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FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000
CPI QUICKLINE:
(202) 606-6994
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL
INFORMATION:
(202) 606-7828
MEDIA CONTACT:
(202) 606-5902
INTERNET ADDRESS:
http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:

USDL-97-450
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
Tuesday, December 16, 1997

NOVEMBER 1997

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined
0.1 percent before seasonal adjustment in November to a level of 161.5
(1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in November,
the CPI-U has increased 1.8 percent.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) remained unchanged in November, prior to seasonal
adjustment. The November 1997 CPI-W level of 158.5 was 1.7 percent
higher than the index in November 1996.
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in
November, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding
four months. The food index increased 0.2 percent in November.
Grocery store food prices increased 0.1 percent in November, as
another sharp increase in prices for dairy products was largely offset
by a decline in the index for nonalcoholic beverages. The energy
index, which increased 0.1 percent in October, declined 0.2 percent in
November. The index for petroleum-based energy declined 1.9 percent,
while the index for energy services rose 1.6 percent. Excluding food
and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent after advancing 0.2 percent in
October. The smaller advance in November reflects a sharp downturn in
airline fares and smaller increases in the indexes for tobacco and
smoking products and for shelter.
Table A.

Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
Seasonally adjusted

Un-

Compound Adjusted
Changes from preceding month
annual rate 12-mos.
1997
3-mos. ended Ended
May June July Aug. Sept.Oct. Nov.
Nov.'97
Nov.'97
All Items
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
2.3
1.8
Food and beverages .4
.2
.3
.4
.1
.2
.1
1.5
1.7
Housing
.1
.3
.2
.1
.3
.3
.3
3.4
2.5
Apparel and upkeep .1
-.2
.2 -1.0
.3
.1
.2
2.1
1.0
Transportation
-.8
-.3
.1
.6
.4
.1 -.7
-.8
-.6
Medical care
.3
.2
.0
.2
.2
.1
.3
2.4
2.6
Entertainment
.2
.5
.1
.2 -.2
.2 -.2
-1.2
1.4
Other goods
and services
.2
.2
.3
.6
.3
.7
.3
5.4
4.9
Special Indexes:
Energy
-2.4
.0 -.1 1.7 1.3
.1 -.2
4.8
-.4
Food
.4
.2
.3
.4
.1
.2
.2
1.8
1.7
All items less
Food and energy
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
2.1
2.2
Expenditure
Category

Beginning with release of the CPI for January 1998 on February
24, 1998, the BLS will introduce a new geographic area sample, a
revised item structure, and updated expenditure weights into the CPI.
See page 4 for further details.
For the first 11 months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.8
percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an
increase of 3.3 percent in all of 1996. The energy and food
components have been largely responsible for the moderation thus far
in 1997. The energy index has declined at a 2.1 percent SAAR, while
food prices have risen at a 1.8 percent annual rate. Excluding food
and energy, the CPI-U has risen at a 2.1 percent SAAR in the first 11
months of 1997, following a 2.6 percent increase in all of 1996.
The food and beverage index rose 0.1 percent in November. The
index for grocery store food prices, which increased 0.2 percent in
October, rose 0.1 percent in November. Another sharp increase in the
index for dairy products--up 0.9 percent after increasing 1.5 percent
in October--was largely offset by a 0.3 percent drop in the index for
the other food at home category. This decrease was due to a decline
in prices for nonalcoholic beverages as coffee prices fell 2.2 percent
and the index for carbonated drinks declined 0.6 percent. The index
for fruits and vegetables rose 0.4 percent in November after
registering a 0.3 percent increase in October. The index for fresh
vegetables rose 3.3 percent, while the index for fresh fruits declined
2.4 percent in November. The index for processed fruits and

vegetables rose 0.6 percent. The other two major grocery store food
groups--cereal and bakery products and meats, poultry, fish, and eggs-each increased 0.1 percent. Within the latter group, prices for beef
and pork each declined in November, while poultry and egg prices rose
1.2 and 3.2 percent, respectively. The other two components of the
food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages-rose 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively.
The housing component rose 0.3 percent in November, the same as
in each of the two preceding months. Shelter costs rose 0.2 percent.
Within shelter, renters' costs were unchanged as a decline in the
index for lodging while out of town offset a 0.2 percent rise in
residential rents. Homeowners' costs rose 0.3 percent and maintenance
and repair costs increased 0.1 percent. The index for fuel and other
utilities, which increased 0.3 percent in October, advanced 0.9
percent in November. The index for household fuels rose 1.5 percent,
reflecting increases of 3.1 percent in the index for natural gas, 0.9
percent in the index for electricity, and 0.1 percent in the index for
fuel oil. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for electricity fell
1.5 percent, reflecting the shift to off-season rates in some areas.)
The index for other utilities and public services rose 0.3 percent.
The index for telephone services rose 0.2 percent, as charges for
intrastate toll calls increased 1.2 percent after declining 0.6
percent in October. The index for household furnishings and operation
increased 0.1 percent in November, the same as in each of the two
preceding months.
The transportation component, which increased 0.1 percent in
October, declined 0.7 percent in November. The indexes for motor
fuels and new vehicles declined for the second consecutive month and
public transportation costs turned down in November. The index for
gasoline, which declined 0.6 percent in October, fell 2.3 percent in
November. New vehicle purchase costs declined again in November; the
index for new vehicle prices decreased 0.2 percent and automobile
finance charges dropped 1.1 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
new vehicle prices increased 0.5 percent. As of November, about 45
percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 1998 models. The
1998 models will continue to be phased in over the next several months
as they replace old models at dealerships.) The index for used cars
declined 0.1 percent. Public transportation costs declined 2.3
percent in November. The index for airline fares, which rose 3.8
percent in October, declined 3.9 percent in November. Other intercity
transportation costs also declined in November, decreasing 0.3
percent.

The index for apparel and upkeep increased 0.2 percent in
November, following a 0.1 percent rise in October. (Prior to seasonal
adjustment, apparel commodity prices fell 0.1 percent.)
Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in November to a level 2.6
percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities-prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose
0.2 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent.
Charges for professional services and for hospital and related
services increased 0.1 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
Entertainment costs, which rose 0.2 percent in October, decreased
0.2 percent in November, reflecting declines in most entertainment
commodity and service categories.
The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in
November, following an increase of 0.7 percent in October. The
moderation was largely due to a smaller increase in the index for
tobacco and smoking products, which rose 0.1 percent, following
increases of 1.4 and 1.5 percent in the two preceding months.
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners
and Clerical Workers rose 0.1 percent in November.
Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W)
Seasonally adjusted
UnCompound adjusted
Expenditure
Changes from preceding month
annual rate 12-mos.
Category
1997
3-mos. ended ended
May June July Aug. Sept.Oct. Nov.
Nov. `97 Nov. `97
All Items
.0
.1
.2
.2
.3
.2
.1
2.0
1.7
Food and beverages .4
.2
.3
.4
.1
.2
.1
1.5
1.7
Housing
.1
.3
.2
.0
.3
.2
.4
3.7
2.5
Apparel and upkeep .2
-.3
.2 -1.0
.2
.1
.1
1.2
.9
Transportation
-1.0
-.4
.1
.7
.4 -.1 -.7
-1.4
-1.0
Medical care
.3
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.3
2.6
2.6
Entertainment
.1
.5
.1
.4 -.2
.1 -.2
-1.7
1.3
Other goods
and services
.1
.0
.3
.5
.5
.8
.4
6.8
5.1
Special Indexes:
Energy
-2.4
0 -.2 2.0 1.2
.1 -.3
4.1
-.7
Food
.3
.3
.3
.3
.1
.2
.1
1.8
1.6

All items less
food and energy

.2

.1

.2

.0

.2

.2

.1

1.9

2.0

After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items
was 161.8 in November; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was
158.6.
Beginning with January 1997 data, BLS is reporting the level of
the seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items CPI-U and CPI-W in
this monthly news release. Effective with the release of January 1998
data in February 1998, the seasonally adjusted All Items indexes will
be fully integrated into the releases, appearing in tables 2 and 5 and
in the text where relevant. Like other seasonally adjusted CPI data,
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.
Consumer Price Index data for December are scheduled for release
on Tuesday, January 13, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). Releases for the
remainder of 1998:
Feb. 24
Mar. 19
Apr. 14
May 14
June 16
July 14

Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.

