Consumer prices are staying steady

The overall price index for Midwest consumers was unchanged in August and has gone down slightly over the last 12 months, the federal government reported Wednesday.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the Midwest was unchanged in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

Price increases for some items in August were counterbalanced by a 1.3 percent drop in the energy index, largely driven by a 2.4 percent decline in motor fuel prices.

Meanwhile, food prices in the Midwest rose a scant 0.3 percent.

Over the last 12 months, the Midwest price index slipped 0.3 percent. Just as with the month, the overall index stability was influenced by a 14.5 percent decline in energy costs that outweighed increases in food and other items.

Highlights over the year included a 22 percent plummet in motor fuel prices. There was a 1.4 percent increase in food prices, mostly due to a 3.3 percent rise in the cost of food eaten away from home.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Consumer prices are staying steady."