Consumer Gas Prices Fall While Food Costs Rise
The overall Consumer Price Index stayed steady in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to a Labor Department report [link opens in PDF] released today.
While another dip (2.3%) in gasoline prices would have brought down the index, coinciding increases in food (0.2%) and shelter (0.1%) offset any major changes. Natural gas prices rose 1.3% in December. Excluding food and energy, prices increased 0.1% month to month.
Over the last 12 months, the CPI has increased 1.7%, and 1.9% excluding food and energy.
Looking back on 2012, the CPI's 1.7% increase over the year -- after a 2011 increase of 3% -- is the third smallest price rise in the past 10 years. The energy index increased 0.5% in 2012, compared to 6.6% in 2011, while the food index bumped up 1.8% after a 4.7% rise in 2011.
Source: Labor Department.
The article Consumer Gas Prices Fall While Food Costs Rise originally appeared on Fool.com.
You can follow Justin Loiseau on Twitter, @TMFJLo, and on Motley Fool CAPS, @TMFJLo.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
