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News

United States
Department
of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Washington, D.C. 20212

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Stephen B. Reed
(202) 691-7000
CPI QUICKLINE:
(202) 691-6994
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL
INFORMATION:
(202) 691-5200
MEDIA CONTACT:
(202) 691-5902
INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/

USDL-09-0678
TRANSMISSION OF
MATERIAL IN THIS
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MAY 2009
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in May before
seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the
last 12 months the index has fallen 1.3 percent. This is the largest decline since April 1950 and is due mainly to
a 27.3 percent decline in the energy index.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent in May after being unchanged in April.
The index for energy, which had declined the previous two months, rose 0.2 percent in May as an increase in
the gasoline index more than offset declines in other energy indexes. The food index decreased for the fourth
consecutive month, falling 0.2 percent as the indexes for all major grocery store food groups declined.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May following a 0.3 percent increase in
April. The smaller increase was partly due to the tobacco and smoking products index, which turned down in
May after rising sharply in March and April. In May, the indexes for shelter, new and used motor vehicles, and
medical care posted increases, while the public transportation index fell 1.0 percent and the indexes for apparel
and tobacco declined slightly. The index for all items less food and energy has increased 1.8 percent over the
last 12 months.

Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
Seasonally adjusted
Expenditure
Category

Changes from preceding month
Nov.
2008

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 ...........................

Dec.
2008

Jan.
2009

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

Compound
annual rate
3-mos. ended
May 2009

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
May 2009

-1.7
.2
-.1
.1
-9.7
.2
.0

-0.8
.1
.0
-.6
-5.0
.3
-.2

0.3
.1
.0
.3
1.3
.4
.0

0.4
-.1
.0
1.3
1.9
.3
.4

-0.1
-.1
-.1
-.2
-1.1
.2
.0

0.0
-.2
-.1
-.2
-.4
.4
-.4

0.1
-.2
-.1
-.2
.8
.3
.0

-0.2
-2.0
-1.0
-2.3
-2.6
3.5
-1.6

-1.3
2.7
.5
.8
-14.3
3.2
1.1

.2
.0

.3
.0

.3
.3

.2
.2

.2
2.7

.3
2.6

.3
-.2

3.1
22.3

3.4
7.3

-16.9
.2

-9.3
.0

1.7
.1

3.3
-.1

-3.0
-.1

-2.4
-.2

.2
-.2

-18.9
-2.2

-27.3
2.7

.1

.0

.2

.2

.2

.3

.1

2.3

1.8

The food and beverages index declined 0.2 percent in May, the same decline as in April. The food away
from home index rose 0.1 percent and the index for alcoholic beverages advanced 0.3 percent. These increases
were more than offset by a 0.5 percent decline in the food at home index, which has now declined six months in
a row. The decline was broad, with the indexes for all six major grocery store food groups decreasing. The
largest declines were in the fruits and vegetables index, which fell 1.0 percent, and the index for meats, poultry,
fish and eggs, which decreased 0.9 percent as the eggs index declined 6.5 percent. The index for dairy and
related products fell 0.5 percent in May and has declined 5.6 percent over the past year. The indexes for cereals
and bakery products, for nonalcoholic beverages, and for other food at home all posted slight decreases in May.
The food at home index has risen 1.5 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest increase since December
2006.
The housing index fell 0.1 percent in May, the third straight such decline. The index for shelter rose 0.1
percent, with the indexes for rent, for owners’ equivalent rent, and for lodging away from home all rising 0.1
percent. However, the household energy index declined for the tenth straight month, falling 1.8 percent. The
fuel oil index fell 3.3 percent, the index for natural gas declined 5.7 percent, and the index for electricity
declined 0.4 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged in May for the second
month in a row. Over the past year, the housing index has risen 0.5 percent. The shelter index has risen 1.5
percent while the index for household energy has declined 8.7 percent.
The index for transportation rose 0.8 percent in May following declines in April and March. The
gasoline index increased 3.1 percent in May after declining 2.8 percent in April. (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
gasoline prices rose 9.6 percent in May.) The index for new and used motor vehicles increased 0.5 percent in
May. The new vehicles index rose 0.5 percent in May, its fifth straight monthly increase following five straight
monthly declines. The index for used cars and trucks posted its first increase in over a year, rising 1.0 percent.
In contrast, the index for public transportation continued to decline, falling 1.0 percent. The airline fare index
fell 1.5 percent in May and has declined 18.5 percent from its August 2008 peak. Over the last year, the
transportation index has declined 14.3 percent with the index for motor fuel down 39.9 percent. The public
transportation index has fallen 9.0 percent over the period and the index for used cars and trucks has declined
10.0 percent. These declines contrast with a 0.4 percent increase in the new vehicles index.
Among other CPI groups, the index for medical care rose 0.3 percent in May after a 0.4 percent increase
in April. The index for prescription drugs rose 0.6 percent in May after advancing 0.5 percent in April, while
the hospital services index rose 0.1 percent in May after a 1.0 percent increase in April. The index for
education and communication rose 0.3 percent in May with the education component rising 0.5 percent and the
communication component increasing 0.1 percent. After declining 0.4 percent in April, the recreation index
was unchanged in May. The apparel index declined 0.2 percent in May, the third straight such decrease. The
index for other goods and services also declined 0.2 percent as the tobacco and smoking products index
declined 0.3 percent.

CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.4 percent in
May, prior to seasonal adjustment. The index value of 208.774 was 1.9 percent lower than in May 2008. On a
seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-W rose 0.1 percent in May.

Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
Seasonally adjusted
Expenditure
Category

Changes from preceding month
Nov.
2008

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 ...........................

Dec.
2008

Jan.
2009

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

Compound
annual rate
3-mos. ended
May 2009

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
May 2009

-2.1
.2
.0
.0
-10.9
.2
.0

-1.0
.1
.0
-.6
-5.6
.3
-.1

0.3
.0
.0
.6
1.5
.4
.0

0.4
-.2
.1
1.0
2.0
.4
.4

-0.1
-.1
-.1
-.3
-1.3
.2
.0

0.0
-.2
-.1
-.3
-.5
.4
-.3

0.1
-.2
.0
.0
.9
.3
.0

-0.1
-2.1
-1.1
-2.6
-3.4
3.8
-1.3

-1.9
2.8
.8
.8
-16.3
3.3
1.2

.2
.1

.3
.1

.2
.4

.2
.2

.2
3.9

.2
3.8

.2
-.2

2.4
34.4

3.0
10.5

-17.8
.2

-9.7
.1

1.9
.0

3.6
-.2

-3.1
-.1

-2.4
-.2

.4
-.3

-18.5
-2.4

-28.0
2.7

.1

.0

.2

.2

.2

.3

.2

3.0

2.0

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in May
on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The index has decreased 1.4 percent over the past year. Please note that the
indexes for the post-2007 period are subject to revision.
Upcoming release
Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 8:30 A.M.
(EDT).

Facilities for Sensory Impaired
Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.
Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339.

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 CCPI-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 1982-84 equals 100.0. 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 116.5. 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 1982-84 to $11.65.
For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI
Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000.

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 0.04 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 0.08 percent of the
1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For example, 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 0.12 and 0.28 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use
the estimates of standard error, see “Variance Estimates for Price Changes in the Consumer Price Index,
January-December 2008”. These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or by using
the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2008.pdf

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

202.416
201.800
.616

Percent Change
Index point difference
Divided by the previous index
Equals
Results multiplied by one hundred
Equals percent change

.616
201.800
0.003
0.003x100
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.

