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News
Bureau of Labor Statistics

United States
Department
of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20212

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Patrick C. Jackman
(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-04-2518
TRANSMISSION OF
MATERIAL IN THIS
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
Friday, December 17, 2004

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: NOVEMBER 2004
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in November, before
seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The November
level of 191.0 (1982-84=100) was 3.5 percent higher than in November 2003.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.2 percent in
November, prior to seasonal adjustment. The November level of 186.8 was 3.7 percent higher than in November
2003.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) was unchanged in November on a
not seasonally adjusted basis. The November level of 111.1 (December 1999=100) was 3.1 percent higher than in
November 2003. Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject to revision.
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in November, following a 0.6 percent rise in
October. Energy costs, which advanced 4.2 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. Within energy,
the index for household fuels rose 2.5 percent, while the index for motor fuels decreased 1.8 percent. The index for
food, which rose 0.6 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. The index for food at home rose 0.3
percent, reflecting a 3.3 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The index for all items less food and
energy advanced 0.2 percent in November, the same as in October. Deceleration in the indexes for shelter and
household furnishings and operations was largely offset by a larger increase in the index for new vehicles and an upturn
in the index for telephone services.
Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
Seasonally adjusted
Expenditure
Category
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

1
9 May
.6
.9
.4
.3
1.7
.3
-.2

Changes from preceding month
2004
June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
.3
-.1
.1
.2
.6
.2
.2
.1
.0
.5
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
-.8
-.2
.0
.2
.8
-.8
-.3
.2
2.3
.3
.3
.2
.3
.4
.3
-.2
-.2
.2
.1

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

Compound
annual rate
3-mos. ended
Nov. ’04
3.9
3.0
2.8
1.0
9.9
3.9
1.5

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
Nov. ’04
’98‘97Jan.’
3.5
3.1
3.1
-.1
7.4
4.4
.8

.0

.2

-.1

.1

.4

-.3

.4

2.2

1.7

.1

.1

.3

.2

.3

.2

.1

2.2

2.3

4.6
.9

2.6
.2

-1.9
.3

-.3
.1

-.4
.0

4.2
.6

.2
.2

16.9
3.0

19.2
3.2

.2

.1

.1

.1

.3

.2

.2

2.7

2.2

During the first 11 months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 3.7 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).
This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which increased 6.9 percent in
2003, advanced at a 20.5 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2004. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at
a 34.9 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 6.8 percent annual rate. The food index has
increased at a 2.9 percent rate thus far in 2004, following a 3.6 percent rise for all of 2003. Excluding food and
energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.3 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2004 after increasing 1.1 percent in
2003.
The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in November. The index for food at home advanced 0.3
percent, reflecting a 3.3 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The indexes for fresh fruits and for
fresh vegetables rose 1.7 and 6.3 percent, respectively. The index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 0.4
percent. Increases in the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages--each up 0.3
percent--also contributed to the November advance. Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the other
three major grocery store food groups--for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, for dairy products, and for other food at
home. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined 0.5 percent. Declines in the indexes for poultry, beef,
other meats, and eggs more than offset small increases in the indexes for pork and for fish and seafood. During the
last 12 months, poultry prices have increased 6.3 percent, pork prices, 5.2 percent, and beef prices, 0.6 percent,
while egg prices have fallen 21.1 percent. In November, the index for dairy products declined 0.7 percent. Fresh
whole milk prices, which registered sharp increases earlier this year, declined for the fifth consecutive month, but were
6.8 percent higher than in November 2003. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away
from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in November, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the
preceding four months. A sharp upturn in the index for fuels and utilities more than offset a deceleration in the index
for shelter and a downturn in the index for household furnishings and operations. Shelter costs, which rose 0.1 percent
in October, were virtually unchanged in November. A 0.5 percent decline in the index for lodging away from home
offset a 0.2 percent increase in the index for residential rent; the index for owners' equivalent rent was virtually
unchanged. The index for fuels and utilities rose 2.1 percent in November. The index for fuel oil rose 3.6 percent in
November and was 46.1 percent higher than in November 2003. The index for natural gas increased 5.4 percent in
November to a level 17.1 percent higher than a year ago. The index for electricity increased 0.9 percent and was 2.3
percent above its level a year ago. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for electricity fell 2.0 percent, reflecting the
shift to off-season rates in some areas.) The index for household furnishings and operations, which increased 1.0
percent in October, declined 0.2 percent in November.
The transportation index, which advanced 2.3 percent in October, declined 0.1 percent in November as a
result of a downturn in the index for motor fuel. The index for gasoline, which advanced 8.6 percent in October, fell
1.8 percent in November. The index for new vehicles, which turned up in October, increased 0.7 percent in
November. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 1.5 percent, their largest monthly increase since a
1.8 percent rise in November 1989. About 55 percent of the new car sample in November was represented by 2005
models.) New vehicle prices are 0.3 percent higher than in November 2003. The index for used cars and trucks
declined 0.1 percent in November, but are 3.6 percent higher than a year ago. The index for public transportation,
reflecting increases in airline fares and intracity transportation costs, advanced 2.4 percent in November.
The index for apparel rose 0.1 percent in November, following a 0.2 percent increase in October. (Prior to
seasonal adjustment, apparel prices declined 0.9 percent, reflecting seasonal discounting on women’s and girls’
clothing.) During the last 12 months, the index for apparel has decreased 0.1 percent, with declines in prices for
men’s and boys’ and for infants’ and toddlers’ apparel slightly offsetting an increase in prices for women’s and girls’
clothing.
Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in November to a level 4.4 percent higher than a year ago. The index for
medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.1 percent. The
index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in November. Charges for professional services and for hospital and
related services increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
The index for recreation rose 0.1 percent in November, the same as in October. Advances in the indexes for
admissions to sporting events--up 1.4 percent--for club membership dues--up 0.6 percent--and for sporting goods-up 0.4 percent--were partially offset by declines in the indexes for video and audio--down 0.4 percent--and for
photography--down 0.2 percent.

The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in November. Educational costs rose 0.6
percent, reflecting an increase in the index for educational books and supplies. The index for communication, which
declined 0.9 percent in October, rose 0.1 percent in November. Within this category, the index for telephone services
rose 0.3 percent, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase in long distance charges. Partially offsetting this increase was a 2.7
percent decline in the index for personal computers and peripheral equipment.
The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in November. The index for personal care increased
0.2 percent, more than offsetting a 0.1 percent decrease in the index for tobacco and smoking products.
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.2 percent
in November.

Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
Seasonally adjusted
Compound
Expenditure
Changes from preceding month
annual rate
Category
1
2004
3-mos. ended
9 May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov.
Nov. ’04
All Items
.7
.3
-.1
.1
.2
.6
.2
3.9
Food and beverages
.9
.2
.3
.1
.0
.5
.2
2.8
Housing
.3
.4
.3
.2
.1
.2
.3
2.2
Apparel
.2
.0
-.7
-.4
.3
.3
-.1
1.7
Transportation
2.1
.7
-.9
-.2
.4
2.3
-.2
10.5
Medical care
.3
.3
.3
.2
.4
.3
.3
4.0
Recreation
.0
.2
-.3
-.2
.2
.1
.1
1.5
Education and
communication
-.2
.2
-.1
.0
.4
-.3
.3
1.5
Other goods and
services
.1
.1
.4
.2
.3
.1
.1
2.1
Special Indexes
Energy
5.0
2.7 -2.0
-.5
-.3
4.3
.0
17.2
Food
1.0
.1
.3
.1
-.1
.5
.2
2.8
All Items less
food and energy
.1
.2
.1
.1
.3
.2
.2
2.5

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
Nov. ’04
’98‘97Jan.’
3.7
3.1
3.0
.0
7.9
4.5
.7
.9
2.3
19.7
3.1
2.0

Consumer Price Index data for December are scheduled for release on Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at 8:30
A.M. (EST). Releases for the remainder of 2005:
Feb.23
Mar.23
Apr. 20
May 18
June 15
July 14

Aug. 16
Sep. 15
Oct. 14
Nov. 16
Dec. 15
Jan. 18, 2006

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. For a recorded message of Summary CPI data, call (202)
691-5200.

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 establishmentsdepartment 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 CPIU and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two
annual revisions.
The index measures price change from a designed reference date. For the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference
base is 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.

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 12month period.
Index Point Change
CPI
Less previous index
Equals index point change

115.7
111.2
4.5

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

4.5
111.2
0.040
0.040x100
4.0

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 unadjusted for seasonal variation.
Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal
Adjustment Method. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.
Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1999 through 2003 were replaced
at the end of 2003. 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 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 2004.
Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their
original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements.
Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme values
and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software
was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and supplies indexes, this procedure was used to
offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data for
those series. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and supply
problems for coffee. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk
supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series. For the Water and sewerage
maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California. For
Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk production levels and higher demand for cheese.
For Electricity, it was used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather, increased rates to

conserve supplies, and declining natural gas inventories. For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure
was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with financing incentives.
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 Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968
by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@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
2003

Unadjusted
indexes
Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 2004 from—
Nov.
2003

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Oct.
2004

Aug. to
Sep.

Sep. to
Oct.

Oct. to
Nov.

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

100.000

190.9
571.9

191.0
572.2

3.5

0.1

0.2

0.6

0.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

15.384
14.383
8.256
1.202
2.320
.842
1.221
.905
1.765
.305
.251
1.210
.308
6.127
.332
1.001

188.4
187.9
187.9
207.0
182.9
182.1
240.0
140.6
165.4
162.6
170.2
180.1
109.9
189.4
126.8
193.6

188.6
188.2
188.1
206.8
182.4
180.9
248.3
139.6
164.4
163.1
167.8
178.9
110.5
189.6
126.7
194.0

3.1
3.2
3.1
2.1
1.7
5.7
9.1
1.2
1.5
.9
6.7
.6
1.4
3.2
3.3
2.9

.1
.2
.1
-.1
-.3
-.7
3.5
-.7
-.6
.3
-1.4
-.7
.5
.1
-.1
.2

.0
.0
-.2
.1
-.3
-2.0
.7
.3
-.5
-.4
.4
-.7
-.9
.3
.1
.5

.5
.6
.8
.4
-.3
-.2
6.0
-.3
.3
-.4
-.8
.7
-.5
.3
.7
.1

.2
.2
.3
.3
-.5
-.7
3.3
.3
-.5
1.2
-.1
-1.0
.5
.1
-.1
.2

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 ....................................................................
Fuels .....................................................................................
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 .....................................................

42.089
32.878
6.157
2.954
23.383
.385
4.741
3.830
.231
3.599
.910
4.470
.704

191.0
220.6
212.8
128.0
226.5
116.3
162.8
144.9
177.3
150.0
126.0
126.1
126.2

190.8
219.9
213.2
121.9
226.8
117.7
165.6
147.8
186.6
152.7
126.2
125.8
127.0

3.1
2.7
2.7
6.0
2.2
3.0
8.3
8.9
38.4
7.1
5.7
.7
3.8

-.1
-.3
.2
-4.8
.1
1.2
1.7
2.0
5.2
1.8
.2
-.2
.6

.2
.4
.1
2.9
.1
.3
-.5
-.9
1.9
-1.0
.4
.0
.0

.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
-.3
-.2
-.2
8.1
-.9
.3
1.0
.1

.3
.0
.2
-.5
.0
1.2
2.1
2.5
3.5
2.4
.2
-.2
.6

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

3.975
1.024
1.704
.195
.778

124.1
118.3
119.2
120.6
122.1

123.0
118.9
116.8
120.3
121.8

-.1
-2.1
1.0
-2.2
.7

-.9
.5
-2.0
-.2
-.2

.0
-.3
-.6
1.9
2.0

.2
-1.1
1.8
-.8
-1.1

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

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

16.881
15.817
7.912
4.817
2.007
3.249
3.222
.369
1.349
1.064

166.4
162.9
94.3
135.9
136.8
173.1
172.2
109.5
201.7
206.5

167.2
163.6
95.2
137.9
136.7
171.9
171.0
109.9
202.9
208.6

7.4
7.8
.6
.3
3.6
31.0
30.9
1.9
2.9
.3

.5
.4
1.0
1.5
-.1
-.7
-.7
.4
.6
1.0

.2
.3
.5
-.2
2.0
.1
.1
.3
-.2
-1.1

2.3
2.3
.2
.4
.2
8.6
8.6
.2
.4
1.4

-.1
-.2
.4
.7
-.1
-1.8
-1.8
.4
.6
2.4

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

6.074
1.499
4.575
2.749
1.489

313.3
271.7
324.8
273.7
422.5

314.1
271.2
326.0
274.2
425.0

4.4
2.7
5.0
4.3
4.8

.3
-.2
.4
.2
.6

.3
.4
.3
.1
.6

.4
.4
.4
.1
.4

.2
.1
.3
.3
.4

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
2003

Unadjusted
indexes
Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 2004 from—
Nov.
2003

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Oct.
2004

Aug. to
Sep.

