Times are tough. So are increasing costs for consumer goods.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers rose 0.2 percent in January, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average change over time in the price paid by urban households – in 15 major urban areas – for a set of consumer goods and services. Des Moines is not included.

This is the 10th consecutive month that the index has risen; it has increased 2.6 percent during the past 12 months before seasonal adjustment. The largest increase came last June, a 0.7 percent increase, with the only drop occurring during March, 0.1 percent.

A rise in the energy index, specifically the gasoline and fuel oil indices, were the main factors in January’s increase. The energy index rose 2.8 percent, with fuel oil increasing 6.1 percent and gasoline increasing 4.4 percent. The electricity index, however, dropped 1.1 percent. In the past 12 months, the energy index as a whole increased 19.1 percent, with gasoline up 51.3 percent and fuel oil up 19.3 percent

The food index increased as well in January, 0.2 percent, largely because of a 0.4 percent rise in the “food at home” index, its largest increase since September 2008.

The index for all items except food and energy actually fell 0.1 percent, largely the result of decreases in the indexes for shelter (0.5 percent), new vehicles (0.5 percent) and airline fares (2.5 percent). The medical care index, however, increased 0.5 percent, its largest increase since January 2008.