Posted at 10:57 a.m., Friday, February 21, 2003
O'ahu consumer price index shows slight rise
Advertiser Staff
Consumer prices on O'ahu rose by a modest 0.2 percent in the second half of 2002 as falling food and gasoline costs tempered rising home and electricity prices.The increase in the Consumer Price Index, the government's most closely watched inflation gauge, rose 1 percent when compared to the same period a year earlier, the U.S. Labor Department reported today.
In the last six months of 2002, Honolulu's Consumer Price Index rose to 180.4. This means that basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982 would have cost $180.40 during the final six months of 2002.
Housing, one of Honolulu's hottest sectors last year, saw its index rise 0.8 percent during the six month period that ended Dec. 30 and 1.5 percent from the same 2001 period. The fuel and utilities index rose 6.6 percent while household furnishings and operations rose 3.2 percent.
Compared to a year ago, fuel and utilities rose just 1 percent, and household furnishings and operations rose 2.1 percent.
