U.S. Consumer Prices Fall 0.1%, Muddling Fed Decision

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Source: The Wall Street Journal.

Drop due largely to depressed oil markets; marks first fall since January

By Josh Mitchell and Kate Davidson
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@JMitchellWSJ
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Updated Sept. 16, 2015 8:47 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—Consumer prices fell in August due largely to depressed oil markets, marking the first drop since January and complicating the Federal Reserve’s debate over when to raise interest rates.

The consumer-price index, measuring what Americans pay for everything from groceries to medication, declined 0.1% from July, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Prices increased in each of the prior six months.

Excluding volatile food and energy components, so-called core prices rose 0.1%.

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected no change in overall prices and a 0.1% increase in core prices.

Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-consumer-prices-drop-on-falling-energy-costs-1442406721

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CPI for all items declines 0.1% in August as gasoline index falls; food, shelter rise

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers declined 0.1 percent in August after increasing 0.1 percent in July. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in August, the same increase as in July.

Economic News Release
Consumer Price Index Summary
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, September 16, 2015 USDL-15-1786

Technical information: [phone] [e-mail] www.bls.gov/cpi
Media Contact: [phone] [e-mail]

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – AUGUST 2015

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.
....

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 238.316 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.366 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.

The Consumer Price Index for September 2015 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 15, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).