November consumer prices in the US rose 0.2%, seasonally adjusted, the same as in October, the government reported Friday.

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The modest rate may ease lingering fears of inflation at the Federal Reserve Board, which has in the past raised loan-interest rates to slow the economy and inflationary trends. Before seasonal adjustment, the November increase was only 0.1%.


But however the Labor Department gauges it, retail price inflation is up significantly from last year, although the annual rate is still considered modest to moderate for what has been a thriving economy. For the 12 months ended with November, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation gauge showed a 3.4% rate, compared to 2.7% in 1999.


During the first 11 months of 2000, the CPI rose a projected 3.5% seasonally adjusted annual rate, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported.


For competitive or whatever other reasons, price boosts for the recent energy-cost spiral apparently are still being delayed or rejected by many consumer-oriented business sectors, based on the data released yesterday.


For foods and beverages, average retail prices were up 0.1% in November, seasonally adjusted, the same as in October and September.


Food/beverage price inflation was a modest 2.3% since November 1999, the BLS said.


Prices on foods alone remained unchanged last month, and were up 2.2% for the 12-month period.


Grocery store food and beverage prices were down 0.1% last month and were up 2.2% for the 12 months.


Here are the CPI’s Food at Home (grocery store price) index and components:



  • Food at Home, down 0.1% in November, up 0.1% in October, up 2.2% for the 12 months ending with November.

  • Cereals and bakery products, down 0.3%, up 0.9%, up 2.3%.

  • Meats, poultry, fish and eggs, down 1%, unchanged, up 3.3%.

  • Dairy and related products, down 0.3%, up 0.2%, down 1.9%.

  • Fruits and vegetables, up 0.7%, up 0.5%, up 3%.

  • Nonalcoholic beverages and related materials, up 0.7%, down 0.5%, up 3%.

  • Other foods at home, up 0.6%, down 0.6%, up 2%.

  • Sugar and sweets, up 0.2%, down 0.2%, up 0.6%.

  • Fats and oils, down 1.2%, up 0.3%, up 0.8%.

  • Other foods, up 1.2%, down 0.8%, up 2.5%; other miscellaneous foods, up 3%, down 0.8%, up 5.9%.

  • Food Away from Home, up 0.1%, up 0.2%, up 2.3%; other food-away, up 0.5%, up 0.5%, up 3.8%.

  • Alcoholic beverages, up 0.5%, up 0.2%, up 3%.

  • Tobacco and related products, up 3.6%, down 2.8%, up 11.1%.

  • Personal care products and services, up 0.2%, up 0.2%, up 2.8%.

From StoreAlliance.com