Prices paid by Dallas-Fort Worth consumers were 3% higher in September than a year earlier, driven largely by gasoline, which cost 33.1% more, according to figures the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday.
The bureau's Consumer Price Index for the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area rose 0.7% over the two months ending in September. The area index is published every other month and is not seasonally adjusted, so two-month changes can reflect seasonal swings, the bureau notes. The area it measures covers 13 counties, Collin and Denton among them.
Energy leads the increase
The energy index rose 4.1% over August and September and 17.4% over the year. Gasoline prices were up 9.2% for the two months. Regular unleaded showed the steepest yearly rise of the gasoline grades the bureau tracks, at 34%.
Food mixed
Food prices slipped 0.2% over the two months, as grocery prices fell 0.4% and restaurant prices held steady. Cereals and bakery products fell 1.7% and nonalcoholic beverages 1.5%.
Over the full year, though, food cost 3.3% more. Grocery prices were up 3.9%, led by fruits and vegetables at 14.5%, and prices at restaurants, cafeterias and vending machines rose 2.7%.
