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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-98-420 TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT) Friday, October 16,1998 SEPTEMBER 1998 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, to (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended U has increased 1.5 percent. (CPI-U) rose 0.1 a level of 163.6 U.S. Department of in September, the CPI- The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment. The September 1998 CPI-W level of 160.2 was 1.2 percent higher than the index in September 1997. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in September, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding two months. In September, the food index was unchanged. Prices for food at home fell 0.2 percent, as declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs more than offset another sharp increase in prices for dairy products. The energy index, which declined 1.0 percent in August, fell 1.3 percent in September. The index for petroleum-based energy decreased 2.1 percent, and the index for energy services fell 0.8 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in September, the same as in July and August. Larger increases in the indexes for shelter and for cigarettes were offset by declines in the indexes for apparel and for public transportation. Table A. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Seasonally adjusted Compound Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate Category 1998 3-mos. ended Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Sep. `98 All Items .0 .2 .3 .1 .2 .2 .0 1.5 Unadjusted 12-mos. ended Sep.`98 1.5 Food and beverages .0 Housing .2 Apparel -.2 Transportation -.5 Medical care .3 Recreation .4 Education and communication .3 Other goods and services -.3 Special Indexes Energy -1.2 Food .0 All Items less food and energy .1 .1 .4 -.1 -.1 .4 .0 .5 .3 .4 .1 .3 .0 .1 .1 .2 -.3 .4 .1 .2 .2 -.3 .3 .2 .0 .3 .1 1.1 .0 .4 .1 .0 .2 -.7 -.4 .3 .1 2.3 2.3 .0 -.6 3.5 .8 2.0 2.4 .5 -2.5 3.6 1.4 .3 .3 .1 .0 -.5 .0 -2.0 1.2 1.0 .7 .0 .7 .1 .9 6.9 5.4 -.1 .1 .3 .6 -.7 .1 .0 -1.0 -1.3 .2 .2 .0 -8.7 2.0 -9.8 2.0 .3 .2 .1 2.3 2.5 .2 .2 .2 Beginning with release of data for January 1999, the BLS will change the treatment of mandated pollution control measures in the CPI. See page 5 for more details. See pages 7-9 for prior announcements of other methodological changes to be introduced with data for January 1999. Consumer prices rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1.5 percent in the third quarter. This followed increases of 0.2 and 2.5 percent rate in the first and second quarters, respectively, and brings the year-to-date annual rate to 1.4 percent. This compares with an increase of 1.7 percent for all of 1997. Energy prices, which fell 3.4 percent in 1997, have continued to act as a moderating influence, declining at a 10.9 percent SAAR though the first 9 months of 1998. The index for petroleum-based energy fell at an 18.0 percent annual rate, and energy services, at a 4.8 percent SAAR. The food index has risen at a 2.1 percent SAAR thus far in 1997, following a 1.5 percent increase for all of 1997. Grocery store food prices, which advanced 1.0 percent in 1997, have risen at a 1.8 percent rate thus far in 1998. A further decline in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and a sharp downturn in coffee prices helped to partially offset the effect of larger increases in each of the other major grocery store food groups. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.3 percent SAAR in the third quarter, following increases of 2.4 and 2.6 percent, respectively, in the first two quarters of 1998. The 2.4 percent SAAR in the first nine months of 1998 compares with a 2.2 percent rise for all of 1997. An acceleration in the index for medical care, which had decelerated each year since 1990, coupled with a sharp increase in tobacco prices, accounted for the larger rate of advance thus far in 1998. The rates for selected groups for the last four and three-quarter years are shown below. Percent change 12 months ended in December 1994 All Items 2.7 Food and beverages 2.7 Housing 2.2 Apparel -1.6 Transportation 3.8 Medical care 4.9 Recreation 1.4 Education and communication 3.3 Other goods and services 4.2 Special indexes Energy 2.2 Energy commodities 5.2 Energy services -.6 All items less energy 2.6 Food 2.9 All Items less food and energy 2.6 SAAR 9 months ended in Sep. 1995 2.5 1996 3.3 1997 1.7 1998 1.4 2.1 3.0 .1 1.5 3.9 2.8 4.2 2.9 -.2 4.4 3.0 3.0 1.6 2.4 1.0 -1.4 2.8 1.5 2.0 2.3 .0 -2.2 3.7 1.7 4.0 3.4 3.0 .5 4.3 3.6 5.2 5.9 -1.3 -3.3 .8 8.6 13.8 3.8 -3.4 -6.9 .2 -10.9 -18.0 -4.8 2.9 2.1 2.9 4.3 2.1 1.5 2.4 2.1 3.0 2.6 2.2 2.4 The food and beverages index was unchanged in September. The index for food at home declined 0.2 percent in September, following a 0.3 percent rise in August. The index for dairy products rose 1.6 percent in September, the same as in August. In September, this increase was more than offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--down 2.0 and 0.7 percent, respectively. Within the latter group, prices for beef, pork, fish and seafood, and eggs each declined in September, more than offsetting a 0.3 percent rise in poultry prices. Prices for each of the major fruit and vegetable groups fell in September. The indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables declined 3.6 and 1.5 percent, respectively; prices for processed fruits and vegetables dropped 0.3 percent. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages were unchanged and the index for other food at home rose 0.3 percent in September. The increase in the latter group was due to a 10.2 percent increase in butter prices. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages-each rose 0.4 percent. The housing component rose 0.2 percent in September. Shelter costs rose 0.5 percent, following an increase of 0.3 percent in August. