Consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in July, and shelter, which rose 0.1 percent itself, accounted for about two thirds of it

0.1 percent. That is how far the cost of what an urban American household buys moved last month.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published the July Consumer Price Index at half past eight on Wednesday morning. The all items index for all urban consumers rose 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, after falling 0.4 percent in June. Over twelve months, before seasonal adjustment, it is up 3.4 percent, against 3.5 percent for the twelve months ending in June.

Shelter did most of it.

The two thirds

The shelter index rose 0.1 percent in July, the same as in June, and the release says that accounts for roughly two thirds of the monthly increase in all items. The rent measures moved faster. Rent rose 0.3 percent over the month and owners' equivalent rent rose 0.3 percent as well. What held the shelter figure down to 0.1 was lodging away from home, which fell 2.8 percent.

Over twelve months shelter is up 3.2 percent.

Energy, in two directions

Energy fell 1.5 percent in July, after falling 5.7 percent in June. Gasoline fell 2.9 percent seasonally adjusted, and 2.1 percent before adjustment. Natural gas rose 0.7 percent and electricity rose 0.1 percent.

Across twelve months the same energy index is up 14.7 percent, which the release attributes in large part to gasoline, up 24.6 percent over that period. Electricity is up 4.2 percent and natural gas 4.3 percent. That distance between the month and the year is the whole difference between the two rates people quote: all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in July after being unchanged in June, and is up 2.5 percent over twelve months against 3.4 percent for all items.

Food

Food rose 0.1 percent. Food at home fell 0.1 percent, and three of the six grocery groups the bureau tracks fell with it, meats, poultry, fish and eggs down 0.7 percent as pork fell 1.5 percent, fruit and vegetables down 0.1 percent as lettuce fell 16.4 percent, and dairy down 0.1 percent. Nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.9 percent, after falling 1.5 percent in June.

Eating out went the other way. Food away from home rose 0.3 percent over the month and is up 3.4 percent over the year, against 2.7 percent for food bought to take home.

Medical care services rose 0.6 percent in July and are up 2.7 percent over twelve months. Used cars and trucks rose 0.4 percent in the month and remain 1.9 percent below a year ago. Motor vehicle insurance was among the major indexes that fell.