Consumer prices in the western United States were up 0.2 percent over the past month and up 2.1 percent from a year ago, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said today.
Regional Commissioner Stanley Suchman noted that the April advance was influenced by higher prices for shelter, new and used vehicles, and apparel.
The increase is measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or the CPI-U. The index is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market of goods and services.
Over-the-year increases have slowed for seven consecutive months since a 3.5 percent increase was recorded in September 2011, the report said.
The western region covers Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
The energy index edged down 0.2 percent over the month. The decrease was mainly due to lower prices for natural gas service, down 1.5 percent. Prices for electricity inched up 0.2 percent, while prices for gasoline were virtually unchanged.
However, energy prices advanced 1.6 percent over the year, largely due to higher prices for gasoline.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter@HowardPankratz
