The US consumer price index (CPI) for jewelry in January 2013 fell by 3.5% on a year-on-year basis and amounted to 176.7 points in response to a significant decline in prices for precious metals, Rapaport reports.
In January 2013, the index held at a level slightly lower than the corresponding value in December, while the December value of the index was revised to 176.8 points.
Nevertheless, at present the index remains at a record level, and in January CPI exceeded the average mark of 170 points for the 25th consecutive month. In January 2012, the index jumped to a record high of 185 points, but then, throughout the year 2012, prices for diamonds, gold and platinum declined.
The average CPI for 2012 fell by 0.9%.
The general consumer price index for all product categories in January increased by 1.6% on a year-on-year basis and reached 231.2 points, slightly below the record high registered in October 2012. The average CPI for all categories of goods in 2012 increased by 2.1%.