KANSAS CITY – Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), increased 0.2 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
The December advance was led by a 0.1-percent rise in the all items less food and energy index, with owners’ equivalent rent of residences contributing most to the increase. The energy index was up 1.3 percent in December, while the food index was down 0.2 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)
Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U advanced 3.0 percent. (See chart 1.) The index for all items less food and energy increased 3.3 percent over the year, the food index rose 2.1 percent, and the energy index was up 2.0 percent.
Food
Food prices decreased 0.2 percent for the month of December. Prices for food at home (grocery store prices) fell 0.4 percent, and prices for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) rose 0.3 percent within the same period. Within the index for food at home, other food at home (-0.9 percent) and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (-1.4 percent) led price declines.
Over the year, food prices rose 2.1 percent. Prices for food away from home were up 3.1 percent, and prices for food at home increased 1.5 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+2.9 percent) led grocery store item advances, but all major index categories contributed to the rise.
Energy
The energy index rose 1.3 percent over the month. The increase was mainly due to higher prices for natural gas service (+5.7 percent), but an increase to gasoline prices (+0.7 percent) also contributed. The index for electricity advanced 0.3 percent for the same period.
From December 2023 to December 2024, the energy index increased 2.0 percent. The rise was largely due to higher prices for natural gas service, (+8.1 percent), but gasoline (+1.6 percent) and electricity (+0.7 percent) also contributed.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in December. Higher prices for owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+0.4 percent), medical care services (+0.3 percent), and rent of primary residence (+0.3 percent) were the top influences on the change. These increases were almost entirely offset by declines, with lower prices for apparel (-2.5 percent) and other goods and services (-0.4 percent) contributing most over the month.
Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy advanced 3.3 percent. Components contributing most to the increase included shelter (+5.5 percent) and medical care services (+2.9 percent). A decrease in the index for new and used motor vehicles (-2.4 percent) led declines.