The cost of food away from home rose 0.1 percent and alcoholic beverage prices increased 0.3 percent in April. Over the past 12 months, the food and beverage component was up 2.9 percent as the food at home index rose 2.9 percent and the food away from home index rose 2.8 percent. Alcoholic beverage prices rose 2.7 percent over the year. Apparel prices declined 0.2 percent in April following a 1.7 percent increase in March. Apparel prices were 1.9 percent lower than one year ago.
Apparel is the only major expenditure category to experience a price decrease over the year.
The education and communication component increased 0.1 percent in April. Over the year, education and communication component increased 1.4 percent. The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau. It is composed of the same geographic entities including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This recorded message also provides percent changes from the prior period and from a year earlier as well as the scheduled release date for the next CPI issuance.