News
United States
Department
of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington, D.C. 20212
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Stephen B. Reed
(202) 691-7000
USDL-09-0511
CPI QUICKLINE:
(202) 691-6994
TRANSMISSION OF
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL
MATERIAL IN THIS
INFORMATION:
(202) 691-5200
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
MEDIA CONTACT:
(202) 691-5902
UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/
Friday, May 15, 2009
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: APRIL 2009
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in April before
seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This index
has fallen 0.7 percent over the last 12 months, due primarily to a 25.2 percent drop in energy prices. The year-
over-year declines in March and April are the first since 1955.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in April after declining 0.1 percent in March.
The energy index declined for the second straight month, falling 2.4 percent after declining 3.0 percent in
March. The indexes for motor fuel, fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity all declined in April. The food index
declined as well, falling 0.2 percent in April after a 0.1 percent decrease in March. The index for food away
from home increased, but the food at home index fell 0.6 percent with none of the six major grocery store food
groups posting an increase. Over the past year, the food index has risen 3.3 percent while the energy index has
declined 25.2 percent.
Offsetting the declines in the food and energy indexes was a 0.3 percent increase in the index for all
items less food and energy. Over 40 percent of the increase was due to a second consecutive large increase in
the tobacco index. The index rose 9.3 percent in April as an increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes went
into effect. A larger increase in the index for medical care, an increase in the index for ne