From its base of 100 in the first quarter of 2003, the consumer price index for housing and utilities peaked to 161.6 in the second quarter of 2008, decreasing slightly to 159.3 in the third quarter before settling to 152.7 for the last quarter of 2008.
Housing and utilities include rent of primary residence, owner’s equivalent rent, fuel oil, and bedroom furniture.
The consumer price index for food comes next — 112 for the first quarter of 2008, which increased to 112.4 in the second quarter, 116.1 in the third and 118.8 in the fourth.
The increase in shipping costs, goods for suppliers, utility rates and fuel all added to the increase in food costs.
The food group includes the CPI for beverages, breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full-service meals and snacks.
The costs of medical care came in third — 107.9 during the first half of the year. The figure slightly dipped to 104.5 for the third quarter before going up to 108.1 for the last quarter.
Medical care includes prescription drugs and medical supplies, physicians’ services, eyeglasses, eye care, and other hospital services.
Transportation price index showed slight movements for the whole year.
From 100 in the first quarter, it went up to 103.2 in the second quarter, decreased to 96.5 in the third before going up again to 104.5 in the last quarter.
Alcoholic beverages price index slightly increased from 106.4 to 107.2 for the first and second quarters of 2008.
It dipped to 103.5 in the third quarter and went up to 104.3 in the last quarter.
There was almost no movement in the consumer price index of education and communication.
The costs remained steady at 100.5 for the first half of the year, increasing by 0.3 index points in the third quarter before going up to 101.3 in the last quarter.
Included in the education and communication category are college tuition, postage, telephone services, computer software and accessories.
The cost of apparel maintained an almost-steady rate for the whole year, with 102.4 in the first quarter, 101.3 in the second, 100.8 in the third and 101.4 in the fourth.
The consumer price index for recreation went down from 102.4 in the first quarter, to 99.8 in the second and remained at 98.1 for the second half of the year.
Recreation includes televisions, cable television, pets and pet products, sports equipment, admissions and others.
The cost of other goods and services posted 100 for the first half of 2008, and went up to 107.7 for the rest of the year.
The Department of Commerce collects nearly 1,000 price quotations from over a hundred business establishments and outlets during the middle month each quarter to compute the CPI.
