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News Release Information

21-2011-PHI
Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

Consumer Price Index, Northeast Region – October 2021

Regional prices up 0.6 percent over the month; up 5.4 percent over the year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Northeast rose 0.6 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the increase was largely due increases in the energy index and the all items less food and energy index, up 4.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively. The food index also increased in October, up 0.8 percent. (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 5.4 percent, the largest such increase in just over 13 years. (See chart 1 and table A.) The all items less food and energy index was mostly responsible for the over-the-year increase, up 3.7 percent, and the energy index jumped 30.8 percent. The food index also advanced over the year, up 4.9 percent. (See table 1.)

Food

Food prices increased 0.8 percent in October following a 0.9 percent increase in September. Of the two components within the food index, prices for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) rose 1.2 percent and prices for food at home (groceries) increased 0.4 percent over the month. That was the largest 1-month increase for food away from home in the over 34 year history of that index. Within the food at home group, prices were higher for the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs group (up 1.3 percent) as well as the nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials group (up 1.2 percent) although there were areas that posted declines such as fruits and vegetables (down 0.1 percent).

From October 2020 to October 2021, the food index increased 4.9 percent, the largest rise in over 12 years. Grocery food prices rose 4.0 percent over the year, the highest since the end of 2020, and prices for food away from home increased 6.2 percent which was higher than any such increase since February 1982.

Energy

The energy index rose 4.1 percent in October led by an increase in the index for gasoline (4.5 percent). Prices also rose for utility (piped) gas service, up 7.2 percent – the largest 1-month increase in nearly a year, while those for electricity inched up 0.1 percent over the month.

On an annual basis, the Northeast energy index reflected months of significant increases, recording a 30.8-percent increase, the highest since July 2008. Over the year, the index for gasoline was higher than at any point since January 2010, jumping 49.1 percent. Prices for utility (piped) gas service and electricity also increased, up 25.6 and 8.6 percent, respectively; these were also the largest increases in years: utility (piped) gas since July 2008 and electricity since February 2015.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy edged up 0.3 percent in October. Among the index’s components, prices were higher for new and used motor vehicles (2.1 percent) after 3 months of slight declines. Within that category, prices for used cars and trucks increased 2.7 percent and those for new vehicles rose 1.8 percent. Prices were also higher for owners’ equivalent rent of residences (0.2 percent), household furnishings and operations (0.8 percent), and recreation (0.7 percent) over the month.

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy increased 3.7 percent. Annual increases in the indexes for new and used motor vehicles (17.0 percent)—more specifically, used cars and trucks (27.8 percent) —and shelter (2.2 percent) were the major contributing factors.  While it had less of a contribution to the overall index change, the 11.1 percent 12-month rise in the new vehicle index was the largest in the history of that index which began in December 1978.

Table A. Northeast region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20172018201920202021
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.62.50.51.60.31.50.72.30.41.1

February

0.32.60.41.70.21.30.32.40.41.2

March

-0.12.20.12.00.51.7-0.21.70.62.1

April

0.31.90.42.10.41.7-0.40.80.73.3

May

0.11.70.42.50.31.50.00.60.63.9

June

0.01.50.02.60.11.60.30.81.04.6

July

-0.21.30.02.70.11.70.41.10.24.3

August

0.31.60.22.70.11.50.11.10.14.4

September

0.51.90.12.20.01.40.11.20.34.6

October

-0.11.5-0.12.3-0.11.5-0.21.10.65.4

November

0.01.6-0.41.90.11.90.11.1

December

0.11.7-0.11.7-0.11.90.21.4
Geographic divisions

Additional price indexes are now available for the two divisions of the Northeast. Over the month, the all items CPI-U was 0.9 percent higher in the New England division, while prices in the Middle Atlantic division rose 0.5 percent.

