The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released March 2020 Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) today. The All commodities index decreased 0.2% over the last month & has increased 1.5% over the last year on a seasonally unadjusted basis. All items less food and energy were unchanged from February – March 2020 & rose 2.1% between March ’19 – ’20. Commodities less food and energy commodities saw a 0.2% decrease from March of 2019 to March 2020 and increased 0.1% in the last month. Meats increased 0.4% over the last month & rose 3.7% over the last year. Dairy & related products rose 0.5% between February and March 2020 & and increased by 3.7% between March ’19 – ’20. Candy and chewing gum increased by 0.6% from February to March of this year and rose by 3.2% from March ’19 – ’20. Dishes and flatware increased by 1% from February – March 2020 and rose by 9.5% from March ’19 – ’20. Window coverings rose by 1.4% over the last month and increased by 7.1% over the last year.
BLS CPI Historical Annual Inflation Rate Averages Chart for Selected Categories Through March 2020
BLS CPI Historical Annual Inflation Rate Averages Through March 2020 Charts for Selected Categories
| BLS CPI Code | BLS CPI Category Description | 1M 3/20 | YTD 3/20 | 1Y 3/20 | 3Y 3/20 | 5Y 3/20 | 10Y 3/20 | 20Y 3/20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAF | FOOD & BEVERAGES | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 2.3% |
| SAF11 | Food at home | 0.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 2.0% |
| SAF114 | Nonalcoholic beverages & beverage materials | 0.7% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| SEFN | Juices & nonalcoholic drinks | 0.7% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| SEFN01 | Carbonated drinks | 1.0% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| SEFN03 | Nonfrozen noncarbonated juices & drinks | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| SEFP | Beverage materials including coffee & tea | 0.7% | 2.2% | 1.1% | -0.3% | -0.6% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| SEFP01 | Coffee | 1.1% | 2.9% | 0.3% | -1.0% | -1.3% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| SEFP02 | Other beverage materials including tea | 0.1% | 1.0% | 2.4% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| SAF115 | Other food at home | 0.6% | 2.0% | 1.4% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.6% |
| SEFT06 | Other miscellaneous foods | 0.3% | -1.0% | 2.1% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| SEFW | Alcoholic beverages at home | 0.6% | 1.9% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| SEFW01 | Beer, ale & other malt beverages at home | 0.7% | 2.0% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| SEFW02 | Distilled spirits at home | 0.1% | 1.5% | -1.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| SEFW03 | Wine at home | 0.6% | 1.9% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| SEHE | FUEL OIL & OTHER FUELS | -9.5% | -13.8% | -14.2% | -0.9% | -2.9% | -1.1% | 3.3% |
| SAH3 | HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & OPERATIONS | -0.1% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.3% | -0.2% | -0.1% |
| SAA | APPAREL | -0.5% | 3.9% | -1.6% | -1.2% | -0.7% | 0.1% | -0.3% |
| SAM1 | MEDICAL CARE COMMODITIES | -0.1% | -0.8% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| SEMF | Medicinal drugs | 0.0% | -0.8% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 2.1% | |
| SEMF01 | Prescription drugs | -0.3% | -0.8% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 3.2% |
| SEMF02 | Nonprescription drugs | 0.8% | -0.8% | 0.6% | -0.3% | -0.3% | -0.4% | |
| SEMG | Medical equipment and supplies | -0.2% | -1.3% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.2% | |
| SAR | RECREATION | 0.2% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| SEEA | EDUCATIONAL BOOKS & SUPPLIES | 0.1% | -1.5% | -2.7% | -1.3% | 0.9% | 2.9% | 4.5% |
| SEGA | TOBACCO & SMOKING PRODUCTS | 1.2% | 1.8% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 4.0% | 5.7% |
| SEGB | PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS | -0.1% | 1.0% | 0.5% | -0.1% | -0.4% | -0.1% | 0.2% |
| SEGE | MISCELLANEOUS PERSONAL GOODS | -0.3% | 2.8% | 4.2% | -0.1% | -1.5% | -1.4% | -1.1% |
| SAG | OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES | 0.3% | 1.3% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| SERE | Other recreational goods | -1.2% | -0.1% | -6.1% | -6.8% | -6.6% | -5.4% | -4.7% |
| SERG | Recreational reading materials | -0.2% | 1.5% | 5.8% | 2.8% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 1.7% |
CPI vs. PPI Supermarket Inflation Comparison Through March 2020
| Inflation Rate Period | PPI Inflation | CPI Inflation | DIFF: PPI vs. CPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Months Ended March '20 | 0.04% | 0.87% | -0.83% |
| 2 Months Ended February '20 | -0.10% | 0.63% | -0.73% |
| 1 Month Ended January '20 | 0.45% | 0.27% | 0.18% |
| 12 Months Ended December '19 | 1.29% | 0.85% | 0.44% |
| 12 Months Ended December '18 | 2.85% | 0.41% | 2.44% |
| 12 Months Ended December '17 | 2.85% | 0.47% | 2.39% |
| 12 Months Ended December '16 | 1.32% | 0.10% | 1.22% |
| 12 Months Ended December '15 | 0.19% | 0.11% | 0.08% |
| 12 Months Ended December '14 | 5.07% | 2.46% | 2.61% |
| 12 Months Ended December '13 | 2.04% | 0.14% | 1.90% |
| 12 Months Ended December '12 | 2.72% | 1.00% | 1.71% |
| 12 Months Ended December '11 | 5.20% | 4.07% | 1.13% |
| 12 Months Ended December '10 | 2.92% | 0.90% | 2.03% |
| 3 Year Average Ended Dec. '19 | 2.33% | 0.57% | 1.76% |
| 5 Year Average Ended Dec. '19 | 1.70% | 0.39% | 1.31% |
| 10 Year Average Ended Dec. '19 | 2.65% | 1.05% | 1.60% |
Rates are representative of a supermarket’s actual inventory balances, product mix & applicable BLS categories; inflation rates calculated using a supermarket that has the following departments: bakery, beer/wine, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gen. merch., grocery, health & beauty aids, meat, pharmacy, produce & tobacco. PPI inflation calculated uses BLS Table 9 preliminary indexes; CPI inflation calculated uses U.S. City averages for all urban consumers, seasonally unadjusted.
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