According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in March 2012, the United States not seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was 242.235 and the 12-month percent change (inflation rate) was 6.0%. The following item categories had the highest not seasonally adjusted 12-month percent change in CPI-U:
- Motor fuel: 9.6%
- Alcoholic beverages: 5.7%
- Food away from home: 4.8%
The first chart below shows the 12-month percent change in CPI-U for a selected group of item categories, and the second chart shows the CPI-U for the selected group of item categories. You can also use the control below to select your own categories to see on the chart (at most 10). The table below have data on the CPI-U: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and the 12-month percent change (inflation rate) for many more item categories in March 2012.
See links at the bottom of this page for similar information for other months. You can also see the monthly links for many other years here and for other US geographic areas here.
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 | 242.235 | 6.0 |
| Energy | 249.021 | 3.6 |
| All items less food and energy | 247.13 | 4.9 |
| All items less shelter | 223.858 | 6.0 |
| All items less medical care | 235.616 | 5.9 |
| All items less energy | 244.419 | 5.2 |
| Apparel | 159.347 | 7.9 |
| Commodities | 186.477 | 7.2 |
| Commodities less food | 163.198 | 7.4 |
| Commodities less food and beverages | 162.05 | 7.5 |
| Durables | 109.736 | -3.0 |
| Education and communication | 143.496 | 3.9 |
| Education and communication commodities | 90.61 | -9.3 |
| Education and communication services | 106.091 | 5.3 |
| Food and beverages | 230.955 | 6.7 |
| Food | 236.041 | 6.8 |
| Food at home | 238.267 | 3.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages | 182.201 | 5.7 |
| Other goods and services | 393.527 | 5.2 |
| Other goods | 102.521 | 4.5 |
| Other personal services | 108.149 | 5.6 |
| Housing | 243.173 | 3.8 |
| Shelter | 288.265 | 3.1 |
| Fuels and utilities | 207.108 | -4.0 |
| Household energy | 171.151 | -4.3 |
| Household furnishings and operations | 110.019 | -7.3 |
| Household furnishings and supplies | 92.764 | -7.5 |
| Medical care | 379.041 | 8.4 |
| Nondurables | 222.669 | 10.6 |
| Nondurables less food | 211.645 | 13.9 |
| Nondurables less food and beverages | 214.696 | 14.6 |
| Recreation | 115.787 | -1.2 |
| Services | 292.544 | 5.4 |
| Services less rent of shelter | 307.549 | 4.5 |
| Services less medical care services | 284.572 | 5.2 |
| Transportation | 223.454 | 14.0 |
| Private transportation | 224.834 | 13.8 |
| Transportation commodities less motor fuel | 102.447 | 2.7 |
| Food away from home | 234.097 | 4.8 |
| Rent of primary residence | 309.828 | 3.4 |
| Owners' equivalent rent of residences | 293.904 | 2.8 |
| Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence | 293.904 | 2.8 |
| Energy services | 172.203 | -4.7 |
| Electricity | 189.983 | -1.9 |
| Utility (piped) gas service | 130.999 | -11.4 |
| Motor fuel | 340.73 | 9.6 |
| Gasoline (all types) | 337.037 | 9.5 |
| Gasoline, unleaded regular | 341.153 | 9.8 |
| Gasoline, unleaded midgrade | 311.526 | 8.9 |
| Gasoline, unleaded premium | 319.006 | 8.8 |