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted 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.
Unadjusted 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 before
adjustment 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 2004 through December 2008
were replaced in January 2009. 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:
47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2009.
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-12ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2009, BLS adjusted 29 series using Intervention Analysis
Seasonal Adjustment, including selected food and beverage items, motor fuels, electricity and vehicles. For
example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the effects of events such as damage to oil
refineries from Hurricane Katrina.
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
http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm.
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 20212 or contact Jeff Wilson at
(202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call
our information staff at (202) 691-7000.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and
service group
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative
importance,
December
2008

Unadjusted
indexes
Apr.
2009

May
2009

Unadjusted
percent change to
May 2009 from—
May
2008

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Apr.
2009

Feb. to
Mar.

Mar. to
Apr.

Apr. to
May

Expenditure category
All items ........................................................................................
All items (1967=100) ....................................................................

100.000

213.240
638.771

213.856
640.616

-1.3

0.3

-0.1

0.0

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Food and beverages ..................................................................
Food .........................................................................................
Food at home .........................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ...............................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..............................................
Dairy and related products 1 ................................................
Fruits and vegetables ...........................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................
Other food at home ..............................................................
Sugar and sweets ..............................................................
Fats and oils .......................................................................
Other foods ........................................................................
Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 .........................................
Food away from home 1 .........................................................
Other food away from home 1 2 ...........................................
Alcoholic beverages .................................................................

15.757
14.629
8.156
1.150
1.898
.910
1.194
.982
2.022
.300
.241
1.481
.433
6.474
.314
1.127

218.364
218.162
215.783
252.709
205.699
197.124
274.297
162.889
191.352
197.301
200.464
205.734
122.883
222.905
155.099
219.671

218.076
217.826
215.088
252.714
203.789
196.055
274.006
162.803
191.144
196.403
200.679
205.587
122.838
223.023
155.099
220.005

2.7
2.7
1.5
3.5
1.4
-5.6
-.9
2.8
4.6
6.1
3.8
4.5
3.4
4.2
3.6
3.0

-.1
-.2
-.3
.0
-.9
-.5
-.1
-.1
-.1
-.5
.1
-.1
.0
.1
.0
.2

-.1
-.1
-.4
-.2
-.9
-2.4
.2
1.0
.0
.2
.1
.0
-.1
.1
-.2
.1

-.2
-.2
-.6
-.7
.0
-1.3
.0
-1.0
-.8
-.5
-1.4
-.8
.4
.3
.4
-.1

-.2
-.2
-.5
-.2
-.9
-.5
-1.0
-.1
-.1
.0
-.7
.0
.0
.1
.0
.3

Housing ......................................................................................
Shelter ......................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 ...................................................
Lodging away from home 2 ....................................................
Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ..................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ...................................
Fuels and utilities .....................................................................
Household energy ..................................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels .........................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .................................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ...................
Household furnishings and operations .....................................
Household operations 1 2 .......................................................

43.421
33.200
5.957
2.478
24.433
.333
5.431
4.460
.301
4.159
.971
4.790
.781

217.126
249.855
248.899
137.700
256.622
120.675
207.175
184.903
228.107
190.686
158.698
129.654
150.809

216.971
249.779
249.069
135.680
256.875
120.728
206.358
183.783
225.164
189.619
159.517
129.644
149.468

.5
1.5
3.0
-6.8
2.1
2.0
-6.2
-8.7
-38.1
-5.7
6.3
1.6
1.7

-.1
.0
.1
-1.5
.1
.0
-.4
-.6
-1.3
-.6
.5
.0
-.9

-.1
.0
.2
-2.4
.2
.0
-1.4
-1.8
-7.7
-1.4
.4
.3
.5

-.1
.2
.2
.5
.1
-.1
-1.7
-2.2
-2.1
-2.2
.6
.0
-.1

-.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.0
-1.3
-1.8
-3.1
-1.7
.6
.0
-.9

Apparel .......................................................................................
Men’s and boys’ apparel ..........................................................
Women’s and girls’ apparel ......................................................
Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ...................................................
Footwear ..................................................................................

3.691
.923
1.541
.183
.688

123.208
117.195
111.871
117.084
128.057

121.751
117.146
109.460
114.142
127.519

.8
.6
.7
-.4
1.6

-1.2
.0
-2.2
-2.5
-.4

-.2
-.3
-.7
.6
.2

-.2
-1.7
.2
1.3
.4

-.2
.4
-.1
-1.6
.1

Transportation ............................................................................
Private transportation ...............................................................
New and used motor vehicles 2 .............................................
New vehicles ........................................................................
Used cars and trucks ...........................................................
Motor fuel ...............................................................................
Gasoline (all types) ..............................................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 .....................................
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................
Public transportation ................................................................

15.314
14.189
6.931
4.480
1.628
3.164
2.964
.382
1.188
1.125

171.987
167.516
92.381
134.863
121.213
177.272
176.704
134.640
242.649
229.827

175.997
171.757
92.701
135.162
122.650
193.609
193.727
134.347
242.488
228.878

-14.3
-14.6
-1.1
.4
-10.0
-39.9
-39.4
5.9
4.6
-9.0

2.3
2.5
.3
.2
1.2
9.2
9.6
-.2
-.1
-.4

-1.1
-1.1
.0
.6
-1.7
-4.4
-4.0
.3
.2
-1.0

-.4
-.3
.4
.4
-.1
-2.6
-2.8
.1
.2
-.8

.8
.9
.5
.5
1.0
2.7
3.1
-.2
-.1
-1.0

Medical care ...............................................................................
Medical care commodities ........................................................
Medical care services ...............................................................
Professional services .............................................................
Hospital and related services 3 ..............................................

6.390
1.625
4.765
2.702
1.545

374.170
303.979
395.753
317.661
564.785

375.026
304.697
396.648
319.333
564.112

3.2
3.3
3.2
2.7
6.2

.2
.2
.2
.5
-.1

.2
.2
.2
.0
.6

.4
.3
.4
.1
.9

.3
.4
.3
.6
.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and
service group-Continued
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative
importance,
December
2008

Unadjusted
indexes
Apr.
2009

May
2009

Unadjusted
percent change to
May 2009 from—
May
2008

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Apr.
2009

Feb. to
Mar.

Mar. to
Apr.

Apr. to
May

Expenditure category
Recreation 2 ...............................................................................
Video and audio 2 ....................................................................

5.741
1.822

114.261
102.300

114.264
101.947

1.1
-1.0

0.0
-.3

0.0
.0

-0.4
.1

0.0
-.2

Education and communication 2 ................................................
Education 2 ..............................................................................
Educational books and supplies .............................................
Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................
Communication 2 .....................................................................
Information and information processing 1 2 ............................
Telephone services 1 2 .........................................................
Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .............
Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............

6.301
3.107
.221
2.886
3.194
3.022
2.408
.614
.214

126.273
187.416
472.507
539.149
84.985
82.090
102.072
9.881
85.714

126.467
187.853
472.588
540.498
85.049
82.038
102.267
9.775
84.366

3.4
5.5
6.7
5.4
1.3
1.2
2.4
-3.4
-13.0

.2
.2
.0
.3
.1
-.1
.2
-1.1
-1.6

.2
.5
.5
.5
.0
.0
.1
-.5
-1.7

.3
.4
.4
.4
.1
.1
.1
.1
-.6

.3
.5
.4
.6
.1
-.1
.2
-1.1
-1.6

Other goods and services ..........................................................
Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................
Personal care ...........................................................................
Personal care products 1 .......................................................
Personal care services 1 ........................................................
Miscellaneous personal services ...........................................

