The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent in April, accounting for more than half of the all items monthly increase. The energy index also increased over the month, rising 0.7 percent as increases in the natural gas index and the electricity index more than offset a decline in the gasoline index. The index for food, in contrast, fell 0.1 percent in April as the food at home index decreased 0.4 percent and the food away from home index rose 0.4 percent over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.1-percent increase in March. Indexes that increased over the month include household furnishings and operations, medical care, motor vehicle insurance, education, and personal care. The indexes for airline fares, used cars and trucks, communication, and apparel were among the major indexes that decreased in April.

The all items index rose 2.3 percent for the 12 months ending April, after rising 2.4 percent over the 12 months ending March. The April change was the smallest 12-month increase in the all items index since February 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending April. The food index increased 2.8 percent over the last year.

A measure of the average change in prices over time for a set group of goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:

• (1) for all urban consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 80 percent of the total population
• (2) for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) which covers 32 percent of the total population.

Among the CPI components are the costs of housing, food, transportation, and energy. While the CPI is not technically a cost of living index, it is often used to indicate changes in the cost-of-living.

For more assistance, call the Boston office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 617-565-2327.