Feds Say Cost of Living Across Metro Rising

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The cost of living in Kansas City has gone up over the past year, with the cost of food and shelter leading the way, according to figures released by the federal government on Wednesday.

According to the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall consumer price index for the metro area rose 2.6 percent from the first half of 2011 to the first half of 2012.

Federal officials say that food prices across the metro area rose 4.4 percent over the past year. Within the food index, costs for food at home advanced 4.0 percent and prices for food away from home were up 4.7 percent.

The rate of increase for both components slowed in the latter half of the period, the report states.

The energy index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, had a far less dramatic increase over the past year, up just 0.4 percent from the first half of 2011 to the first half of 2012. A 4.2-percent rise in electricity costs, all of which occurred in the earlier half of the period, led the increase in the energy component.

Click here for the entire report (PDF) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.