FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) USDL CPI QUICKLINE: (202) TRANSMISSION OF

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1 News United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) USDL CPI QUICKLINE: (202) TRANSMISSION OF FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS INFORMATION: (202) RELEASE IS EMBARGOED MEDIA CONTACT: (202) UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST) INTERNET ADDRESS: Thursday, November 15, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: OCTOBER The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in October before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The October level of ( =100) was 3.5 percent higher than in October. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.2 percent in October prior to seasonal adjustment. The October level of ( =100) was 3.7 percent higher than in October. The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in October on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The October level of (December 1999=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in October. Please note that the indexes for the post-2005 period are subject to revision. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.3 percent in October, the same as in September. The index for energy advanced 1.4 percent in October, with the index for petroleum-based energy up 1.5 percent and the index for energy services, 1.3 percent. The food index rose 0.3 percent in October. The index for food at home also rose 0.3 percent and the index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.2 percent in October. Table A. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Seasonally adjusted Un- Expenditure Changes from preceding month Compound annual rate adjusted 12-mos. Category 3-mos. ended ended Apr. May June All Items Food and beverages Housing Apparel Transportation Medical care Recreation Education and communication Other goods and services Special Indexes Energy Food All Items less food and energy

2 During the first ten months of, the CPI-U rose at a 3.6 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 2.5 percent for all of. The index for energy, which increased 2.9 percent in, advanced at a 12.3 percent SAAR in the first ten months of. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 20.6 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 2.7 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 5.5 percent rate thus far in, following a 2.1 percent rise for all of. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.3 percent SAAR in the first ten months of after increasing 2.6 percent in. The food and beverages index rose 0.3 percent in October. The index for food at home, which rose 0.5 percent in September, increased 0.3 percent in October. The smaller advance reflects a downturn in egg prices and deceleration in the indexes for milk and for fruits and vegetables. The index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.7 percent in October, following a 1.8 percent rise in September. The index for fresh vegetables increased 2.3 percent while the index for fresh fruits declined 0.4 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit prices rose 1.0 percent.) The index for processed fruits and vegetables increased 0.1 percent. The index for dairy products increased 0.2 percent in October and has advanced 13.3 percent in the first ten months of. Milk prices were virtually unchanged in October, but have risen 19.3 percent since the beginning of the year. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.2 percent in October. Beef and poultry prices each fell 0.7 percent, while prices for pork, for other meats, and for fish and seafood each turned up in October after registering declines in September. The index for eggs fell 1.3 percent in October, but have increased 42.2 percent during the last 12 months. The index for cereal and bakery products increased 0.4 percent, the same as in each of the two preceding months. The indexes for nonalcoholic beverages and for other food at home rose 0.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively. The other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. The index for housing increased 0.2 percent in October. The index for shelter rose 0.1 percent after increasing 0.3 percent in September. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent increased 0.5 and 0.2 percent, respectively, while the index for lodging away from home decreased 1.5 percent. The index for household energy, which rose 0.1 percent in September, increased 1.4 percent in October. Each of the three major household fuels showed acceleration: The index for natural gas, which declined 1.0 percent in September, increased 0.7 percent in October. The indexes for fuel oil and for electricity, which rose 0.9 and 0.5 percent, respectively in September, advanced 2.3 and 1.5 percent in October. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for electricity declined 3.9 percent, reflecting the switch to winter rates in some areas.). The index for household furnishings and operations decreased for the fourth consecutive month--down 0.1 percent in October. The transportation index increased 0.4 percent in October. The index for gasoline rose 1.4 percent, accounting for over 90 percent of the overall transportation increase. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 0.1 percent and were10.2 percent lower than their peak level recorded in May. The index for new vehicles declined 0.2 percent in October. (As of October, about 30 percent of the new car sample consisted of 2008 models. The 2008 models will continue to be phased in, with adjustments for quality change, over the next several months as they replace old models at dealerships. For a report on quality changes for the 2008 vehicles represented in the Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL dated November 14,.) The index for used cars and trucks declined 0.1 percent. During the last 12 months, new vehicle prices have declined 1.1 percent and prices for used cars and trucks, 1.7 percent. The index for public transportation increased 1.2 percent in October, reflecting a 1.6 percent increase in the index for airline fares. The index for apparel, which increased 0.3 percent in September, was virtually unchanged in October. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices advanced 1.9 percent in October, reflecting the continued introduction of fall-winter wear.) Medical care costs, which rose 0.3 percent in September, increased 0.6 percent in October. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.3 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.6 percent. The indexes for professional services and for hospital and related services advanced 0.4 and 1.1 percent, respectively, following increases of 0.2 and 0.8 percent in September. The index for recreation rose 0.3 percent in October, the same as in September. Increases in the indexes for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts and sporting events and for cable and satellite television--up 1.1 and 0.6 percent, respectively--accounted for over four-fifths of the overall recreation advance.