Sep. to
Oct.

Oct. to
Nov.

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

5.872
1.736

108.7
104.2

108.7
104.0

0.8
.2

0.0
-.2

0.2
.3

0.1
.2

0.1
-.4

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 2 ..........

5.948
2.841
.219
2.623
3.107
2.925
2.315
.610
.230

112.5
148.3
353.8
428.2
85.5
83.4
94.6
14.5
14.6

112.7
148.4
354.4
428.7
85.6
83.5
94.9
14.3
14.2

1.7
6.8
5.5
6.9
-2.9
-3.1
-2.4
-7.1
-12.9

.2
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.3
-1.4
-2.7

.4
.6
-.9
.6
.3
.1
.3
.0
-.7

-.3
.4
.3
.4
-.9
-.8
-.7
-1.4
-2.7

.4
.6
1.1
.6
.1
.1
.3
-1.4
-2.7

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

3.776
.806
2.970
.680
.650
1.448

306.8
482.3
182.8
154.0
199.4
296.3

307.0
481.7
183.0
153.8
200.0
296.9

2.3
2.7
2.2
.4
3.0
3.4

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

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

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

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

40.117
15.384
24.733
13.458
3.975
9.483
11.275
59.883
32.494
.385
3.599
.910
.704
6.319
4.575
10.896

157.1
188.4
139.4
162.6
124.1
190.6
114.7
224.5
229.8
116.3
150.0
126.0
126.2
221.4
324.8
263.7

157.2
188.6
139.4
162.0
123.0
190.2
115.3
224.6
229.0
117.7
152.7
126.2
127.0
222.8
326.0
264.2

4.2
3.1
4.9
8.7
-.1
12.5
.2
3.1
2.7
3.0
7.1
5.7
3.8
1.9
5.0
2.7

.1
.1
.0
-.4
-.9
-.2
.5
.0
-.3
1.2
1.8
.2
.6
.6
.4
.2

.1
.0
.1
-1.1
.0
.1
.4
.3
.3
.3
-1.0
.4
.0
.0
.3
.5

1.3
.5
1.8
3.8
.2
3.8
.3
.1
.1
-.3
-.9
.3
.1
.4
.4
.0

-.1
.2
-.2
.9
.1
-.5
.1
.3
-.1
1.2
2.4
.2
.6
.6
.3
.4

85.617
67.122
93.926
25.734
14.459
10.484
28.842
27.389
55.308
7.080
92.920
78.537
22.254
3.480
56.283

191.4
181.4
184.6
141.4
164.5
190.0
175.8
235.1
216.0
157.7
196.0
198.2
140.5
174.2
232.1
$ .524
$ .175

191.5
181.9
184.7
141.4
163.9
189.7
175.6
236.4
216.1
158.6
196.0
198.1
140.6
173.6
231.9
$ .524
$ .175

3.6
4.0
3.5
4.7
8.3
11.6
5.7
3.6
3.0
19.2
2.3
2.2
.5
31.4
2.8

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

.2
.1
.2
.2
-1.0
.2
-.6
.1
.2
-.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
.3

.6
.8
.6
1.7
3.6
3.5
2.2
.0
.1
4.2
.3
.2
.4
8.5
.2

.2
.2
.2
-.1
.7
-.5
.5
.9
.3
.2
.2
.2
.1
-1.4
.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 1982=100 base.
5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
- Data not available.

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

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
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Feb.
2004

May
2004

Aug.
2004

6 months
ended—
Nov.
2004

May
2004

Nov.
2004

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

189.4

189.7

190.9

191.2

3.7

5.5

1.3

3.9

4.6

2.6

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

187.5
187.0
187.0
206.3
183.9
185.3
227.4
140.3
165.9
164.2
169.4
180.6
111.5
188.4
125.4
192.5

187.5
187.0
186.6
206.6
183.4
181.6
228.9
140.7
165.1
163.5
170.0
179.4
110.5
188.9
125.5
193.4

188.5
188.1
188.1
207.4
182.9
181.2
242.6
140.3
165.6
162.8
168.6
180.7
109.9
189.4
126.4
193.6

188.9
188.4
188.6
208.1
181.9
180.0
250.5
140.7
164.8
164.7
168.5
178.9
110.5
189.6
126.3
194.0

2.6
2.7
1.8
.8
1.3
2.4
-1.9
4.4
4.0
.0
11.3
3.6
1.8
3.8
5.7
2.8

5.1
5.1
6.9
3.0
6.2
41.4
1.6
-1.7
4.5
-.2
17.6
2.9
4.8
2.6
3.9
3.8

1.9
1.9
.6
1.2
4.2
-3.2
-3.3
1.1
.5
2.5
1.0
-.2
2.6
3.7
.6
1.7

3.0
3.0
3.5
3.5
-4.3
-11.0
47.3
1.1
-2.6
1.2
-2.1
-3.7
-3.5
2.6
2.9
3.2

3.9
3.9
4.3
1.9
3.7
20.3
-.2
1.3
4.2
-.1
14.4
3.3
3.3
3.2
4.8
3.3

2.5
2.5
2.0
2.3
-.1
-7.1
19.3
1.1
-1.1
1.8
-.6
-2.0
-.5
3.1
1.8
2.4

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 ....................................................................
Fuels .....................................................................................
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 .....................................................

