Seattle area consumers paid more than the U.S. city average for utility (piped) gas (32.6 percent) but less  for electricity (-30.1 percent) in September 2012, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted the gap  between local and national prices for utility (piped) gas widened over the year as local prices fell at a  slower rate than those for the nation. The percent differentials between area and national electricity and  gasoline prices narrowed over the year. (See table A.) (All data in this release are not seasonally  adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

NOTE:  A positive percent difference measures how much the price in the Seattle area is above the national price, while a  negative difference reflects a lower price in the Seattle area.

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity cost Seattle area consumers $0.093 in September 2012, 3.3 percent  more than one year earlier. Nationwide, electricity prices averaged $0.133 in September 2012, compared  to $0.135 the previous year. For the past five years, electricity prices in the Seattle area have been consistently below the national average and ranged from approximately 27.0 percent to over 38.0 percent lower. (See chart 1 and table 1.)