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News Release Information

22-1160-SAN
Friday, June 10, 2022

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

Consumer Price Index, West Region — May 2022

Area prices were up 0.8 percent over the past month, up 8.3 percent from a year ago

Prices in the West Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.8 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) The May increase was influenced by higher prices for shelter, food, and gasoline. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)

Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U rose 8.3 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) Food prices rose 9.8 percent. Energy prices jumped 31.7 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 6.2 percent over the year. (See table 1.)

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in CPI-U, West Region, May 2019-May 2022
Food

Food prices advanced 1.2 percent for the month of May. (See table 1.) Prices for food at home rose 1.2 percent, led by higher prices for dairy and related products (3.2 percent) and meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (1.5 percent). Prices for food away from home increased 1.1 percent for the same period.

Over the year, food prices rose 9.8 percent. Prices for food at home jumped 11.9 percent since a year ago, with increases above 10.0 percent in five of the six grocery categories. Prices for food away from home rose 6.9 percent.

Energy

The energy index advanced 3.2 percent over the month. The increase was mainly due to higher prices for gasoline (3.5 percent). Prices for natural gas service increased 7.4 percent, and prices for electricity increased 1.2 percent for the same period.

Energy prices jumped 31.7 percent over the year, largely due to higher prices for gasoline (44.5 percent). Prices paid for natural gas service increased 22.2 percent, and prices for electricity rose 10.8 percent during the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.5 percent in May. Higher prices for shelter (0.5 percent), new and used motor vehicles (0.5 percent), and medical care (0.5 percent) were partially offset by lower prices for apparel (-0.4 percent), education and communication (-0.1 percent), and recreation (-0.1 percent).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy advanced 6.2 percent. Components contributing to the increase included new and used motor vehicles (13.0 percent), household furnishings and operations (8.0 percent), and shelter (5.9 percent).

Table A. West region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month20182019202020212022
1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month1-month12-month

January

0.53.10.22.70.32.90.21.40.97.7

February

0.53.10.22.40.43.10.51.60.88.1

March

0.43.20.42.4-0.22.50.72.41.38.7

April

0.43.20.82.9-0.41.31.03.90.78.3

May

0.53.50.52.90.10.80.84.70.88.3

June

0.23.60.02.70.41.20.95.1

July

0.13.60.02.70.51.70.65.2

August

0.23.60.12.60.31.90.25.0

September

0.33.40.32.60.01.60.25.3

October

0.43.50.52.80.21.20.86.0

November

-0.23.3-0.12.80.01.40.56.5

December

-0.23.1-0.22.8-0.11.50.47.1

The June 2022 Consumer Price Index for the West Region is scheduled to be released on July 13, 2022.


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measures 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 West Region covered in this release is comprised of the following thirteen states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes and percent changes for selected periods

West (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Item and Group

IndexesPercent change from-
Historical
data
Mar.
2022
Apr.
2022
May
2022
May
2021
Mar.
2022
Apr.
2022

Expenditure category

All Items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0
305.082307.145309.6458.31.50.8

All items (December 1977=100)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400AA0
493.149496.483500.524   

Food and beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF
306.818309.523312.9189.52.01.1

Food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF1
308.084310.827314.4569.82.11.2

Food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF11
293.496296.397299.99311.92.21.2

Cereals and bakery products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF111
294.139296.523300.15310.32.01.2

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF112
326.704333.278338.42415.03.61.5

Dairy and related products

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEFJ
260.589266.489275.02911.45.53.2

Fruits and vegetables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF113
378.227380.205381.6649.50.90.4

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF114
206.730207.667210.72611.11.91.5

Other food at home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF115
248.920249.705251.38012.11.00.7

Food away from home

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEFV
325.535327.934331.5296.91.81.1

Alcoholic beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAF116
286.615288.754288.6895.10.70.0

Housing

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAH
331.428333.144335.3116.71.20.7

Shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAH1
378.224380.733382.7265.91.20.5

Rent of primary residence(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHA
400.197402.333404.1985.01.00.5

Owners' equiv. rent of residences(1)(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHC
397.457399.367401.5195.71.00.5

Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence(1)(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHC01
397.286399.190401.3445.71.00.5