3.386
.776
2.610
.651
.647
1.074

370.606
742.443
204.896
163.777
227.913
342.641

369.901
740.311
204.578
163.051
227.607
343.051

7.3
27.4
1.5
2.7
1.8
.9

-.2
-.3
-.2
-.4
-.1
.1

2.7
11.0
.2
.1
.9
.0

2.6
9.3
.3
.7
.0
.2

-.2
-.3
-.2
-.4
-.1
-.1

39.556
15.757
23.799
13.289
3.691
9.598
10.510
60.444
32.867
.333
4.159
.971
.781
5.567
4.765
11.002

167.816
218.364
141.753
173.855
123.208
209.177
109.404
258.466
260.469
120.675
190.686
158.698
150.809
248.696
395.753
301.668

169.060
218.076
143.587
177.480
121.751
216.090
109.650
258.433
260.388
120.728
189.619
159.517
149.468
248.628
396.648
302.132

-5.2
2.7
-9.6
-14.6
.8
-19.1
-1.5
1.5
1.5
2.0
-5.7
6.3
1.7
2.6
3.2
2.8

.7
-.1
1.3
2.1
-1.2
3.3
.2
.0
.0
.0
-.6
.5
-.9
.0
.2
.2

-.3
-.1
-.4
-1.2
-.2
-1.6
.0
.0
-.1
.0
-1.4
.4
.5
-.1
.2
.2

-.1
-.2
.0
-.7
-.2
-.6
.2
.0
.2
-.1
-2.2
.6
-.1
.3
.4
-.1

.2
-.2
.5
.7
-.2
.9
.3
.0
.1
.0
-1.7
.6
-.9
-.1
.3
.2

85.371
66.800
93.610
24.926
14.416
10.726
29.046
27.577
55.679
7.624
92.376
77.746
21.461
3.465
56.285

212.464
201.271
205.275
144.464
176.587
209.195
195.864
275.752
247.490
179.704
218.388
219.143
142.489
181.102
265.399
$ .469
$ .157

213.236
202.171
205.876
146.261
180.017
215.459
197.673
275.777
247.406
186.909
218.323
219.128
142.360
196.528
265.466
$ .468
$ .156

-1.9
-2.6
-1.6
-9.1
-13.6
-17.4
-6.4
1.6
1.4
-27.3
2.0
1.8
1.2
-39.8
2.1

.4
.4
.3
1.2
1.9
3.0
.9
.0
.0
4.0
.0
.0
-.1
8.5
.0

-.1
-.2
-.2
-.4
-1.2
-1.5
-.7
-.1
-.1
-3.0
.1
.2
.4
-4.7
.1

.0
-.1
.0
.0
-.6
-.6
-.3
-.2
.0
-2.4
.2
.3
.5
-2.6
.2

.2
.1
.1
.5
.7
.7
.0
-.2
-.1
.2
.1
.1
.2
2.3
.1

-

-

-

-

-

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 4 .........................................................................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .......................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .......................................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......................
Household operations 1 2 ...........................................................
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 4 ......................................................
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 (1982-84=$1.00) ........
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .............

-

1 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.
6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
- Data not available.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

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
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Seasonally adjusted indexes

Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent
change for
3 months ended—

CPI-U

6 months
ended—

Aug.
2008

Nov.
2008

Feb.
2009

May
2009

212.876

6.7

-9.4

-0.5

218.401
218.254
215.948
252.062
206.480
197.124
275.810
163.084
190.826
196.398
201.213
205.037
122.883
222.905
155.099
218.994

217.965
217.738
214.929
251.645
204.679
196.055
273.037
162.848
190.643
196.340
199.782
205.011
122.838
223.023
155.099
219.601

8.7
9.0
11.6
9.5
10.9
14.1
23.1
4.4
9.1
5.2
23.7
7.6
7.9
5.9
4.0
4.0

4.6
4.5
3.6
9.2
3.9
-3.0
-10.1
9.5
9.7
11.0
9.9
9.4
8.6
5.6
7.7
5.6

217.335
248.899
248.490
133.328
256.257
120.737
214.254
192.927
232.191
199.289
157.817
129.436
150.914

217.180
249.334
248.916
134.000
256.627
120.675
210.702
188.753
227.355
194.967
158.802
129.434
150.809

217.056
249.680
249.233
134.136
257.003
120.728
207.903
185.399
220.321
191.671
159.821
129.413
149.468

4.1
2.3
4.1
-.9
2.2
.5
16.6
18.1
1.9
19.8
9.4
2.6
6.2

120.039
116.328
107.374
112.796
125.209

119.744
116.007
106.592
113.510
125.517

119.537
114.062
106.771
115.025
126.039

119.345
114.561
106.667
113.149
126.182

Transportation ...................................................................
Private transportation ......................................................
New and used motor vehicles 2 ....................................
New vehicles ...............................................................
Used cars and trucks ..................................................
Motor fuel ......................................................................
Gasoline (all types) .....................................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 .......................
Public transportation .......................................................

172.759
168.067
91.997
133.199
123.757
182.030
180.685
134.108
241.689
234.648

170.903
166.252
92.016
134.020
121.704
173.947
173.498
134.484
242.118
232.294

170.259
165.676
92.400
134.580
121.616
169.373
168.696
134.640
242.649
230.470

Medical care ......................................................................
Medical care commodities ..............................................
Medical care services .....................................................
Professional services ....................................................
Hospital and related services 3 .....................................

371.175
301.710
392.512
316.299
554.315

371.902
302.464
393.210
316.416
557.588

373.257
303.357
394.734
316.667
562.843

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

All items ..............................................................................

213.007

212.714

212.671

Food and beverages .........................................................
Food ................................................................................
Food at home ................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ......................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....................................
Dairy and related products 1 .......................................
Fruits and vegetables ..................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......
Other food at home .....................................................
Sugar and sweets .....................................................
Fats and oils ..............................................................
Other foods ...............................................................
Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................
Food away from home 1 ...............................................
Other food away from home 1 2 ..................................
Alcoholic beverages ........................................................

219.076
218.970
217.968
254.347
208.389
204.537
275.374
163.173
192.419
196.990
203.729
206.838
122.580
221.968
154.726
219.141

218.792
218.651
217.202
253.863
206.465
199.687
275.843
164.813
192.431
197.299
204.029
206.741
122.402
222.216
154.414
219.315

Housing .............................................................................
Shelter .............................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 ..........................................
Lodging away from home 2 ...........................................
Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .........
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .........................
Fuels and utilities ............................................................
Household energy .........................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .......................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..........
Household furnishings and operations ............................
Household operations 1 2 .............................................

217.621
248.881
248.087
136.561
255.687
120.683
217.260
196.415
251.478
202.043
157.141
129.008
150.156

Apparel ..............................................................................
Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................
Women’s and girls’ apparel .............................................
Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ..........................................
Footwear .........................................................................

