Slight uptick reported in local government costs for latest month
The overall costs of goods and services purchased by local governments increased 0.5 percent last month, according to American City & County’s Municipal Cost Index. The April 2012 Municipal Cost Index value of 225.1 is 2.9 percent higher than last year.
Most items tracked by American City & County showed only slight price changes in the last month. The largest increase was seen in crude petroleum, which increased 5.4 percent in one month and is 21.8 percent higher than last year. Home heating oil and distillates increased 5.3 percent, and gypsum products continued to increase 5.1 percent last month. Gypsum products are up 15.2 percent over last year, and diesel fuel (No. 2) is up 14.5 percent.
Read the entire story from American City & County, our sister publication.
