CPI for Urban Areas up 0.2%, Demonstrating Slow Growth Ahead

 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent 
 in November on a seasonally adjusted basis after being unchanged in October, 
 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, 
 the all items index increased 1.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.
 
 The seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index was broad-based, with 
 no component accounting for more than a quarter of the increase. The food index 
 declined in November, as a decrease in the food at home index more than offset 
 a small increase in the food away from home index. The index for energy rose 
 in November, as increases in indexes for natural gas and electricity more than 
 offset a decline in the index for gasoline.  
 
 The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in November 
 after being unchanged the prior month. The indexes for lodging away from home, 
 household furnishings and operations, recreation, apparel, airline fares, and 
 motor vehicle insurance all increased in November. The indexes for used cars 
 and trucks, medical care, and new vehicles all declined over the month. 

 The all items index rose 1.2 percent for the 12 months ending November, the 
 same increase as for the period ending October. The index for all items less 
 food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the last 12 months, also the same 
 increase as the period ending October. The food index rose 3.7 percent over 
 the last 12 months, while the energy index fell 9.4 percent.
 
 Food

 The food index declined 0.1 percent in November following a 0.2-percent increase 
 in October. The index for food at home declined 0.3 percent after rising in 
 October. Major grocery store food group indexes were mixed in November. The index 
 for nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.9 percent in November, its largest monthly 
 decline since December 2010. The index for other food at home fell 0.6 percent 
 in November, and the index for cereals and bakery products decreased 0.5 percent; 
 both indexes increased in October.
 
 The dairy and related products index rose 0.3 percent in November after falling 
 in September and October. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 
 0.1 percent in November. The index for fruits and vegetables was unchanged in 
 November after rising 0.1 percent in October. The index for food away from home 
 rose in November, but the 0.1-percent increase was the smallest since April.
 
 The food at home index increased 3.6 percent over the past 12 months. All six 
 major grocery store food group indexes increased over the period. The largest 
 increase was the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index which rose 5.9 percent 
 as the beef index increased 7.5 percent. The smallest increase was for the 
 cereals and bakery products index, which increased 2.4 percent over the last 
 12 months. The index for food away from home rose 3.8 percent over the last 
 year. The index for limited service meals rose 5.9 percent, and the index for 
 full service meals rose 2.9 percent over the span. 
 
 Energy

 The energy index rose for the sixth month in a row in November, increasing 0.4 
 percent. The index for natural gas rose 3.1 percent in November after declining 
 in October. The electricity index rose 0.5 percent in November, its third 
 consecutive monthly increase. The index for fuel oil also increased in November, 
 rising 3.6 percent. In contrast to these increases, the gasoline index declined 
 for the second month in a row, falling 0.4 percent. (Before seasonal adjustment, 
 gasoline prices fell 2.7 percent in November.) 

 The energy index fell 9.4 percent over the past 12 months. Energy commodity 
 indexes fell sharply over the period, with the fuel oil index declining 26.4 
 percent and the gasoline index decreasing 19.3 percent. Energy service indexes 
 rose over the last 12 months, with the index for natural gas increasing 4.4 
 percent and the index for electricity rising 1.6 percent.  

 All items less food and energy

 The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in November after 
 being unchanged in October. The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in November, the 
 fourth 0.1-percent increase in a row. However, the indexes for rent and owners’ 
 equivalent rent were both unchanged in November after both rising 0.2 percent 
 in October. The index for lodging away from home rose sharply in November, 
 increasing 3.9 percent after falling 3.2 percent in October. 

 The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.7 percent in November 
 after falling in each of the prior 2 months. The recreation index rose 0.4 
 percent in November; this was the same increase as last month and the fourth 
 consecutive monthly advance. The apparel index rose 0.9 percent in November 
 after declining in September and October. The index for airline fares rose 3.5 
 percent in November after increasing 6.3 percent in October. The index for 
 motor vehicle insurance rose 1.1 percent in November after falling in September 
 and October. The indexes for education, for alcoholic beverages, and for 
 tobacco also increased in November.

 The index for used cars and trucks fell 1.3 percent in November, its second 
 consecutive monthly decline after sharp increases in prior months. The index for 
 medical care declined slightly in November, falling 0.1 percent. The index for 
 hospital services rose 0.3 percent and the index for physicians’ services rose 
 0.1 percent, while the index for prescription drugs declined 0.1 percent over 
 the month. The new vehicles index declined 0.1 percent in November after rising 
 in September and October.

 The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the past 12 
 months. The shelter index rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months, its smallest 
 12-month increase since the period ending December 2011. The used cars and trucks 
 index increased 10.9 percent over the last 12 months and the medical care index 
 increased 2.4 percent. Despite the monthly increases in November, the indexes 
 for apparel, airline fares, and motor vehicle insurance all declined over the 
 past 12 months.

 Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.2 percent 
 over the last 12 months to an index level of 260.229 (1982-84=100). For the 
 month, the index declined 0.1 prior to seasonal adjustment.  
 
 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) 
 increased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 253.826 
 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.1 percent prior to seasonal 
 adjustment.  

 The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 
 0.9 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index declined 0.1 
 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for 
 the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.