Percent change in Consumer Price Index by expenditure category, July 2014 to July 2015

Over the 12 months ended July 2015, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent. The index for food rose 1.6 percent over the past year, while the energy index fell 14.8 percent. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.8 percent over the year.

From July 2014 to July 2015, the index for food at home rose 0.9 percent and the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 3.1 percent. The index for fruits and vegetables declined 1.9 percent over the past year, while the index for cereals and bakery products rose 1.3 percent. The index for food away from home increased 2.7 percent.

More from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

First Consumer Price Index decline for medical care services in nearly 40 years

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is best known for our monthly job and inflation reports. We also publish data on many other topics, ranging from how Americans spend their time and money to workplace injuries and the growth of entrepreneurship. My new blog series, “Why This Counts,” will explain why we conduct our surveys and how people can use the data at work and home. I hope this series will take the mystery out of our data and make our work come to life for both new and advanced users.

In the March 24 Consumer Price Index release, one interesting item caught my eye. The seasonally adjusted index for medical care services declined 0.2 percent in February 2015, its first decline since November 1975. That’s a long time ago