Prices in the Boston area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), inched down 0.1 percent for the two months ending in September 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted that the September decrease was influenced by lower prices for all items less food and energy, led by lower prices within new and used motor vehicles and shelter, down 5.2 and 0.7 percent, respectively. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, bi-monthly changes may reflect seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U increased 4.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.) The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.7 percent over the year. Higher new and used motor vehicles and shelter costs, up 18.5 and 2.1 percent, respectively, led the increase. Energy prices jumped 26.1 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline. This was the second-largest annual increase in the local energy index since September 2008 (26.9 percent). Food prices increased 3.8 percent. (See table 1.)

Food

Food prices advanced 0.4 percent for the two months ending in September. (See table 1.) Prices for food away from home rose 1.0 percent, and prices for food at home inched down 0.1 percent for the same period.

Over the year, food prices increased 3.8 percent. Prices for food away from home jumped 10.2 percent since a year ago, and prices for food at home declined 0.6 percent. The annual increase for prices within food away from home was the highest since a 10.7 percent advance recorded in May 1984.

Energy

The energy index rose 1.8 percent for the two months ending in September. The increase was mainly due to higher prices for gasoline (2.4 percent). Prices for natural gas service advanced 2.2 percent, and prices for electricity rose 1.3 percent for the same period.

Energy prices jumped 26.1 percent over the year, largely due to higher prices for gasoline (42.9 percent). Prices paid for natural gas service jumped 22.8 percent, and prices for electricity increased 8.9 percent during the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy declined 0.4 percent in the latest two-month period. Lower prices for new and used motor vehicles (-5.2 percent), shelter (-0.7 percent) and recreation (-2.4 percent) were partially offset by higher prices for household furnishings and operations (3.7 percent) and apparel (5.7 percent).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy increased 2.7 percent. Components contributing to the increase included new and used motor vehicles (18.5 percent), shelter (2.1 percent) and household furnishings and operations (6.7 percent). Partly offsetting the increases was a price decrease in recreation (-1.7 percent). Within new and used motor vehicles and shelter, higher prices for used cars and trucks and owners’ equivalent rent of residences, up 27.7 and 2.1 percent, respectively, led the increases. 

CPI-W

In September, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was 294.003. The CPI-W was unchanged (0.0 percent) over two months and increased 4.4 percent over the year.

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

Technical Note

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H. Core Based Statistical Area covered in this release is comprised of Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts; Rockingham, Strafford Counties in New Hampshire.

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.