U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics13-321-SAN
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Prices in the greater Anchorage area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.7 percent in the second half of 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted that this latest six-month period increase was influenced by higher prices for shelter and apparel. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)
Over the past 12 months, the CPI-U rose 2.0 percent. (See chart 1.) Energy prices declined 2.0 percent, mainly due to a decrease in the price of gasoline. The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.5 percent over the year.
Food
Food prices declined 0.3 percent in the second half of 2012. (See table 1.) Prices for food at home edged down 0.1 percent for the past six months. Prices for food away from home were virtually unchanged for the same period.
For the year ending in the second half of 2012, food prices rose 1.4 percent. Prices for food at home advanced 1.0 percent during the past 12 months, and prices for food away from home increased 2.1 percent.
Energy
Energy prices decreased 5.9 percent since the first half of 2012. Lower prices for electricity(-6.9 percent), gasoline (-5.9 percent), and natural gas service (-5.3 percent) all contributed to the decrease.
Energy prices declined 2.0 percent over the year. The decreases were influenced by declines in electricity prices (-5.8 percent), natural gas service prices (-1.4 percent) and gasoline prices (-0.8 percent).
