"The Bay Area inflation rate jumped during August as consumer prices pushed higher for a wide range of items, notably food and medical expenses, according to a new federal government report released Thursday. The region's consumer price index rose by an annual pace of 2.5% during August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The index measures shifts in cost for everyday items such as food, gasoline and shelter."
"The 2.5% increase over the one-year period ending in August was higher than the previous reports for the region, which consisted of a 1.3% increase in April and a 1.5% rise in consumer prices in June, the report showed. Nationwide, consumer prices surged 2.9% higher on a yearly basis. In both June and July, the government reported inflation increased 2.7% in each month. The nationwide inflation report is released each month, while the Bay Area report is released only every other month."
Bay Area consumer prices rose 2.5% year-over-year in August, reflecting a jump in costs across many categories. Food prices increased 3.5%, with food at home up 4.3% and food away from home up 2.7%. Medical costs climbed 3.4%. Gasoline prices fell 11.9% and apparel prices plunged 11%. Regional CPI increases in August exceeded earlier Bay Area readings of 1.3% in April and 1.5% in June. Nationwide consumer prices rose 2.9% year-over-year in August, following 2.7% increases in June and July. The Bay Area CPI is released every other month, while national inflation data are released monthly.
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