Regional prices up in 2011

By PBN Staff

WASHINGTON – Consumers in the Northeast paid 2.9 percent more for commodities in January 2012 than they did for the same 2011 period, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, matching the broad measure for the nation.

In addition, during the same period, the Northeast saw a 2.5 percent rise in prices that excluded the volatile food and energy components. It was the largest 12-month rise since October 2008, according to the bureau. Nationally the same set of prices showed a 2.3 percent increase.

Regional consumers also paid more for both food and energy during the 12-month period ended January 2012, which saw a 4.3 percent and 4.4 percent increase, respectively.

National numbers showed a 4.4 percent increase on food and a 6.1 increase on energy, mostly due to February 2011, which saw the gasoline index rise 12.6 percent.