Midwest consumer prices rise despite energy cost drop

While fuel prices fell, the Midwest Consumer Price Index increased 1 percent in October compared with the same month a year earlier.

The October CPI in the Midwest was 227.36, according to a news release.

The CPI – which reflects price changes for energy, food and all other items – is measured in comparison to a base period of 1982-84. A typical market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 cost $227.36 last month. The index is not seasonally adjusted, and items are weighted based on their spending significance in certain areas, according to the BLS.

The energy index dropped 2.9 percent year to year, largely due to a 7.7 percent decrease in motor fuel prices. Costs for piped utility gas services rose by 3.8 percent, while electricity prices moved up 0.7 percent, according to the release.

The food category registered a 0.2 percent decline from October 2015. Prices for food at home decreased 2 percent, marking the 13th consecutive year-to-year decline. Costs for food at home rose 2.6 percent over the last 12 months.

Minus energy and food, the Midwest CPI rose 1.7 percent last month. Offsetting those industries was a 1.6 percent increase in the cost of apparel, 0.4 percent bump in medical care services and 0.2 percent increase in rent, according to the release.