The consumer price index for Anchorage rose 1.8% in 2010. Anchorage is the only community in Alaska tracked by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports on local inflation every six months. Inflation forces were stronger in the first half of the year, rising 2.5% year-over-year for the prior 12 months. However, by year end 2010 the rate was lower mainly due to a 0.1% decrease in food prices and a 0.9% decrease in the energy index. There was a 14.1% decrease in natural gas prices and a 7.1% decrease in electricity prices, while gasoline rose 5.6% from a year ago.
Housing costs are the largest component of personal spending and they climbed 2.3% in 2010. Medical care rose 5.3%, Recreation and Entertainment added 1.4% and Clothing 0.4%. Household furnishings declined 0.2%.
Nationally, inflation rose 1.5% in 2010. Housing shelter only increased 0.4% due to flat home prices and rents, while Energy climbed 7.7%. Food was up 1.5% and Medical Care rose 3.4%.
I am in Sitka where a loaf of bread was $5.29 in 2008 and now costs 8.49. There are many items here that have seen similar inflation. What percent of inflation might we be talking about in places with little competition for groceries?
Posted by: Kare | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 06:57 PM