Fuels and utilities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAH2
368.276366.517373.46911.71.41.9

Household energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAH21
319.827316.902325.33013.81.72.7

Energy services(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHF
320.630317.845326.50813.31.82.7

Electricity(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHF01
355.794352.316356.64410.80.21.2

Utility (piped) gas service(1)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEHF02
258.683257.317276.35822.26.87.4

Household furnishings and operations

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAH3
152.223152.675153.4798.00.80.5

Apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAA
124.640122.895122.3826.0-1.8-0.4

Transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAT
274.446279.914285.18519.23.91.9

Private transportation

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAT1
273.820276.601280.41418.52.41.4

New and used motor vehicles(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETA
126.163127.166127.86013.01.30.5

New vehicles

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETA01
168.029169.815171.50511.62.11.0

New cars and trucks(3)(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SS4501A
116.755     

New cars(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SS45011
165.812168.523170.996 3.11.5

Used cars and trucks

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETA02
199.731198.827200.40716.00.30.8

Motor fuel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETB
405.789415.438430.13345.06.03.5

Gasoline (all types)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETB01
403.994412.907427.40944.55.83.5

Gasoline, unleaded regular(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SS47014
401.205409.882424.60645.15.83.6

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(4)(5)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SS47015
382.288391.619404.18543.05.73.2

Gasoline, unleaded premium(4)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SS47016
389.377398.622411.33941.85.63.2

Motor vehicle insurance(6)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SETE
      

Medical Care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAM
562.215563.983566.8734.50.80.5

Medical care commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAM1
431.541426.330427.3571.6-1.00.2

Medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAM2
602.602606.513609.9775.21.20.6

Professional services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEMC
386.169386.357387.7673.20.40.4

Recreation(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAR
123.430122.587122.4903.6-0.8-0.1

Education and communication(3)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAE
141.415141.206141.0340.4-0.3-0.1

Tuition, other school fees, and child care(6)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SEEB
1,564.4031,564.6651,566.4643.80.10.1

Other goods and services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAG
493.279497.305499.5465.51.30.5

Commodity and Service Group

All Items

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0
305.082307.145309.6458.31.50.8

Commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAC
222.597223.972226.27212.41.71.0

Commodities less food & beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SACL11
179.758180.579182.35614.31.41.0

Nondurables less food & beverages

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SANL11
238.360240.215243.62218.42.21.4

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SANL113
317.736321.910327.88921.83.21.9

Durables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAD
127.989128.152128.84010.50.70.5

Services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAS
380.009382.716385.3265.91.40.7

Rent of shelter(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAS2RS
403.006405.700407.8416.01.20.5

Transportation services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAS4
336.388349.770355.8568.35.81.7

Other services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAS367
381.540380.983381.2533.0-0.10.1

Special aggregate indexes:

All items less medical care

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0L5
293.260295.328297.8028.71.50.8

All items less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0L1
304.748306.706309.0318.11.40.8

All items less shelter

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0L2
276.446278.335281.0509.71.71.0

Commodities less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SACL1
184.078184.938186.69213.91.40.9

Nondurables

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SAN
273.103275.383278.80413.42.11.2

Nondurables less food

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SANL1
242.563244.446247.67717.42.11.3

Nondurables less food and apparel

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SANL13
314.412318.396323.82220.23.01.7

Services less rent of shelter(2)

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SASL2RS
393.397396.432399.9625.91.70.9

Services less medical care services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SASL5
364.466367.087369.6356.01.40.7

Energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0E
374.648378.794390.93531.74.33.2

All items less energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0LE
303.023304.966306.8546.81.30.6

All items less food and energy

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SA0L1E
302.993304.805306.4026.21.10.5

Commodities less food and energy commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SACL1E
160.890160.950161.4958.10.40.3

Energy commodities

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SACE
412.864422.320437.03244.95.93.5

Services less energy services

Go to web page with historical data for series CUUR0400SASLE
384.938387.970390.2455.61.40.6

Footnotes
(1) This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
(2) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
(3) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(4) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(5) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(6) Indexes on a December 1977=100 base.

- Data not available
Regions defined as the four Census regions. West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Data not seasonally adjusted.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, June 10, 2022