Over the year, prices rose in the New England division (5.6 percent). The all items index also rose in the Middle Atlantic division, up 5.4 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

0.65.4

New England Division

0.95.6

Middle Atlantic Division

0.55.4

The Consumer Price Index for November 2021 is scheduled to be released on Friday, December 10, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on October 2021 Consumer Price Index Data

Data collection by personal visit for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program has been suspended almost entirely 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 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 categoryIndexesPercent change from
Historical
data
Aug.
2021
Sep.
2021
Oct.
2021
Oct.
2020
Aug.
2021
Sep.
2021

All items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0
285.630286.423288.2365.40.90.6

All items (December 1977 = 100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100AA0
449.780451.029453.884   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF
282.961285.289287.2644.71.50.7

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF1
283.919286.517288.6704.91.70.8

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF11
266.563268.880270.0044.01.30.4

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF111
315.297318.334318.5873.91.00.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF112
284.185284.630288.2737.91.41.3

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFJ
237.133242.373242.7962.72.40.2

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF113
323.268326.956326.4940.61.0-0.1

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF114
182.802184.249186.4163.92.01.2

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF115
236.327238.198238.0653.60.7-0.1

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEFV
313.536316.597320.3716.22.21.2

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAF116
269.351267.982267.5331.0-0.7-0.2

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH
302.869303.670304.6374.10.60.3

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH1
375.128375.444374.9862.20.0-0.1

Rent of primary residence

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHA
375.419376.101376.8311.30.40.2

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC
387.353387.819388.6191.80.30.2

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHC01
387.018387.483388.2851.80.30.2

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH2
242.377244.785252.66615.94.23.2

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH21
213.103215.583223.70418.45.03.8

Energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF
212.975214.547219.60013.63.12.4

Electricity

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF01
218.971218.897219.1858.60.10.1

Utility (piped) gas service

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEHF02
185.538190.139203.91725.69.97.2

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAH3
129.555130.754131.8338.21.80.8

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAA
126.770129.301128.2695.21.2-0.8

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT
229.115227.953233.25317.01.82.3

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAT1
226.958226.600232.15120.12.32.4

New and used motor vehicles(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA
114.688113.903116.32517.01.42.1

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA01
154.521157.135159.98411.13.51.8

New cars and trucks(2)(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS4501A
107.112108.984110.97111.23.61.8

New cars(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS45011
144.901146.816149.37511.43.11.7

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETA02
207.501200.592205.92327.8-0.82.7

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB
267.920270.912283.29948.95.74.6

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETB01
266.967269.979282.23749.15.74.5

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47014
264.312267.337279.88050.75.94.7

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47015
283.329286.199297.38342.15.03.9

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SS47016
274.025276.861286.89438.74.73.6

Motor vehicle insurance(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SETE
615.703616.376619.0735.90.50.4

Medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM
549.119549.485550.2960.50.20.1

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM1
379.075382.207385.545-0.31.70.9

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAM2
599.010598.502598.5120.7-0.10.0

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEMC
421.814420.742420.9363.4-0.20.0

Recreation(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAR
131.560131.655132.5162.80.70.7

Education and communication(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAE
151.672152.328152.6012.40.60.2

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

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SEEB
1,336.2471,341.1661,343.9862.40.60.2

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAG
529.842533.200536.0304.41.20.5

Commodity and service group

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAC
206.479207.957210.78510.62.11.4

Commodities less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL11
165.194166.255169.28615.12.51.8

Nondurables less food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL11
206.549209.180212.85315.43.11.8

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAD
116.435116.298118.51314.71.81.9

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAS
361.603361.742362.5872.80.30.2

Special aggregate indexes

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L2
254.791255.757258.3847.21.41.0

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L5
274.030274.843276.7035.91.00.7

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SACL1
169.049170.051173.00614.42.31.7

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SAN
244.363246.859249.7289.22.21.2

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SANL1
210.212212.603216.03014.22.81.6

Services less rent of shelter(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL2RS
359.289359.250361.5203.30.60.6

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SASL5
345.246345.430346.3333.00.30.3

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0E
235.385238.073247.92530.85.34.1

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0LE
293.846294.476295.5803.90.60.4

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0100SA0L1E
297.478297.763298.6883.70.40.3

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, November 10, 2021