Average Energy Prices, Atlanta – March 2013

Gasoline prices averaged $3.646 a gallon in the Atlanta area in March 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that area gasoline prices were down 12.1 cents compared to last March when they averaged $3.767 per gallon. Atlanta area households paid an average of 1.458 per therm of utility (piped) gas in March 2013, more than the $1.352 per therm paid in March 2012. The average cost of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity at 10.8 cents in March was less than the 11.3 cents paid last year. (Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)

Atlanta area consumers paid $3.646 per gallon of gasoline compared to the $3.792 paid nationally in March 2013. The local price of a gallon of gasoline has been lower than the national average by 10 cents or more in the month of March for the last three years. (See chart 1.)

The 10.8 cents per kWh Atlanta households paid for electricity in March 2013 was 15.6 percent less than the nationwide average of 12.8 cents per kWh. Last March, electricity costs were 11.0 percent lower in Atlanta compared to the nation. In each of the past five years, prices paid by Atlanta area consumers for electricity were at least 11 percent less than the U.S. average in the month of March. (See chart 2.)

Prices paid by Atlanta area consumers for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were $1.458 per therm, or 46.7 percent more compared to the national average in March 2013 (99.4 cents per therm). A year earlier, area consumers paid 38.2 percent more per therm for natural gas compared to the nation. In four of the past five years, the per therm cost for natural gas in March was at least 30 percent more in the Atlanta area versus the U.S. average. (See chart 3.)

The Atlanta, Ga. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton Counties in Georgia.

Technical Note

Average prices are estimated from Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for selected commodity series to support the research and analytic needs of CPI data users. Average prices for electricity, utility (piped) gas, and gasoline are published monthly for the U.S. city average, the 4 regions, the 3 population size classes, 10 region/size-class cross-classifications, and the 14 largest local index areas. For electricity, average prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and per 500 kWh are published. For utility (piped) gas, average prices per therm, per 40 therms, and per 100 therms are published. For gasoline, the average price per gallon is published. Average prices for commonly available grades of gasoline are published as well as the average price across all grades.

Price quotes for 40 therms and 100 therms of utility (piped) gas and for 500 kWh of electricity are collected in sample outlets for use in the average price programs only. Since they are for specified consumption amounts, they are not used in the CPI. All other price quotes used for average price estimation are regular CPI data.

With the exception of the 40 therms, 100 therms, and 500 kWh price quotes, all eligible prices are converted to a price per normalized quantity. These prices are then used to estimate a price for a defined fixed quantity.

The average price per kilowatt-hour represents the total bill divided by the kilowatt-hour usage. The total bill is the sum of all items applicable to all consumers appearing on an electricity bill including, but not limited to, variable rates per kWh, fixed costs, taxes, surcharges, and credits. This calculation also applies to the average price per therm for utility (piped) gas.

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Southeast Information Office, Suite 7T50, 61 Forsyth St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303

www.bls.gov/ro4 | Telephone: 1-404-893-4222 | Contact Southeast Region (R04)