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Highlights:
Consumer prices fell 0.8% in the 12 months to August 2009, following the 0.9% decrease posted in July. On an unadjusted monthly basis, consumer prices posted no change from July to August, after decreasing 0.3% from June to July.
All-items Consumer Price Index (CPI):
- The decline in the 12-month change in the CPI in August was due primarily to a large drop in energy (-19.1%), which came mainly from the fall in prices for gasoline (-21.2%).
- A 12-month decline of 2.2% in costs for shelter also put downward pressure on the 12-month change in the CPI.
- Upward pressure on the 12-month change came primarily from higher food prices (+4.0%).
Main contributors to the 12-month change in the CPI:
Main upward contributors:
- Food purchased from restaurants (+3.1%)
- Passenger vehicle insurance premiums (+4.8%)
Main downward contributors:
- Gasoline (-21.2%)
- Natural gas (-38.1%)
- Purchase of passenger vehicles (-4.7%)
- Fuel oil and other fuels (-40.6%)
- Homeowner’s replacement costs (-3.8%)
Main contributors to the monthly change in the CPI, not seasonally adjusted:
Main upward contributors:
- Gasoline (+2.6%)
- Electricity (+1.9%)
- Natural gas (+3.0%)
- Men’s clothing (+1.7%)
Main downward contributors:
- Fresh vegetables (-8.8%)
- Fresh fruit (-4.7%)
- Mortgage interest cost (-0.6%)
- Purchase of passenger vehicles (-0.6%)