190.3
219.5
212.1
124.9
225.9
116.3
164.6
147.2
166.2
153.3
125.1
124.9
126.1

190.7
220.4
212.4
128.5
226.1
116.6
163.7
145.9
169.3
151.7
125.6
124.9
126.1

191.1
220.7
212.8
128.7
226.5
116.3
163.4
145.6
183.0
150.4
126.0
126.2
126.2

191.6
220.8
213.2
128.1
226.6
117.7
166.8
149.2
189.4
154.0
126.2
125.9
127.0

3.0
1.7
2.3
-2.9
2.0
2.5
12.5
13.8
32.6
12.8
7.9
2.3
3.3

4.3
5.3
3.5
25.1
3.5
3.9
2.0
.8
4.4
.8
5.0
-1.0
2.0

2.6
1.7
3.3
-5.6
2.3
.7
12.8
15.1
56.9
12.4
6.0
-1.6
6.9

2.8
2.4
2.1
10.6
1.2
4.9
5.5
5.5
68.7
1.8
3.6
3.2
2.9

3.7
3.5
2.9
10.2
2.7
3.2
7.1
7.1
17.7
6.6
6.5
.6
2.6

2.7
2.0
2.7
2.2
1.8
2.8
9.1
10.2
62.7
7.0
4.8
.8
4.9

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

120.1
117.1
112.7
116.6
118.8

120.1
116.8
112.0
118.8
121.2

120.3
115.5
114.0
117.8
119.9

120.4
115.7
113.9
117.6
120.1

-3.0
.7
-4.9
-1.7
-3.3

5.1
.0
9.3
-7.8
2.4

-3.6
-4.0
-4.5
-2.7
-.7

1.0
-4.7
4.3
3.5
4.4

1.0
.3
2.0
-4.8
-.5

-1.3
-4.3
-.2
.3
1.9

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

163.1
159.4
93.9
136.3
133.8
160.7
160.0
109.0
201.2
206.6

163.4
159.9
94.4
136.0
136.5
160.9
160.1
109.3
200.7
204.3

167.1
163.6
94.6
136.5
136.8
174.7
173.8
109.5
201.5
207.1

167.0
163.2
95.0
137.5
136.7
171.5
170.7
109.9
202.7
212.0

9.0
9.9
-1.7
1.2
-3.0
51.0
51.2
.4
1.6
-2.4

12.4
13.5
-.8
-.6
2.5
66.8
66.7
-.4
2.4
-2.3

-1.5
-1.5
.0
-2.9
6.2
-9.8
-9.8
4.1
4.5
-4.1

9.9
9.9
4.8
3.6
9.0
29.7
29.6
3.3
3.0
10.9

10.7
11.7
-1.3
.3
-.3
58.7
58.8
.0
2.0
-2.4

4.1
4.0
2.4
.3
7.6
8.2
8.1
3.7
3.8
3.1

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

311.6
269.7
323.1
273.3
418.8

312.6
270.9
324.0
273.6
421.2

313.9
271.9
325.4
273.9
423.0

314.6
272.1
326.4
274.8
424.6

5.4
3.1
6.2
5.9
5.3

4.9
3.6
5.3
4.7
5.1

3.4
.9
4.2
4.1
3.2

3.9
3.6
4.1
2.2
5.7

5.2
3.4
5.7
5.3
5.2

3.7
2.2
4.2
3.1
4.4

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
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Feb.
2004

May
2004

Aug.
2004

6 months
ended—
Nov.
2004

May
2004

Nov.
2004

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

108.5
104.1

108.7
104.4

108.8
104.6

108.9
104.2

1.5
-1.1

1.1
1.9

-0.4
-.4

1.5
.4

1.3
.4

0.6
.0

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 2 ..........

111.6
144.8
354.3
417.5
86.1
84.0
95.0
14.7
15.1

112.1
145.6
351.1
420.2
86.4
84.1
95.3
14.7
15.0

111.8
146.2
352.1
421.9
85.6
83.4
94.6
14.5
14.6

112.2
147.1
356.1
424.4
85.7
83.5
94.9
14.3
14.2

2.2
7.2
9.6
6.8
-2.7
-.5
-.4
-5.1
-7.2

1.4
7.0
6.5
7.2
-3.6
-5.9
-4.9
-7.7
-7.3

.7
6.3
3.8
6.6
-4.1
-3.7
-3.7
-5.3
-14.4

2.2
6.5
2.0
6.8
-1.8
-2.4
-.4
-10.4
-21.8

1.8
7.1
8.0
7.0
-3.1
-3.2
-2.7
-6.4
-7.2

1.4
6.4
2.9
6.7
-3.0
-3.0
-2.1
-7.9
-18.2

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

305.5
481.6
181.9
152.8
198.9
295.2

306.3
482.9
182.3
153.5
199.1
296.2

306.8
482.3
182.8
154.0
199.4
296.5

307.2
481.7
183.2
153.8
200.0
297.5

3.0
3.0
2.9
3.4
2.1
3.4

1.7
.8
2.0
.3
2.9
4.1

2.5
7.0
1.3
-4.6
4.8
3.3

2.2
.1
2.9
2.6
2.2
3.2

2.3
1.9
2.5
1.8
2.5
3.7

2.4
3.5
2.1
-1.0
3.5
3.2

154.8
187.5
136.5
157.0
120.1
184.1
114.2
223.7
228.8
116.3
153.3
125.1
126.1
220.8
323.1
261.8

155.0
187.5
136.7
155.2
120.1
184.3
114.6
224.3
229.5
116.6
151.7
125.6
126.1
220.8
324.0
263.0

157.0
188.5
139.1
161.1
120.3
191.3
115.0
224.5
229.8
116.3
150.4
126.0
126.2
221.6
325.4
262.9

156.9
188.9
138.8
162.5
120.4
190.4
115.1
225.2
229.6
117.7
154.0
126.2
127.0
222.9
326.4
263.9

5.1
2.6
6.2
9.4
-3.0
16.8
.7
3.0
1.8
2.5
12.8
7.9
3.3
.7
6.2
2.8

7.6
5.1
9.2
14.6
5.1
25.3
-1.7
3.9
5.4
3.9
.8
5.0
2.0
.7
5.3
2.3

-1.0
1.9
-2.6
-2.8
-3.6
-4.4
-1.7
2.9
1.9
.7
12.4
6.0
6.9
2.2
4.2
2.3

5.5
3.0
6.9
14.8
1.0
14.4
3.2
2.7
1.4
4.9
1.8
3.6
2.9
3.9
4.1
3.2

6.3
3.9
7.7
12.0
1.0
21.0
-.5
3.4
3.6
3.2
6.6
6.5
2.6
.7
5.7
2.6

2.2
2.5
2.0
5.6
-1.3
4.6
.7
2.8
1.7
2.8
7.0
4.8
4.9
3.0
4.2
2.8

189.8
179.7
183.1
138.5
159.2
183.9
172.4
234.7
215.3
153.0
194.8
196.9
139.1
161.8
230.9

190.2
179.9
183.4
138.8
157.6
184.2
171.4
235.0
215.7
152.4
195.3
197.5
139.4
162.2
231.7

191.4
181.3
184.5
141.1
163.2
190.7
175.1
235.1
216.0
158.8
195.8
197.9
139.9
176.0
232.1

191.7
181.7
184.8
140.9
164.4
189.7
176.0
237.1
216.7
159.1
196.1
198.2
140.0
173.5
232.5

3.7
4.9
3.6
6.1
8.7
15.1
5.9
4.1
2.3
30.1
1.9
1.7
.3
50.1
2.1

5.5
5.3
5.4
8.8
14.1
25.0
9.1
1.9
4.0
29.7
3.6
3.3
.9
61.9
4.3

1.3
1.1
1.1
-2.6
-2.2
-4.9
-.2
4.4
2.8
1.6
1.2
1.0
-1.7
-6.9
2.3

4.1
4.5
3.8
7.1
13.7
13.2
8.6
4.2
2.6
16.9
2.7
2.7
2.6
32.2
2.8

4.6
5.1
4.5
7.4
11.4
20.0
7.5
3.0
3.2
29.9
2.7
2.5
.6
55.9
3.2

2.7
2.8
2.4
2.2
5.4
3.8
4.1
4.3
2.7
9.0
2.0
1.8
.4
11.0
2.5

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.

