Consumer prices in Chicago area up 1.2 percent in March
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Business Reporter fknowles@suntimes.com April 13, 2012 9:08AM
Updated: April 13, 2012 2:22PM
Consumer prices in the Chicago metropolitan area rose 1.2 percent in March from February amid higher gasoline prices, the Labor Department said Friday.
Prices were 2.1 percent higher than March 2011.
Excluding food and energy, prices rose 0.6 percent from February and 1.7 percent year-over-year.
Food prices rose 0.2 percent from February as the cost of eating out and the price of groceries climbed. Prices rose for bread, carbonated drinks and apples, but fell for bacon, breakfast sausage, processed fish and seafood. Overall, food prices rose 2.1 percent from March 2011.
Energy prices jumped 8.5 percent as gasoline prices spiked 15.2 percent. Prices for utility piped gas service decrease 2.1 percent, and electricity prices slid 0.1 percent.
Since February, prices rose the most in transportation, up 4.5 percent; apparel, up 3.2 percent; and recreation, up 2.7 percent. The only category to post a decline was education and communication, which dipped 0.1 percent.
Year-over year, prices rose the most in transportation, up 5.8 percent; apparel, up 3.5 percent; and medical care, up 2.7 percent.
Nationally, overall prices rose 0.3 percent in March from February and rose 2.7 percent from March 2011.
