By Nick Dobbins
March 2021
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.3 percent in January the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The gasoline index continued to increase, rising 6.4 percent and accounting for over half of the increase in the all items index. The electricity and natural gas indices also increased, and the energy index rose 3.9 percent. The food index rose 0.2 percent, with the index for food at home and the index for food away from home both rising. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in February. The indices for shelter, recreation, medical care, and motor vehicle insurance all increased. The indices for airline fares, used cars and trucks, and apparel all declined.
The all items index rose 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending February, a larger increase than the 1.4 percent reported for the period ending in January. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.3 percent over the last 12 months, a smaller increase than the 1.4-percent rise for the 12 months ending January. The food index rose 3.6 percent, while the energy index increased 2.4 percent.
