CPI for all items rises 0.6% in April; shelter and gasoline up

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after rising 0.9 percent in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.8 percent before seasonal adjustment.

• The index for energy rose 3.8 percent in April, accounting for more than 40 percent of the monthly increase in the all items index.
• The shelter index also increased in April, rising 0.6 percent.
• The food index increased 0.5 percent over the month, as
• The index for food at home rose 0.7 percent and the index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent.
• The energy index increased 17.9 percent over the 12 months ending in April, while the food index rose 3.2 percent over the last year.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in April. Indexes that increased over the month included household furnishings and operations, airline fares, personal care, apparel, and education. Conversely, indexes for new vehicles, communication, and medical care were among the major categories that decreased in April.