The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
For Release: Thursday, October 15, 2015
15-2022-ATL
SOUTHEAST INFORMATION OFFICE: Atlanta, Ga.
Technical information:
(404) 893-4222 BLSInfoAtlanta@bls.gov www.bls.gov/regions/southeast
Media contact:
(404) 893-4220
Consumer Price Index, South Region – September 2015
Prices down 0.2 percent over the month and 0.4 percent over the year
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the South edged down 0.2 percent in
September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The energy index declined by 4.8 percent over
the month. The all items less food and energy index rose 0.3 percent and the food index edged up 0.2 percent
in September. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may
reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)
Over the last 12 months, the all items CPI-U declined 0.4 percent, the ninth consecutive month of over-the-
year declines for this index. The all items less food and energy index advanced 1.9 percent over the year as
several categories within this group recorded increases. (See chart 1.)
Food
The food index edged up 0.2 percent in September. Prices for food at home increased 0.3 percent and prices
for food away from home inched up 0.1 percent over the month.
2
Since September 2014, the food index advanced 1.6 percent, reflecting price increases for both food away
from home and food at home, up 3.0 and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Energy
The energy index declined 4.8 percent in September, led by a 9.9-percent decrease in motor fuel prices. Over
the month electricity prices inched up 0.1 percent, while prices for utility (piped) gas service edged down 0.2
percent.
Over the year, energy prices fell 20.0 percent, reflecting a 33.5-percent drop in motor fuel prices. Prices for
electricity and utility (piped) gas service also declined over the year, down 1.9 and 10.1 percent, respectively.
All items less food and energy
The all items less food and energy index edged up 0.3 percent in September, as increases were noted in s