The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area fell by 0.3 percent from September to November 2025. According to Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee, “the index for all items less food and energy declined 0.2 percent over the two-month span.” The report also noted a 1.0 percent decrease in both the food and energy indexes during this period.
Due to a lapse in appropriations, BLS did not collect survey data for October 2025 and is unable to retroactively gather these figures. However, for some indexes where nonsurvey data sources are used, BLS was able to acquire most of the necessary information after the fact.
Over the past year ending in November, the overall CPI-U increased by 3.0 percent in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. The index excluding food and energy rose by 2.7 percent during this time frame, while food prices increased by 4.2 percent and energy prices went up by 5.2 percent.
From September to November, grocery store purchases—reflected in the “food at home” index—fell by 1.9 percent, with notable declines seen in cereals and bakery products (-5.0 percent) as well as other food at home (-2.1 percent). Conversely, prices for eating out (“food away from home”) edged up by 0.2 percent over two months.
Looking at annual changes, restaurant and cafeteria prices climbed by 6.1 percent while grocery store prices were up by 2.6 percent across all major categories.
In terms of energy costs over two months, gasoline prices dropped by 2.5 percent; however, compared with last year’s levels they are down only slightly (-3.8 percent).
Shelter costs decreased by 1.2 percent from September to November due partly to lower lodging away from home rates; meanwhile recreation expenses rose by 2.3 percent during this interval.
For those interested in upcoming releases: December’s Consumer Price Index will be published on January 13, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., followed by January’s release on February 11, 2026 at the same time.
The Consumer Price Index tracks average price changes over time within a fixed basket of goods and services and is published every two months for Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater; its local-area indexes can be more volatile than national or regional measures due to smaller sample sizes and lack of seasonal adjustment.
Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater’s statistical area includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in Florida.
“Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request,” according to BLS guidance.