18
17
16
17
15
14, 1999

Planned CPI Publication Changes
Beginning in 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
will introduce a new geographic area sample, a revised
item structure and updated expenditure weights into the
Consumer Price Index (CPI). Approximately every ten
years the CPI undertakes this type of revision in order
to keep the index up-to-date. Since World War II,
revisions of the CPI have been introduced in 1953, 1964,
1978, and 1987.
Because the changes the CPI undergoes during each
revision can have a major impact on our users, special
steps are taken in order to ameliorate the effects of
these changes. Beginning with the release of the

January, 1997 index, data series that are changing or
being dropped from publication have been footnoted in
all BLS published tables. This provided an early
warning to users to reconsider their use of those
indexes and provided time for them to make changes in
their use. The 1998 CPI Revision contains substantial
changes in both the items being presented and the
frequency of local area index publication.
Changes to the Item Structure
Effective in 1998, there will be considerable changes to
both the items being priced and the manner in which they
are being aggregated in the CPI. The most notable
change in presentation is a reconstruction of several
major groups with a resulting change from the currently
available seven major groups to the new total of eight.
Currently the major groups are: Food and Beverages,
Housing, Apparel and Upkeep, Transportation, Medical
Care, Entertainment and Other Goods and Services. Three
of these groups-- Food and Beverages, Transportation,
and Medical care will remain the same. The Apparel
group was modified to exclude apparel upkeep products
and services. The Entertainment group has been slightly
redefined into a major group called Recreation and a new
major group, Education and Communication, has been
formed from past subelements of the Housing,
Entertainment and Other Goods and Services groups
Other important changes in our item structure at lower
levels are an expansion of our Food Away from Home
index, a reorientation of our car and truck indexes to a
vehicle index, and the expansion of our information
processing equipment index.
For a complete listing of the new CPI Publication
Structure see Table X.
Changes to the Geographic Structure
In each revision, the CPI geographic sample is selected
to be representative of the current demographics of the
United States. The 1998 revision utilizes the 1990
Census of population. The CPI develops an updated area

sample design, decides on new local area indexes and
changes the frequency of publication for local area
indexes in order to better reflect these new
demographics.
In addition to the national index, the BLS currently
publishes indexes for 29 metropolitan areas. In 1998,
it will continue to publish indexes for all but two of
these areas--Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY, and New Orleans,
LA. Due to the revised Metropolitan Area (MA)
definitions issued by the Office of Management and
Budget(OMB), two other areas, Washington, DC, and
Baltimore, MD, which the BLS currently publishes
separately, constitute a new Consolidated Metropolitan
Statistical Area. A single index will be published for
this consolidated area.
The new publication plan for local area indexes, to
begin with the index for January 1998, is summarized
below:
* Monthly indexes will be published for the three
largest metropolitan areas. Because of sample design
considerations, indexes for the Philadelphia and San
Francisco areas, both currently published monthly, will
be published every other month following the release of
the December, 1997 index.
* Bimonthly indexes will be published for the next
11 largest areas, including Atlanta and Seattle, which
currently have semiannual average indexes.
* Semiannual average indexes will be published for
12 additional areas, including Pittsburgh and St. Louis,
which currently have bimonthly indexes.
* The BLS will continue to publish separate
indexes for the four Census regions of the United
States. However, beginning in 1998, there will only be
two area size classes for metropolitan areas, instead of
the current three: Size A - areas with a population
greater than 1.5 million; and Size B/C - areas with less
than 1.5 million population. This cutoff of 1.5 million
in population reflects a rise from the current cutoff of
1.2 million and is important since cities in size class

A are those for which the Bureau publishes city level
indexes. The B/C size class is a combination of the old
Size B and Size C metropolitan areas. In addition to
the two metropolitan area size indexes for each region,
separate Size D indexes for urban non-metropolitan areas
will continue to be published for both the Midwest and
the South. Separate indexes for Northeast and West
urban nonmetropolitan areas were discontinued in 1987.
The following is the full list of areas for which
indexes will be published, beginning in January, 1998:
1. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index will be published monthly:
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA
2. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index will be published bimonthly:
In Odd Months (i.e. January,
March, etc.)
----------------------------

In Even Months (i.e.
February, April, etc.)
----------------------

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NHME-CT

Philadelphia-WilmingtonAtlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MDVA-WV

San Francisco-Oakland-San
Jose, CA

Cleveland-Akron, OH

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria,
TX
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA

Atlanta, GA
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

3. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index will be published
semiannually (In January and July)
Pittsburgh, PA
Kansas City, MO-KS
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO
Portland-Salem, OR-WA

Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN
Milwaukee-Racine, WI
St. Louis, MO-IL
Anchorage, AK
Honolulu, HI
San Diego, CA

Using a hedonic model to adjust prices of personal computers in
the Consumer Price Index for changes in quality
Effective with the release of data for January 1998, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an improved quality
adjustment technique in the new stratum of the Consumer Price Index
(CPI) called Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment.
Currently, personal computers are part of the Information
Processing Equipment stratum. As previously announced, beginning
with the CPI for January 1998, Information Processing Equipment will
become an expenditure class entitled Information and Information
Processing Other Than Telephone Services. Personal Computers and
Peripheral Equipment will be one of four strata in that expenditure
class.
Analysts in the Producer Price Index (PPI) program have
developed and implemented a regression procedure, called a hedonic
model, that decomposes the price of personal computers into implicit
prices for each important feature and component of the computer.
This model, which has been used in the PPI since 1991, provides a
way to estimate the value of changes or improvements. The CPI has
used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for many
years.
Starting with the CPI for January 1998, when a personal computer
or selected item of peripheral equipment, such as a modem, in the
CPI sample improves in some way, a regression-based quality
adjustment will be made. The value of the improvement, as derived
from the PPI regression estimates, will be deducted from the
observed price change for the product. (Conversely, if a model
deteriorates, the value of the difference will be added to the
price.)
Additional information on these changes will be published in the
June 1997 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (at
http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm). This information can also be
obtained by writing to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of
Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Room 3260, 2 Massachusetts Ave.
NE, Washington, DC 20212 or by telephoning Joseph Chelena at (202)
606-6982 ext. 255.

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)
Relative
Unadjusted indexes
importance,
December
Oct.
Nov.
1996
1997
1997

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov. 1996 Oct. 1997

Seasonally adjusted
percent change fromAug. to
Sept. to
Oct. to
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.

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

100.000
-

161.6
484.1

161.5
483.9

1.8
-

-0.1
-

0.2
-

0.2
-

0.1
-

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

17.484
15.913
10.040
1.479
3.002
1.245
1.974
2.340
.331
.246
.724
1.039
5.873
1.571

158.7
158.2
159.0
178.4
148.9
145.7
188.5
149.0
148.2
141.7
136.6
162.5
158.2
163.7

158.9
158.5
159.1
178.0
149.3
147.0
189.5
147.7
147.4
140.4
134.7
161.5
158.6
163.7

1.7
1.7
1.2
1.5
.3
-1.5
1.7
3.0
2.2
-.3
5.9
2.0
2.5
2.2

.1
.2
.1
-.2
.3
.9
.5
-.9
-.5
-.9
-1.4
-.6
.3
.0

.1
.1
-.1
.2
-.2
.1
-.3
.2
.5
.7
-.1
.4
.3
.2

.2
.2
.2
.2
-.3
1.5
.3
-.1
-.3
-.6
-.2
.1
.1
.1

.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.9
.4
-.3
.4
-.2
-1.2
.0
.3
.1

Housing 2/ ...............................
Shelter ................................
Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................
Rent, residential ..................
Other renters' costs 4/ ............
Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............
Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........
Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........
Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........
Maintenance and repair
services 1/ 4/ .................
Maintenance and repair

41.203
28.194
7.994
5.731
2.263
20.000
19.616
.383
.200

157.7
177.8
187.7
168.2
225.4
183.3
183.6
166.9
144.7

157.7
177.7
185.9
168.7
216.6
183.9
184.2
167.0
144.9

2.5
3.1
3.3
3.1
4.2
3.0
3.0
1.5
2.7

.0
-.1
-1.0
.3
-3.9
.3
.3
.1
.1

.3
.2
.4
.3
.4
.1
.1
.7
-2.0

.3
.3
.6
.2
1.7
.2
.2
-.1
1.5

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

.123

153.4

153.7

4.1

.2

-2.7

2.1

.2

commodities 1/ 4/ ..............
Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............
Fuels ................................
Fuel oil and other household fuel
commodities ....................
Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
services).......................
Other utilities and public
services 4/ ......................
Household furnishings and operation 2/ .
Housefurnishings 4/ ..................
Housekeeping supplies ................
Housekeeping services 4/ .............