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
1

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

Percent change to
Nov.2004 from—

Pricing
schedule
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Nov.
2003

Sep.
2004

Percent change to
Oct.2004 from—

Oct.
2004

Oct.
2003

Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

M

189.5

189.9

190.9

191.0

3.5

0.6

0.1

3.2

0.7

0.5

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

M
M
M

201.0
203.1
118.9

201.2
203.2
119.2

202.5
204.5
120.1

202.6
204.6
120.1

3.8
3.7
4.2

.7
.7
.8

.0
.0
.0

3.6
3.4
4.3

.7
.7
1.0

.6
.6
.8

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

183.3
185.6
116.5

183.6
185.9
116.8

184.5
186.8
117.4

184.8
186.9
117.7

3.3
3.0
3.6

.7
.5
.8

.2
.1
.3

3.0
2.8
3.3

.7
.6
.8

.5
.5
.5

M

176.3

176.4

177.1

177.7

3.7

.7

.3

3.1

.5

.4

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) ...............................................

M
M
M

182.6
183.7
116.9

182.8
184.0
116.9

183.7
185.0
117.4

183.7
185.0
117.4

3.5
3.3
3.6

.5
.5
.4

.0
.0
.0

3.1
2.7
3.3

.6
.7
.4

.5
.5
.4

M

180.0

181.2

182.8

182.5

4.0

.7

-.2

4.1

1.6

.9

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

M
M
M

193.0
195.5
118.1

193.8
196.4
118.4

195.0
197.5
119.2

195.1
197.6
119.3

3.5
3.5
3.8

.7
.6
.8

.1
.1
.1

3.0
2.9
3.2

1.0
1.0
.9

.6
.6
.7

M
M
M

173.2
117.3
181.0

173.6
117.4
181.8

174.6
118.1
182.9

174.6
118.2
183.0

3.4
3.8
3.6

.6
.7
.7

.0
.1
.1

3.0
3.5
3.4

.8
.7
1.0

.6
.6
.6

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

190.2
193.1

190.0
194.5

190.8
196.3

190.7
196.9

2.7
5.2

.4
1.2

-.1
.3

2.7
4.5

.3
1.7

.4
.9

M

205.7

205.9

207.3

207.2

3.9

.6

.0

3.7

.8

.7

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

-

209.8
183.8
179.7
120.8

-

211.7
183.2
179.9
120.9

2.5
3.2
2.3
3.6

.9
-.3
.1
.1

-

-

-

-

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

184.1
186.8
169.1
185.1

-

183.9
187.6
171.8
187.0

-

-

-

-

2.1
2.3
3.4
3.0

-.1
.4
1.6
1.0

-

2
2
2

199.1
198.7
194.6

-

200.2
200.3
196.5

-

-

-

-

5.2
2.0
1.4

.6
.8
1.0

-

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

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
2003

Unadjusted
indexes
Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 2004 from—
Nov.
2003

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Oct.
2004

Aug. to
Sep.

Sep. to
Oct.

Oct. to
Nov.

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

100.000

186.5
555.7

186.8
556.3

3.7

0.2

0.2

0.6

0.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

17.151
16.061
9.637
1.364
2.908
.955
1.344
1.076
1.991
.321
.303
1.366
.350
6.424
.252
1.090

187.9
187.4
187.1
206.9
183.0
181.8
238.0
140.0
165.0
162.2
170.0
180.3
110.3
189.3
126.8
193.9

188.1
187.6
187.3
206.8
182.4
180.8
246.4
138.9
163.8
162.1
167.7
179.2
111.1
189.5
126.8
194.2

3.1
3.1
3.1
2.2
1.8
5.7
9.4
1.2
1.4
.4
6.6
.5
1.5
3.2
3.2
2.9

.1
.1
.1
.0
-.3
-.6
3.5
-.8
-.7
-.1
-1.4
-.6
.7
.1
.0
.2

.0
-.1
-.3
.1
-.2
-2.0
.6
.3
-.5
-.3
.1
-.7
-.9
.3
.2
.6

.5
.5
.8
.3
-.4
-.4
6.2
-.4
.2
-.4
-.9
.7
-.6
.3
.7
-.1

.2
.2
.2
.4
-.6
-.6
3.5
.1
-.4
.9
-.1
-.9
.7
.1
.0
.2

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 ....................................................................
Fuels .....................................................................................
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 .....................................................

39.114
30.151
8.065
1.722
20.026
.337
5.079
4.146
.216
3.930
.933
3.884
.318

186.2
213.8
212.0
128.3
205.5
116.5
161.9
143.5
177.2
149.1
126.1
121.7
127.9

186.4
213.4
212.4
121.8
205.8
118.1
164.5
146.2
186.5
151.7
126.4
121.5
129.2

3.0
2.5
2.8
4.8
2.2
3.2
8.0
8.5
38.8
6.9
5.8
.7
4.4

.1
-.2
.2
-5.1
.1
1.4
1.6
1.9
5.2
1.7
.2
-.2
1.0

.1
.2
.2
1.7
.1
.3
-.6
-.8
2.2
-1.0
.4
.2
-.3

.2
.2
.3
.0
.2
-.3
-.2
-.5
8.3
-1.0
.3
.9
.2

.3
.0
.1
-.9
.0
1.4
2.0
2.4
3.2
2.3
.2
-.2
1.0

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

4.357
1.120
1.727
.250
1.011

123.5
117.8
119.3
123.3
120.6

122.6
118.6
116.9
123.1
120.6

.0
-2.1
1.4
-1.5
.2

-.7
.7
-2.0
-.2
.0

.3
-.1
-.4
2.1
1.9

.3
-.9
2.1
-.9
-1.0

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

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

19.145
18.348
9.305
4.864
3.487
3.967
3.936
.456
1.365
.797

165.3
162.7
93.3
136.9
137.6
173.6
172.9
108.9
203.8
204.2

165.8
163.2
94.0
138.9
137.5
172.3
171.6
109.4
204.9
207.1

7.9
8.2
1.0
.1
3.5
31.0
31.1
1.8
3.0
.6

.3
.3
.8
1.5
-.1
-.7
-.8
.5
.5
1.4

.4
.4
.8
-.1
2.0
.2
.1
.3
-.2
-1.5

2.3
2.4
.3
.4
.2
8.6
8.6
.2
.4
1.3

-.2
-.3
.3
.7
-.1
-1.9
-1.9
.5
.6
2.6

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

4.969
1.142
3.827
2.256
1.254

312.7
265.4
325.0
276.3
418.5

313.6
264.9
326.3
276.9
421.0

4.5
2.5
5.1
4.4
4.6

.3
-.2
.4
.2
.6

.4
.5
.4
.1
.6

.3
.3
.2
.1
.4

.3
.0
.4
.4
.4

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
2003

Unadjusted
indexes
Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 2004 from—
Nov.
2003

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Oct.
2004

Aug. to
Sep.

