Average Price Data

Average consumer prices are calculated for household fuel, motor fuel, and food items from prices collected for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Average prices are best used to measure the price level in a particular month, not to measure price change over time. It is more appropriate to use the CU (Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers) or CW (Consumer Price Index - Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) and its individual item indexes to measure price change.

Prices, except for electricity, are collected monthly by BLS representatives in the 85 urban areas priced for the CPI. Electricity prices are collected for the BLS for the same 85 areas on a monthly basis by the Department of Energy using mail questionnaires. All fuel prices include applicable Federal, State, and local taxes; prices for natural gas and electricity also include fuel and purchased gas adjustments.

Average consumer prices for food are available for the U.S. city average and four regions. Average consumer prices for household fuel and motor fuel are available for the U.S. city average, 28 urban areas, four regions, and 16 region/size class groupings. Monthly data are available for up to six household fuel categories, six motor fuel categories, and 104 food categories.

All data are monthly; annual averages are not available. Average prices are stored to three decimal places. Updates become available near the 15th of the month following the reference month.