CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – MARCH 2021

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent

in March on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.4 percent in February,

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The March 1-month increase

was the largest rise since a 0.6-percent increase in August 2012. Over the last

12 months, the all items index increased 2.6 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index continued to increase, rising 9.1 percent in March and

accounting for nearly half of the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items

index. The natural gas index also rose, contributing to a 5.0-percent increase

in the energy index over the month. The food index rose 0.1 percent in March,

with the food at home index and the food away from home index both also rising

0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in March. The

shelter index increased in March as did the motor vehicle insurance index, the

recreation index, and the household furnishings and operations index. Indexes

which decreased over the month include apparel and education.

The all items index rose 2.6 percent for the 12 months ending March, a much

larger increase than the 1.7-percent reported for the period ending in February.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6 percent over the last

12 months, after increasing 1.3 percent over the 12 month period ending in

February. The food index rose 3.5 percent over the last 12 months, while the

energy index increased 13.2 percent over that period.