.077
7.102
3.878

132.7
130.8
117.4

132.7
131.1
117.7

.3
2.1
1.7

.0
.2
.3

-.8
.6
1.0

.5
.3
.4

.0
.9
1.5

.424

95.3

96.6

-8.8

1.4

.1

-.3

.6

3.453

125.1

125.3

3.0

.2

1.1

.5

1.6

3.224
5.908
3.332
1.093
1.482

162.5
125.4
110.1
143.3
153.3

162.8
125.2
109.7
143.4
153.7

2.5
.3
-1.0
1.1
2.7

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

.3
.1
-.1
.1
.3

.1
.1
.1
-.1
.1

.3
.1
-.1
.1
.5

Apparel and upkeep .......................
Apparel commodities 4/ .................
Men's and boys' apparel ..............
Women's and girls' apparel............
Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....
Footwear .............................
Other apparel commodities 4/..........
Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................

5.330
4.786
1.280
2.102
.186
.718
.500
.545

134.9
131.2
133.1
128.3
126.2
130.6
145.5
163.7

134.7
131.1
133.0
128.8
126.0
129.3
143.6
163.4

1.0
.9
1.4
1.7
-.6
1.3
-3.6
1.6

-.1
-.1
-.1
.4
-.2
-1.0
-1.3
-.2

.3
.3
.4
1.0
-.5
-.5
-1.0
.1

.1
.1
.2
-.5
-.4
1.5
.3
.0

.2
.2
-.5
1.0
-.2
-.5
-.1
-.2

Transportation ...........................
Private transportation .................
New vehicles .........................
New cars ...........................
Used cars ............................
Motor fuel ...........................
Gasoline ...........................
Maintenance and repairs ..............
Other private transportation 4/.......
Other private transportation
commodities 4/..................
Other private transportation
services 4/ ....................
Public transportation ..................

17.140
15.499
4.955
3.952
1.278
3.171
1.533
4.562

144.5
140.9
143.3
140.6
147.9
106.7
106.5
163.9
178.4

143.9
140.6
144.0
141.3
147.6
104.6
104.1
164.0
179.0

-.6
-.6
-.6
-.7
-5.7
-3.0
-2.8
2.2
1.6

-.4
-.2
.5
.5
-.2
-2.0
-2.3
.1
.3

.4
.4
.1
.0
-.1
1.7
1.8
-.1
.1

.1
-.2
-.3
-.2
-.5
-.5
-.6
.2
-.1

-.7
-.5
-.2
-.1
-.1
-2.1
-2.3
.2
-.1

.589

104.3

104.5

-.6

.2

-.2

-.3

.0

3.973
1.642

196.0
190.9

196.6
185.9

1.9
-.7

.3
-2.6

.2
1.2

.0
2.7

-.1
-2.3

Medical care .............................
Medical care commodities ...............
Medical care services ..................
Professional medical services ........

7.346
1.273
6.073
3.472

235.8
215.6
240.5
216.8

236.4
215.8
241.2
217.1

2.6
1.8
2.7
2.9

.3
.1
.3
.1

.2
.1
.2
.1

.1
.0
.1
.2

.3
.2
.4
.1

Entertainment 4/ .........................
Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........

4.352
1.957

163.1
144.3

162.9
144.3

1.4
.2

-.1
.0

-.2
.1

.2
-.2

-.2
-.2

Entertainment services 4/ ..............

2.395

184.9

184.6

2.4

-.2

-.5

.5

-.3

Other goods and services 2/ ..............
Tobacco and smoking products ...........
Personal care 1/ .......................
Toilet goods and personal care
appliances 1/ ....................
Personal care services 1/ ............
Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...
School books and supplies ............
Personal and educational services 4/ .

7.145
1.601
1.145

229.4
250.2
153.3

229.9
250.7
154.3

4.9
6.1
2.1

.2
.2
.7

.3
1.4
.1

.7
1.5
.4

.3
.1
.7

.588
.557
4.398
.264
4.134

144.5
163.4
265.6
242.4
267.5

146.1
163.5
265.8
242.4
267.8

1.0
3.1
5.1
5.1
5.1

1.1
.1
.1
.0
.1

.1
.1
-.1
-.1
-.1

.6
.4
.5
.7
.5

1.1
.1
.4
.2
.4

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) - Continued
Relative
Unadjusted indexes
importance,
December
Oct.
Nov.
1996
1997
1997

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov. 1996 Oct. 1997

Seasonally adjusted
percent change fromAug. to
Sept. to
Oct. to
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.

Commodity and service group
All items ..................................
Commodities ..............................
Food and beverages .....................
Commodities less food and beverages ....
Nondurables less food and beverages ..
Apparel commodities 4/ .............
Nondurables less food, beverages,
and apparel ....................
Durables .............................
Services .................................
Rent of shelter 3/ .....................
Household services less rent of
shelter 3/ 4/.......................

100.000
42.873
17.484
25.389
15.147
4.786

161.6
142.4
158.7
132.5
135.8
131.2

161.5
142.3
158.9
132.2
135.3
131.1

1.8
.6
1.7
-.3
.4
.9

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

.2
.3
.1
.4
.7
.3

.2
.0
.2
.0
.1
.1

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

10.362
10.242
57.127
27.577

141.3
127.8
181.0
185.0

140.6
127.9
181.0
185.0

.2
-1.3
2.9
3.1

-.5
.1
.0
.0

.8
-.1
.2
.2

-.1
-.1
.3
.3

-.6
-.1
.2
.3

8.698

146.4

146.7

2.7

.2

.6

.4

.8

Transportation services ................
Medical care services ..................
Other services .........................

7.148
6.073
7.631

186.9
240.5
212.7

186.2
241.2
212.7

1.4
2.7
3.9

-.4
.3
.0

.3
.2
-.2

.6
.1
.4

-.6
.4
.1

84.087
71.806
80.000
92.654
26.960
16.718
11.932
32.631
29.550
51.054
7.049
92.951
77.038

162.2
156.9
162.4
157.4
133.8
137.4
142.5
147.4
189.8
175.5
111.5
168.3
170.8

162.1
156.8
162.2
157.3
133.5
137.0
141.9
147.3
189.8
175.4
110.7
168.3
170.8

1.9
1.4
1.6
1.8
-.1
.7
.5
1.2
2.7
2.9
-.4
2.1
2.2

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

.3
.3
.2
.3
.4
.7
.8
.4
.3
.2
1.3
.2
.2

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

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

23.364
3.596
53.674

142.7
105.7
186.7

142.8
103.9
186.7

.4
-3.7
2.9

.1
-1.7
.0

.2
1.5
.2

.1
-.4
.3

.0
-1.9
.1

-

$.619
.207

$.619
.207

-1.9
-

.0
-

-.3
-

-.2
-

Special indexes
All items less food ........................
All items less shelter .....................
All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......
All items less medical care ................
Commodities less food ......................
Nondurables less food ......................
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........
Nondurables ................................
Services less rent of shelter 3/ 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 1/ .........................
1967=$1.00 1/ ............................
1/
2/
3/
4/
NOTE:

-

.0

Not seasonally adjusted.
This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
See Table X for a comparable index series.
Data not available.
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 ended6 months ended-

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Feb.
1997

May
1997

Aug.
1997

Nov.
1997

May
1997

Nov.
1997

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

-

-

-

-

2.5

0.8

2.0

2.3

1.6

2.1

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

158.6
158.3
159.2
178.0
149.4
143.4
191.4
148.7
147.6
141.5
137.1
161.5
157.4
163.4

158.7
158.4
159.1
178.3
149.1
143.5
190.8
149.0
148.4
142.5
136.9
162.1
157.8
163.7

159.0
158.7
159.4
178.7
148.7
145.7
191.4
148.8
147.9
141.7
136.6
162.3
158.0
163.8

159.2
159.0
159.6
178.9
148.8
147.0
192.1
148.3
148.5
141.4
135.0
162.3
158.4
164.0

.5
.3
-.8
.2
.0
-8.1
-2.1
2.2
4.8
.8
-.6
3.8
2.6
3.0

.8
.8
-.3
1.1
.3
-2.2
-6.2
5.4
1.4
-.8
20.2
-1.2
1.8
1.2

3.9
3.9
4.7
2.5
2.4
-5.4
15.3
5.6
.5
-.8
11.9
3.5
2.8
2.7

1.5
1.8
1.0
2.0
-1.6
10.4
1.5
-1.1
2.5
-.3
-6.0
2.0
2.6
1.5

.6
.5
-.5
.7
.1
-5.2
-4.2
3.8
3.1
.0
9.3
1.3
2.2
2.1

2.7
2.8
2.8
2.3
.4
2.2
8.2
2.2
1.5
-.6
2.6
2.8
2.7
2.1

Housing 2/ .................................
Shelter ..................................
Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................
Rent, residential ....................
Other renters' costs 4/ ..............
Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................
Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........
Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............
Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........
Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/
Maintenance and repair
commodities 1/ 4/ ................
Fuel and other utilities 2/...............
Fuels ..................................
Fuel oil and other household fuel
commodities ......................
Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
services).........................
Other utilities and public services 4/ .
Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...
Housefurnishings 4/ ....................
Housekeeping supplies ..................
Housekeeping services 4/ ...............