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each rose 0.3 percent; the cost of lodging away from home increased 2.8 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home declined 2.7 percent.) Partially offsetting the larger increase in shelter costs were declines in the indexes for fuel and utilities and for household furnishings and operation. The index for fuels and utilities declined 0.6 percent in September, reflecting decreases in all three major household fuels. The indexes for electricity and for natural gas declined 0.8 and 0.6 percent, respectively, and fuel oil prices fell 1.9 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.3 percent in September, following a 0.2 percent drop in August. The transportation component declined 0.4 percent in September. The index for motor fuel, which declined 1.6 percent in August, fell 2.0 percent in September. Gasoline prices have fallen 11.6 percent thus far in 1998 and are 24.7 percent lower than their peak level in November 1990. The index for new and used vehicle prices rose 0.1 percent. The index for new vehicles, which increased 0.3 percent in August, declined 0.1 percent in September. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices fell 0.4 percent.) The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.5 percent. Public transportation costs, which increased 2.2 percent in August, declined 1.6 percent in September, reflecting a drop in airline fares. The index for apparel fell 0.7 percent in September, following a 1.1 percent rise in August. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 1.5 percent, reflecting the introduction of higher priced fall-winter wear.) Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in September to a level 3.6 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities-prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.6 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent. Charges for professional services rose 0.3 percent, while those for hospital and related services were unchanged. The index for recreation costs rose 0.1 percent in September. A 0.8 percent increases in the index for cable television was largely offset by declines in the indexes for sporting goods, for televisions, and for pets, pet products and services. The index for education and communication was unchanged in September, following a 0.5 percent decline in August. Education costs were unchanged as a 0.3 percent decline in the index for college tuition was offset by a 1.2- percent increase in the index for educational books and supplies. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, college tuition cost and educational books and supplies each rose 1.8 percent in September.) The index for communication also was unchanged as a 0.3 percent increase in the index for telephone services was offset by a 2.4 percent decline in the index for information processing costs. Within the latter group, the index for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 3.7 percent. The index for other goods and services rose 0.9 percent in September, following an increase of 0.1 percent in August. The advance largely was attributable to a sharp acceleration in the index for tobacco and smoking products, which rose 3.3 percent after increasing 0.1 percent in August. 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 0.1 percent in September. 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 1998 3-mos. ended ended Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Sep.`98 Sep.`98 All Items -.1 Food and beverages .0 Housing .3 Apparel -.5 Transportation -.6 Medical care .3 Recreation .3 Education and communication .4 Other goods and services -.6 Special Indexes Energy -1.3 .3 .0 .3 .2 .0 .4 .1 .3 .6 .3 .3 .1 .3 -.2 .1 .1 .1 .3 -.1 .5 .1 .2 .3 .2 -.4 .2 .2 -.1 .1 .2 .1 .9 -.1 .3 .2 .1 .0 .2 -.5 -.4 .3 .0 1.3 2.3 1.8 .3 -1.4 3.5 .4 1.2 1.9 2.2 -.1 -2.8 3.6 1.0 .2 .4 .1 .1 -.5 .1 -1.2 1.4 1.4 .8 -.1 .9 .2 1.3 9.5 6.6 -.2 .3 -.6 -.1 -1.1 -1.4 -9.8 -10.3 Food All Items less food and energy .0 .1 .6 .1 .3 .3 -.1 2.3 1.9 .1 .4 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 2.4 2.3 Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on Tuesday, November 17, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). ---------------------------------------------------------------------Changing the Treatment of Mandated Pollution Control Measures in the Consumer Price Index Beginning in 1999, modifications to goods and services made solely for purposes of meeting air pollution standards, and that do not otherwise provide direct value to consumers, will no longer be treated as quality improvements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Price increases associated with such modifications will be reflected as increases in the index. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently undertook to explain more precisely the relationship between the CPI and a complete measure of changes in consumers' living costs. As part of this activity the BLS reviewed the treatment of pollution control measures in the CPI. The new policy for treating pollution control measures is a direct result of that review. BLS has stated that the proper objective of the CPI is to approximate changes in the cost of living of U.S. consumers /1. The CPI is intended to approximate a particular subindex of a complete cost-of-living index, a subindex that is limited to prices of market goods and services and is conditional upon the levels of other determinants of changes in living costs, such as the environment, crime level, and numerous government-provided goods and services. The choice of this index definition recognizes that not all important living cost determinants can be reliably measured and also provides users of the CPI with a clear specification of its scope and limitations. Given the current definition, changes in air quality, as well as in other important environmental factors, are beyond the scope of the CPI and thus properly cannot be included in its construction. A more complete explanation of the relationship between the CPI and a comprehensive measure of changes in living costs is contained in "The Treatment of Mandated Pollution Control Measures in the CPI." /2 The new policy for the treatment of air pollution measures will become effective with CPI data for January 1999. The new practice will have its most significant effect on the motor fuel and new and used motor vehicle components of the index. In the vehicle indexes, the policy will apply to all vehicle models introduced on or after January 1, 1999. Since most of the 1999 model-year vehicles will be introduced before that date, the old practice