Consumer price index rises 0.3% in December

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly Consumer Price Index Summary on Dec. 11, showing that the all-items index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending in November.

On a monthly basis, the November all-items index rose 0.3 percent, after rising 0.2 percent in each of the previous four months.

The shelter index rose 0.3 percent in November from October, while the food index rose 0.4 percent. Shelter and food contributed nearly 40% of the monthly increase for all items.

The index for all items less food and energy – known as core inflation – rose 0.3% in November, the same as in the previous three months. Indices that rose in November include: shelters, used cars and trucks, furniture and household operations, medical care, new vehicles and recreation. Communications was among the indices that fell during the month.

On a year-over-year basis, core inflation in November rose 3.3%. The year-on-year energy index fell by 3.2%, while the food index increased by 2.4%.