156.9
176.6
185.7
167.3
223.8
182.4
182.8
165.7
145.5
154.4

157.3
177.0
186.4
167.8
224.8
182.6
183.0
166.8
142.6
150.2

157.7
177.5
187.6
168.2
228.6
182.9
183.3
166.7
144.7
153.4

158.2
177.9
187.6
168.6
227.5
183.5
183.9
166.9
144.9
153.7

3.1
3.3
4.3
2.5
8.9
2.7
2.9
-.5
3.4
2.2

1.3
3.3
3.1
3.7
1.6
3.2
3.1
1.7
2.6
4.1

2.1
2.8
2.0
2.9
-.4
3.4
3.4
1.7
6.6
12.6

3.4
3.0
4.2
3.1
6.8
2.4
2.4
2.9
-1.6
-1.8

2.2
3.3
3.7
3.1
5.2
2.9
3.0
.6
3.0
3.1

2.7
2.9
3.1
3.0
3.1
2.9
2.9
2.3
2.4
5.1

133.1
129.9
115.4

132.1
130.7
116.5

132.7
131.1
117.0

132.7
132.3
118.8

4.9
6.3
9.6

.6
-6.5
-12.7

-2.9
1.6
.0

-1.2
7.6
12.3

2.7
-.3
-2.2

-2.1
4.5
6.0

96.7

96.8

96.5

97.1

-1.1

-21.1

-12.6

1.7

-11.7

-5.7

122.8
162.0
125.1
110.1
143.1
152.7

124.1
162.5
125.2
110.0
143.3
153.1

124.7
162.7
125.3
110.1
143.1
153.3

126.7
163.2
125.4
110.0
143.2
154.0

10.5
2.0
.3
.0
2.3
-.5

-11.8
2.0
1.9
1.1
1.1
4.3

1.6
3.0
-1.9
-4.9
.6
3.8

13.3
3.0
1.0
-.4
.3
3.4

-1.3
2.0
1.1
.5
1.7
1.9

7.3
3.0
-.5
-2.7
.4
3.6

Apparel and upkeep .........................
Apparel commodities 4/ ...................
Men's and boys' apparel ................
Women's and girls' apparel .............
Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......
Footwear ...............................
Other apparel commodities 4/............
Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................

132.2
128.3
130.5
124.3
127.3
128.1
145.2
163.6

132.6
128.7
131.0
125.5
126.7
127.4
143.7
163.7

132.7
128.8
131.2
124.9
126.2
129.3
144.1
163.7

132.9
129.1
130.6
126.1
126.0
128.6
144.0
163.4

2.8
2.5
-1.5
8.7
1.6
-.9
-4.2
3.3

3.1
3.5
7.0
2.9
22.4
1.9
-6.1
1.7

-4.1
-4.8
.0
-9.7
-18.1
2.5
-1.1
1.7

2.1
2.5
.3
5.9
-4.0
1.6
-3.3
-.5

2.9
3.0
2.7
5.7
11.5
.5
-5.1
2.5

-1.0
-1.2
.2
-2.2
-11.3
2.1
-2.2
.6

Transportation .............................
Private transportation ...................
New vehicles ...........................
New cars .............................
Used cars ..............................
Motor fuel .............................
Gasoline .............................
Maintenance and repairs ................
Other private transportation 4/.........
Other private transportation
commodities 4/....................
Other private transportation
services 4/ ......................
Public transportation ....................

144.2
141.2
144.3
141.7
148.0
106.2
105.9
163.4
178.0

144.8
141.7
144.4
141.7
147.8
108.0
107.8
163.2
178.2

144.9
141.4
144.0
141.4
147.0
107.5
107.2
163.5
178.1

143.9
140.7
143.7
141.2
146.8
105.2
104.7
163.9
178.0

1.4
3.4
-.6
-.6
.5
13.1
13.6
2.3
1.8

-4.6
-6.6
-.3
-.3
-5.3
-29.3
-30.0
2.5
2.1

1.7
2.6
.0
-.3
-14.0
15.2
17.1
3.0
2.3

-.8
-1.4
-1.7
-1.4
-3.2
-3.7
-4.5
1.2
.0

-1.7
-1.7
-.4
-.4
-2.4
-10.6
-10.8
2.4
1.9

.4
.6
-.8
-.8
-8.8
5.3
5.8
2.1
1.1

105.0

104.8

104.5

104.5

.0

-1.1

.8

-1.9

-.6

-.6

195.5
184.5

195.8
186.7

195.8
191.7

195.6
187.2

2.1
-13.3

2.7
15.1

2.3
-8.0

.2
6.0

2.4
-.1

1.2
-1.3

Medical care ...............................
Medical care commodities .................
Medical care services ....................
Professional medical services ..........
Entertainment 4/ ...........................
Entertainment commodities 4/ .............
Entertainment services 4/ ................

235.5
215.5
239.8
216.3
163.4
144.7
185.1

235.9
215.7
240.3
216.6
163.0
144.9
184.2

236.1
215.6
240.5
217.0
163.3
144.6
185.1

236.9
216.0
241.4
217.3
162.9
144.3
184.6

2.3
2.7
2.2
2.9
2.0
.6
3.1

3.8
4.4
3.6
4.4
1.7
-1.1
3.8

1.7
-.6
2.2
2.4
3.2
2.5
4.0

2.4
.9
2.7
1.9
-1.2
-1.1
-1.1

3.1
3.5
2.9
3.6
1.9
-.3
3.5

2.1
.2
2.4
2.2
1.0
.7
1.4

Other goods and services 2/.................
Tobacco and smoking products .............
Personal care 1/ .........................
Toilet goods and personal care
appliances 1/ ......................
Personal care services 1/ ..............
Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....
School books and supplies ..............
Personal and educational services 4/ ...

226.9
243.2
152.5

227.5
246.5
152.7

229.1
250.2
153.3

229.9
250.4
154.3

3.9
2.7
.8

5.9
9.2
2.9

4.3
.5
-.3

5.4
12.4
4.8

4.9
5.9
1.9

4.9
6.3
2.2

143.5
162.7
262.8
241.2
264.3

143.7
162.8
262.5
241.0
264.0

144.5
163.4
263.7
242.6
265.2

146.1
163.5
264.7
243.1
266.2

-3.8
5.4
5.3
3.0
5.5

2.3
4.0
5.4
6.0
5.4

-1.7
1.0
7.0
8.0
6.9

7.4
2.0
2.9
3.2
2.9

-.8
4.7
5.4
4.5
5.4

2.8
1.5
4.9
5.6
4.9

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) - Continued
Seasonally adjusted indexes
Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Feb.
1997

Seasonally adjusted annual rate
percent change for
3 months ended6 months endedMay
Aug.
Nov.
May
Nov.
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997

Commodity and service group
All items ....................................
Commodities ................................
Food and beverages .......................
Commodities less food and beverages ......
Nondurables less food and beverages ....
Apparel commodities 4/ ...............
Nondurables less food, beverages,
and apparel ......................
Durables ...............................
Services ...................................
Rent of shelter 3/ .......................
Household services less rent
of shelter 3/ 4/......................
Transportation services ..................
Medical care services ....................
Other services ...........................

