The index for used cars and trucks was the largest contributor with an increase of 10%.

The US Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.8 per cent for April 2021, with the biggest jump in consumer items coming from used cars and trucks.

The all-items index rose 4.2 per cent before seasonal adjustment over the last year. The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reports that the all-items less food and energy index climbed 0.9 per cent in April.

The index for used cars and trucks was the largest contributor with an increase of 10 per cent. The indexes for shelter, airline fares, recreation and household furnishings and operations rose 0.4 per cent, 10.2 per cent, 0.9 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively in April.

The indexes for motor vehicle insurance, car and truck rentals and new vehicles rose 2.5 per cent, 16.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively in April. The indexes for communication and apparel rose 0.4 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively.

The indexes for education, alcoholic beverages, personal care, and tobacco also increased over the month. The medical care index also climbed 0.1 per cent in April.

Food prices rose marginally in April

The index for food rose 0.4 per cent in April, while the index for food at home increased 0.4 per cent. The index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.8 per cent in April.

The index for dairy and related products climbed 0.6 per cent while the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.5 per cent in April, according to the US BLS. The non-alcoholic beverages index increased 0.3 per cent in April while the index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.4 per cent.

The food away from home index rose 0.3 per cent while the index for other food at home rose 0.1 per cent over the month. The index for energy fell 0.1 per cent in April. A 1.4 per cent decline was recorded in the gasoline index. Meanwhile, the index for natural gas increased 2.4 per cent and the electricity index rose 1.2 per cent in April.