The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area increased by 0.1 percent from June to August, according to a report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that “the food index advanced 1.2 percent over the two-month span.” The energy index also saw a slight increase of 0.4 percent during this period, while the index for all items excluding food and energy declined by 0.1 percent.
Over the past year, the overall CPI-U in Atlanta rose by 1.7 percent through August. The index for all items less food and energy was up 1.9 percent year-over-year, while the food index climbed 3.5 percent and the energy index fell by 2.3 percent.
From June to August, prices for food away from home increased by 1.9 percent, and prices for food at home rose by 0.8 percent. Four out of six major grocery store food groups saw price increases, with meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rising by 2.3 percent and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials increasing by 3.3 percent.
Looking at annual changes, the price of food away from home went up by 6.9 percent over the last year, while food at home increased by 1.2 percent in that same period. Among grocery categories tracked over twelve months, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs had a notable rise of 7.3 percent.
Energy prices rose slightly—by 0.4 percent—from June to August; however, gasoline prices were nearly flat with a small increase of just 0.2 percent during this time frame.
On an annual basis, energy costs dropped by 2.3 percent in Atlanta as of August compared to a year earlier; gasoline prices specifically decreased by 9.5 percent.
Indexes that contributed to declines from June to August included apparel (-4.6%), medical care (-1.1%), and recreation (-1.3%). In contrast, owners’ equivalent rent increased by 0.5% and education and communication went up by 1.6%.
For the twelve months ending in August, shelter costs rose by 2.3%, owners’ equivalent rent increased by 3%, and household furnishings and operations saw an increase of eight percent—the latter being among the most significant gains in this category over the past year.
Apparel was one category that declined notably over both short- and long-term periods: it dropped seven-and-a-half-percent over twelve months ending in August.
The next release of Consumer Price Index data for September is scheduled for October 15th at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time; October data will be available on November 13th at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
The Consumer Price Index measures average changes in prices paid over time for goods and services using a fixed market basket approach; local indexes like Atlanta’s are published every two months but can be more volatile than national figures due to smaller sample sizes and lack of seasonal adjustment (BLS CPI overview). These local indexes do not compare price levels between cities but instead track changes within each area since their base period.
Historical data series for all-items can be accessed through BLS data query tools linked in Table 1 of this release under historical data (BLS Data Query Tools).
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area includes multiple counties such as Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, Cherokee among others across Georgia.
Further information about methodology is available via technical notes or through the BLS Handbook of Methods (Handbook of Methods).
Information is accessible upon request for individuals with sensory impairments via voice phone or Telecommunications Relay Service.
