The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

The 12-month change in the all items index edged up to 3.8% after holding at 3.6% for three months, while the 12-month change for all items less food and energy reached 2.0% for the first time since November 2008. The energy index has risen 18.4% over the last year, while the food index has increased 4.6%

The seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index was broad-based, with
continuing increases in the indexes for gasoline, food, shelter, and apparel.
The gasoline index rose for the 12th time in the last 14 months and led to a 1.2% increase in the energy index, while the food index rose 0.5%, its largest increase since March.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2% in August, the same increase as the previous month. Shelter and apparel were the biggest contributors, though the indexes for most of its major components posted increases, including used cars and trucks, medical care, household furnishings and operations, recreation, tobacco, and personal care. The new vehicles index, unchanged for the second month in a row, was an exception.

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