U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics13-322-SAN
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Prices in the greater Honolulu 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 food. (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 rose 1.4 percent, mainly due to an increase in the price of gasoline. The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.7 percent over the year.
Food
Food prices increased 0.9 percent in the second half of 2012. (See table 1.) Prices for food at home were up 0.6 percent for the past six months. Prices for food away from home advanced 1.5 percent for the same period.
For the year ending in the second half of 2012, food prices rose 3.8 percent. Prices for food at home moved up 2.9 percent during the past 12 months, and prices for food away from home increased 4.5 percent.
Energy
The energy index decreased 0.9 percent since the first half of 2012. This decrease was influenced by lower prices for natural gas service (-3.5 percent) and gasoline (-2.1 percent). In contrast, prices for electricity increased 0.5 percent.
Energy prices moved up 1.4 percent over the year. This was mainly due to a 3.7 percent increase in gasoline prices. Prices for electricity were unchanged, while prices for natural gas service decreased 1.3 percent.