Sep. to
Oct.

Oct. to
Nov.

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

5.697
1.928

106.2
103.5

106.3
103.3

0.7
.3

0.1
-.2

0.2
.2

0.1
.4

0.1
-.5

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 2 ..........

5.645
2.299
.215
2.084
3.345
3.194
2.622
.572
.205

110.5
146.7
355.6
415.2
87.1
85.6
94.8
15.0
14.3

110.6
146.8
356.1
415.6
87.2
85.7
95.1
14.9
13.9

.9
6.4
5.5
6.5
-2.9
-3.1
-2.4
-6.3
-13.1

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.3
-.7
-2.8

.4
.5
-.8
.6
.3
.1
.3
-.7
-.7

-.3
.6
.4
.5
-.9
-.8
-.7
-1.3
-3.4

.3
.5
1.0
.5
.1
.1
.3
-.7
-2.8

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

3.923
1.248
2.675
.737
.610
1.152

314.7
483.0
181.4
154.3
199.9
296.6

314.9
482.5
181.7
154.3
200.6
297.5

2.3
2.6
2.3
.3
3.0
3.8

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

.3
.3
.2
.6
.1
.4

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

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

44.582
17.151
27.430
14.671
4.357
10.315
12.759
55.418
29.813
.337
3.930
.933
.318
6.241
3.827
10.020

158.0
187.9
141.0
166.5
123.5
196.9
114.3
220.0
205.9
116.5
149.1
126.1
127.9
222.0
325.0
255.9

158.1
188.1
141.0
165.9
122.6
196.5
114.8
220.4
205.5
118.1
151.7
126.4
129.2
223.4
326.3
256.3

4.5
3.1
5.4
9.6
.0
13.6
.5
2.9
2.5
3.2
6.9
5.8
4.4
2.1
5.1
2.2

.1
.1
.0
-.4
-.7
-.2
.4
.2
-.2
1.4
1.7
.2
1.0
.6
.4
.2

.3
.0
.4
-1.2
.3
.1
.7
.1
.3
.3
-1.0
.4
-.3
.0
.4
.5

1.3
.5
1.8
4.2
.3
4.2
.4
.1
.1
-.3
-1.0
.3
.2
.3
.2
.0

-.1
.2
-.3
.8
-.1
-.4
.3
.3
.0
1.4
2.3
.2
1.0
.5
.4
.3

83.939
69.849
95.031
28.520
15.761
11.405
31.823
25.605
51.592
8.114
91.886
75.825
24.337
4.183
51.488

186.2
178.6
181.1
142.9
168.2
195.8
177.7
208.6
212.0
157.8
191.0
192.1
140.5
174.5
227.9
$ .536
$ .180

186.4
179.1
181.3
142.9
167.6
195.4
177.5
209.8
212.3
158.5
191.1
192.2
140.6
173.7
228.0
$ .535
$ .180

3.7
4.2
3.6
5.2
9.0
12.6
6.1
3.5
2.8
19.7
2.2
2.0
.6
31.5
2.7

.1
.3
.1
.0
-.4
-.2
-.1
.6
.1
.4
.1
.1
.1
-.5
.0

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

.6
.8
.7
1.7
4.0
4.0
2.3
.0
.0
4.3
.3
.2
.3
8.6
.1

.1
.2
.1
-.3
.7
-.6
.5
.8
.3
.0
.2
.2
.1
-1.7
.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.
- 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
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Feb.
2004

May
2004

Aug.
2004

6 months
ended—
Nov.
2004

May
2004

Nov.
2004

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

185.0

185.3

186.5

186.8

4.1

5.6

1.3

3.9

4.8

2.6

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

187.0
186.6
186.4
206.2
184.0
185.4
225.1
139.8
165.6
163.6
169.7
181.0
112.0
188.2
125.3
192.8

187.0
186.5
185.9
206.5
183.6
181.6
226.4
140.2
164.7
163.1
169.9
179.7
111.0
188.8
125.5
194.0

188.0
187.5
187.3
207.1
182.9
180.9
240.5
139.7
165.1
162.5
168.4
180.9
110.3
189.3
126.4
193.9

188.3
187.9
187.7
208.0
181.8
179.9
248.9
139.9
164.4
163.9
168.3
179.3
111.1
189.5
126.4
194.2

2.4
2.4
1.8
1.2
1.6
1.9
-2.1
5.0
3.2
-1.7
11.1
2.7
2.2
3.5
4.7
2.6

5.1
5.3
7.0
2.8
6.2
43.4
.9
-1.7
5.0
.2
18.7
3.2
4.1
2.8
2.9
4.3

1.9
2.0
1.1
1.2
4.5
-3.4
-3.1
1.4
.5
2.5
1.2
-.2
2.9
3.5
1.6
1.7

2.8
2.8
2.8
3.5
-4.7
-11.3
49.5
.3
-2.9
.7
-3.3
-3.7
-3.2
2.8
3.6
2.9

3.8
3.9
4.3
2.0
3.8
20.9
-.6
1.6
4.1
-.7
14.8
2.9
3.1
3.2
3.8
3.4

2.4
2.4
1.9
2.3
-.2
-7.4
20.3
.9
-1.2
1.6
-1.1
-2.0
-.2
3.1
2.6
2.3

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 ....................................................................
Fuels .....................................................................................
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 .....................................................