141.9
158.6
131.8
134.3
128.3

142.3
158.7
132.3
135.2
128.7

142.3
159.0
132.3
135.3
128.8

142.2
159.2
132.0
134.9
129.1

2.5
1.7
.5
2.1
4.2
2.5

.8
-1.7
.8
-3.3
-5.2
3.5

2.0
1.1
3.9
-.6
1.2
-4.8

2.3
.8
1.5
.6
1.8
2.5

1.6
.0
.6
-.6
-.6
3.0

2.1
1.0
2.7
.0
1.5
-1.2

140.3
128.2
180.0
184.1

141.4
128.1
180.4
184.4

141.3
128.0
181.0
185.0

140.5
127.9
181.4
185.5

6.1
.0
3.0
3.1

-8.2
-.9
2.7
3.4

2.9
-3.4
2.7
2.9

.6
-.9
3.1
3.1

-1.3
-.5
2.9
3.2

1.7
-2.2
2.9
3.0

145.2
185.1
239.8
211.9

146.1
185.7
240.3
211.5

146.7
186.9
240.5
212.4

147.9
185.8
241.4
212.7

4.8
-1.5
2.2
4.4

-3.0
5.1
3.6
4.7

1.7
.2
2.2
5.1

7.6
1.5
2.7
1.5

.8
1.8
2.9
4.5

4.6
.9
2.4
3.3

161.2
156.1
161.6
156.5

161.7
156.5
162.0
156.9

162.0
156.8
162.4
157.2

162.2
156.9
162.5
157.3

2.8
2.1
2.3
2.6

.8
.0
.2
.5

1.8
1.6
1.8
2.1

2.5
2.1
2.2
2.1

1.8
1.0
1.3
1.6

2.1
1.8
2.0
2.1

Special indexes
All
All
All
All

items
items
items
items

less
less
less
less

food ..........................
shelter .......................
homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........
medical care ..................

Commodities less food ........................
Nondurables less food ........................
Nondurables less food and apparel ............
Nondurables ..................................
Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............
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/
2/
3/
4/
NOTE:

133.3
135.9
142.0
146.5
188.3
174.3
110.2
167.7
170.1

133.8
136.9
143.2
147.1
188.9
174.7
111.6
168.0
170.4

133.7
137.0
143.0
147.1
189.6
175.5
111.7
168.3
170.8

133.4
136.7
142.5
147.3
190.0
175.7
111.5
168.5
171.0

2.4
3.9
3.7
2.8
2.4
2.8
10.8
1.7
2.2

-2.9
-4.0
-8.1
-3.0
2.4
2.6
-20.5
2.7
2.9

-.3
.6
5.5
3.1
2.2
2.8
6.4
1.7
1.4

.3
2.4
1.4
2.2
3.7
3.3
4.8
1.9
2.1

-.3
-.1
-2.4
-.1
2.4
2.7
-6.2
2.2
2.5

.0
1.5
3.5
2.6
2.9
3.0
5.6
1.8
1.8

142.0
105.2
185.8

142.3
106.8
186.1

142.4
106.4
186.7

142.4
104.4
186.9

1.1
11.5
2.7

1.7
-28.3
3.5

-2.2
11.4
2.8

1.1
-3.0
2.4

1.4
-10.6
3.1

-.6
3.9
2.6

Not seasonally adjusted.
This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
See Table X for a comparable index series.
Data not available.
Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

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

Percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov.
Sept.
Oct.
1996
1997
1997

Percent change to
Oct. 1997 fromOct.
Aug.
Sept.
1996
1997
1997

Area

Pricing
schedule
1/

U.S. city average ......................

M

160.8

161.2

161.6

161.5

1.8

0.2

-0.1

2.1

0.5

0.2

Northeast urban.........................
Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........
Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........

M
M
M
M

167.8
168.4
166.2
166.8

168.4
169.2
166.0
167.1

168.7
169.5
166.0
167.6

168.5
169.3
165.8
167.5

1.9
2.0
1.7
1.9

.1
.1
-.1
.2

-.1
-.1
-.1
-.1

2.2
2.3
2.2
2.3

.5
.7
-.1
.5

.2
.2
.0
.3

North Central urban ....................

M

157.2

157.5

157.7

157.7

1.7

.1

.0

2.1

.3

.1

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Region and area size 2/

Size
Size
Size
Size

A
B
C
D

-

More than 1,200,000 ........
360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
50,000 to 360,000 3/........
Nonmetropolitan
(less than 50,000) .........

M
M
M

158.0
156.3
158.8

158.3
156.2
159.6

158.4
156.7
159.7

158.4
156.9
159.3

2.0
1.6
1.4

.1
.4
-.2

.0
.1
-.3

2.3
1.8
2.0

.3
.3
.6

.1
.3
.1

M

152.6

153.4

153.2

153.7

1.2

.2

.3

1.4

.4

-.1

............................
More than 1,200,000 ........
450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
50,000 to 450,000 3/........
Nonmetropolitan
(less than 50,000) .........

M
M
M
M

157.1
155.9
160.8
156.1

157.5
156.4
160.6
156.7

157.8
156.7
160.9
157.2

157.8
156.4
161.2
157.3

1.7
1.7
1.9
1.7

.2
.0
.4
.4

.0
-.2
.2
.1

1.9
2.0
2.0
1.6

.4
.5
.1
.7

.2
.2
.2
.3

M

156.4

157.1

156.9

157.1

1.6

.0

.1

1.7

.3

-.1

West urban .............................
Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........
Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........

M
M
M

161.5
161.7
166.8

162.1
162.3
167.4

162.8
163.1
168.3

162.8
162.8
169.2

2.3
2.3
3.2

.4
.3
1.1

.0
-.2
.5

2.3
2.4
3.1

.8
.9
.9

.4
.5
.5

Size classes
A 4/ .................................
B 3/ .................................
C 3/ .................................
D ....................................

M
M
M
M

145.1
161.2
160.5
156.8

145.6
161.2
161.0
157.4

146.0
161.5
161.5
157.6

145.8
161.6
161.6
157.8

2.0
1.7
2.0
1.3

.1
.2
.4
.3

-.1
.1
.1
.1

2.3
2.0
2.1
1.4

.6
.2
.6
.5

.3
.2
.3
.1

South urban
Size A Size B Size C Size D -

Selected local areas
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..

M
M
M

162.5
159.7
170.8

162.1
160.5
171.7

162.5
161.1
172.3

162.9
160.7
172.0

2.2
1.5
2.1

.5
.1
.2

.2
-.2
-.2

2.3
1.4
2.4

.0
.9
.9

.2
.4
.3

M
M

166.8
161.2

168.6
161.6

167.7
162.5

166.4
162.6

1.3
3.6

-1.3
.6

-.8
.1

1.7
3.6

.5
.8

-.5
.6

Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....
Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................

1
1
1
1
1
1

156.0
169.4
157.1
159.5
152.9
161.8

.8
1.9
2.1
2.0
1.0
.4

-.4
1.0
-.1
.6
-1.4
-1.1

-

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........

2
2
2
2

-

-

151.2
156.9
145.4
157.5

156.7
167.8
157.3
158.5
155.1
163.6
-

152.8
157.9
147.3
157.9

-

-

1.4
2.7
2.9
2.2

-

1.1
.6
1.3
.3

-

1/

2/
3/
4/
5/
6/
7/
NOTE:

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.
Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes.
Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
Size Class B and Size Class C cities. There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
basis starting in January, 1998. Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
bi-monthly basis.
Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
combined metropolitan area.
Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
basis after December, 1997. Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
January and July.
Data not available.
Local area CPI 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.

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)
Relative
Unadjusted indexes
importance,
December
Oct.
Nov.
1996
1997
1997

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov. 1996 Oct. 1997

Seasonally adjusted
percent change fromAug. to
Sept. to
Oct. to
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.

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

100.000
-

158.5
472.3

158.5
472.2

1.7
-

0.0
-

0.3
-

0.2
-

0.1
-

Food and beverages .......................
Food ...................................
Food at home .........................
Cereals and bakery products ........

19.436
17.749
11.387
1.688

158.1
157.7
158.0
178.0

158.3
157.9
158.1
177.8

1.7
1.6
1.1
1.5

.1
.1
.1
-.1

.1
.1
.0
.2

.2
.2
.3
.3

.1
.1
.1
.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....
Dairy products 1/ ..................
Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........
Other food at home .................
Sugar and sweets .................
Fats and oils ....................
Nonalcoholic beverages ...........
Other prepared food ..............
Food away from home ..................
Alcoholic beverages ....................

3.535
1.387
2.086
2.691
.373
.282
.841
1.194
6.362
1.687

148.5
145.5
187.7
148.4
148.0
141.4
135.2
162.3
158.2
162.8

149.0
146.8
188.4
147.0
147.3
140.2
133.3
161.3
158.6
162.8

.3
-1.6
1.7
2.8
2.3
-.2
5.2
2.0
2.5
2.0

.3
.9
.4
-.9
-.5
-.8
-1.4
-.6
.3
.0

-.3
.1
-.4
.3
.5
.5
-.1
.4
.3
.0

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

.0
.9
.2
-.4
.4
-.1
-1.1
-.1
.3
.1

Housing 2/ ...............................
Shelter ................................
Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................
Rent, residential ..................
Other renters' costs 4/ ............
Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............
Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........
Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........
Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........
Maintenance and repair
services 1/ 4/ .................
Maintenance and repair
commodities 1/ 4/ ..............
Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............
Fuels ................................
Fuel oil and other household fuel
commodities ....................
Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
services).......................
Other utilities and public
services 4/ ......................
Household furnishings and operation 2/ .
Housefurnishings 4/ ..................
Housekeeping supplies ................
Housekeeping services 4/ .............

