According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the seasonally adjusted consumer price index (CPI) rose by two-tenth of 1% in August, dropping the inflation rate over the last 12 months to 2.5%. This is the 2nd month in a row when inflation has been below 3% in over three years. It is important to note that this does not mean prices are decreasing; the last calendar year with negative inflation was 1954, and that was not a good year as the economy was in a recession part of that year.