185.9
213.0
211.2
126.5
204.9
116.5
164.0
145.9
165.9
152.5
125.2
120.4
128.0

186.1
213.5
211.6
128.7
205.1
116.8
163.0
144.8
169.6
151.0
125.7
120.6
127.6

186.4
213.9
212.2
128.7
205.5
116.5
162.6
144.1
183.6
149.5
126.1
121.7
127.9

186.9
213.9
212.4
127.5
205.6
118.1
165.8
147.6
189.4
153.0
126.4
121.5
129.2

3.4
2.1
2.5
-1.6
1.8
2.5
12.8
13.9
30.2
12.9
8.3
2.3
3.9

3.3
4.1
3.1
19.5
3.4
4.6
2.0
1.4
4.7
1.4
5.4
-1.3
3.2

3.5
2.5
3.5
.3
2.2
.3
12.9
14.3
60.0
12.1
5.6
-2.0
6.8

2.2
1.7
2.3
3.2
1.4
5.6
4.5
4.7
69.9
1.3
3.9
3.7
3.8

3.3
3.1
2.8
8.4
2.6
3.5
7.3
7.5
16.8
7.0
6.8
.5
3.6

2.8
2.1
2.9
1.7
1.8
2.9
8.6
9.4
64.9
6.6
4.8
.8
5.3

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

119.4
116.6
112.2
119.0
117.7

119.7
116.5
111.8
121.5
119.9

120.0
115.4
114.1
120.4
118.7

119.9
115.5
113.8
120.3
118.8

-1.3
2.1
-4.6
3.3
-2.3

4.1
-1.0
10.9
-9.7
-1.4

-4.2
-5.3
-5.8
-3.6
.7

1.7
-3.7
5.8
4.4
3.8

1.3
.5
2.9
-3.4
-1.8

-1.3
-4.5
-.2
.3
2.2

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

161.5
158.9
92.6
137.3
134.6
161.1
160.5
108.4
203.1
205.1

162.1
159.6
93.3
137.1
137.3
161.5
160.7
108.7
202.7
202.1

165.9
163.4
93.6
137.6
137.6
175.4
174.6
108.9
203.6
204.8

165.6
162.9
93.9
138.5
137.5
172.0
171.2
109.4
204.9
210.1

9.4
10.2
-2.1
1.2
-3.3
51.3
51.5
.4
1.8
-1.1

13.9
14.5
.0
-.6
2.8
67.4
67.3
-.4
2.2
-2.3

-1.5
-1.2
.4
-3.4
6.2
-10.2
-10.0
3.4
4.7
-3.4

10.5
10.5
5.7
3.5
8.9
29.9
29.5
3.7
3.6
10.1

11.7
12.3
-1.1
.3
-.3
59.1
59.2
.0
2.0
-1.7

4.4
4.4
3.0
.0
7.5
8.0
7.9
3.6
4.1
3.1

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

310.9
263.6
323.2
275.8
414.9

312.2
264.8
324.6
276.2
417.3

313.0
265.7
325.4
276.6
418.9

314.0
265.7
326.7
277.7
420.6

5.6
2.6
6.5
6.3
4.8

4.9
3.7
5.3
5.0
5.2

3.3
.5
4.1
3.7
2.9

4.0
3.2
4.4
2.8
5.6

5.3
3.2
5.9
5.6
5.0

3.7
1.8
4.2
3.2
4.3

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
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Feb.
2004

May
2004

Aug.
2004

6 months
ended—
Nov.
2004

May
2004

Nov.
2004

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

106.1
103.4

106.3
103.6

106.4
104.0

106.5
103.5

1.5
-1.5

1.1
2.8

-1.1
-.4

1.5
.4

1.3
.6

0.2
.0

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 2 ..........

109.9
143.5
355.8
405.4
87.7
86.2
95.2
15.3
14.9

110.3
144.2
353.1
407.9
88.0
86.3
95.5
15.2
14.8

110.0
145.0
354.5
409.9
87.2
85.6
94.8
15.0
14.3

110.3
145.7
357.9
411.9
87.3
85.7
95.1
14.9
13.9

1.5
7.2
9.1
7.0
-2.2
-.9
-.4
-2.5
-7.3

.4
6.2
6.0
5.9
-3.5
-5.3
-4.8
-9.7
-7.4

.4
6.1
4.6
6.6
-4.0
-3.6
-3.7
-2.6
-12.4

1.5
6.3
2.4
6.6
-1.8
-2.3
-.4
-10.1
-24.3

.9
6.7
7.6
6.5
-2.9
-3.1
-2.7
-6.2
-7.4

.9
6.2
3.5
6.6
-2.9
-3.0
-2.1
-6.4
-18.5

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

313.5
482.6
180.5
153.1
199.5
295.4

314.4
483.9
180.9
154.0
199.7
296.5

314.7
483.0
181.4
154.3
199.9
296.9

315.1
482.5
181.9
154.3
200.6
298.1

2.9
2.6
3.0
3.2
1.9
3.5

1.7
1.0
2.0
.3
2.9
4.5

2.9
7.1
1.1
-5.1
5.0
3.6

2.1
-.1
3.1
3.2
2.2
3.7

2.3
1.8
2.5
1.7
2.4
4.0

2.5
3.4
2.1
-1.0
3.6
3.7

155.5
187.0
137.8
160.3
119.4
189.6
113.3
219.6
205.1
116.5
152.5
125.2
128.0
221.4
323.2
254.3

155.9
187.0
138.3
158.4
119.7
189.8
114.1
219.9
205.7
116.8
151.0
125.7
127.6
221.4
324.6
255.5

157.9
188.0
140.8
165.1
120.0
197.7
114.5
220.1
205.9
116.5
149.5
126.1
127.9
222.1
325.4
255.4

157.8
188.3
140.4
166.4
119.9
196.9
114.8
220.8
206.0
118.1
153.0
126.4
129.2
223.3
326.7
256.2

5.1
2.4
6.8
10.4
-1.3
18.5
.4
3.2
2.0
2.5
12.9
8.3
3.9
1.3
6.5
2.6

8.4
5.1
10.1
16.6
4.1
28.0
-1.4
3.2
4.2
4.6
1.4
5.4
3.2
1.1
5.3
1.6

-1.0
1.9
-2.6
-3.7
-4.2
-5.3
-1.7
3.3
2.4
.3
12.1
5.6
6.8
2.6
4.1
1.7

6.0
2.8
7.8
16.1
1.7
16.3
5.4
2.2
1.8
5.6
1.3
3.9
3.8
3.5
4.4
3.0

6.7
3.8
8.4
13.5
1.3
23.1
-.5
3.2
3.1
3.5
7.0
6.8
3.6
1.2
5.9
2.1

2.5
2.4
2.5
5.8
-1.3
5.0
1.8
2.8
2.1
2.9
6.6
4.8
5.3
3.0
4.2
2.4

184.5
176.8
179.6
139.7
162.3
189.0
174.2
208.3
211.6
152.8
189.8
190.9
139.0
162.0
227.0

