According to data from the US BLS, in April 2008, the United States Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U): South was 208.085 and the 12-month percent change (inflation rate) was 4.2%% (not seasonally adjusted). The Motor fuel item had the highest 12-month percent change or inflation rate (22.7%), followed by Household energy (9.2%), and Food at home (6.3%).
The chart below shows the top 9 items with the highest 12-month percent change or inflation rate. The table below contains the CPI-U and inflation rate for many items.
You can see similar information for other US geographic areas.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services. The CPI of all urban consumers (CPI-U) reflects the spending patterns of all urban consumers which represents about 93 percent of the total US population. The CPI-U is based on the expenditures of almost all residents of urban or metropolitan areas, including professionals, the self-employed, the poor, the unemployed, and retired people, as well as urban wage earners and clerical workers.
| Item | CPI-U | 12-month % change (Inflation Rate) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 208.085 | 4.2 |
| Energy | 230.322 | 16.8 |
| All items less food | 207.804 | 4.1 |
| All items less food and energy | 205.977 | 2.3 |
| All items less shelter | 204.883 | 4.9 |
| All items less medical care | 199.842 | 4.2 |
| All items less energy | 206.086 | 2.8 |
| Apparel | 134.458 | -2.1 |
| Commodities | 177.268 | 5.0 |
| Energy commodities | 299.271 | 23.3 |
| Commodities less food | 161.656 | 4.8 |
| Commodities less food and beverages | 160.196 | 4.9 |
| Commodities less food and energy commodities | 143.78 | 0.0 |
| Durables | 113.95 | -1.4 |
| Education and communication | 118.102 | 2.9 |
| Food and beverages | 208.482 | 5.2 |
| Food | 208.961 | 5.4 |
| Food at home | 206.685 | 6.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages | 200.785 | 2.5 |
| Other goods and services | 332.34 | 3.7 |
| Housing | 198.43 | 3.4 |
| Shelter | 219.354 | 2.9 |
| Fuels and utilities | 210.053 | 8.5 |
| Household energy | 183.718 | 9.2 |
| Household furnishings and operations | 126.959 | 0.4 |
| Medical care | 347.848 | 5.5 |
| Medical care commodities | 286.626 | 4.9 |
| Medical care services | 367.413 | 5.7 |
| Nondurables | 209.933 | 7.4 |
| Nondurables less food | 209.419 | 8.9 |
| Nondurables less food and beverages | 210.093 | 9.3 |
| Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel | 256.723 | 13.0 |
| Nondurables less food and apparel | 250.803 | 12.2 |
| Recreation | 113.498 | 1.0 |
| Services | 239.666 | 3.7 |
| Rent of shelter | 225.612 | 2.9 |
| Other services | 283.029 | 3.1 |
| Transportation services | 246.069 | 3.7 |
| Services less rent of shelter | 264.319 | 4.6 |
| Services less medical care services | 227.266 | 3.5 |
| Services less energy services | 245.388 | 3.3 |
| Transportation | 198.057 | 7.8 |
| Private transportation | 196.721 | 7.8 |
| Food away from home | 215.121 | 4.3 |
| Rent of primary residence | 217.238 | 3.8 |
| Owners' equivalent rent of residences | 221.275 | 3.0 |
| Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence | 221.275 | 3.0 |
| Energy services | 183.19 | 8.2 |
| Electricity | 170.599 | 7.3 |
| Utility (piped) gas service | 250.93 | 12.0 |
| Professional services | 305.536 | 3.7 |
| New and used motor vehicles | 94.265 | -1.2 |
| New vehicles | 138.5 | -2.2 |
| Used cars and trucks | 135.679 | 1.5 |
| Motor fuel | 295.32 | 22.7 |
| Gasoline (all types) | 292.799 | 22.3 |
| New cars | 140.951 | -1.7 |
| New cars and trucks | 94.229 | -2.2 |
| Gasoline, unleaded regular | 293.083 | 22.4 |
| Gasoline, unleaded midgrade | 303.055 | 22.3 |
| Gasoline, unleaded premium | 285.569 | 21.8 |