Today, the report is out from the BLS with the Consumer Price Index for September, 2011. If one wanted to generalize, energy inflation over the past twelve months is very alarming, food inflation over the past twelve months is becoming quite alarming, and for the most part essential categories are rising while nonessentials are not.——K.M.
Energy Category:
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. ... Increases in energy and food indexes were the main cause of the seasonally adjusted all items increase. ... The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in September, its smallest increase since March. ... indexes for medical care, airline fares, and tobacco all increased. ... The 12-month change for all items less food and energy remained at 2.0 percent for the second straight month. The energy index has risen 19.3 percent over the last year, while the food index has increased 4.7 percent. ...Food Category:
... The dairy and related products index rose the most, increasing 1.2 percent, followed by 0.9 percent increases in both the cereals and bakery products index and the fruits and vegetables index. Within the latter group, the indexes for apples and tomatoes both posted significant increases. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.4 percent as the index for eggs rose sharply, and the index for other food at home rose 0.6 percent. The food at home index has now risen 6.3 percent over the past 12 months with the dairy index up 10.2 percent over that period. After rising 0.4 percent in August, the index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent in September and has risen 2.6 percent over the last 12 months.
Energy Category:
The energy index rose 2.0 percent in September after a 1.2 percent increase in August. The gasoline index, which was up 1.9 percent in August, rose 2.9 percent in September. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 0.7 percent in September.) Over the past 12 months, the gasoline index has increased 33.3 percent. The household energy index also rose in September, advancing 0.7 percent after a 0.4 percent increase in August. The electricity index advanced 0.7 percent while index for natural gas rose 0.8 percent; the fuel oil index declined 0.7 percent. Over the past year, the household energy index has increased 3.7 percent. The electricity index has risen 2.7 percent and the index for natural gas has increased 0.2 percent, while the fuel oil index has risen sharply, increasing 33.4 percent.All items less food and energy:
... After increasing steadily through most of the year, the 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy remained at 2.0 percent for the second month in a row. The shelter index has increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months. The index for medical care has risen 2.8 percent while the apparel index has increased 3.5 percent. The new vehicles index has increased 3.6 percent and the index for used cars and trucks has increased 5.1 percent.source: Bureau of Labor Statistics