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News Release Information

21-894-PHI
Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – April 2021

Regional prices up 0.7 percent over the month; up 3.3 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast increased 0.7 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the recent increase reflected advances in the all items less food and energy index (0.7 percent) since March. The food index and the energy index also increased over the month, up 0.6 and 1.0 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 3.3 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) This reflected advances in the all items less food and energy index, up 2.5 percent, and the energy index, up 18.1 percent. The food index also rose since April 2020, up 1.7 percent. (See table 1.)

  Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in CPI-U, Northeast region, April 2018-April 2021
Food

The food index increased 0.6 percent since March. Prices were higher for both food at home and food away from home, up 0.8 and 0.5 percent, respectively.

From April 2020 to April 2021, the food index increased 1.7 percent. Prices for food away from home increased over the year, up 4.1 percent; those for food at home were unchanged over the year.

Energy

The energy index, which includes prices for household and transportation fuels, rose 1.0 percent in April, due to a 3.8-percent advance in electricity prices. Prices were also higher for gasoline (0.3 percent), while those for utility (piped) gas service inched down 0.1 percent over the month.

The energy index rose 18.1 percent since April 2020. The increase reflected a rise in prices for gasoline (35.0 percent). Prices for electricity and utility (piped) gas service also advanced over the year, up 3.5 and 5.7 percent, respectively.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.7 percent since March. Over-the-month price increases were led by used cars and trucks (9.7 percent), as well as shelter (0.3 percent) and public transportation (5.3 percent). Prices for apparel helped to moderate the overall rise, down 0.8 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.5 percent since April 2020, led by higher prices for new and used motor vehicles (10.6 percent), particularly those for used cars and trucks (21.2 percent). Prices also increased for shelter (1.5 percent), and household furnishings and operations (4.9 percent), among others, while medical care commodities declined, down 2.9 percent.

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month

January

0.6 2.5 0.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 0.7 2.3 0.4 1.1

February

0.3 2.6 0.4 1.7 0.2 1.3 0.3 2.4 0.4 1.2

March

-0.1 2.2 0.1 2.0 0.5 1.7 -02 1.7 0.6 2.1

April

0.3 1.9 0.4 2.1 0.4 1.7 -0.4 0.8 0.7 3.3

May

0.1 1.7 0.4 2.5 0.3 1.5 0.0 0.6

June

0.0 1.5 0.0 2.6 0.1 1.6 0.3 0.8

July

-0.2 1.3 0.0 2.7 0.1 1.7 0.4 1.1

August

0.3 1.6 0.2 2.7 0.1 1.5 0.1 1.1

September

0.5 1.9 0.1 2.2 0.0 1.4 0.1 1.2

October

-0.1 1.5 -0.1 2.3 -0.1 1.5 -0.2 1.1

November

0.0 1.6 -0.4 1.9 0.1 1.9 0.1 1.1

December

0.1 1.7 -0.1 1.7 -0.1 1.9 0.2 1.4
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U increased in the Middle Atlantic division, up 0.8 percent, and the New England division, up 0.5 percent.

Over the year, prices rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 3.5 percent. The all items index also rose in the New England division (2.7 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
Area 1-month change 12-month change

Northeast

0.7 3.3

New England Division

0.5 2.7

Middle Atlantic Division

0.8 3.5

The Consumer Price Index for May 2021 is scheduled to be released Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on April 2021 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 April 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 U.S. population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers approximately 29 percent of the total U.S. 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 6,000 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; for most of the CPI-U the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100. An increase of 7 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown as 107.000. Alternatively, that relationship can also be expressed as the price of a base period market basket of goods and services rising from $100 to $107. For further details see the CPI home page on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the CPI section of the BLS Handbook of Methods available on the internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cpi/.

