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News Release Information

20-2135-PHI
Thursday, November 12, 2020

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – October 2020

Regional prices down 0.2 percent over the month; up 1.1 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast edged down 0.2 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Maureen McDevitt Greene noted that the recent decrease reflected a decline in the all items less food and energy index, down 0.2 percent since September. The energy index and the food index also declined over the month, down 1.0 and 0.1 percent, respectively. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the Northeast all items CPI-U increased 1.1 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) This reflected an advance in the all items less food and energy index, up 1.5 percent. The food index also rose, up 3.5 percent, while the energy index fell 8.3 percent since September 2019. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index inched down 0.1 percent since September. Lower prices for food at home, down 0.5 percent, were nearly offset by higher prices for food away from home, up 0.5 percent over the month.

From October 2019 to October 2020, the food index increased 3.5 percent. Prices for food at home increased over the year, up 3.3 percent; those for food away from home also rose, up 3.8 percent.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, declined 1.0 percent in October, led by a 1.6-percent decrease in electricity prices. Prices were also lower for gasoline (-1.2 percent) while prices for utility (piped) gas service were unchanged over the month.

The energy index decreased 8.3 percent since October 2019. The decrease reflected a drop in prices for gasoline (-15.0 percent). Prices for utility (piped) gas service also decreased over the year, down 4.3 percent, while those for electricity increased 3.0 percent.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy edged down 0.2 percent over the month. The decrease was led by lower prices for shelter (-0.4 percent) and apparel (-2.8 percent) since September.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.5 percent since October 2019, led by higher prices for shelter and new and used motor vehicles, up 1.9 and 4.2 percent, respectively. Prices also increased for medical care, up 2.3 percent over the year.

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20162017201820192020
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.00.70.62.50.51.60.31.50.72.3

February

0.20.70.32.60.41.70.21.30.32.4

March

0.20.6-0.12.20.12.00.51.7-0.21.7

April

0.61.00.31.90.42.10.41.7-0.40.8

May

0.30.90.11.70.42.50.31.50.00.6

June

0.20.70.01.50.02.60.11.60.30.8

July

0.00.8-0.21.30.02.70.11.70.41.1

August

0.11.00.31.60.22.70.11.50.11.1

September

0.21.30.51.90.12.20.01.40.11.2

October

0.21.6-0.11.5-0.12.3-0.11.5-0.21.1

November

0.01.60.01.6-0.41.90.11.9

December

0.01.90.11.7-0.11.7-0.11.9
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U decreased in the New England division, down 0.6 percent, and in the Middle Atlantic division, down 0.1 percent.

Over the year, prices rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 1.4 percent. The all items index edged up in the New England division (0.2 percent). (See table B.)

 Table B. CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, Northeast region and divisions, not seasonally adjusted
Area1-month change12-month change

Northeast

-0.21.1

New England Division

-0.60.2

Middle Atlantic Division

-0.11.4

The Consumer Price Index for October 2020 is scheduled to be released Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on October 2020 Consumer Price Index Data

Data collection by personal visit for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program has been suspended since March 16, 2020. When possible, data normally collected by personal visit were collected either online or by phone. Additionally, data collection in October was affected by the temporary closing or limited operations of certain types of establishments. These factors resulted in an increase in the number of prices considered temporarily unavailable and imputed.

While the CPI program attempted to collect as much data as possible, many indexes are based on smaller amounts of collected prices than usual, and a small number of indexes that are normally published were not published this month. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-consumer-price-index.htm.


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) a CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 93 percent of the total population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 29 percent of the total population. The CPI-U includes, in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor force.

The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs, and the other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Each month, prices are collected in 75 urban areas across the country from about 5,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 retail establishments--department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.

The index measures price changes from a designated reference date (1982-84) that equals 100.0. An increase of 16.5 percent, for example, is shown as 116.5. This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period "market basket" of goods and services in the CPI has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. For further details see the CPI home page on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 17, The Consumer Price Index, available on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch17.pdf.

