Prices increased 3.8 percent in the Denver-Boulder-Greeley metropolitan area from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said today.
It was the largest over-the-year advance since 2008, said the agency.
Regional Commissioner Stanley Suchman said that about 30 percent of the advance was attributable to higher energy costs that resulted largely from a rise in prices for motor fuel.
An increase in prices for recreation, shelter and food also contributed to the overall increase, said Suchman.
Food prices were up 3.4 percent from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011 following a 1.6 percent decline during the same period a year ago.
The energy index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, climbed 16.3 percent from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011. A 28.5 percent jump in motor fuels, most of which occurred in the latter six months of the period, accounted for nearly all the increase in the energy component.
Within household energy, utility or piped gas service costs posted their first annual gain since 2008, turning up 3.1 percent due entirely to an increase in the most recent half of the period.
In contrast, prices for electricity declined 2.2 percent following a 21.4 percent increase in the same period a year ago.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.8 percent from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011. A record advance in recreation costs, up 7.6 percent over the year, led the increase.
Higher shelter costs had the next largest impact with an increase of 1.8 percent.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