38.747
25.867
8.079
6.580
1.499
17.599
17.277
.322
.189

154.4
172.7
163.6
167.9
224.6
167.1
167.4
151.3
142.6

154.5
172.8
162.7
168.4
215.6
167.6
167.9
151.4
142.8

2.5
3.0
3.2
3.1
4.0
2.9
2.9
.9
2.1

.1
.1
-.6
.3
-4.0
.3
.3
.1
.1

.3
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
.5
-1.9

.2
.3
.4
.2
1.2
.2
.2
.1
1.1

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

.105

154.4

154.7

3.2

.2

-2.7

1.4

.2

.084
7.344
3.979

127.8
130.6
116.8

127.9
130.9
117.3

.6
2.2
1.9

.1
.2
.4

-.6
.7
1.0

.5
.4
.6

.1
1.0
1.5

.391

95.0

96.4

-8.8

1.5

.1

-.2

.5

3.588

124.6

124.9

3.1

.2

1.1

.6

1.7

3.365
5.536
3.261
1.129
1.145

163.3
123.9
109.0
143.9
156.2

163.6
123.7
108.5
144.2
156.6

2.6
.3
-.9
1.3
2.8

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

.3
.1
-.1
.3
.3

.1
.1
.1
.0
.1

.3
.0
-.2
.2
.4

Apparel and upkeep .......................
Apparel commodities 4/ .................
Men's and boys' apparel ..............
Women's and girls' apparel............
Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....
Footwear .............................
Other apparel commodities 4/..........
Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................

5.348
4.838
1.286
2.053
.240
.799
.461
.510

133.9
130.5
132.4
126.8
127.7
131.8
145.4
162.8

133.6
130.2
132.7
127.0
127.1
130.4
143.5
162.6

.9
.9
1.4
1.6
-.5
1.2
-3.5
1.6

-.2
-.2
.2
.2
-.5
-1.1
-1.3
-.1

.2
.2
.3
.7
-.1
-.5
-1.2
.1

.1
.1
-.1
-.6
-.5
1.7
1.0
.0

.1
.2
-.3
.8
-.5
-.7
.1
-.1

Transportation ...........................
Private transportation .................
New vehicles .........................
New cars ...........................
Used cars ............................
Motor fuel ...........................
Gasoline ...........................
Maintenance and repairs ..............
Other private transportation 4/.......
Other private transportation
commodities 4/..................
Other private transportation
services 4/ ....................
Public transportation ..................

19.190
17.934
4.893
3.533
2.320
3.921
1.616
5.185

143.6
141.1
144.7
140.2
149.4
106.6
106.3
164.9
173.8

143.1
140.8
145.1
140.8
149.2
104.4
104.0
165.1
174.3

-1.0
-1.0
-.6
-.8
-5.4
-3.4
-3.2
2.3
1.4

-.3
-.2
.3
.4
-.1
-2.1
-2.2
.1
.3

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

-.1
-.1
-.1
-.2
-.5
-.5
-.6
.1
-.1

-.7
-.6
-.4
-.3
-.1
-2.2
-2.4
.2
.0

.742

103.6

103.6

-.6

.0

-.2

-.2

-.1

4.442
1.256

191.6
187.8

192.3
183.9

1.7
-.3

.4
-2.1

.1
1.2

.0
2.2

.0
-1.7

Medical care .............................
Medical care commodities ...............
Medical care services ..................
Professional medical services ........

6.251
1.047
5.204
2.973

235.2
212.9
240.3
218.1

235.8
213.1
240.8
218.5

2.6
1.9
2.6
3.0

.3
.1
.2
.2

.2
.2
.2
.1

.2
.0
.2
.2

.3
.3
.2
.2

Entertainment 4/ .........................
Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........
Entertainment services 4/ ..............

4.015
2.036
1.979

160.6
143.1
185.3

160.3
142.9
184.9

1.3
.1
2.5

-.2
-.1
-.2

-.2
.1
-.4

.1
-.3
.4

-.2
-.3
-.3

Other goods and services 2/ ..............
Tobacco and smoking products ...........
Personal care 1/ .......................
Toilet goods and personal care
appliances 1/ ....................
Personal care services 1/ ............
Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...
School books and supplies ............
Personal and educational services 4/ .

7.012
2.117
1.107

226.1
249.9
153.3

226.7
250.5
154.3

5.1
6.2
2.0

.3
.2
.7

.5
1.4
.1

.8
1.5
.5

.4
.1
.7

.610
.497
3.788
.232
3.556

145.4
163.5
260.8
244.7
262.4

147.1
163.7
261.2
244.7
262.8

1.2
3.2
5.3
5.2
5.2

1.2
.1
.2
.0
.2

.2
.1
.2
.0
.2

.5
.3
.4
.6
.4

1.2
.1
.3
.3
.3

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) - Continued
Relative
Unadjusted indexes
importance,
December
Oct.
Nov.
1996
1997
1997

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov. 1996 Oct. 1997

Seasonally adjusted
percent change fromAug. to
Sept. to
Oct. to
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.

Commodity and service group
All items ..................................
Commodities ..............................
Food and beverages .....................
Commodities less food and beverages ....
Nondurables less food and beverages ..
Apparel commodities 4/ .............
Nondurables less food, beverages,
and apparel ....................
Durables .............................
Services .................................
Rent of shelter 3/ .....................
Household services less rent of
shelter 3/ 4/.......................
Transportation services ................
Medical care services ..................
Other services .........................

100.000
47.057
19.436
27.621
16.215
4.838

158.5
142.3
158.1
132.7
135.7
130.5

158.5
142.1
158.3
132.3
135.1
130.2

1.7
.4
1.7
-.5
.4
.9

.0
-.1
.1
-.3
-.4
-.2

.3
.2
.1
.4
.7
.2

.2
.1
.2
.0
.1
.1

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

11.377
11.407
52.943
25.329

141.2
127.3
178.0
166.2

140.5
127.3
178.1
166.3

.2
-1.7
2.8
3.1

-.5
.0
.1
.1

.8
.0
.3
.3

-.1
-.1
.3
.2

-.6
-.3
.3
.2

8.553
7.314
5.204
6.542

134.5
184.2
240.3
209.4

134.8
184.0
240.8
209.5

2.7
1.5
2.6
4.0

.2
-.1
.2
.0

.6
.2
.2
.0

.4
.4
.2
.4

.8
-.2
.2
.1

82.251
74.133
82.401
93.749
29.308
17.901
13.064
35.651
27.613
47.738
7.901
92.099
74.350

158.6
154.8
148.6
154.9
133.9
137.3
142.4
147.2
169.0
172.7
111.0
165.2
167.1

158.5
154.7
148.5
154.9
133.5
136.7
141.7
147.0
169.1
172.8
110.1
165.3
167.2

1.7
1.2
1.4
1.7
-.4
.5
.4
1.1
2.7
2.9
-.7
1.9
2.0

-.1
-.1
-.1
.0
-.3
-.4
-.5
-.1
.1
.1
-.8
.1
.1

.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.8
.8
.3
.3
.3
1.2
.1
.2

.2
.2
.2
.2
.0
.0
-.1
.1
.4
.4
.1
.2
.2

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

24.996
4.312

142.2
105.8

142.2
104.0

.3
-3.9

.0
-1.7

.2
1.2

.1
-.4

.0
-2.1

Special indexes
All items less food ........................
All items less shelter .....................
All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......
All items less medical care ................
Commodities less food ......................
Nondurables less food ......................
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........
Nondurables ................................
Services less rent of shelter 3/ 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 1/ .........................
1967=$1.00 1/ ............................
1/
2/
3/
4/
NOTE:

49.354

183.9

184.0

2.9

.1

.2

.3

-

$.631
.212

$.631
.212

-1.7
-

.0
-

-.3
-

-.2
-

.1
-

.0

Not seasonally adjusted.
This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
See Table X for a comparable index series.
Data not available.
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): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
commodity and service group
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Seasonally adjusted indexes
Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Feb.
1997

Seasonally adjusted annual rate
percent change for
3 months ended6 months endedMay
Aug.
Nov.
May
Nov.
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997

Expenditure category
All items ....................................
Food and beverages .........................
Food .....................................
Food at home ...........................
Cereals and bakery products ..........
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......
Dairy products 1/ ....................
Fruits and vegetables 2/..............
Other food at home ...................
Sugar and sweets ...................
Fats and oils ......................
Nonalcoholic beverages .............
Other prepared food ................
Food away from home ....................
Alcoholic beverages ......................

