1a consumerpriceindex_midwest (april 2019)N EWS RELEASE Q�Q�4� SNT oFl��P
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
U. S. D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R��
C BLS ��rrATESO�P
For Release: Friday, May 10, 2019 19-792-KAN
MOUNTAIN -PLAINS INFORMATION OFFICE: Kansas City, Mo.
Technical information: (816) 285-7000 BLSInfoKansasCity@bls.gov www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains
Media contact: (816) 285-7000
Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region — April 2019
Prices in the Midwest up 0.3 percent in April and 1.5 percent higher over the year
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI -U) in the Midwest rose 0.3 percent in April
following a gain of 0.6 percent in the prior month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The
April movement was influenced by higher prices for gasoline and shelter. Overall, energy costs were up 4.8
percent, while prices for food edged down 0.1 percent. The index for all items less food and energy turned
down a slight 0.1 percent after rising in each of the prior three months. (Data in this report are not
seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)
The CPI -U for the Midwest rose 1.5 percent over the latest 12 months. (See chart 1 and table A.) The energy
index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, rose 1.8 percent. Food prices increased 0.8 percent.
The index for all items less food and energy was up 1.6 percent from April 2018 to April 2019. (See table
1.)
Chart 1. Over -the -year percent change in CPI -U, Midwest region, April 016�April 201'
Percent change
y.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Apr Jul Oct Jan
°16
Source: U.S. Bureau at La bar Statistics.
- AJI items
Al items less food and energy
Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr
1'7 'is 119
Food
Food prices in the Midwest edged down for the second month in a row, down 0.1 percent in April, led by a
0.3 -percent decrease in prices for food at home. Prices for food away from home rose a slight 0.2 percent
over the month and moderated the decline.
From April 2018 to April 2019, the index for food advanced 0.8 percent. Costs for food away from home
were up 2.5 percent and prices for food at home were down 0.5 percent over the year.
Energy
The energy index continued to increase for the third month in a row up 4.8 percent in April. The monthly
gain reflected a 9.4 -percent rise in prices for gasoline. Lower prices for utility (piped) gas service (-2.4
percent) did little to moderate the increase.
Energy costs rose 1.8 percent since April 2018 due to increases in the prices for gasoline, 4.5 percent.
Prices for utility (piped) gas service and electricity declined, 3.7 percent and 0.4 percent respectively, from a
year ago.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy for the Midwest crept down 0.1 percent following three
consecutive monthly increases. Among the expenditure categories that registered lower costs were medical
care services (-1.1 percent) and apparel (-1.5 percent), while prices for shelter (0.2 percent) were among
those that increased over the month.
The index for all items less food and energy was up 1.6 percent from April 2018 to April 2019. Higher costs
for shelter (3.5 percent) were among those that contributed to the increase.
The Midwest Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI -U) stood at 237.510 in April 2019. A
typical market basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in the 1982-84 base period cost $237.51 in
April 2019.
CPI -W
In April, the Midwest Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI -W) was
231.726. The CPI -W rose 0.4 percent in April and advanced 1.6 percent over the year.
Table A. Midwest region CPI -U 1 -month and 12 -month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally
adjusted
Month
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
12-
12-
12-
12-
12-
1 -month
1 -month
1 -month
1 -month
1 -month
month
month
month
month
month
January ..............................................
-0.6
-0.3
0.3
0.8
0.7
2.2
0.6
1.6
0.2
0.8
February ............................................
0.3
-0.5
0.0
0.4
0.2
2.4
0.2
1.7
0.7
1.3
March ................................................
0.6
-0.9
0.6
0.5
0.1
1.9
0.2
1.8
0.6
1.7
April ...................................................
0.1
-1.1
0.4
0.8
0.4
1.8
0.4
1.8
0.3
1.5
May ....................................................
0.4
-0.8
0.4
0.8
0.0
1.4
0.5
2.3
June ...................................................
0.5
-0.7
0.6
0.8
0.0
0.9
0.2
2.5
July ....................................................
0.0
-0.5
-0.5
0.4
0.0
1.3
0.0
2.4
August ...............................................
0.0
-0.3
0.1
0.6
0.3
1.5
0.0
2.1
September .........................................
-0.3
-0.8
0.2
1.1
0.3
1.5
0.1
1.9
October ..............................................
-0.1
-0.3
-0.1
1.0
-0.2
1.5
0.1
2.2
November ..........................................
-0.5
-0.2
-0.3
1.2
0.2
1.9
-0.6
1.4
December ..........................................
-0.6
0.0
0.11
1.8
-0.21
1.7
-0.4
1.3
The May 2019 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest region is scheduled to be released on
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
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/homchl7.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 Midwest region is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
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, Midwest Region, (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted)
Expenditure category
Indexes
Percent change from
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Feb.
Mar.
2019
2019
2019
2018
2019
2019
All items...........................................................
235.444
236.793
237.510
1.5
0.9
0.3
All items (December 1977 = 100) ....................
383.081
385.275
386.441
Food and beverages ...................................
247.108
246.618
246.391
0.8
-0.3
-0.1
Food .........................................................
246.428
245.913
245.689
0.8
-0.3
-0.1
Food at home .......................................
228.347
227.372
226.719
-0.5
-0.7
-0.3
Cereals and bakery products ...........
260.329
259.057
257.264
-0.9
-1.2
-0.7
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........
