Inflation in the Bay Area barely budged in June, in a sign consumer prices are rising at a sedate pace, partly because gasoline prices have plunged in the region, a new government report shows.
Bay Area consumer prices rose just 1.5% in June as measured over a one-year period, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Nationwide, consumer prices rose at a modest 2.7% in June, the federal labor agency reported.
Here is how consumer prices changed for some key components of the overall inflation index in the Bay Area, according to the new report.
The numbers all reflect annual changes in prices:
— Food, up 2.8% over a one-year period
— Food consumed at home, up 3.5%
— Food away from home, up 2.2%
— Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs, up 6.4%
— Fruit and vegetables, up 3.6%
— Dairy products, up 1.4%
— Cereal and bakery products, up 0.1%
— New and used vehicle prices, up 1%
— Gasoline prices (regular unleaded), down 3.7%
— Apparel costs, down 14.5%
Gasoline prices have now declined in the Bay Area for four consecutive months. Gas prices have also declined for 11 of the past 12 months, as measured by the price change over a one-year period.
The overall inflation rate in the Bay Area has remained subdued in recent months.
The report for April showed a yearly increase of 1.3% for Bay Area consumer prices, the federal agency reported.