Offsetting the declines in the food and energy indexes was a 0.3 percent increase in the index for all items less food and energy. Over 40 percent of the increase was due to a second consecutive large increase in the tobacco index. The index rose 9.3 percent in April as an increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes went into effect. A larger increase in the index for medical care, an increase in the index for new vehicles, and an upturn in the lodging away from home index also contributed to the April increase. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.9 percent over the past year.
The food and beverages index declined 0.2 percent in April following a 0.1 percent decrease in March. A 0.3 percent increase in the food away from home index was more than offset by a 0.6 percent decline in the food at home index and a 0.1 percent fall in the index for alcoholic beverages. This was the fifth consecutive decline in the food at home index and it has declined 1.6 percent since its November peak. The dairy and related products index had the largest decline among the major grocery store food groups for the third month in a row. It decreased 1.3 percent in April and has fallen 5.1 percent over the past year. The index for cereals and bakery products, other food at home, and nonalcoholic beverages also declined in April. The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs was unchanged in April, as was the fruits and vegetables index. The food index has risen 3.3 percent over the past year, with the food at home index up 2.3 percent.
The housing index fell 0.1 percent in April, the same decline as in March. The shelter index, however, rose 0.2 percent in April after being unchanged the previous two months. The index for lodging away from home turned up in April, rising 0.5 percent after falling in each of the six previous months. The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent rose 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In contrast, the index for household energy fell 2.2 percent in April after declining 1.8 percent in March. The index for natural gas declined sharply, falling 7.0 percent, while the index for fuel oil fell 0.3 percent and the electricity index decreased 0.6 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged in April. Over the past year, the housing index has risen 1.0 percent with the shelter index up 1.6 percent and the index for household energy down 4.7 percent.
The index for transportation fell 0.4 percent in April after declining 1.1 percent in March. Following a 4.0 percent decrease in March, the gasoline index declined 2.8 percent in April. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 5.3 percent in April.) The index for new and used motor vehicles rose 0.4 percent in April. The new vehicles index rose 0.4 percent, while the used cars and trucks index declined only 0.1 percent in April after falling 1.7 percent in March. The index for public transportation declined for the eight straight month, falling 0.8 percent as the airline fare index declined 1.5 percent. The transportation index has decreased 13.4 percent since April 2008, with several of its components declining over the period. The index for gasoline fell 39.5 percent and the index for public transportation decreased 5.9 percent, while the indexes for new vehicles and for used cars and trucks declined 0.2 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively.
Among other CPI groups, the index for medical care rose 0.4 percent in April after a 0.2 percent increase in March as the indexes for prescription drugs and hospital services posted larger increases. The index for education and communication rose 0.3 percent in April with education index up 0.4 percent and the index for communication rising 0.1 percent. The index for other goods and services posted another sharp increase due to higher tobacco prices, rising 2.6 percent in April. The 9.3 percent increase in the tobacco index followed an 11.0 percent increase in March and the index has risen 28.8 percent over the past year. The indexes for recreation and apparel both declined in April, falling 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.3 percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The index value of 207.925 was 1.3 percent lower than in April 2008. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-W was unchanged in April.
Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in April on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The index has decreased 1.1 percent over the past year.
