Consumer Prices in Region Show Improvement

Consumer prices in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area declined 0.4% for the two months ending in November after rising 0.7% during the prior two-month period.

Food prices decreased 0.3% for the two months ending in November. Prices for food away from home fell 1.1%, while prices for food at home rose 0.3%.

Energy prices increased 2.1% over the two-month pricing period. Gasoline prices fell 2.6%.

Prices for all items less food and energy declined 0.6% during the two-month period. Expenditure items with lower prices included apparel (-12.4%) and airline fares.

Over the year, the Boston area CPI-U increased 2.8%. The index for all items less food and energy increased 3.0%. Food prices rose 2.1%, and energy prices increased 0.7%.

For the latest data from the Northeast CPI series, including Boston and New England, see https://www.bls.gov/regions/northeast/cpi-summary/ro1xg01a.htm.