Nov.
2008

May
2009

-0.2

-1.6

-0.4

.1
.0
-2.8
.1
-1.5
-15.1
-9.6
-1.5
4.0
10.0
-7.7
4.8
-3.1
3.5
2.0
1.8

-2.0
-2.2
-5.5
-4.2
-6.9
-15.6
-3.4
-.8
-3.6
-1.3
-7.5
-3.5
.8
1.9
1.0
.8

6.6
6.7
7.5
9.4
7.3
5.2
5.2
7.0
9.4
8.1
16.6
8.5
8.2
5.8
5.8
4.8

-1.0
-1.1
-4.1
-2.1
-4.3
-15.4
-6.5
-1.2
.1
4.2
-7.6
.6
-1.1
2.7
1.5
1.3

-.7
1.8
3.4
-5.9
2.3
5.8
-16.1
-20.1
-58.3
-15.5
6.5
1.7
2.2

.0
.7
2.6
-13.2
1.8
1.5
-4.8
-6.2
-41.5
-2.9
2.4
.9
.4

-1.0
1.3
1.9
-6.9
2.1
.1
-16.1
-20.6
-41.1
-19.0
7.0
1.3
-1.8

1.7
2.0
3.8
-3.4
2.3
3.1
-1.1
-2.8
-34.8
.6
8.0
2.2
4.2

-.5
1.0
2.2
-10.1
2.0
.8
-10.6
-13.7
-41.3
-11.3
4.7
1.1
-.7

5.6
-2.2
14.6
-5.4
-.3

-3.5
-4.2
-8.2
6.7
3.0

3.9
16.1
.3
-3.7
.5

-2.3
-5.9
-2.6
1.3
3.1

.9
-3.2
2.5
.5
1.3

.7
4.5
-1.2
-1.2
1.8

171.635
167.234
92.847
135.284
122.788
173.872
173.954
134.347
242.488
228.210

15.6
15.2
-2.4
-1.3
-8.6
45.5
45.7
11.5
7.8
21.4

-45.7
-47.1
-6.9
-6.3
-16.0
-85.0
-85.4
8.3
5.0
-22.7

-7.4
-6.5
1.7
3.1
-11.9
-28.4
-26.6
3.5
4.5
-18.4

-2.6
-2.0
3.7
6.4
-3.1
-16.8
-14.1
.7
1.3
-10.5

-20.8
-22.0
-4.7
-3.8
-12.4
-53.2
-53.8
9.9
6.4
-3.2

-5.0
-4.3
2.7
4.7
-7.6
-22.8
-20.6
2.1
2.9
-14.5

374.402
304.426
395.884
318.499
563.594

2.3
.8
2.8
3.0
5.5

2.7
3.3
2.5
2.6
4.2

4.3
5.6
3.8
2.4
8.5

3.5
3.6
3.5
2.8
6.9

2.5
2.0
2.7
2.8
4.8

3.9
4.6
3.7
2.6
7.7

Expenditure category

See footnotes at end of table.

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
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Seasonally adjusted indexes

Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent
change for
3 months ended—

CPI-U

6 months
ended—

Aug.
2008

Nov.
2008

Feb.
2009

May
2009

114.044
101.488

3.6
.3

1.5
-1.8

1.0
-1.9

126.783
188.943
472.682
543.870
84.988
82.090
102.072
9.881
85.714

127.169
189.968
474.581
546.880
85.049
82.038
102.267
9.775
84.366

4.9
6.2
12.8
5.7
3.7
3.7
5.8
-4.1
-15.9

2.2
4.9
4.2
5.0
-.4
-.4
.9
-5.7
-15.9

360.782
679.078
203.836
162.696
227.982
341.437

370.031
742.443
204.462
163.777
227.913
342.001

369.237
740.311
204.078
163.051
227.607
341.763

4.3
11.6
2.3
1.2
.9
3.4

167.199
219.076
140.611
172.896
120.039
209.390
108.993
258.654
259.487
120.683
202.043
157.141
150.156
248.567
392.512
301.506

166.703
218.792
140.043
170.758
119.744
206.003
109.006
258.590
259.349
120.737
199.289
157.817
150.914
248.393
393.210
302.251

166.603
218.401
140.066
169.626
119.537
204.807
109.203
258.599
259.854
120.675
194.967
158.802
150.809
249.193
394.734
302.016

166.959
217.965
140.736
170.782
119.345
206.581
109.576
258.637
260.188
120.728
191.671
159.821
149.468
248.944
395.884
302.653

212.061
201.331
205.148
143.336
175.672
209.425
195.833
277.608
247.947
187.901
217.276
217.670
140.300
186.872
264.500

211.773
200.911
204.820
142.788
173.638
206.340
194.522
277.380
247.779
182.254
217.539
218.042
140.893
178.146
264.698

211.787
200.676
204.724
142.801
172.529
205.196
193.911
276.815
247.685
177.924
217.941
218.594
141.583
173.528
265.129

212.111
200.829
204.892
143.471
173.715
206.725
193.862
276.222
247.547
178.340
218.126
218.910
141.817
177.449
265.491

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

Recreation 2 ......................................................................
Video and audio 2 ...........................................................

114.492
101.630

114.511
101.640

114.030
101.741

Education and communication 2 .......................................
Education 2 .....................................................................
Educational books and supplies ...................................
Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ......................
Communication 2 ............................................................
Information and information processing 1 2 ..................
Telephone services 1 2 ...............................................
Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ....
Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ...

126.187
187.249
468.101
539.023
84.944
82.052
101.895
9.926
87.696

126.461
188.119
470.674
541.493
84.924
82.022
101.991
9.872
86.213

Other goods and services .................................................
Tobacco and smoking products 1 ...................................
Personal care ..................................................................
Personal care products 1 ..............................................
Personal care services 1 ...............................................
Miscellaneous personal services ..................................

351.139
611.549
203.328
162.508
225.895
341.519

Nov.
2008

May
2009

-1.6
-.6

2.6
-.8

-0.3
-1.2

3.3
5.1
4.5
5.1
1.6
1.6
1.4
2.4
-5.7

3.1
5.9
5.7
6.0
.5
-.1
1.5
-5.9
-14.3

3.5
5.6
8.4
5.4
1.6
1.6
3.3
-4.9
-15.9

3.2
5.5
5.1
5.5
1.1
.8
1.4
-1.9
-10.1

1.9
1.7
2.0
4.5
3.7
-.2

2.0
8.1
.3
3.8
-.5
.4

22.3
114.7
1.5
1.3
3.1
.3

3.1
6.5
2.2
2.8
2.3
1.6

11.7
52.3
.9
2.6
1.3
.3

9.6
8.7
10.1
18.3
5.6
22.4
-1.4
4.7
2.2
.5
19.8
9.4
6.2
9.0
2.8
4.6

-21.8
4.6
-34.2
-49.9
-3.5
-59.4
-5.5
.4
2.1
5.8
-15.5
6.5
2.2
-1.6
2.5
2.2

-2.9
.1
-4.8
-5.8
3.9
-8.7
-1.3
1.3
.6
1.5
-2.9
2.4
.4
2.7
3.8
2.8

-.6
-2.0
.4
-4.8
-2.3
-5.3
2.2
.0
1.1
.1
-19.0
7.0
-1.8
.6
3.5
1.5

-7.4
6.6
-14.9
-23.0
.9
-29.5
-3.5
2.5
2.1
3.1
.6
8.0
4.2
3.6
2.7
3.4

-1.8
-1.0
-2.3
-5.3
.7
-7.0
.4
.6
.9
.8
-11.3
4.7
-.7
1.6
3.7
2.2

6.4
8.9
7.0
9.9
17.1
20.7
12.9
7.5
4.7
33.2
3.9
3.0
1.4
42.3
3.6

-11.5
-14.3
-10.1
-32.9
-47.5
-56.1
-27.8
-1.0
.5
-67.0
1.2
.6
-2.2
-83.9
1.7

-.6
-1.0
-.8
-4.6
-5.0
-7.2
-2.0
2.1
1.1
-17.4
1.2
1.5
1.2
-29.4
1.6

.1
-1.0
-.5
.4
-4.4
-5.1
-4.0
-2.0
-.6
-18.9
1.6
2.3
4.4
-18.7
1.5

-3.0
-3.4
-1.9
-14.2
-21.6
-27.2
-9.7
3.2
2.6
-33.7
2.6
1.8
-.4
-52.1
2.6

-.2
-1.0
-.6
-2.1
-4.7
-6.2
-3.0
.0
.2
-18.1
1.4
1.9
2.8
-24.2
1.5

Expenditure category

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 4 ................................................................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .............................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .............................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..............
Household operations 1 2 .................................................
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 4 .............................................
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 .........................................

1 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.
6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
All items

CPI-U

Indexes

Percent change to
May2009 from—

Pricing
schedule
1

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

M

212.193

212.709

213.240

Northeast urban ..............................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................

M
M
M

226.754
229.262
133.967

227.309
229.749
134.411

Midwest urban ................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................
Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than
50,000) ...............................................

M
M
M

201.453
202.639
129.057

M

South urban ....................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................
Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than
50,000) ...............................................
West urban .....................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................