158.1
157.6
158.2
177.5
149.1
143.0
190.9
147.9
147.5
141.3
135.6
161.4
157.4
162.8

158.2
157.8
158.2
177.9
148.7
143.2
190.2
148.3
148.2
142.0
135.4
162.1
157.8
162.8

158.5
158.1
158.6
178.4
148.4
145.5
191.1
148.2
147.7
141.4
135.2
162.3
158.1
163.0

158.7
158.3
158.7
178.6
148.4
146.8
191.4
147.6
148.3
141.2
133.7
162.1
158.5
163.2

2.3

0.3

2.1

2.0

1.3

2.0

.3
.3
-1.3
.0
-.3
-8.3
-2.7
2.2
5.3
.3
-.6
3.6
2.9
2.3

1.0
.8
.3
1.6
.8
-2.4
-5.5
5.1
1.6
.0
17.8
-1.0
1.3
2.0

3.6
3.6
4.1
1.8
2.5
-5.7
15.6
4.7
.0
-.8
10.7
3.5
3.1
2.7

1.5
1.8
1.3
2.5
-1.9
11.1
1.1
-.8
2.2
-.3
-5.5
1.7
2.8
1.0

.6
.5
-.5
.8
.3
-5.4
-4.1
3.7
3.5
.1
8.2
1.3
2.1
2.1

2.6
2.7
2.7
2.2
.3
2.4
8.1
1.9
1.1
-.6
2.3
2.6
3.0
1.9

Housing 2/ .................................
Shelter ..................................
Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................
Rent, residential ....................
Other renters' costs 4/ ..............
Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................
Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........
Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............
Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........
Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/
Maintenance and repair
commodities 1/ 4/ ................
Fuel and other utilities 2/...............
Fuels ..................................
Fuel oil and other household fuel
commodities ......................
Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
services).........................
Other utilities and public services 4/ .
Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...
Housefurnishings 4/ ....................
Housekeeping supplies ..................
Housekeeping services 4/ ...............

153.4
171.6
162.4
167.0
223.9
166.1
166.5
150.3
143.8
156.5

153.9
172.0
162.9
167.5
224.7
166.5
166.8
151.1
141.1
152.2

154.2
172.5
163.6
167.9
227.5
166.8
167.1
151.2
142.6
154.4

154.8
172.9
163.7
168.3
226.5
167.3
167.6
151.3
142.8
154.7

2.9
3.1
3.3
2.5
7.4
3.0
3.0
-2.4
2.3
1.1

1.3
3.4
3.8
3.5
4.6
3.0
3.2
1.3
2.9
4.3

1.8
2.6
2.2
3.2
-.7
2.9
2.9
2.4
6.1
12.7

3.7
3.1
3.2
3.2
4.7
2.9
2.7
2.7
-2.8
-4.5

2.1
3.2
3.6
3.0
6.0
3.0
3.1
-.5
2.6
2.7

2.8
2.8
2.7
3.2
2.0
2.9
2.8
2.6
1.6
3.7

128.0
129.5
114.7

127.2
130.4
115.8

127.8
130.9
116.5

127.9
132.2
118.3

3.8
6.0
9.3

.9
-6.5
-13.1

-1.9
1.6
.3

-.3
8.6
13.2

2.4
-.5
-2.6

-1.1
5.0
6.6

96.5

96.6

96.4

96.9

-.8

-22.1

-11.9

1.7

-12.0

-5.3

122.2
162.8
123.6
109.0
143.4
155.5

123.5
163.3
123.7
108.9
143.8
156.0

124.3
163.5
123.8
109.0
143.8
156.2

126.4
164.0
123.8
108.8
144.1
156.8

10.1
2.0
.3
.0
2.3
.0

-12.1
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.7
3.5

1.7
3.3
-1.9
-4.3
-.8
4.2

14.5
3.0
.6
-.7
2.0
3.4

-1.6
2.0
1.1
.7
2.0
1.7

7.9
3.1
-.6
-2.5
.6
3.8

Apparel and upkeep .........................
Apparel commodities 4/ ...................
Men's and boys' apparel ................
Women's and girls' apparel .............
Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......
Footwear ...............................
Other apparel commodities 4/............
Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................

131.5
128.0
130.4
123.6
128.4
129.0
144.6
162.7

131.7
128.2
130.8
124.5
128.3
128.3
142.8
162.8

131.8
128.3
130.7
123.7
127.7
130.5
144.2
162.8

131.9
128.5
130.3
124.7
127.1
129.6
144.4
162.6

3.4
3.5
-1.2
10.8
1.3
-1.6
-5.0
3.3

3.4
3.5
6.4
2.6
23.0
1.6
-5.0
1.5

-4.1
-4.8
.9
-9.4
-17.9
2.5
-3.3
2.0

1.2
1.6
-.3
3.6
-4.0
1.9
-.6
-.2

3.4
3.5
2.5
6.6
11.6
.0
-5.0
2.4

-1.5
-1.7
.3
-3.1
-11.2
2.2
-1.9
.9

Transportation .............................
Private transportation ...................
New vehicles ...........................
New cars .............................
Used cars ..............................
Motor fuel .............................
Gasoline .............................
Maintenance and repairs ................
Other private transportation 4/.........
Other private transportation
commodities 4/....................
Other private transportation

143.4
141.3
145.4
141.3
149.5
106.3
106.1
164.4
173.6

144.0
141.7
145.6
141.3
149.2
107.8
107.8
164.4
173.7

143.9
141.5
145.4
141.0
148.5
107.3
107.2
164.6
173.6

142.9
140.6
144.8
140.6
148.3
104.9
104.6
164.9
173.6

2.5
3.4
-.5
-.6
1.0
13.1
13.2
1.5
1.4

-6.4
-7.3
.0
.0
-5.0
-29.9
-30.3
3.3
1.6

1.7
2.3
-.5
-.6
-13.7
15.7
18.0
3.0
2.6

-1.4
-2.0
-1.6
-2.0
-3.2
-5.2
-5.5
1.2
.0

-2.1
-2.1
-.3
-.3
-2.0
-10.9
-11.2
2.4
1.5

.1
.1
-1.1
-1.3
-8.6
4.7
5.6
2.1
1.3

104.1

103.9

103.7

103.6

-.8

-.4

.8

-1.9

-.6

-.6

services 4/ ......................
Public transportation ....................

191.2
182.3

191.4
184.4

191.4
188.4

191.4
185.2

1.9
-12.1

1.9
11.6

2.8
-5.5

.4
6.5

1.9
-1.0

1.6
.3

Medical care ...............................
Medical care commodities .................
Medical care services ....................
Professional medical services ..........
Entertainment 4/ ...........................
Entertainment commodities 4/ .............
Entertainment services 4/ ................

234.7
212.5
239.5
217.7
161.0
143.6
185.6

235.1
212.9
240.0
218.0
160.6
143.7
184.8

235.6
212.9
240.5
218.4
160.7
143.3
185.5

236.2
213.6
241.1
218.9
160.3
142.9
184.9

2.3
2.9
2.1
2.9
1.8
.6
2.7

3.7
4.0
3.8
4.6
1.0
-1.7
4.5

1.7
-1.1
2.2
2.6
4.1
3.1
4.4

2.6
2.1
2.7
2.2
-1.7
-1.9
-1.5

3.0
3.5
2.9
3.7
1.4
-.6
3.6

2.2
.5
2.4
2.4
1.1
.6
1.4

Other goods and services 2/.................
Tobacco and smoking products .............
Personal care 1/ .........................
Toilet goods and personal care
appliances 1/ ......................
Personal care services 1/ ..............
Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....
School books and supplies ..............
Personal and educational services 4/ ...