will be used for the 1998-to-1999 model-year changeover in most cases. Historically, quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures have been made to the new car (or new vehicle) component of the CPI since 1969 (automobile model year 1970), with their estimated dollar effect published annually. Since 1988, these data have also been utilized to make quality adjustments in the used car component. In addition, beginning in late 1994, quality adjustments were made for the introduction of reformulated gasoline, which was required in selected areas for compliance with the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990. Available information is not sufficient to make possible a complete accounting of the impacts of this policy in all years. The estimates presented below should be viewed, therefore, as approximations rather than as precise values. In adherence with standard policy, the official CPI historical data will not be revised to be consistent with the new practice. For the period from December 1968 through December 1997, the new car component of the CPI-U rose 174.2 percent. BLS estimates that not adjusting for antipollution measures would have resulted in an increase of 230.2 percent over this period. Quality adjustments for light trucks have been made since they were introduced into the CPI in 1983. For the period from December 1983 through December 1997, this index rose 51.4 percent, but with the quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures factored back into the index, it would have risen by an estimated 55.1 percent in this period. The CPI used car index rose 27.2 percent between December 1987 and December 1997; with the quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures factored back into the index, it would have risen approximately 28.8 percent in that 10year period. The motor fuel component, whose index rose 7.5 percent between December 1993 and December 1997, would have increased by an estimated 15.4 percent over that period if adjustment for environmental quality change had not been made. BLS estimates that the aggregate effect of these component changes on the CPI-U All Items index would have increased the percentage change over the period from December 1968 to December 1997 from 354.4 percent to 357.7 percent. Past experience, however, is not necessarily an indicator of the future impact of this policy change. For additional information on these changes, write to Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3130 Washington, DC 20212 or send e-mail to Jackman_P@bls.gov, or telephone Patrick Jackman at (202) 606-6950, or obtain the information on the internet at: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm. _____________________ /1 "Measurement Issues in the Consumer Price Index," paper prepared in response to a letter from Representative Jim Saxton, Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, June 1997. Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm /2 Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm -----------------------------------------------------------------Planned change in the Consumer Price Index Formula On April 16, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This change will become effective with data for January 1999. The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer spending represented by the CPI-U. The remaining index categories, which are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they are currently. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by approximately 0.2 percentage point per year. The geometric mean estimator will be introduced in both the CPI-U and the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W series using the current calculation method for the first six months of 1999. These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent to June 1999, but will be available upon request. Additional information on this change will be published in the April 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm). This information may also be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Room 3615 Washington, D.C. 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000. Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula 1. Selected shelter services: A) Rent of primary residence 2. B) Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence C) Housing at school, excluding board Selected utilities and government charges: A) Electricity C) Residential water and sewerage maintenance E) Telephone services, local charges B) Utility natural gas service D) State and local registration, license, and motor vehicle property tax F) Cable television 3. Selected medical care services: A) Physicians' services B) Dental services C) Eyeglasses and eye care D) Services by other medical professionals E) Hospital services F) Nursing homes and Adult daycare ----------------------------------------------------------------------Improvements to CPI Procedures for Handling Refunds for Utilities Effective with the calculation of the index for January 1999, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will change its treatment of refunds for electricity, natural gas, or other utility services when the refunds are based on earlier periods' utility consumption amounts. The change will affect both the price indexes and the average prices computed by the CPI program. Under the current practice, the CPI utility indexes reflect refunds that appear on current period bills but that are based on past period utility consumption. Generally these refunds result from the rollback of temporary rate increases, lower than anticipated energy costs, or a reevaluation of rates with respect to actual costs. The current practice makes these indexes rather volatile and do not reflect the actual current price (for example, what a new customer would pay) for a utility service such as electricity. Under the new procedure, the CPI will disregard any refund for past excess charges when it appears on residential customer bills as a separate refund credit that is subtracted from the charges for current billing period's usage. The movement of the CPI utility indexes will reflect all changes in rates-generally in the month they are effective. The CPI utility indexes will continue to reflect current period credits that