The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest Region increased 0.9 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The all items less food and energy index rose 0.8 percent. The index for energy advanced 3.2 percent, while the index for food was up 0.2 percent over the same period. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)
The Midwest Region all items CPI-U increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending in September. The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.0 percent over the year, while the energy index advanced 22.0 percent. Food prices were up 2.6 percent.
Food
Food prices rose 0.2 percent for the month of September. Prices for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) advanced 0.3 percent, and prices for food at home (grocery store purchases) increased 0.1 percent for the same period. Within the food at home category, prices paid for fruits and vegetables (+2.3 percent) led the increases, while the index for dairy and related products (-1.8 percent) led the declines.
Over the year, the index for food advanced 2.6 percent. The food away from home index rose 4.3 percent, and the food at home index was up 1.5 percent. Within the food at home category, all six major grocery store food groups increased over the twelve-month period, with other food at home (+1.9 percent) leading the increases.
Energy
The energy index rose 3.2 percent over the month, largely due to higher prices for gasoline (+5.3 percent). The index for electricity increased 1.1-percent over the month, while the index for natural gas service decreased 1.7 percent.
From September 2025 to September 2026, energy prices advanced 22.0 percent. The index for gasoline (+35.5 percent) was the largest contributor to the rise in the energy category. The index for electricity rose 8.8 percent, and the index for natural gas service increased 1.9 percent during the past year.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.8 percent in September. Among the index’s components, prices were higher for owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+0.7 percent), apparel (+4.3 percent), education and communication (+0.9 percent), and medical care services (+0.6 percent).
The index for all items less food and energy increased 3.0 percent over the year. Components contributing to the increase included shelter (+4.4 percent), recreation (+3.8 percent), and medical care services (+3.0 percent). In contrast, prices were lower for medical care commodities (-4.4 percent) and used cars and trucks (-1.7 percent).
The October 2026 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Consumer region is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.