Percent change to
Apr.2009 from—

May
2008

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

Apr.
2008

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

213.856

-1.3

0.5

0.3

-0.7

0.5

0.2

227.840
230.400
134.547

228.136
230.611
134.857

-.8
-.6
-1.5

.4
.4
.3

.1
.1
.2

-.1
.2
-.9

.5
.5
.4

.2
.3
.1

202.021
203.240
129.334

202.327
203.463
129.604

203.195
204.443
129.967

-1.9
-1.8
-2.0

.6
.6
.5

.4
.5
.3

-1.5
-1.5
-1.4

.4
.4
.4

.2
.1
.2

196.421

197.267

197.644

198.911

-1.9

.8

.6

-1.6

.6

.2

M
M
M

205.343
207.929
130.380

206.001
208.529
130.873

206.657
208.934
131.370

207.265
209.235
131.777

-1.3
-1.2
-1.4

.6
.3
.7

.3
.1
.3

-.7
-.5
-.9

.6
.5
.8

.3
.2
.4

M

206.671

206.927

207.898

209.563

-.8

1.3

.8

-.4

.6

.5

M
M
M

217.095
220.955
131.636

217.357
221.124
131.775

217.910
221.790
131.912

218.567
222.659
131.990

-1.1
-.9
-1.5

.6
.7
.2

.3
.4
.1

-.7
-.4
-1.3

.4
.4
.2

.3
.3
.1

M
M
M

194.354
130.855
203.999

194.750
131.230
204.672

195.207
131.557
205.421

195.745
131.876
206.717

-1.1
-1.6
-1.2

.5
.5
1.0

.3
.2
.6

-.5
-1.1
-.9

.4
.5
.7

.2
.2
.4

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ...................
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ...
New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,
NY-NJ-CT-PA .........................................

M
M

207.367
221.439

207.462
221.376

207.886
221.693

209.809
222.522

-2.4
-1.8

1.1
.5

.9
.4

-2.2
-1.3

.3
.1

.2
.1

M

234.663

235.067

235.582

235.975

-.1

.4

.2

.8

.4

.2

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .....
Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................................
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .....................................
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ......

1
1
1
1

-

232.155
199.457
200.039
138.620

-

231.891
200.196
199.311
139.311

-1.5
-2.3
-1.5
-.2

-.1
.4
-.4
.5

-

-

-

-

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 ....................

2
2
2
2

199.190
201.913
187.972
220.589

-

199.210
202.373
189.701
220.740

-

-

-

-

-3.5
-1.4
.5
-.3

.0
.2
.9
.1

-

2
2
2

220.262
222.166
224.737

-

221.686
223.854
225.918

-

-

-

-

-.9
.8
1.2

.6
.8
.5

-

U.S. city average ............................................
Region and area size2

Size classes
A 4 ..............................................................
B/C 3 ...........................................................
D .................................................................
Selected local areas5

1 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, July, 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 July 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.

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
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative
importance,
December
2008

Unadjusted
indexes
Apr.
2009

May
2009

Unadjusted
percent change to
May 2009 from—
May
2008

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Apr.
2009

Feb. to
Mar.

Mar. to
Apr.

Apr. to
May

Expenditure category
All items ........................................................................................
All items (1967=100) ....................................................................

100.000

207.925
619.344

208.774
621.875

-1.9

0.4

-0.1

0.0

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Food and beverages ..................................................................
Food .........................................................................................
Food at home .........................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ...............................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..............................................
Dairy and related products 1 ................................................
Fruits and vegetables ...........................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................
Other food at home ..............................................................
Sugar and sweets ..............................................................
Fats and oils .......................................................................
Other foods ........................................................................
Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 .........................................
Food away from home 1 .........................................................
Other food away from home 1 2 ...........................................
Alcoholic beverages .................................................................

16.942
15.865
9.201
1.249
2.315
.992
1.266
1.167
2.212
.304
.274
1.634
.472
6.664
.233
1.077

217.653
217.376
214.654
253.556
205.527
195.714
271.771
162.464
190.650
195.858
201.474
205.820
123.112
222.957
154.414
220.243

217.308
216.975
213.876
253.430
203.409
194.694
271.530
162.468
190.401
194.928
201.470
205.641
123.126
223.082
154.409
220.729

2.8
2.7
1.5
3.6
1.5
-6.0
-1.0
3.3
4.5
5.9
3.7
4.3
3.3
4.4
4.0
3.4

-.2
-.2
-.4
.0
-1.0
-.5
-.1
.0
-.1
-.5
.0
-.1
.0
.1
.0
.2

-.1
-.1
-.3
-.1
-.9
-2.5
.1
1.2
.0
.4
-.1
.0
-.1
.1
-.3
.1

-.2
-.2
-.5
-.7
.0
-1.2
.2
-1.1
-.9
-.6
-1.2
-.9
.2
.3
.2
-.1

-.2
-.3
-.5
-.2
-.9
-.5
-1.1
-.1
-.1
-.2
-.8
.1
.0
.1
.0
.5

Housing ......................................................................................
Shelter ......................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 ...................................................
Lodging away from home 2 ....................................................
Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ..................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ...................................
Fuels and utilities .....................................................................
Household energy ..................................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels .........................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .................................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ...................
Household furnishings and operations .....................................
Household operations 1 2 .......................................................

41.313
31.224
8.279
1.209
21.430
.306
6.030
4.996
.283
4.713
1.035
4.059
.360

212.885
242.857
247.517
138.008
232.503
121.084
205.840
182.795
232.068
188.735
159.073
125.458
152.980

212.881
242.941
247.710
136.113
232.739
121.160
205.270
181.977
229.019
187.982
159.861
125.589
152.001

.8
1.9
2.9
-6.1
2.1
2.1
-5.6
-7.9
-36.2
-5.6
6.4
1.9
1.5

.0
.0
.1
-1.4
.1
.1
-.3
-.4
-1.3
-.4
.5
.1
-.6

-.1
.1
.2
-2.3
.2
.1
-1.4
-1.8
-7.0
-1.5
.4
.2
.7

-.1
.1
.2
.4
.1
.0
-1.8
-2.3
-2.5
-2.3
.6
.2
-.2

.0
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
-1.2
-1.6
-3.0
-1.5
.6
.1
-.6

Apparel .......................................................................................
Men’s and boys’ apparel ..........................................................
Women’s and girls’ apparel ......................................................
Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ...................................................
Footwear ..................................................................................

3.979
1.024
1.568
.249
.840

122.709
117.834
110.990
119.873
128.312

121.364
117.687
108.637
116.912
127.802

.8
.9
.0
-.3
2.0

-1.1
-.1
-2.1
-2.5
-.4

-.3
-.5
-.8
.4
.4

-.3
-1.8
-.2
1.7
.4

.0
.5
-.1
-1.4
.1

Transportation ............................................................................
Private transportation ...............................................................
New and used motor vehicles 2 .............................................
New vehicles ........................................................................
Used cars and trucks ...........................................................
Motor fuel ...............................................................................
Gasoline (all types) ..............................................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 .....................................
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................
Public transportation ................................................................

17.067
16.284
7.627
4.057
2.863
4.029
3.770
.482
1.242
.784

168.539
165.299
89.620
135.911
121.850
177.982
177.510
134.614
245.180
228.525

173.055
169.957
90.039
136.113
123.339
194.339
194.569
134.439
245.036
227.522

-16.3
-16.6
-3.0
.1
-10.1
-39.9
-39.4
6.1
4.6
-8.7

2.7
2.8
.5
.1
1.2
9.2
9.6
-.1
-.1
-.4

-1.3
-1.3
-.3
.7
-1.7
-4.4
-3.9
.2
.2
-.7

-.5
-.5
.3
.3
.0
-2.6
-2.7
.1
.2
-.7

.9
1.0
.5
.4
1.0
2.6
3.0
-.1
-.1
-.9

Medical care ...............................................................................
Medical care commodities ........................................................
Medical care services ...............................................................
Professional services .............................................................
Hospital and related services 3 ..............................................