222.7
242.7
152.4

223.9
246.1
152.6

225.6
249.9
153.3

226.4
250.2
154.3

4.1
2.9
.3

6.4
9.1
3.2

2.9
.5
-.5

6.8
12.9
5.1

5.3
5.9
1.7

4.9
6.5
2.2

144.4
162.8
257.5
243.1
258.8

144.7
163.0
257.9
243.1
259.2

145.4
163.5
259.0
244.5
260.3

147.1
163.7
259.8
245.2
261.2

-3.3
5.4
6.1
2.9
6.3

2.2
4.0
5.7
6.5
5.7

-1.6
1.0
5.5
7.9
5.3

7.7
2.2
3.6
3.5
3.8

-.5
4.7
5.9
4.7
6.0

2.9
1.6
4.5
5.7
4.5

Table 5. 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) - Continued
Seasonally adjusted indexes
Aug.
1997
Commodity and service group

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Feb.
1997

Seasonally adjusted annual rate
percent change for
3 months ended6 months endedMay
Aug.
Nov.
May
Nov.
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997

All items ....................................
Commodities ................................
Food and beverages .......................
Commodities less food and beverages ......
Nondurables less food and beverages ....
Apparel commodities 4/ ...............
Nondurables less food, beverages,
and apparel ......................
Durables ...............................
Services ...................................
Rent of shelter 3/ .......................
Household services less rent
of shelter 3/ 4/......................
Transportation services ..................
Medical care services ....................
Other services ...........................

141.9
158.1
131.9
134.3
128.0

142.2
158.2
132.4
135.2
128.2

142.3
158.5
132.4
135.3
128.3

142.1
158.7
131.9
134.7
128.5

2.3
2.0
.3
3.1
4.2
3.5

.3
-2.2
1.0
-4.1
-5.8
3.5

2.1
1.4
3.6
-.6
1.8
-4.8

2.0
.6
1.5
.0
1.2
1.6

1.3
-.1
.6
-.6
-.9
3.5

2.0
1.0
2.6
-.3
1.5
-1.7

140.2
127.7
176.9
165.3

141.3
127.7
177.4
165.8

141.2
127.6
177.9
166.2

140.3
127.2
178.4
166.6

6.7
.0
3.0
3.3

-9.5
-.9
2.5
3.2

3.8
-4.3
2.5
2.7

.3
-1.6
3.4
3.2

-1.7
-.5
2.8
3.2

2.0
-2.9
3.0
2.9

133.4
183.0
239.5
208.4

134.2
183.4
240.0
208.3

134.8
184.1
240.5
209.1

135.9
183.7
241.1
209.3

5.2
-.7
2.1
4.9

-3.5
3.8
3.8
4.8

1.8
1.5
2.2
4.5

7.7
1.5
2.7
1.7

.8
1.6
2.9
4.8

4.7
1.5
2.4
3.1

157.5
154.1
147.9
154.1
133.4
135.9
141.8
146.5
167.8
171.5
110.0
164.6
166.5

158.0
154.5
148.3
154.5
133.8
137.0
142.9
147.0
168.3
172.0
111.3
164.8
166.8

158.3
154.8
148.6
154.8
133.8
137.0
142.8
147.1
169.0
172.7
111.4
165.2
167.1

158.4
154.8
148.7
154.9
133.4
136.6
142.1
147.0
169.5
173.1
111.1
165.4
167.3

2.9
2.1
2.5
2.4
3.0
4.5
4.6
2.5
2.9
2.9
11.2
1.5
2.2

.3
-.8
-.3
.0
-3.8
-6.3
-9.4
-3.0
1.5
2.4
-21.9
2.5
2.9

1.5
1.8
1.6
2.1
-.3
2.4
6.5
3.6
2.4
2.6
7.6
1.7
1.0

2.3
1.8
2.2
2.1
.0
2.1
.8
1.4
4.1
3.8
4.1
2.0
1.9

1.5
.7
1.1
1.2
-.4
-1.0
-2.7
-.3
2.2
2.6
-6.8
2.0
2.6

1.9
1.8
1.9
2.1
-.1
2.2
3.6
2.5
3.3
3.2
5.8
1.8
1.5

141.5
105.7
183.2

141.8
107.0
183.6

141.9
106.6
184.1

141.9
104.4
184.3

1.1
11.9
2.5

1.4
-29.1
3.6

-2.5
13.1
2.9

1.1
-4.8
2.4

1.3
-10.9
3.0

-.7
3.7
2.7

Special indexes
All items less food ..........................
All items less shelter .......................
All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........
All items less medical care ..................
Commodities less food ........................
Nondurables less food ........................
Nondurables less food and apparel ............
Nondurables ..................................
Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............
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/
2/
3/
4/
NOTE:

Not seasonally adjusted.
This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
See Table X for a comparable index series.
Data not available.
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: Selected areas, all items index
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
Indexes

Percent change to
Nov. 1997 fromNov.
Sept.
Oct.
1996
1997
1997

Percent change to
Oct. 1997 fromOct.
Aug.
Sept.
1996
1997
1997

Area

Pricing
schedule
1/

U.S. city average ......................

M

157.8

158.3

158.5

158.5

1.7

0.1

0.0

1.9

0.4

0.1

Northeast urban.........................
Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........
Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........

M
M
M
M

164.9
164.5
163.7
167.8

165.6
165.4
163.4
168.6

165.8
165.5
163.5
168.9

165.7
165.5
163.2
168.9

1.7
1.8
1.6
1.7

.1
.1
-.1
.2

-.1
.0
-.2
.0

2.1
2.1
2.1
2.2

.5
.6
-.1
.7

.1
.1
.1
.2

North Central urban ....................
Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........
Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........
Size D - Nonmetropolitan
(less than 50,000) .........

M
M
M
M

153.6
153.6
152.3
156.1

153.9
153.9
152.3
156.9

154.0
153.9
152.7
156.9

154.0
153.8
153.0
156.5

1.5
1.7
1.5
1.3

.1
-.1
.5
-.3

.0
-.1
.2
-.3

2.0
2.1
1.7
2.1

.3
.2
.3
.5

.1
.0
.3
.0

M

150.9

151.5

151.1

151.6

1.0

.1

.3

1.3

.1

-.3

South urban
Size A Size B Size C Size D -

............................
More than 1,200,000 ........
450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....
50,000 to 450,000 3/........
Nonmetropolitan
(less than 50,000) .........

M
M
M
M

155.5
154.0
156.5
155.9

155.9
154.5
156.6
156.4

156.1
154.7
156.8
156.9

156.2
154.5
157.1
157.1

1.6
1.6
1.7
1.6

.2
.0
.3
.4

.1
-.1
.2
.1

1.7
1.8
1.9
1.4

.4
.5
.2
.6

.1
.1
.1
.3

M

157.0

157.7

157.3

157.5

1.5

-.1

.1

1.6

.2

-.3

West urban .............................
Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........
Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........

M
M
M

158.0
156.5
163.5

158.6
157.2
164.1

159.3
157.9
164.9

159.2
157.7
165.6

2.1
2.2
3.0

.4
.3
.9

-.1
-.1
.4

2.2
2.3
2.9

.8
.9
.9

.4
.4
.5

Size classes
A 4/ .................................
B 3/ .................................
C 3/ .................................
D ....................................

M
M
M
M

143.9
158.0
159.4
156.0

144.4
158.0
160.0
156.6

144.7
158.3
160.4
156.7

144.6
158.4
160.5
156.9

1.8
1.5
1.8
1.2

.1
.3
.3
.2

-.1
.1
.1
.1

2.1
1.9
1.9
1.3

.6
.2
.6
.4

.2
.2
.3
.1

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Oct.
1997

Nov.
1997

Region and area size 2/

Selected local areas
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..

M
M
M

156.7
154.0
166.7

156.4
154.7
167.7

156.9
155.4
168.1

157.2
154.9
168.0

1.8
1.3
2.0

.5
.1
.2

.2
-.3
-.1

2.1
1.4
2.3

.1
.9
.8

.3
.5
.2

M
M

165.9
158.1

167.9
158.6

166.8
159.5

165.9
159.5

1.2
3.4

-1.2
.6

-.5
.0

1.6
3.4

.5
.9

-.7
.6

Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....
Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................

1
1
1
1
1
1

154.6
167.8
149.1
157.0
151.9
159.1

.7
1.5
2.0
1.6
.9
.3

-.6
1.0
-.1
.6
-1.4
-1.2

-

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........

2
2
2
2

-

-

1/

2/
3/
4/
5/
6/
7/
NOTE:

151.1
151.6
144.9
151.0

155.6
166.2
149.2
156.1
154.0
161.1
-

152.8
152.4
146.3
151.3

-

-

1.4
2.4
2.7
2.2

-

1.1
.5
1.0
.2

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.
Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes.
Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
Size Class B and Size Class C cities. There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
basis starting in January, 1998. Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
bi-monthly basis.
Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
combined metropolitan area.
Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
basis after December, 1997. Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
January and July.
Data not available.
Local area CPI 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.