246.053
246.636
246.965
-1.6
0.4
0.1
Dairy and related products ...............
193.663
195.000
194.063
-1.8
0.2
-0.5
Fruits and vegetables .......................
276.639
272.508
269.574
0.6
-2.6
-1.1
Nonalcoholic beverages and
166.935
165.344
162.936
0.9
-2.4
-1.5
beverage materials ...........................
Other food at home ..........................
197.804
196.992
198.321
-0.3
0.3
0.7
Food away from home ..........................
276.590
276.762
277.182
2.5
0.2
0.2
Alcoholic beverages .................................
254.311
254.159
253.893
1.1
-0.2
-0.1
Housing.......................................................
230.869
231.701
231.999
2.8
0.5
0.1
Shelter ......................................................
276.593
278.067
278.535
3.5
0.7
0.2
Rent of primary residence(1)................
276.056
276.931
277.399
3.3
0.5
0.2
Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1
281.362
282.211
282.449
3.4
0.4
0.1
)(2) ........................................................
Owners' equivalent rent of primary
281.322
282.178
282.416
3.4
0.4
0.1
residence(1)(2).................................
Fuels and utilities ......................................
219.218
218.256
217.617
-0.3
-0.7
-0.3
Household energy ................................
176.604
175.292
174.666
-1.4
-1.1
-0.4
Energy services(1) ...........................
182.861
181.432
180.802
-1.4
-1.1
-0.3
Electricity(1)...................................
197.345
196.740
197.879
-0.4
0.3
0.6
Utility (piped) gas service(l) ..........
147.886
145.228
141.802
-3.7
-4.1
-2.4
Household furnishings and operations.....
115.854
115.904
116.256
1.4
0.3
0.3
Apparel........................................................
118.579
117.625
115.838
-3.3
-2.3
-1.5
Transportation .............................................
197.175
203.171
207.665
2.1
5.3
2.2
Private transportation ...............................
192.290
198.350
202.644
2.3
5.4
2.2
New and used motor vehicles(3)..........
97.417
98.225
98.142
1.5
0.7
-0.1
New vehicles ....................................
137.174
138.817
138.861
1.3
1.2
0.0
New cars and trucks(3)(4).............
97.025
98.129
98.155
1.3
1.2
0.0
New cars(4)...................................
133.619
134.805
134.809
1.1
0.9
0.0
Used cars and trucks ........................
138.090
139.498
139.697
0.5
1.2
0.1
Motor fuel .............................................
205.451
229.666
250.913
4.5
22.1
9.3
Gasoline (all types) ...........................
203.708
228.058
249.602
4.5
22.5
9.4
Gasoline, unleaded regular(4).......
197.880
222.025
243.301
4.5
23.0
9.6
Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(4)
236.046
263.142
286.308
5.0
21.3
8.8
(5) ..................................................
Gasoline, unleaded premium(4)....
229.206
250.871
271.531
4.2
18.5
8.2
Motor vehicle insurance(6)...................
746.614
744.816
737.005
0.5
-1.3
-1.0
Medical care ................................................
491.532
491.086
487.594
1.1
-0.8
-0.7
Medical care commodities ........................
390.920
391.406
394.680
0.8
1.0
0.8
Medical care services ...............................
525.252
524.491
518.705
1.1
-1.2
-1.1
Professional services ...........................
421.478
419.222
419.222
0.4
-0.5
0.0
Recreation(3)...............................................
121.032
121.194
120.985
-1.1
0.0
-0.2
Education and communication(3)................
137.823
137.446
137.404
0.0
-0.3
0.0
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI -U): Indexes and percent changes for selected
periods, Midwest Region, (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) (not seasonally adjusted) - Continued
Expenditure category
Indexes
Percent change from
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Feb.
Mar.
2019
2019
2019
2018
2019
2019
Tuition, other school fees, and child
1,200.651
1,200.553
1,200.610
1.8
0.0
0.0
care(6)......................................................
Other goods and services ...........................
431.938
431.444
432.934
1.6
0.2
0.3
Commodity and service group
Commodities ...............................................
177.477
179.531
181.219
0.7
2.1
0.9
Commodities less food and beverages ....
144.252
147.172
149.505
0.7
3.6
1.6
Nondurables less food and beverages.
188.364
194.239
199.681
1.0
6.0
2.8
Durables ...............................................
101.650
102.280
102.266
0.2
0.6
0.0
Services.......................................................
295.269
295.863
295.548
2.1
0.1
-0.1
Special aggregate indexes
All items less shelter ....................................
223.034
224.349
225.158
0.7
1.0
0.4
All items less medical care ..........................
223.321
224.755
225.673
1.6
1.1
0.4
Commodities less food ................................
147.634
150.489
152.767
0.7
3.5
1.5
Nondurables ................................................
217.123
220.064
222.893
0.9
2.7
1.3
Nondurables less food .................................
191.874
197.407
202.524
1.0
5.6
2.6
Services less rent of shelter(2)....................
324.391
324.009
322.804
0.7
-0.5
-0.4
Services less medical care services............
278.116
278.811
278.906
2.2
0.3
0.0
Energy.........................................................
189.411
200.004
209.577
1.8
10.6
4.8
All items less energy ...................................
242.951
243.374
243.197
1.5
0.1
-0.1
All items less food and energy .................
243.049
243.640
243.471
1.6
0.2
-0.1
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.
Note: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.