5.355
1.320
4.035
2.234
1.338

374.599
295.699
397.553
320.407
561.516

375.420
296.431
398.387
322.043
560.906

3.3
3.3
3.3
2.8
6.4

.2
.2
.2
.5
-.1

.2
.3
.2
.1
.6

.4
.3
.4
.1
1.0

.3
.4
.3
.6
.2

See footnotes at end of table.

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
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative
importance,
December
2008

Unadjusted
indexes
Apr.
2009

May
2009

Unadjusted
percent change to
May 2009 from—
May
2008

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Apr.
2009

Feb. to
Mar.

Mar. to
Apr.

Apr. to
May

Expenditure category
Recreation 2 ...............................................................................
Video and audio 2 ....................................................................

5.454
1.982

111.182
102.516

111.152
102.214

1.2
-.7

0.0
-.3

0.0
-.1

-0.3
.3

0.0
-.3

Education and communication 2 ................................................
Education 2 ..............................................................................
Educational books and supplies .............................................
Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................
Communication 2 .....................................................................
Information and information processing 1 2 ............................
Telephone services 1 2 .........................................................
Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .............
Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............

6.221
2.527
.219
2.308
3.694
3.568
2.965
.604
.202

122.152
184.892
474.950
520.348
87.671
85.655
102.048
10.385
85.406

122.293
185.291
475.213
521.550
87.712
85.624
102.231
10.271
84.017

3.0
5.4
6.7
5.3
1.4
1.3
2.3
-3.3
-13.4

.1
.2
.1
.2
.0
.0
.2
-1.1
-1.6

.2
.5
.4
.5
.0
.0
.1
-.6
-1.8

.2
.4
.4
.4
.1
.1
.1
.1
-.7

.2
.5
.5
.5
.0
.0
.2
-1.1
-1.6

Other goods and services ..........................................................
Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................
Personal care ...........................................................................
Personal care products 1 .......................................................
Personal care services 1 ........................................................
Miscellaneous personal services ...........................................

3.668
1.267
2.401
.662
.580
.947

394.902
747.906
203.010
163.911
228.119
345.016

394.061
746.009
202.631
163.119
227.829
345.326

10.5
27.9
1.6
2.6
1.7
1.2

-.2
-.3
-.2
-.5
-.1
.1

3.9
10.9
.2
.0
.9
.0

3.8
9.6
.4
.9
.0
.2

-.2
-.3
-.2
-.5
-.1
.0

42.689
16.942
25.747
14.587
3.979
10.609
11.160
57.311
30.918
.306
4.713
1.035
.360
5.512
4.035
10.432

169.005
217.653
143.871
179.415
122.709
218.502
108.596
253.403
234.148
121.084
188.735
159.073
152.980
248.809
397.553
289.738

170.532
217.308
146.125
183.813
121.364
226.621
108.933
253.482
234.229
121.160
187.982
159.861
152.001
248.795
398.387
290.116

-6.2
2.8
-11.0
-16.0
.8
-20.5
-2.6
1.7
1.9
2.1
-5.6
6.4
1.5
3.4
3.3
2.6

.9
-.2
1.6
2.5
-1.1
3.7
.3
.0
.0
.1
-.4
.5
-.6
.0
.2
.1

-.3
-.1
-.4
-1.2
-.3
-1.4
-.2
.0
.1
.1
-1.5
.4
.7
.0
.2
.3

.0
-.2
.1
-.6
-.3
-.3
.2
.0
.1
.0
-2.3
.6
-.2
.4
.4
-.1

.3
-.2
.6
1.0
.0
1.1
.4
.0
.2
.1
-1.5
.6
-.6
.0
.3
.2

84.135
68.776
94.645
26.824
15.664
11.686
31.530
26.392
53.275
9.024
90.976
75.111
22.513
4.311
52.598

206.081
197.432
201.112
146.371
181.815
217.649
198.408
243.718
242.980
178.485
212.472
211.857
143.237
181.021
260.439
$ .481
$ .161

207.148
198.571
201.955
148.589
186.012
225.091
200.601
243.784
243.022
186.321
212.462
211.926
143.170
196.706
260.615
$ .479
$ .161

-2.7
-3.5
-2.2
-10.5
-15.0
-18.9
-7.4
1.5
1.6
-28.0
2.1
2.0
1.1
-39.8
2.4

.5
.6
.4
1.5
2.3
3.4
1.1
.0
.0
4.4
.0
.0
.0
8.7
.1

-.1
-.3
-.2
-.4
-1.1
-1.3
-.7
-.1
.0
-3.1
.2
.2
.5
-4.5
.1

.0
-.1
.0
.1
-.6
-.3
-.2
-.3
-.1
-2.4
.2
.3
.7
-2.6
.2

.2
.1
.1
.6
1.0
.9
.0
-.2
.0
.4
.1
.2
.2
2.3
.2

-

-

-

-

-

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 4 .........................................................................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .......................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .......................................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......................
Household operations 1 2 ...........................................................
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 4 ......................................................
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 (1982-84=$1.00) ........
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .............

-

1 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.
6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
- Data not available.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

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
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Seasonally adjusted indexes

Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent
change for
3 months ended—

CPI-W

6 months
ended—

Aug.
2008

Nov.
2008

Feb.
2009

May
2009

207.624

7.5

-11.8

-0.8

217.672
217.462
214.802
252.843
206.191
195.714
273.381
162.761
190.049
195.060
202.186
204.983
123.112
222.957
154.414
219.265

217.225
216.912
213.768
252.282
204.374
194.694
270.352
162.650
189.923
194.731
200.498
205.144
123.126
223.082
154.409
220.348

9.0
9.4
11.7
10.3
11.1
14.3
24.2
4.1
8.9
5.5
23.4
7.4
7.6
6.3
4.9
4.1

4.7
4.6
3.8
9.2
3.9
-3.6
-10.4
11.3
9.4
11.2
10.6
8.9
8.1
5.8
8.7
5.9

213.463
242.257
247.150
133.991
232.200
121.099
213.084
190.862
237.288
197.294
158.223
125.029
153.239

213.190
242.595
247.522
134.472
232.489
121.084
209.329
186.541
231.388
192.851
159.211
125.303
152.980

213.097
242.963
247.874
134.706
232.851
121.160
206.844
183.586
224.548
189.940
160.241
125.430
152.001

4.6
2.4
3.9
-1.6
2.1
.9
17.1
18.5
3.1
19.8
9.7
3.1
6.2

119.854
117.255
107.054
115.319
125.352

119.478
116.702
106.208
115.748
125.880

119.065
114.576
106.000
117.751
126.391

119.078
115.184
105.873
116.074
126.469

Transportation ...................................................................
Private transportation ......................................................
New and used motor vehicles 2 ....................................
New vehicles ...............................................................
Used cars and trucks ..................................................
Motor fuel ......................................................................
Gasoline (all types) .....................................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 .......................
Public transportation .......................................................

169.627
166.302
89.662
134.277
124.356
182.697
181.433
134.264
244.219
231.991

167.435
164.112
89.419
135.162
122.304
174.688
174.331
134.485
244.650
230.256

166.620
163.332
89.667
135.612
122.256
170.137
169.566
134.614
245.180
228.536

Medical care ......................................................................
Medical care commodities ..............................................
Medical care services .....................................................
Professional services ....................................................
Hospital and related services 3 .....................................

371.397
293.339
394.081
318.961
550.509

372.188
294.284
394.779
319.150
553.960

373.540
295.047
396.348
319.449
559.368

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

All items ..............................................................................

207.692

207.401

207.352

Food and beverages .........................................................
Food ................................................................................
Food at home ................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ......................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....................................
Dairy and related products 1 .......................................
Fruits and vegetables ..................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......
Other food at home .....................................................
Sugar and sweets .....................................................
Fats and oils ..............................................................
Other foods ...............................................................
Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................
Food away from home 1 ...............................................
Other food away from home 1 2 ..................................
Alcoholic beverages ........................................................

