KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.9 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The food index rose 1.0 percent in February and the index for energy rose 4.2 percent. The all items less food and energy index increased 0.6 percent in February due to advances in the categories for shelter, apparel, and recreation. (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 rose 8.0 percent. The index for all items less food and energy rose 6.4 percent over the year. Energy prices advanced 24.4 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline. Food prices increased 9.0 percent.
Food
Food prices increased 1.0 percent for the month of February. Prices for food at home advanced 1.3 percent, and prices for food away from home increased 0.6 percent for the same period.
Over the year, food prices increased 9.0 percent. Prices for food at home advanced 9.6 percent since a year ago, and prices for food away from home rose 7.7 percent.
Energy
The energy index advanced 4.2 percent over the month. The increase was mainly due to higher prices for gasoline (+6.5 percent). Prices for natural gas service increased 2.0 percent, and prices for electricity advanced 1.5 percent for the same period.
Energy prices increased 24.4 percent over the year, largely due to higher prices for gasoline (+34.5 percent). Prices paid for natural gas service rose 31.5 percent, and prices for electricity increased 5.9 percent during the past year.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.6 percent in February. Higher prices for shelter (+0.6 percent), apparel (+3.2 percent), and recreation (+1.0 percent) were the largest contributors to the increase.