Consumer Prices Rose 0.4% in March

Washington, DC, April 10, 2019--The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.2% in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. 

Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.9% before seasonal adjustment.

The energy index increased 3.5% in March, accounting for about 60% of the seasonally adjusted all items monthly increase. The gasoline index increased sharply, and the electricity index also rose, although the natural gas index declined. The food index also increased in March, with the indexes for food at home and food away from home both continuing to rise.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1% in March, the same increase as in February. The indexes for shelter, medical care, new vehicles, recreation, education, and tobacco were among those that increased in March, while the indexes for apparel, used cars and trucks, and airline fares all declined.