell 12.5 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index decreased 19.9
percent over the last 12 months, while the natural gas index fell 13.7 percent, and the fuel oil
index fell 26.5 percent over the span. In contrast, the index for electricity rose 3.0 percent over
the last year. 

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in July, as it did in June. The
shelter index increased 0.4 percent over the month, the same increase as in June. The index for
rent rose 0.4 percent in July, and the index for owners' equivalent rent increased 0.5 percent over
the month. The index for lodging away from home decreased 0.3 percent in July after falling 2.0
percent in June. 

The shelter index was the largest factor in the monthly increase in the index for all items less
food and energy. Among the other indexes that rose in July was the index for motor vehicle insurance
, which increased 2.0 percent after rising 1.7 percent the preceding month. The indexes for
education and recreation also increased in July. 

Several indexes declined in July, led by the airline fares index, which fell 8.1 percent over the
month, its fourth consecutive monthly decline. The index for used cars and trucks fell 1.3 percent
in July, after decreasing 0.5 percent in June. The communication index declined 0.1 percent over the
month, as did the new vehicles index and the household furnishings and operations index. 

The medical care index fell 0.2 percent in July, after being unchanged the previous month. The index
for hospital services decreased 0.4 percent over the month, while the index for physicians' services
rose 0.2 percent. The prescription drugs index was unchanged in July.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 4.7 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter
index increased 7.7 percent over the last year, accounting for over two-thirds of the total increase
in all items less food and energy. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include
motor vehicle insurance (+17.8 percent), recreation (+4.1 percent), new vehicles (+3.5 percent), and
household furnishings and operations (+2.9 percent). 

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.2 percent over the last 12
months to an index level of 305.691 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.2 percent
prior to seasonal adjustment.  

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.6 percent
over the last 12 months to an index level of 299.899 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index
increased 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.  

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 3.2 percent over the
last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis.
Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.