Inflation Report: What Costs More—and Less
Prices for alcohol, restaurants rose while electronics, beef costs dropped, according to October statistics
Consumers faced higher rent, alcohol and restaurant costs in October while beef and electronics prices continued to ease.
The consumer-price index rose 7.7% in October from the same month a year earlier, the smallest 12-month increase since January, the Labor Department said Thursday. On a monthly basis, the CPI increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in October from September. The CPI measures what consumers pay for goods and services.
Here’s a look at what went up and what went down:
Gasoline
The price of gasoline rose 17.5% in October from the same month a year before. It increased a seasonally adjusted 4% in October from September. The cost of electricity rose 14% from a year before while gas costs for homes increased 20% in the same period.
Groceries and restaurants
Prices of groceries rose 12.4% in October from year earlier while the cost of eating out increased 8.6%. Grocery prices were up 0.4% in October from the prior month while the cost of eating out increased 0.9%.
Beef and veal prices were down 3.6% last month compared with the same month a year earlier. Pork, ham and chicken prices were higher. The cost of a sandwich is up: Lunchmeat prices rose 19.1% in October from a year earlier, bread costs increased 14.8% and spices, seasonings and condiments rose 13%.
Liquor
Prices for alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and liquor consumed at home, bars and restaurants, rose 5% in October from a year before. That was the highest increase in 30 years.
The price for alcoholic beverages consumed at home increased 3.8% while those sipped at bars and restaurants rose 7%.
Rent
The shelter index, which tracks housing costs, rose 0.8% in October from September, the largest monthly increase since August 1990. Shelter prices rose 6.9% in October from a year before. Rent prices increased 7.5% from a year before while a proxy for owner-occupied housing costs rose 6.9%.
New vs. used cars
The price for used cars fell 2.4% in October from the prior month while the price for new cars rose 0.4%. The price for used cars were 2% higher than they were a year ago while the price for new cars rose 8.4%.
Other forms of transportation also saw increases. Airline tickets were up 43% from a year before while mass transit prices rose 1.3% in the same period.
Electronics
The price of electronics has declined with the holidays approaching. Televisions fell 16.5% in October from a year before and smartphones declined 23%. The price of computers and related products fell 3.1% during the same period.
Write to Austen Hufford at austen.hufford@wsj.com