KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.5% in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Mountain-Plains Region reported Thursday. 

The all items less food and energy index increased 0.6%, led by an increase in the index for owners’ equivalent rent of residences. Food prices increased 0.3% over the month. A decline in the index for energy (-1.0%) was almost entirely driven by falling natural gas service prices. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)

The Midwest region is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U advanced 5.6%. The index for all items less food and energy increased 5.0% over the year, while food prices advanced 10.2%. Energy prices rose 2.8% over the same period.

Food

Food prices increased 0.3% for the month of February. Prices for food at home (grocery store products) similarly rose 0.3%, while prices for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) advanced 0.4% for the same period. Within the food at home category, prices paid for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (+1.6%) and other food at home (+0.7%) contributed most to the over-the-month increase. Declining prices for fruits and vegetables (-0.7%) somewhat moderated these increases.

Over the year, food prices advanced 10.2%. Prices for food at home rose 10.8% since a year ago, with all six major grocery store food group indexes contributing to the rise. The other food at home index (which includes sugar, sweets, fats, and oils) contributed the most to the rise at 14.0%. Prices for food away from home rose 9.3% over the same period.

Energy

The energy index fell 1.0% over the month. The decrease was almost entirely due to lower prices for natural gas service (-5.7%), but the index for electricity also declined (-0.1%). An increase in the index for gasoline (+0.2%) somewhat offset these decreases.

From February 2022 to February 2023, energy prices rose 2.8%, largely due to higher prices for electricity (+7.2%) and natural gas service (+6.6%). Partially offsetting the rise was a decrease in prices paid for gasoline (-1.2%) for the same period.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.6% in February. The over-the-month increase was most driven by higher prices for owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+0.6%), household furnishings and operations (+1.8%), and apparel (+3.6%). Partially offsetting the rise were declining prices paid for used cars and trucks (-1.5%) and medical care services (-0.3%).

Over the year, the index for all items less food and energy increased 5.0%. The largest component contributing to the increase was owners’ equivalent rent of residences (+6.7%), establishing a new series high. Increases to rent of primary residence (+7.2%), and household furnishings and operations (+7.3%) also made notable contributions. Partly offsetting these increases was a decline in prices paid for used cars and trucks (-13.7%).

Background

The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. 

It is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors’ and dentists’ services, drugs, and the other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Each month, prices are collected in 75 urban areas across the country from about 6,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 retail establishments--department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.

The March 2023 Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Region is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 12.