218.371
218.207
216.694
254.813
208.151
203.023
272.522
162.689
191.629
195.485
204.738
206.781
122.994
222.101
154.520
219.285

218.079
217.881
215.965
254.555
206.190
198.048
272.783
164.563
191.720
196.202
204.559
206.801
122.837
222.336
154.054
219.507

Housing .............................................................................
Shelter .............................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 ..........................................
Lodging away from home 2 ...........................................
Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .........
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .........................
Fuels and utilities ............................................................
Household energy .........................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .......................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..........
Household furnishings and operations ............................
Household operations 1 2 .............................................

213.680
242.000
246.739
137.170
231.675
120.960
216.077
194.282
255.111
200.210
157.531
124.754
152.168

Apparel ..............................................................................
Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................
Women’s and girls’ apparel .............................................
Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ..........................................
Footwear .........................................................................

Nov.
2008

May
2009

-0.1

-2.6

-0.5

-.2
-.3
-3.1
-.5
-1.4
-16.2
-10.5
-1.7
3.6
8.8
-7.8
4.7
-2.7
3.7
2.8
1.7

-2.1
-2.4
-5.3
-3.9
-7.1
-15.4
-3.1
-.1
-3.5
-1.5
-8.0
-3.1
.4
1.8
-.3
2.0

6.8
7.0
7.6
9.7
7.4
5.0
5.5
7.7
9.2
8.3
16.8
8.1
7.8
6.1
6.8
5.0

-1.1
-1.3
-4.2
-2.2
-4.3
-15.8
-6.9
-.9
.0
3.5
-7.9
.7
-1.1
2.7
1.2
1.8

-.5
2.4
3.2
-3.4
2.3
5.8
-14.9
-18.6
-55.7
-15.0
6.8
1.7
.4

.4
1.4
2.5
-12.0
1.8
1.2
-4.3
-5.6
-39.6
-3.0
2.2
.5
-.2

-1.1
1.6
1.9
-7.0
2.0
.7
-16.0
-20.3
-40.0
-19.0
7.1
2.2
-.4

2.0
2.4
3.6
-2.5
2.2
3.4
-.2
-1.8
-32.4
.9
8.2
2.4
3.3

-.3
1.5
2.2
-9.5
1.9
.9
-10.4
-13.2
-39.8
-11.3
4.6
1.3
-.3

5.7
-1.2
15.6
-8.3
.4

-3.7
-4.5
-9.0
8.7
2.4

4.1
18.0
-.5
-3.2
1.6

-2.6
-6.9
-4.3
2.6
3.6

.9
-2.9
2.6
-.2
1.4

.7
4.8
-2.5
-.3
2.6

168.145
164.963
90.153
136.199
123.465
174.513
174.723
134.439
245.036
226.424

16.0
15.8
-3.8
-1.5
-8.6
45.2
45.5
11.5
7.7
22.1

-49.6
-50.5
-9.0
-6.6
-16.3
-85.0
-85.5
9.2
5.0
-23.9

-8.9
-8.5
-1.1
3.2
-12.0
-28.1
-25.8
3.5
4.6
-17.7

-3.4
-3.2
2.2
5.8
-2.8
-16.7
-14.0
.5
1.3
-9.3

-23.5
-24.3
-6.4
-4.1
-12.5
-53.4
-54.1
10.3
6.3
-3.6

-6.2
-5.9
.5
4.5
-7.5
-22.6
-20.1
2.0
2.9
-13.6

374.834
296.120
397.699
321.250
560.587

2.4
1.0
2.9
3.1
5.8

2.6
3.2
2.5
2.6
3.7

4.4
5.5
4.0
2.6
8.6

3.8
3.8
3.7
2.9
7.5

2.5
2.1
2.7
2.8
4.8

4.1
4.7
3.9
2.8
8.0

Expenditure category

See footnotes at end of table.

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-Continued
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Seasonally adjusted indexes

Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent
change for
3 months ended—

CPI-W

6 months
ended—

Aug.
2008

Nov.
2008

Feb.
2009

May
2009

110.947
101.761

3.7
.8

1.0
-1.8

1.3
-1.5

122.505
186.203
475.206
524.365
87.673
85.655
102.048
10.385
85.406

122.797
187.168
477.376
527.111
87.712
85.624
102.231
10.271
84.017

5.1
6.7
11.2
6.3
4.1
4.1
5.7
-3.6
-15.8

1.7
4.8
5.6
4.8
-.3
-.3
.9
-5.9
-17.3

379.874
682.115
201.817
162.516
228.201
343.711

394.363
747.906
202.554
163.911
228.119
344.376

393.500
746.009
202.156
163.119
227.829
344.423

5.4
11.8
2.2
.9
1.0
3.5

168.242
218.371
142.519
177.755
119.854
217.299
108.475
253.785
233.328
120.960
200.210
157.531
152.168
248.087
394.081
289.415

167.715
218.079
141.910
175.626
119.478
214.185
108.251
253.811
233.478
121.099
197.294
158.223
153.239
248.145
394.779
290.152

167.690
217.672
142.044
174.600
119.065
213.527
108.461
253.695
233.802
121.084
192.851
159.211
152.980
249.142
396.348
289.907

168.137
217.225
142.846
176.429
119.078
215.822
108.846
253.765
234.196
121.160
189.940
160.241
152.001
249.130
397.699
290.444

205.662
197.425
200.971
145.025
180.246
216.564
198.015
245.607
243.578
186.446
211.226
210.188
140.675
186.476
259.521

205.378
196.931
200.650
144.434
178.203
213.688
196.725
245.340
243.498
180.751
211.602
210.707
141.363
178.042
259.892

205.393
196.739
200.558
144.560
177.208
213.033
196.298
244.695
243.313
176.359
212.088
211.378
142.367
173.415
260.282

205.809
196.980
200.797
145.372
178.973
215.042
196.393
244.177
243.221
177.124
212.301
211.745
142.656
177.375
260.701

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

Recreation 2 ......................................................................
Video and audio 2 ...........................................................

111.309
101.852

111.324
101.751

110.976
102.023

Education and communication 2 .......................................
Education 2 .....................................................................
Educational books and supplies ...................................
Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ......................
Communication 2 ............................................................
Information and information processing 1 2 ..................
Telephone services 1 2 ...............................................
Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ....
Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ...

122.064
184.662
471.367
520.014
87.639
85.624
101.890
10.442
87.622

122.270
185.499
473.276
522.397
87.616
85.595
101.977
10.378
86.004

Other goods and services .................................................
Tobacco and smoking products 1 ...................................
Personal care ..................................................................
Personal care products 1 ..............................................
Personal care services 1 ...............................................
Miscellaneous personal services ..................................

