Consumer Prices Inched Up 0.1% in February

Washington, DC, March 11, 2020-The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1%  in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.3% before seasonal adjustment.

Increases in the indexes for shelter and for food were the main causes of the increase in the seasonally adjusted all items index, more than offsetting a decline in the energy index. The food index increased 0.4% over the month, with the food at home index rising 0.5%, its largest monthly increase since May 2014. The index for energy fell 2.0% in February, with all of its major component indexes declining.   

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2% in February, the same increase as in January. Along with the index for shelter, the indexes for apparel, personal care, used cars and trucks, education, and medical care were among those that increased in February. The indexes for recreation and airline fares declined over the month.