3 The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in October. The index for education rose 0.7 percent, reflecting an increase of 0.8 percent in the index for tuition. College tuition costs rose 1.1 percent in October and were 6.1 higher than a year ago. The index for communication was virtually unchanged in October. Within this group, the index for telephone services rose 0.2 percent, reflecting a 0.5 percent increase in the index for land-line local charges. The indexes for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 1.4 percent and the indexes for computer software and accessories and for internet services and electronic information providers decreased 0.2 and 0.6 percent, respectively. The index for other goods and services increased 0.2 percent in October. The two major sub-indexes-- tobacco and smoking products and personal care--each rose 0.2 percent. During the last 12 months, prices for tobacco and smoking products have increased 7.6 percent and prices for personal care have risen 2.5 percent. CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.3 percent in October. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- Expenditure Changes from preceding month Compound annual rate adjusted 12-mos. Category 3-mos. ended ended Apr. May June All Items Food and beverages Housing Apparel Transportation Medical care Recreation Education and communication Other goods and services Special Indexes Energy Food All Items less food and energy Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on Friday, December 14,, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).

4 Facilities for Sensory Impaired Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: , Federal Relay Services: For a recorded message of Summary CPI data, call (202) Brief Explanation of the CPI The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time of goods and services purchased by households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor force. The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors and dentists services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index. Prices of fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls of the Bureau s trained representatives. In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights, which represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. For the CPI-U and CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size classes, and for 27 local areas. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period. For the C-CPI-U data are issued only at the national level. It is important to note that the CPI-U and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C- CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions. The index measures price change from a designed reference date. For the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is equals The reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100. An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown as This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has risen from $10 in to $ For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at or contact our CPI Information and Analysis Section on (202)

5 Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index The CPI is a statistical estimate that is subject to sampling error because it is based upon a sample of retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-month, 2-month, 6-month and 12-month percent change standard errors annually, for the CPI-U. These standard error estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For example, the estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index. This means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology, and estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between 0.08 and 0.32 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the estimates of standard error, see Variance Estimates for Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January December 2005 in the CPI Detailed Report, February. These data are available on the CPI home page ( using the following link

6 Calculating Index Changes Movements of the indexes from one month to another are usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index points, because index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation of index point and percent changes. Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month period. Index Point Change CPI Less previous index Equals index point change.616 Percent Change Index point difference.616 Divided by the previous index Equals Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 Equals percent change 0.3 Regions Defined The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below. The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

7 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation. Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method. Seasonally adjusted indexes and seasonal factors are computed annually. Each year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2002 through December were replaced in January. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series, in the October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report. The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. If any of the 73 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of the dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 44 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for. Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements. Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12- ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. In January, BLS adjusted 37 series using Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, including selected food and beverage items, fuel oil, motor fuels, vehicles, jewelry, admission to sporting events and educational books and supplies. For example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the effects of damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina, as well as the effects of implementing new fuel requirements in the United States.

8 For a complete list of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment series and explanations, please refer to the article Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, located on our website at: For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI, please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC or contact Jeff Wilson on (202) by at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202)

9 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group CPI-U Relative importance, December indexes percent change to from Seasonally adjusted percent change from to to to Expenditure category All items All items (1967=100) Food and beverages Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs Dairy and related products Fruits and vegetables Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials Other food at home Sugar and sweets Fats and oils Other foods Other miscellaneous foods Food away from home Other food away from home Alcoholic beverages Housing Shelter Rent of primary residence Lodging away from home Owners equivalent rent of primary residence Tenants and household insurance Fuels and utilities Household energy Fuel oil and other fuels Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household furnishings and operations Household operations Apparel Men s and boys apparel Women s and girls apparel Infants and toddlers apparel Footwear Transportation Private transportation New and used motor vehicles New vehicles Used cars and trucks Motor fuel Gasoline (all types) Motor vehicle parts and equipment Motor vehicle maintenance and repair Public transportation Medical care Medical care commodities Medical care services Professional services Hospital and related services See footnotes at end of table.

10 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-continued CPI-U Relative importance, December indexes percent change to from Seasonally adjusted percent change from to to to Expenditure category Recreation Video and audio Education and communication Education Educational books and supplies Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication Information and information processing Telephone services Information technology, hardware and services Personal computers and peripheral equipment Other goods and services Tobacco and smoking products Personal care Personal care products Personal care services Miscellaneous personal services Commodity and service group Commodities Food and beverages Commodities less food and beverages Nondurables less food and beverages Apparel Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel Durables Services Rent of shelter Tenants and household insurance Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household operations Transportation services Medical care services Other services Special indexes All items less food All items less shelter All items less medical care Commodities less food Nondurables less food Nondurables less food and apparel Nondurables Services less rent of shelter Services less medical care services Energy All items less energy All items less food and energy Commodities less food and energy commodities Energy commodities Services less energy services Purchasing power of the consumer dollar ( =$1.00)... - $.480 $ Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00)... - $.160 $ Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

11 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group CPI-U Seasonally adjusted indexes Jan. Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended 6 months ended Apr. Apr. Expenditure category All items Food and beverages Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs Dairy and related products Fruits and vegetables Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials Other food at home Sugar and sweets Fats and oils Other foods Other miscellaneous foods Food away from home Other food away from home Alcoholic beverages Housing Shelter Rent of primary residence Lodging away from home Owners equivalent rent of primary residence Tenants and household insurance Fuels and utilities Household energy Fuel oil and other fuels Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household furnishings and operations Household operations Apparel Men s and boys apparel Women s and girls apparel Infants and toddlers apparel Footwear Transportation Private transportation New and used motor vehicles New vehicles Used cars and trucks Motor fuel Gasoline (all types) Motor vehicle parts and equipment Motor vehicle maintenance and repair Public transportation Medical care Medical care commodities Medical care services Professional services Hospital and related services See footnotes at end of table.

