Consumer Prices Rose at a Slower Pace from September to November

Consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% from September to November and 2.7% year-over-year, according to data out today from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS did not collect data in October due to the government shutdown.

Economists suspect this report could be distorted due to shutdown-related survey limitations, since the BLS had to use nonsurvey data sources instead of survey data for certain indexes (The Wall Street Journal, subscription). Any distortions would likely be corrected in the December report.

The details: In the two-month period, the index for shelter inched up 0.2%, the energy index increased 1.1% and the food index edged up 0.1%.

Other indexes that rose include household furnishings and operations, communication and personal care.
Indexes that decreased include those for lodging away from home, recreation and apparel.
The all-items index went up 2.7% for the 12 months ending in November, after increasing 3% in the year ending in September.

Expectations: Economists polled by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal (both subscription) had forecast a year-over-year CPI increase of 3.1%.