The American cost of living fell in June, marking a third consecutive monthly decline, according to government data released Friday, July 16, 2010.

Consumer prices edged down 0.1% in June, the Labor Department said in its monthly Consumer Price Index report. The CPI is the key reading of inflation at the consumer level. Lower gasoline prices were a major contributing factor.

"Similarly to April and May, a decline in the energy index caused the seasonally adjusted all items decrease in June," the Labor Department stated. "The index for energy decreased 2.9 percent in June, the same decline as in May, with a decline in the gasoline index accounting for most of the decrease. This more than offset an increase in the index for all items less food and energy, while the food index was unchanged for the second month in a row."

Core consumer prices, which exclude the more volatile food and energy costs, rose 0.2% last month. Continue reading 2010 US Inflation, Calculator and Rates Updates in July →

The U.S. cost of living unexpectedly declined in April for the first time in more than a year, signaling that the tugs of inflation remain weak.

Consumer prices edged down 0.1% in April, the Labor Department said Wednesday in its monthly Consumer Price Index report. The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer, measuring inflation at the consumer level. Many forecasters were expecting a 0.1% increase. Last month’s decline was led by falling energy prices.

"The index for energy decreased 1.4 percent in April and accounted for the seasonally adjusted decline in the all items index. The indexes for gasoline and natural gas both decreased significantly, outweighing increases in the indexes for fuel oil and electricity," the Consumer Price Index Summary report stated.

Core prices, which strips out volatile food and energy items, remained unchanged last month. Continue reading 2010 Inflation, US Calculator and Rates Updates →

Prices increased slightly for American’s in March and over the past 12 months, the government reported Wednesday.

Annual inflation rose 2.3%, according to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index, or CPI. The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer, measuring inflation at the consumer level. March increases were greatly driven by fresh fruit and vegetables costs, with consumer prices edging up 0.1% for the month compared to a flat reading in February.

"The seasonally adjusted increase was mostly due to an increase in the fresh fruits and vegetables index, which rose 4.6 percent in March and accounted for over 60 percent of the all items increase," the Consumer Price Index Summary report stated.

Continue reading 2010 Inflation Rates Update →

The cost of living for Americans remained unchanged in February as falling energy prices offset other price increases, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

While consumer prices were flat in February, the annual inflation rate climbed 2.1%, according to the Consumer Price Index, or CPI data. The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer, measuring inflation at the consumer level.

By comparison, prices advanced 0.2% back in January — for the fifth straight time, and 12-month inflation ending for the month was at 2.6%. Continue reading 2010 Inflation Rates, Data and Calculator Updates →

The cost of living for Americans increased in January, but at a slower pace than most economists were forecasting.

Consumer prices edged up 0.2% for the month and annual inflation rose 2.6%, according to the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, data released by the Labor Department on Friday. The same December readings came in at 0.2% (revised upward from 0.1%) and 2.7%, respectively.

The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer, measuring inflation at the consumer level. January’s increase marks the fifth straight month of 0.2% gains. Most analysts were expecting a rise of 0.3%. Either inflation level is tame. Continue reading 2010 US Inflation Calculator and Rate Updates →

The cost of living increased in December but prices actually rose less than expected, the latest data from the government reveals.

American consumer prices inched 0.1% higher last month. That drove the inflation rate up 2.7% in 2009 from a year ago, according to the Consumer Price Index, or CPI data provided by the Labor Department on Friday. The CPI is the government’s key inflation barometer.

The modest increase in December, which was 0.1% lower than many forecasts, compares to a 0.4% pickup in November. The aforementioned 2.7% annual inflation rate compares to 0.1% inflation in 2008. Higher gasoline prices account for much of the difference.

"The larger increase was primarily due to the energy index, which rose 18.2 percent during 2009 after falling 21.3 percent in 2008. The energy upturn was caused by the gasoline index, which rose 53.5 percent in 2009 after declining 43.1 percent in 2008," the Labor Department’s report states.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the core CPI rose 1.8% in the past 12 months versus the 1.7% rise reported in the prior month. 2009’s increase matched 2008. The core CPI in December was also up 0.1% Continue reading US Inflation Rates, Historical Information and Calculator Updates →

Americans paid more for energy and medical care in November, bringing the cost of living up from a month earlier, according to a government report released on Wednesday.

The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index, or "CPI" for short, climbed 0.4% last month following a 0.3% pick up in October. The increase is inline with most expectations. Leading consumer prices higher were energy costs which jumped 4.1%. Energy prices have risen for four consecutive months. Food prices rose only slightly.

Removing food and energy costs, the core CPI remained unchanged after a gain of 0.2% in October. The flat reading is a stark contrast to the 10 straight prior increases. Many economists were forecasting a rise of 0.1%.

On an annual basis, inflation rose by 1.8% as compared to the 0.2% drop in the prior 12 months reported in October. Continue reading Inflation Calculator, American Inflation Rates and CPI Data Updates →

The cost of living in the US rose more than expected in October, as Americans paid more for fuel, food and new cars, the government reported Wednesday.

Consumer prices rose 0.3% in October after a 0.2% increase in September, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Labor Department. The increase is 0.1% higher than many economists had forecasted. The good news for consumers is that prices are down 0.2% from a year earlier.

"I don’t see anything in the report that suggests there’s any real inflation flare-up," Joseph LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in New York, said on Bloomberg. "The Fed is comfortably on hold."

In October, energy prices climbed 1.5% while food prices advanced 0.1%. Prices for new cars rose 1.6%, the biggest increase in 28 years. Continue reading Inflation Calculator, US Inflation Rates and CPI Data Updates →

US inflation is contained for at least one more month as consumer prices edged slightly higher in September, the government reported Thursday.

Consumer prices rose slightly at 0.2% following a 0.4% increase in August, according to Consumer Price Index data released by the Labor Department. Prices were held in check by falling food costs and moderating energy bills.

"Inflation remains muted," Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto, was quoted on Bloomberg. "There is still much excess capacity to absorb, retailers are still fighting for their share of consumers’ shrinking wallets."

Annual inflation is down 1.3% after the 1.5% reading in August. It was the seventh consecutive monthly decline. Continue reading US Inflation Calculator, Inflation Rates Update →

US consumer prices edged slightly higher in August, due largely to higher energy costs, but they are lower over the past 12 months, new government data reveals.

The Consumer Price Index, which is the government’s most closely watched barometer for measuring inflation at the consumer level, rose 0.4% in August. The increase was "driven by a 9.1 percent rise in the gasoline index," according to the monthly released CPI report from the Labor Department.

"Oil is becoming the bane of our existence again, but other cost pressures remain reasonably well restrained," Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors was noted on Forbes.com.

Compared to the same period a year ago, consumer prices fell 1.5% — due largely again to gasoline prices — they were higher in August compared to the previous month but sharply lower than the levels seen last summer.

The US Inflation Calculator is updated with the newest government information, as are the following inflation rate and data pages:

1913-2009 CPI Data

Inflation Rates

Historical Inflation Rates

Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation

For an in depth look at August consumer prices, read Annual US inflation Down 1.5%.