According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Anchorage rose 2.5% annnualized in the first half of 2011. The index is 2.8% higher than at June of 2010, which was the same as the change for the entire U.S. Anchorage is the only "urban" community in Alaska that is tracked for these national statistics which come out twice a year.
This is nearly identical to Anchorage's 10 year average inflation rate of 2.6%. Average prices have not shown much volitility during the decade reaching a high of 4.6% and a low of 1.2%.
Energy prices had the largest impact on the CPI in Anchorage, rising 11.5% mostly due to gasoline costs, up 16.6%. Food also increased 2.8% at mid year 2011. After removing these two highly volitile categories, the remainder of the index rose 1.6% over the last 12 months.
Since June of 2010, the largest price increases were seen in medical care (+4.8%), shelter (+3.1%), household furnings and maintenance (+2.5%) and recreation (+2%). Price declines were measured in two major categories. Apparel fell (-2.2%) and education and communications was (-0.3%) lower.
Nationwide, inflation has also been most impacted by rising energy costs, up 14.5% for the 12 month period from June 2010 to 2011. Medical costs have been rising faster in Anchorage, up 4.8% compared to only 1.9% in the U.S. However, housing costs have been flat, up only 0.7% in the U.S., compared to 3.1% in Anchorage.
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