The average cost of a market basket of goods and services in the United States increased 0.2 percent in September from August according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI). September's index of 180.8 was 1.5 percent higher than the September 2001 index of 178.1.
The price index for energy rose 0.7 percent during September for the third consecutive strong monthly increase. Other categories that saw increases in September were other goods and services (+0.4 percent), medical care (+0.3 percent), transportation (+0.3 percent), food and beverages (+0.2 percent), apparel (+0.1 percent) and housing (+0.1 percent). Education and communication decreased (-0.4 percent) and recreation remained unchanged.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctor's and dentist's services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country (including Kansas City and St. Louis) from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 stores, hospitals, and other types of service establishments.
The actual index is expressed as a number derived by comparing the current cost of goods and services to the cost of the same items between 1982-1984. The reference year is given a value equal to 100. Subsequent indices are expressed as a percentage of the base year.
