Consumer Price Index
MARCH 2017
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.3 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The March decline was the first 1-month decrease in the seasonally adjusted all items index since February 2016. A decline in the
gasoline index was the largest factor, with a decrease in the index for wireless telephone services also contributing.
The energy index declined 3.2 percent, with the gasoline index falling 6.2 percent, and other major energy component indexes
decreasing as well. The food index rose 0.3 percent, with the index for food at home increasing 0.5 percent, its largest increase since
May 2014.
The index for all items less food and energy fell 0.1 percent in March, its first decline since January 2010. The shelter index rose
0.1 percent, and the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, medical care, tobacco, airline fares, and alcoholic beverages also increased in
March. These increases were more than offset by declines in several indexes, including those for wireless telephone services, used cars
and trucks, new vehicles, and apparel.
The all items index rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending March, a smaller increase than the 2.7-percent rise for the period
ending February. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.0 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest 12-month increase
since November 2015. The energy index rose 10.9 percent over the last year, while the food index increased 0.5 percent.
Food
The food index rose 0.3 percent in March following a 0.2-percent increase in February. The index for food at home advanced 0.5
percent, as 4 of the 6 major grocery store food group indexes rose. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 1.6 percent, with the index
for fresh fruits rising 2.4 percent. The index for other food at home rose 0.7 percent after declining in February. The indexes for cereals
and bakery products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs both increased 0.3 percent. In contrast to these increases, the index for dairy
and related products fell 0.6 percent in March after rising in each of the 3 prior months. The index for nonalcoholic beverages also
declined, falling 0.1 percent after rising in February.
Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average
Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un-
adjusted
12-mos.
ended
Mar. 2017
Sep.
2016
Oct.
2016
Nov.
2016
Dec.
2016
Jan.
2017
Feb.
2017
Mar.
2017
All items ................................................. .3 .3 .2 .3 .6 .1 -.3 2.4
Food .................................................... .0 .0 .0 .0 .1 .2 .3 .5
Food at home .................................... -.2 -.2 -.1 -.2 .0 .3 .5 -.9
Food away from home 1 .................... .2 .1 .1 .2 .4 .2 .2 2.4
Energy ................................................. 2.4 2.5 1.0 1.2 4.0 -1.0 -3.2 10.9
Energy commodities .......................... 4.4 4.8 2.0 2.4 7.6 -2.8 -6.0 19.8
Gasoline (all types) .......................... 4.6 5.1 2.1 2.4 7.8 -3.0 -6.2 19.9
Fuel oil 1 .......................................... 2.4 5.9 -1.2 6.0 3.5 -.4 -.8 24.9
Energy services ................................. .6 .4 .0 .0 .3 1.0 -.3 3.4
Electricity ......................................... .5 .3 .0 .0 .0 .8 -.1 1.6
Utility (piped) gas service ................ .8 .9 .2 .1 1.5 1.5 -.8 10.3
All items less food and energy ............ .1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 -.1 2.0
Commodities less food and energy
commodities ................................ -.1 .0 -.2 .0 .4 .0 -.3 -.6
New vehicles ................................... .0 .2 .0 .1 .9 -.2 -.3 .2
Used cars and trucks ....................... -.2 -.1 .2 .2 -.4 -.6 -.9 -4.7
Apparel ............................................ -.5 .2 -.3 -.4 1.4 .6 -.7 .6
Medical care commodities ............... .6 .2 -.4 .5 .3 -.2 .2 3.9
Services less energy services ........... .2 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 -.1 2.9
Shelter ............................................. .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .3 .1 3.5
Transportation services ................... .0 -.1 .5 .5 .6 .7 .4 3.8
Medical care services ...................... .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 3.4
1 Not seasonally adjusted.
1 CPI Detailed Report-March 2017