America’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5 per cent for December 2021, based on the latest results from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS).

The all-items index rose seven per cent year-over-year. The all-items less food and energy index climbed 0.6 per cent in December.

The index shelter index increased by 0.4 per cent. The indexes for new vehicles and used cars and trucks rose one per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.

The prices for medical care rose 0.3 per cent, household furnishings and operations rose 1.1 per cent and apparel rose 1.7 per cent. The indexes for airline fares (+2.7 per cent), tobacco (+0.7 per cent), education (+0.1 per cent) and personal care (+0.5 per cent) increased in December.

Communication index remained unchanged

Whereas the motor vehicle insurance index and recreation index fell in December by 1.5 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively, the communication index remained unchanged over the month. The index for food rose 0.5 per cent in December, while the index for food at home increased 0.4 per cent.

The index for fruits and vegetables increased the most, rising 0.9 per cent over the month as the index for fresh fruits increased 1.8 per cent. The non-alcoholic beverages index increased 0.8 per cent in December.

The food away from home index rose 0.6 per cent while the index for other food at home increased by 0.7 per cent over the month. The food away from home index rose 0.6 per cent in December.

The index for fruits and vegetables climbed one per cent in December. The index for dairy and related products climbed 0.7 per cent and the index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.4 per cent in December.

The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined 0.4 per cent in December. The index for energy fell 3.5 per cent in December.

A 0.5 per cent decrease was recorded in the gasoline index. Meanwhile, the index for natural gas decreased 1.2 per cent whereas the electricity index increased 0.3 per cent in December.