Consumer Prices Posted Modest Increase in December

Washington, DC, January 14, 2020-- The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.3% in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. 

Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.3% before seasonal adjustment.

The indexes for gasoline, shelter, and medical care all rose in December, accounting for most of the increase in the seasonally adjusted all items index. 

The gasoline index increased 2.8% in December. Other major energy component indexes were mixed, and the energy index rose 1.4%. The food index rose 0.2% in December with the indexes for both food at home and food away from home increasing over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1% in December after increasing 0.2% in November. Along with the indexes for shelter and medical care, the indexes for apparel, motor vehicle insurance, recreation, and new vehicles all increased in December. The indexes for used cars and trucks, household furnishings and operations, and airline fares were among those to decline.    

The all items index increased 2.3% for the 12 months ending December, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending October 2018. The index for all items less food and energy also rose 2.3% over the last 12 months, the same increase as the periods ending October and November. The food index rose 1.8% over the last 12 months, while the energy index increased 3.4%.