May's index was up 0.9 percent from 205.393 in April.
The index number means that a typical Midwest market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in the 1982-84 base period cost $207.17 in May.
Higher energy costs in the main expenditure categories of transportation and housing accounted for virtually all increases in the index, Regional Commissioner Stanley Suchman said in a release. Other goods and services, education and communications, medical care, and recreation accounted for little change in the monthly index.
In the Midwest in May:
- Apparel prices fell 1.7 percent from April and increased 0.8 percent from last year.
- Transportation prices increased 3.8 percent from April and 7.8 percent from last year. Motor fuel prices, part of the transportation index, increased 10.5 percent from April and 18 percent from last year.
- Medical care prices increased 0.1 percent from April and 3.4 percent from last year.
- Recreation prices remained unchanged from April but rose 2 percent from last year.
- Food and beverage prices increased 0.4 percent from April and 5.1 percent from last year. Prices for food away from home increased 4.6 percent from last year, the highest increase since January 1991.
- Housing prices rose 0.4 percent from April and 2.8 percent from May 2007. Fuels and utility prices for housing rose 10.8 percent from last year.
- Education and communication prices rose 0.1 percent from April and 2.7 percent from last year.
- Prices for other goods and services rose 0.4 percent from April and 3.9 percent from last year.
The Midwest is Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, as defined by the bureau.
Source Wichita Business Journal, June 13, 2008