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 individuals with sensory impairments 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 category Indexes Percent change from
Historical
data
Feb.
2021
Mar.
2021
Apr.
2021
Apr.
2020
Feb.
2021
Mar.
2021

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
276.473 278.197 280.234 3.3 1.4 0.7

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
435.361 438.075 441.283      

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
275.338 276.783 278.408 1.8 1.1 0.6

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
276.024 277.661 279.404 1.7 1.2 0.6

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
259.405 260.243 262.195 0.0 1.1 0.8

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
305.845 305.942 309.941 -1.1 1.3 1.3

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
264.981 267.033 271.443 1.0 2.4 1.7

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
239.434 239.061 236.485 -1.9 -1.2 -1.1

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
323.135 325.273 326.498 1.9 1.0 0.4

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
180.307 180.914 180.578 -0.6 0.2 -0.2

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
230.211 230.228 232.722 -0.6 1.1 1.1

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
304.423 307.319 308.751 4.1 1.4 0.5

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
265.449 264.273 264.290 2.1 -0.4 0.0

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
296.629 297.291 298.589 2.4 0.7 0.4

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
368.060 369.937 370.994 1.5 0.8 0.3

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
373.037 373.351 373.814 1.3 0.2 0.1

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
382.844 383.526 384.500 1.4 0.4 0.3

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
382.520 383.196 384.169 1.4 0.4 0.3

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
236.725 231.807 235.379 7.1 -0.6 1.5

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
207.974 202.646 206.020 7.5 -0.9 1.7

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
207.387 200.205 205.281 4.2 -1.0 2.5

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
212.415 201.762 209.376 3.5 -1.4 3.8

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
182.220 182.207 182.056 5.7 -0.1 -0.1

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
125.504 125.826 126.519 4.9 0.8 0.6

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
125.518 126.937 125.916 2.6 0.3 -0.8

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
204.854 210.476 216.319 12.4 5.6 2.8

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
200.630 207.196 212.347 13.7 5.8 2.5

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
99.098 101.246 106.106 10.6 7.1 4.8

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
145.605 146.136 147.518 2.4 1.3 0.9

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
100.909 101.285 102.251 2.4 1.3 1.0

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
137.258 137.174 138.243 3.9 0.7 0.8

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
157.018 160.571 176.132 21.2 12.2 9.7

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
222.021 242.183 242.832 34.7 9.4 0.3

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
221.060 241.208 241.857 35.0 9.4 0.3

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
218.055 238.438 238.981 36.3 9.6 0.2

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
237.307 256.052 258.571 28.2 9.0 1.0

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
232.903 250.493 251.661 26.8 8.1 0.5

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
603.610 610.393 609.564 7.2 1.0 -0.1

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
549.824 548.730 550.365 0.2 0.1 0.3

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
378.260 378.497 378.807 -2.9 0.1 0.1

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
600.187 598.682 600.724 0.8 0.1 0.3

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
417.577 415.405 418.685 4.4 0.3 0.8

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
128.468 128.684 129.835 1.1 1.1 0.9

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
149.138 149.349 149.478 1.7 0.2 0.1

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

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,310.643 1,311.727 1,311.727 0.8 0.1 0.0

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
513.550 520.572 522.862 2.3 1.8 0.4

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
194.769 197.254 199.229 5.5 2.3 1.0

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
152.419 155.199 157.217 8.4 3.1 1.3

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
194.410 199.422 199.655 8.9 2.7 0.1

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
104.831 105.749 108.724 7.7 3.7 2.8

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
354.874 355.873 357.972 2.1 0.9 0.6

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
244.859 246.534 248.927 4.2 1.7 1.0

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
264.420 266.273 268.330 3.6 1.5 0.8

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
156.434 159.124 161.101 8.1 3.0 1.2

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
234.350 237.662 238.568 4.8 1.8 0.4

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
198.566 203.208 203.428 8.3 2.4 0.1

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
352.782 352.858 356.127 2.8 0.9 0.9

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
337.972 339.144 341.246 2.3 1.0 0.6

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
213.744 218.736 221.008 18.1 3.4 1.0

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
285.709 287.157 289.199 2.4 1.2 0.7

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
289.246 290.670 292.778 2.5 1.2 0.7

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: Wednesday, May 12, 2021