Consumer prices in the western United States — including Colorado — rose 0.4 percent in September, spurred upward by higher prices for gasoline and apparel, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the past 12 months, the bureau’s Consumer Price Index for All Consumers increased 3.5 percent in the western U.S. During the 12 months, energy prices jumped 18.2 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline, which rose 29.7 percent.
Prices for natural gas rose 3.9 percent, and prices for electricity increased 2 percent during the past year.
Food prices rose 0.5 percent in September and have risen 4.8 percent since September 2010.
The index for all items, less food and energy, inched up 0.2 percent in September. The index for apparel was up 3.8 percent.
The western region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
