US July Consumer Price Index climbs 0.5%, led by energy costs

New York (Platts)--16Aug2005

US Consumer Price Index climbed 0.5% in July on a seasonally-adjusted basis,
led by a 3.8% advance in energy costs, according to data released Tuesday by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Within energy, the petroleum-based index jumped 6.1%, which accounted for more
than half of the advance in the overall index. The index for energy rose 19.4%
in the first seven months of 2005 compared to 16.6% in all of 2004. 

Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 29.8% annual rate while charges
for energy services jumped 8%. The index for fuels and utilities rose 1.3% in
July after edging up 0.1% in June. Fuel oil advanced 8.4% in July while
natural gas rose 3.8%. Electricity fell 0.3% after increasing 1.5% in June.
Excluding food and energy, CPI inched up 0.1%.

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