365.470
615.012
201.381
162.543
226.088
343.601

Nov.
2008

May
2009

-1.3
-.4

2.3
-.5

0.0
-.9

2.8
4.5
4.9
4.5
1.6
1.6
1.3
2.9
-4.5

2.4
5.5
5.2
5.6
.3
.0
1.3
-6.4
-15.5

3.4
5.8
8.4
5.5
1.9
1.9
3.3
-4.7
-16.5

2.6
5.0
5.1
5.0
.9
.8
1.3
-1.8
-10.1

2.4
2.1
2.6
4.2
3.6
.3

3.0
8.3
.3
3.9
-.6
.1

34.4
116.5
1.5
1.4
3.1
1.0

3.9
6.8
2.4
2.5
2.3
1.9

17.6
53.1
.9
2.7
1.2
.5

10.6
9.0
11.5
20.2
5.7
24.8
-1.6
4.9
2.3
.9
19.8
9.7
6.2
8.1
2.9
4.7

-25.1
4.7
-38.4
-55.0
-3.7
-64.0
-7.2
.5
2.7
5.8
-15.0
6.8
.4
-.1
2.5
2.0

-3.8
-.2
-6.0
-5.1
4.1
-8.7
-2.8
1.6
1.2
1.2
-3.0
2.2
-.2
3.9
4.0
2.4

-.2
-2.1
.9
-3.0
-2.6
-2.7
1.4
.0
1.5
.7
-19.0
7.1
-.4
1.7
3.7
1.4

-9.0
6.8
-17.1
-26.5
.9
-32.9
-4.5
2.7
2.5
3.4
.9
8.2
3.3
3.9
2.7
3.3

-2.0
-1.1
-2.6
-4.0
.7
-5.7
-.7
.8
1.4
.9
-11.3
4.6
-.3
2.8
3.9
1.9

7.2
9.8
7.8
11.3
19.2
23.3
14.0
8.0
5.0
34.1
4.0
2.9
1.4
43.0
3.6

-14.5
-17.3
-12.5
-37.2
-52.8
-61.1
-31.8
-1.4
.7
-68.6
1.2
.5
-3.1
-84.2
2.1

-.9
-1.7
-1.1
-5.7
-4.4
-7.6
-2.1
2.0
1.3
-17.6
1.3
1.6
.7
-28.7
2.1

.3
-.9
-.3
1.0
-2.8
-2.8
-3.2
-2.3
-.6
-18.5
2.1
3.0
5.8
-18.1
1.8

-4.3
-4.7
-2.9
-16.4
-25.0
-30.7
-11.9
3.2
2.9
-35.1
2.6
1.7
-.9
-52.5
2.9

-.3
-1.3
-.7
-2.4
-3.6
-5.2
-2.7
-.2
.4
-18.1
1.7
2.3
3.2
-23.6
1.9

Expenditure category

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 4 ................................................................
Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 .............................
Gas (piped) and electricity 3 .............................................
Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..............
Household operations 1 2 .................................................
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 4 .............................................
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 .........................................

1 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.
6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
All items

CPI-W

Indexes

Percent change to
May2009 from—

Pricing
schedule
1

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

May
2009

M

206.708

207.218

207.925

Northeast urban ..............................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................

M
M
M

222.945
224.084
133.908

223.626
224.597
134.558

Midwest urban ................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................
Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than
50,000) ...............................................

M
M
M

195.813
196.147
128.167

M

South urban ....................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................
Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than
50,000) ...............................................
West urban .....................................................
Size A - More than 1,500,000 .....................
Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................

Percent change to
Apr.2009 from—

May
2008

Mar.
2009

Apr.
2009

Apr.
2008

Feb.
2009

Mar.
2009

208.774

-1.9

0.8

0.4

-1.3

0.6

0.3

224.252
225.214
134.951

224.748
225.657
135.329

-1.0
-.8
-1.7

.5
.5
.6

.2
.2
.3

-.2
.0
-.9

.6
.5
.8

.3
.3
.3

196.453
196.855
128.468

196.933
197.192
128.968

197.971
198.271
129.524

-2.4
-2.3
-2.5

.8
.7
.8

.5
.5
.4

-1.9
-1.9
-1.8

.6
.5
.6

.2
.2
.4

193.527

194.393

194.651

196.047

-2.7

.9

.7

-2.3

.6

.1

M
M
M

201.150
204.501
128.276

201.737
205.066
128.686

202.619
205.733
129.309

203.500
206.271
129.885

-2.1
-2.1
-2.2

.9
.6
.9

.4
.3
.4

-1.5
-1.3
-1.6

.7
.6
.8

.4
.3
.5

M

205.337

205.744

206.921

208.989

-1.7

1.6

1.0

-1.3

.8

.6

M
M
M

210.492
212.890
130.649

210.661
212.965
130.674

211.386
213.646
131.103

212.263
214.734
131.389

-1.7
-1.6
-2.0

.8
.8
.5

.4
.5
.2

-1.4
-1.1
-1.8

.4
.4
.3

.3
.3
.3

M
M
M

191.927
129.488
200.681

192.327
129.833
201.485

192.861
130.361
202.351

193.597
130.847
203.883

-1.6
-2.2
-2.1

.7
.8
1.2

.4
.4
.8

-1.0
-1.6
-1.7

.5
.7
.8

.3
.4
.4

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ...................
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ...
New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,
NY-NJ-CT-PA .........................................

M
M

199.944
213.234

200.218
213.013

200.607
213.405

202.464
214.446

-2.8
-2.4

1.1
.7

.9
.5

-2.6
-2.1

.3
.1

.2
.2

M

228.653

229.064

229.639

230.307

-.3

.5

.3

.6

.4

.3

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .....
Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................................
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .....................................
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ......

1
1
1
1

-

231.884
190.107
200.770
137.539

-

231.420
191.297
200.955
138.510

-1.7
-2.3
-2.6
-.6

-.2
.6
.1
.7

-

-

-

-

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 ....................

2
2
2
2

197.528
196.191
185.015
217.635

-

197.676
197.239
186.970
217.900

-

-

-

-

-3.9
-1.9
-.8
-.7

.1
.5
1.1
.1

-

2
2
2

219.356
216.797
218.752

-

220.732
218.587
220.208

-

-

-

-

-1.1
.3
.8

.6
.8
.7

-

U.S. city average ............................................
Region and area size2

Size classes
A 4 ..............................................................
B/C 3 ...........................................................
D .................................................................
Selected local areas5

1 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, July, 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 July 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.

Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure
category and commodity and service group
(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U

Relative
importance,
2005-2006

Unadjusted
percent change to
May 2009 from—

Unadjusted
indexes
Apr.
2009

May
2009

May
2008

Apr.
2009

Expenditure category
All items ......................................................................................

100.000

122.506

122.898

-1.4

0.3

Food and beverages ................................................................
Food .......................................................................................
Food at home .......................................................................
Food away from home ..........................................................
Alcoholic beverages ...............................................................

14.726
13.648
7.557
6.091
1.077

128.063
128.147
124.068
133.403
127.359

127.886
127.943
123.656
133.476
127.524

2.7
2.6
1.4
4.2
2.9

-.1
-.2
-.3
.1
.1

Housing ....................................................................................
Shelter ....................................................................................
Fuels and utilities ....................................................................
Household furnishings and operations ...................................

42.421
32.409
5.004
5.008

128.666
131.630
152.236
96.247

128.495
131.566
151.032
96.226

.3
1.4
-7.0
.9

-.1
.0
-.8
.0

Apparel .....................................................................................

3.988

91.148

90.000

.4

-1.3

Transportation ..........................................................................
Private transportation .............................................................
Public transportation ...............................................................

17.393
16.285
1.108

115.183
115.477
112.313

118.136
118.672
111.889

-12.9
-13.2
-9.2

2.6
2.8
-.4

Medical care .............................................................................
Medical care commodities ......................................................
Medical care services .............................................................

6.085
1.615
4.470

145.294
128.434
151.505

145.621
128.713
151.849

3.0
3.2
2.9

.2
.2
.2

Recreation ................................................................................

5.935

105.284

105.191

-.1

-.1

Education and communication .................................................
Education ...............................................................................
Communication ......................................................................

6.196
2.771
3.425

109.709
173.305
74.190

109.795
173.691
74.162

2.8
5.5
.7

.1
.2
.0

Other goods and services ........................................................

3.257

133.394

133.152

4.0

-.2

58.427
41.573
11.817
29.756
77.561
8.790

133.605
109.023
80.935
123.424
118.688
152.229

133.528
109.954
81.049
124.831
118.652
158.689

1.2
-4.9
-2.3
-5.9
1.4
-27.2

-.1
.9
.1
1.1
.0
4.2

Commodity and service group
Services ......................................................................................
Commodities ..............................................................................
Durables ...................................................................................
Nondurables ...............................................................................
All items less food and energy .................................................
Energy ........................................................................................

Indexes for 2009 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2008 are interim adjustments.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.