What Happened to the CPI Market Baskets Prices in August 2009?
Figure 1 shows the increases or decreases in the price level of several components of the CPU-U. Note that while energy prices increased significantly, other categories of spending increased very little or decreased. How price changes in August impacted you are a result of your personal spending patterns. The CPI is an assessment of the impact of price changes on an “average” urban consumer with an “average” spending pattern. If you spend a large portion of your income on energy, you were impacted more in August than someone who does not spend as much on energy. Percent Changes in CPI All Urban Consumers U.S. City Average August 2009 August 2009 12 months Aug. – Aug. All Items .4 -1.5 Food .1 .4 Food at home .0 -1.6 Food away from home .1 3.0 Energy 4.6 -23.0 Energy commodities 8.5 -30.8 Gasoline 9.1 -30.0 Fuel oil 6.2 -39.9 Energy services .0 -10.6 Electricity -0.1 -1.2 All items less food and energy .1 1.4 New vehicles -1.3 .5 Used cars and trucks 1.9 -5.4 Apparel -.1 .6 Medical care
