Consumer prices increase 0.4% in January as energy and grocery store food prices rise

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Consumer Price Index - January 2011

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.4 percent in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months,
the all items index increased 1.6 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Increases in indexes for energy commodities and for food accounted
for over two thirds of the all items increase. The indexes for
gasoline and fuel oil both increased in January, continuing their
recent strong upward trend. The index for food at home posted its
largest increase in over two years with all six major grocery store
food group indexes rising.

The index for all items less food and energy also rose in January.
The indexes for apparel, shelter, airline fares, and recreation all
posted increases. In contrast, the indexes for new vehicles and for
used cars and trucks declined in January.

Over the last 12 months, the food index has risen 1.8 percent with
the food at home index up 2.1 percent; both 12-month changes are the
highest since 2009. The energy index has increased 7.3 percent over
the last 12 months, with the gasoline index up 13.4 percent. The
index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.0 percent.

Read more: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

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Double whammy today. Something from ETA and something from BLS released simultaneously.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes

but one of the ways to battle higher food costs is to prepare your food at home and stay away from pre-packaged anything. Yes, raw materials are going up but, in the long run, the cost increase will be far less than what you get from pre-packaged foods.

Also, buy in-season produce and eat what you can and can what you can't.

[LiberalLoner]

4. Good advice. Also, frozen fruit and veggies are very nutritious and

often less expensive than fresh.

I like to save money by growing some of my own veggies in plots in my back yard (I am lucky to have a bit of space to do that) and herbs in my front "flower garden."

[xchrom]

2. recommend

[Newsjock]

3. So all of a sudden, they make a big deal about the food+energy rate?

When month after month after month, it was all "look, no core inflation," despite the increases in food and energy.

[glinda]

5. Food goes up %10 and oddly their profits go up %10. Hmmmmm.