Consumer Prices Fell 0.1% in December

Washington, DC, January 20, 2016—The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers declined 0.1% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.

Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 0.7% before seasonal adjustment.

The indexes for energy and food both declined for the second month in a row, leading to the decline in the seasonally adjusted all items index. The energy index fell 2.4% as all major component energy indexes declined. The food index fell 0.2% as the index for food at home decreased 0.5%, led by a sharp decline in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1% in December, its smallest increase since August. The index for shelter continued to rise, and the indexes for medical care, household furnishings and operations, motor vehicle insurance, education, used cars and trucks, and tobacco also increased in December. However, a number of indexes declined, including those for apparel, airline fares, personal care, new vehicles, and communication.

The all items index rose 0.7% over the last 12 months, compared to the 0.5% 12 month increase for the period ending November. The food index rose 0.8% over the last 12 months, though the index for food at home declined. The energy index fell 12.6%, with all its major components decreasing. The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.1% over the last 12 months.