In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights that represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Because the sample size of a local area is smaller, the local area index is subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error than the national index. In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are quite similar. Note: Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices between cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period.

The Northeast region is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The New England division is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Middle Atlantic division is comprised of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods, Northeast Region, (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted)
Expenditure categoryIndexesPercent change from
Historical
data
Aug.
2020
Sep.
2020
Oct.
2020
Oct.
2019
Aug.
2020
Sep.
2020

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
273.597273.925273.3741.1-0.1-0.2

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
430.831431.348430.481   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
274.094274.500274.4193.50.10.0

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
275.002275.304275.0723.50.0-0.1

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
260.775260.903259.5983.3-0.5-0.5

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
312.808308.929306.6104.0-2.0-0.8

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
266.995265.933267.1705.80.10.5

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
240.498240.369236.4852.5-1.7-1.6

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
322.093326.289324.5591.80.8-0.5

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
178.804180.309179.4061.30.3-0.5

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
231.653231.546229.7882.9-0.8-0.8

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
299.666300.242301.6773.80.70.5

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
261.181263.005264.9793.11.50.8

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
293.417293.749292.5391.5-0.3-0.4

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
367.753368.205366.7741.9-0.3-0.4

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
370.806371.903371.8932.10.30.0

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
381.116381.502381.6752.50.10.0

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
380.786381.171381.3382.50.10.0

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
220.042219.623218.026-1.9-0.9-0.7

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
191.319190.773188.983-3.0-1.2-0.9

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
195.555195.499193.2630.8-1.2-1.1

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
205.000205.218201.8763.0-1.5-1.6

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
162.837162.261162.305-4.3-0.30.0

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
121.806122.193121.8221.70.0-0.3

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
121.598125.434121.984-7.60.3-2.8

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
197.217198.368199.317-2.81.10.5

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
193.697193.484193.363-1.7-0.2-0.1

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
98.83898.09199.4274.20.61.4

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
144.638143.211143.9791.0-0.50.5

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
100.23299.26899.8031.0-0.40.5

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
134.639133.480134.1031.5-0.40.5

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
156.307159.375161.12611.53.11.1

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
190.108192.586190.260-15.00.1-1.2

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
189.108191.608189.295-15.00.1-1.2

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
185.523188.066185.717-15.50.1-1.2

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
209.337211.145209.248-12.50.0-0.9

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
206.731208.863206.906-11.80.1-0.9

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
620.243609.713584.681-5.6-5.7-4.1

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
551.685548.668547.4972.3-0.8-0.2

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
393.671387.697386.889-3.5-1.7-0.2

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
597.772595.705594.4283.6-0.6-0.2

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
407.372407.281407.2692.10.00.0

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
130.317128.545128.9032.4-1.10.3

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
148.796148.939149.0032.10.10.0

Tuition, other school fees, and child care(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,304.4881,310.9851,312.2851.80.60.1

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
513.366513.994513.5662.00.0-0.1

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
190.604191.124190.542-0.40.0-0.3

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
147.281147.821147.066-3.1-0.1-0.5

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
185.291186.528184.416-6.9-0.5-1.1

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
103.037103.037103.2972.10.30.3

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
353.224353.370352.8481.9-0.1-0.1

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
241.058241.343241.1040.70.0-0.1

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
261.327261.807261.2831.00.0-0.2

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
151.287151.865151.179-2.8-0.1-0.5

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
228.994229.835228.694-1.2-0.1-0.5

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
189.739191.010189.142-6.1-0.3-1.0

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
349.624349.445349.8891.80.10.1

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
336.376336.674336.2041.7-0.1-0.1

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
190.904191.582189.574-8.3-0.7-1.0

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
284.613284.914284.4891.70.0-0.1

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
288.130288.433287.9711.5-0.1-0.2

Footnotes
(1) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
(2) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 1977=100 base.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, November 12, 2020