12 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-continued CPI-U Seasonally adjusted indexes Jan. Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended 6 months ended Apr. Apr. Expenditure category Recreation Video and audio Education and communication Education Educational books and supplies Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication Information and information processing Telephone services Information technology, hardware and services Personal computers and peripheral equipment Other goods and services Tobacco and smoking products Personal care Personal care products Personal care services Miscellaneous personal services Commodity and service group Commodities Food and beverages Commodities less food and beverages Nondurables less food and beverages Apparel Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel Durables Services Rent of shelter Tenants and household insurance Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household operations Transportation services Medical care services Other services Special indexes All items less food All items less shelter All items less medical care Commodities less food Nondurables less food Nondurables less food and apparel Nondurables Services less rent of shelter Services less medical care services Energy All items less energy All items less food and energy Commodities less food and energy commodities Energy commodities Services less energy services Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

13 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index All items CPI-U Pricing schedule 1 Indexes Percent change to from Percent change to from U.S. city average... M Region and area size 2 Northeast urban... M Size A - More than 1,500, M Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500, M Midwest urban... M Size A - More than 1,500, M Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500, M Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)... M South urban... M Size A - More than 1,500, M Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500, M Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)... M West urban... M Size A - More than 1,500, M Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500, M Size classes A 4... M B/C 3... M D... M Selected local areas 5 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI... M Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA... M New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA... M Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT Cleveland-Akron, OH Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV Atlanta, GA Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. 1 - January, March, May,, September, and November. 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the January and issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

14 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group CPI-W Relative importance, December indexes percent change to from Seasonally adjusted percent change from to to to Expenditure category All items All items (1967=100) Food and beverages Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs Dairy and related products Fruits and vegetables Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials Other food at home Sugar and sweets Fats and oils Other foods Other miscellaneous foods Food away from home Other food away from home Alcoholic beverages Housing Shelter Rent of primary residence Lodging away from home Owners equivalent rent of primary residence Tenants and household insurance Fuels and utilities Household energy Fuel oil and other fuels Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household furnishings and operations Household operations Apparel Men s and boys apparel Women s and girls apparel Infants and toddlers apparel Footwear Transportation Private transportation New and used motor vehicles New vehicles Used cars and trucks Motor fuel Gasoline (all types) Motor vehicle parts and equipment Motor vehicle maintenance and repair Public transportation Medical care Medical care commodities Medical care services Professional services Hospital and related services See footnotes at end of table.

15 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-continued CPI-W Relative importance, December indexes percent change to from Seasonally adjusted percent change from to to to Expenditure category Recreation Video and audio Education and communication Education Educational books and supplies Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication Information and information processing Telephone services Information technology, hardware and services Personal computers and peripheral equipment Other goods and services Tobacco and smoking products Personal care Personal care products Personal care services Miscellaneous personal services Commodity and service group Commodities Food and beverages Commodities less food and beverages Nondurables less food and beverages Apparel Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel Durables Services Rent of shelter Tenants and household insurance Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household operations Transportation services Medical care services Other services Special indexes All items less food All items less shelter All items less medical care Commodities less food Nondurables less food Nondurables less food and apparel Nondurables Services less rent of shelter Services less medical care services Energy All items less energy All items less food and energy Commodities less food and energy commodities Energy commodities Services less energy services Purchasing power of the consumer dollar ( =$1.00)... - $.490 $ Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00)... - $.165 $ Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

16 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group CPI-W Seasonally adjusted indexes Jan. Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended 6 months ended Apr. Apr. Expenditure category All items Food and beverages Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs Dairy and related products Fruits and vegetables Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials Other food at home Sugar and sweets Fats and oils Other foods Other miscellaneous foods Food away from home Other food away from home Alcoholic beverages Housing Shelter Rent of primary residence Lodging away from home Owners equivalent rent of primary residence Tenants and household insurance Fuels and utilities Household energy Fuel oil and other fuels Gas (piped) and electricity Water and sewer and trash collection services Household furnishings and operations Household operations Apparel Men s and boys apparel Women s and girls apparel Infants and toddlers apparel Footwear Transportation Private transportation New and used motor vehicles New vehicles Used cars and trucks Motor fuel Gasoline (all types) Motor vehicle parts and equipment Motor vehicle maintenance and repair Public transportation Medical care Medical care commodities Medical care services Professional services Hospital and related services See footnotes at end of table.