Midwest CPI rises 2.8% year-to-year

The Midwest Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers rose 2.8 percent to 215.17 in December, compared to 209.27 in the same month the previous year, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The CPI - which shows changes in the prices of energy, food and all other items - is measured in comparison to a base period between 1982-84. A typical market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 cost $215.17 in December, not seasonally adjusted.

The energy index in December rose 5.9 percent to 224.76 compared to the same month last year, while the index for food increased 4.7 percent to 224.46 and the index for all other items was 215.80, a 2.1 percent rise, according to the BLS.

Despite a year-to-year rise, the overall December index was down 0.2 percent compared to November, when the index was 215.65.

December highlights:

• Prices for food at home increased by 6 percent year-to-year and 0.1 percent month-to-month, while prices for food away from home also rose in both time periods, by 2.9 percent from December 2010 and by 0.3 percent from November.
• Despite a 3.2 percent drop in prices of apparel from November to December, last month's prices were 5.6 percent higher than the previous year.
• Motor fuel, which was down 3.3 percent month-to-month, increased by 9.6 percent from the prior year.

The Midwest region comprises Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.[[In-content Ad]]