The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area rose 0.1% from June to August and 1.7% over the past year.
According to BLS Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee, food prices increased by 1.2 percent over the two months, with the index for food away from home up 1.9 percent and food at home rising 0.8 percent. Major grocery categories showing notable increases included meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+2.3 percent) and nonalcoholic beverages (+3.3 percent). The energy index advanced 0.4 percent, while the index for all items less food and energy declined 0.1 percent.
For the 12 months ending in August, the all-items CPI-U increased by 1.7 percent. Food rose by 3.5 percent, including a 6.9 percent increase for dining out and a 1.2 percent rise for groceries. Energy costs fell by 2.3 percent, driven by a 9.5 percent decline in gasoline prices. Excluding food and energy, the index rose by 1.9 percent, with shelter, owners’ equivalent rent (+3.0 percent), and household furnishings (+8.0 percent) among the largest contributors, while apparel fell by 7.5 percent over the year.
Lee noted that some categories declined over the two months, including apparel (-4.6 percent), medical care (-1.1 percent), and recreation (-1.3 percent), while education and communication (+1.6 percent) and owners’ equivalent rent (+0.5 percent) increased.
The report is not seasonally adjusted; thus bi-monthly changes may reflect seasonal influences according to BLS officials who also said that “the next CPI release for September 2025 is scheduled for October 15, 2025,” adding that “long-term care insurance will be removed from the health insurance index in November 2025.”
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), part of the U.S Department of Labor, serves as the federal government’s primary agency for labor economics and statistics according to its mandate which includes collecting, analyzing, and publishing data on employment, wages, prices, productivity, and working conditions to support decision-making by various stakeholders.
