The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area decreased by 0.3 percent from September to November, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that the index for all items excluding food and energy dropped by 0.2 percent during this period. The food and energy indexes both declined by 1.0 percent over the same span.
The BLS noted that survey data was not collected for October 2025 due to a lapse in appropriations, making it impossible to retroactively gather these figures. However, nonsurvey data sources were used where possible to calculate some indexes, and most nonsurvey data for October was acquired retroactively.
Over the past year ending in November, the overall CPI-U for Tampa rose by 3.0 percent. The index excluding food and energy increased by 2.7 percent during this period, while the food index went up by 4.2 percent and the energy index climbed by 5.2 percent.
From September to November, the food index fell by 1.0 percent, with grocery store purchases dropping by 1.9 percent and declines seen in four of six major grocery categories—cereals and bakery products saw a decrease of 5.0 percent, while other foods at home dropped by 2.1 percent. Meanwhile, prices for eating out rose slightly by 0.2 percent.
For the year ending in November, eating out became more expensive with an increase of 6.1 percent, while grocery prices rose across all major groups at a rate of 2.6 percent.
Energy prices also declined between September and November, with gasoline falling by 2.5 percent over two months but declining only 3.8 percent over twelve months as overall energy costs still registered a yearly rise.
Shelter costs fell by 1.2 percent over two months due partly to lower lodging away from home expenses; however, recreation costs increased during this time frame.
Annually, shelter costs rose by 2.7 percent with owners’ equivalent rent and rent indexes both increasing at similar rates.
The next release of CPI data for December is scheduled for January 13, followed by January’s figures on February 11.
The CPI measures average price changes over time in a fixed basket of goods and services but is published bi-monthly at the local level like Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater due to smaller sample sizes compared to national statistics—making these local figures more volatile and unadjusted for seasonal influences.
This metropolitan area includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties in Florida.