185.0
177.1
179.9
140.3
160.5
189.1
173.1
208.7
211.9
152.4
190.3
191.4
139.5
162.5
227.6

186.2
178.6
181.1
142.7
167.0
196.6
177.0
208.8
212.0
159.0
190.8
191.8
139.9
176.5
227.9

186.4
178.9
181.3
142.3
168.1
195.4
177.9
210.4
212.7
159.0
191.1
192.1
140.0
173.5
228.3

4.3
5.0
3.9
6.7
9.7
16.6
6.4
4.0
2.3
31.0
1.9
1.7
.3
49.7
2.4

5.4
5.9
5.3
9.6
15.3
28.0
10.5
1.8
3.3
32.3
3.0
2.6
.9
63.9
3.4

1.3
.9
1.3
-2.5
-2.9
-5.9
-.7
4.1
3.3
.5
1.5
1.5
-1.1
-7.5
2.7

4.2
4.8
3.8
7.7
15.1
14.2
8.8
4.1
2.1
17.2
2.8
2.5
2.9
31.6
2.3

4.8
5.4
4.6
8.1
12.4
22.2
8.4
2.9
2.8
31.6
2.5
2.1
.6
56.6
2.9

2.7
2.9
2.6
2.4
5.7
3.7
3.9
4.1
2.7
8.6
2.1
2.0
.9
10.3
2.5

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.

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
1

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

Percent change to
Nov.2004 from—

Pricing
schedule
Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Nov.
2003

Sep.
2004

Percent change to
Oct.2004 from—

Oct.
2004

Oct.
2003

Aug.
2004

Sep.
2004

M

185.0

185.4

186.5

186.8

3.7

0.8

0.2

3.2

0.8

0.6

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

M
M
M

197.2
198.1
118.7

197.7
198.4
119.2

199.0
199.7
120.1

199.4
200.2
120.2

3.9
3.8
4.2

.9
.9
.8

.2
.3
.1

3.6
3.4
4.2

.9
.8
1.2

.7
.7
.8

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

178.2
179.8
115.7

178.6
180.2
115.9

179.5
181.1
116.6

179.8
181.2
116.9

3.4
3.1
3.7

.7
.6
.9

.2
.1
.3

3.1
2.9
3.5

.7
.7
.8

.5
.5
.6

M

173.4

173.7

174.4

175.2

3.6

.9

.5

3.0

.6

.4

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) ...............................................

M
M
M

179.4
181.2
115.3

179.7
181.4
115.4

180.6
182.5
115.9

180.7
182.5
116.0

3.7
3.5
3.7

.6
.6
.5

.1
.0
.1

3.3
2.9
3.4

.7
.7
.5

.5
.6
.4

M

179.5

180.7

182.3

182.2

4.4

.8

-.1

4.3

1.6

.9

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

M
M
M

188.0
188.9
117.6

188.8
189.9
117.8

190.0
191.0
118.7

190.2
191.2
118.9

3.7
3.7
3.8

.7
.7
.9

.1
.1
.2

3.0
3.0
3.2

1.1
1.1
.9

.6
.6
.8

M
M
M

171.4
116.2
178.8

171.8
116.5
179.7

172.8
117.2
180.8

173.0
117.3
181.1

3.5
3.8
3.8

.7
.7
.8

.1
.1
.2

3.0
3.5
3.4

.8
.9
1.1

.6
.6
.6

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

183.2
186.5

183.1
187.8

184.0
189.8

184.2
190.3

2.8
5.4

.6
1.3

.1
.3

2.7
4.7

.4
1.8

.5
1.1

M

200.3

200.6

201.9

202.2

3.9

.8

.1

3.4

.8

.6

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

-

208.8
174.8
180.0
120.4

-

211.0
173.9
180.5
120.4

2.6
3.3
2.8
3.7

1.1
-.5
.3
.0

-

-

-

-

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

182.5
181.5
167.4
182.9

-

181.7
183.0
169.5
185.1

-

-

-

-

2.3
2.7
3.4
3.4

-.4
.8
1.3
1.2

-

2
2
2

198.0
195.0
189.6

-

199.8
196.4
191.6

-

-

-

-

5.0
2.3
2.0

.9
.7
1.1

-

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

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,
2001-2002

Unadjusted
percent change to
Nov. 2004 from—

Unadjusted
indexes
Oct.
2004

Nov.
2004

Nov.
2003

Oct.
2004

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

100.000

111.1

111.1

3.1

0.0

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

15.076
14.086
8.062
6.023
.990

112.2
112.2
111.3
113.5
112.1

112.3
112.3
111.2
113.7
112.4

2.9
2.9
2.9
3.1
2.8

.1
.1
-.1
.2
.3

Housing ....................................................................................
Shelter ....................................................................................
Fuels and utilities 1 .................................................................
Household furnishings and operations ...................................

41.793
32.380
4.643
4.771

114.9
116.6
96.1

114.7
116.2
126.4
95.8

2.9
2.6
7.4
.3

-.2
-.3
1.0
-.3

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

4.317

93.6

92.9

-.4

-.7

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

17.315
16.206
1.109

109.5
110.0
101.9

110.1
110.5
103.5

6.3
6.7
.0

.5
.5
1.6

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

5.783
1.466
4.317

122.6
115.7
124.9

122.9
115.5
125.4

4.3
2.6
4.8

.2
-.2
.4

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

5.978

103.4

103.4

.0

.0

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

6.004
2.560
3.444

99.6
136.3
78.0

99.7
136.4
78.0

.5
6.6
-3.7

.1
.1
.0

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

3.734

114.8

114.8

2.2

.0

58.567
41.433
12.521
28.912
78.985
6.929

116.9
103.6
86.7
111.7
108.8
R137.6

117.0
103.6
87.1
111.5
108.8
138.1

2.9
3.4
-.1
5.0
1.9
17.8

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

R125.1

Commodity and service group
Services ......................................................................................
Commodities ..............................................................................
Durables ...................................................................................
Nondurables ...............................................................................
All items less food and energy .................................................
Energy 2 .....................................................................................

1 Revised indexes: Sep. 2004=128.4, Aug. 2004=129.2, July 2004=128.3, June 2004=127.5.
2 Revised indexes: Sep. 2004=135.7, Aug. 2004=136.5, July 2004=137.2, June 2004=139.8.
R Revised.

Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.