Consumers didn’t need a government report today to know that consumer prices were up in February. All they needed to do was look at the gas pump.
Photo by Sam Gangwer/Orange County Register
The government reported today that consumer prices in the Orange County-Los Angeles-Riverside area rose 0.5% in February after a 0.8% increase in January.
In the last year, the local consumer price index increased 2.1%, the same as in January.
Nationwide, prices rose 0.4% for the month and have increased 2.9% since February of last year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributed 80% of the additional costs to soaring gasoline prices.
By the government’s count, Southern California unleaded gasoline prices increased 6.9% in February. Local consumers were paying 14.7% more for gas than a year ago.
But that’s a look in the rear view mirror. Orange County motorists are paying an average $4.377 a gallon today for unleaded regular, up 44 cents a gallon from a month ago, reports the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
Gasoline also added to the overall cost of Southern California transportation, which rose 2.3% in February. Over the last 12 months, transportation costs have jumped 5.9%.
There was a little good news. Food and beverage price increases have moderated. The price of groceries was up 0.2% in February down from the 0.9% jump last August. Over the last year, grocery prices have gone up 2.8%.
The moderate winter also gave residents a break in household utilities. Prices for electricity, natural gas and water fell 1% in February and were down 1.6% from February of last year. A year ago, residents saw utilities jump 5.7% from the previous February.
Here are the February year-over-year price changes for other Southern California goods and services:
- Apparel: 2.7%
- Education and communication: 2.1%
- Housing: 1%
- Household furnishings: -0.3%
- Medical care: 2.9%
- Recreation: -2.3%
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