are based on current period consumption, such as those associated with purchased gas or fuel adjustments. For additional information on this change, write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3615, Washington, DC 20212-0001; or telephone Bob Adkins at (202) 606-6985 ext. 264, or send e-mail to Adkins_B@bls.gov -------------------------------------------------------------------Using a hedonic model to adjust television prices in the Consumer Price Index for changes in quality Effective with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January 1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an improvement in the way in which it calculates the Television stratum of the CPI. As of December 1997, Televisions constituted 0.215 percent in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) and 0.256 percent in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (the CPI-W). Bureau of Labor Statistics researchers developed a regression procedure, called a hedonic model, that decomposes the price of television sets into implicit prices for each important feature and component1. This model uses Television observations collected for the CPI and provides an estimate of the value of each of the significant features and components of the sets for which prices are collected. This yields a mechanism for replacing obsolete televisions in the CPI sample with current ones, allowing the CPI to capture the price change that may occur as new models replace old ones in the market place without counting the value of quality improvements as price increases. The CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for many years. In January 1998, the CPI began using a similar approach for Personal Computers. In the coming years, BLS plans to extend the method to additional CPI items. Starting with the CPI for January 1999, when a television model in the CPI sample improves in some way, the value of that change, as derived from the regression estimates, will be deducted from the observed price change for that product. (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value of the difference will be added to the price.) For additional information on these changes, write to Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260 Washington, DC 20212-0001 or telephone Tim LaFleur at (202) 606-6982 ext. 253, or send e-mail to LaFleur_T@bls.gov ___________________________________ 1 Brent R. Moulton, Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses, "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case of Televisions," presented to the Conference of the Ottawa Group, April 1998. -----------------------------------------------------------------BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84-100 for most CPI index series The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated its intention to change the numerical reference base for both the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base, effective with release of the January 1999 index in February 1999. BLS also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be discontinued in 1999 as well. This plan was initially described in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which contained several articles that dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision. The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing plan. Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of 1982-84=100 used for most items. In addition, the 1967=100 reference base will continue to be the alternate base for the All Items indexes. This decision is based in part on the fact that historical data have less precision after rebasing. Rebasing is simply an arithmetic transformation that does not substantially impact the index. Because the rebased index values are smaller, however, the loss of precision due to rounding is more serious. In addition, retaining the old index reference bases would spare users the inconvenience associated with conversion. Changes in the numerical reference base should not be confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket of the CPI. With release of the January CPI in February 1998, the expenditure weights applied to CPI categories will be based on consumer spending patterns for 1993-95. ------------------------------------------------------------------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 1993 through 1997 were replaced at the end of 1997. 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. 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 and the motor fuels 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 some women's apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing methodology. For the tobacco and smoking products index, this procedure was used to offset the effects of increases in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices. For some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather. For the Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly. A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968. 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 1997 Unadjusted Unadjusted indexes percent change to Sep. 1998 fromAug. 1998 Sep. 1998 Sep. 1997 Aug. 1998 Seasonally adjusted percent change fromJune to July to Aug. to July Aug. Sep. Expenditure category All items ................................... All items (1967=100) ........................ 100.000 - 163.4 489.6 163.6 490.1 1.5 - 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.0 - Food and beverages ......................... Food ...................................... Food at home ............................. Cereals and bakery products ............. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... Dairy and related products (1)........... Fruits and vegetables ................... Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... Other food at home ...................... Sugar and sweets ....................... Fats and oils .......................... Other foods ............................ Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... Food away from home (1)................... Other food away from home (1) (2)........ Alcoholic beverages ....................... 16.310 15.326 9.646 1.536 2.629 1.037 1.394 161.4 161.0 161.4 182.7 148.2 150.5 195.9 161.5 161.1 161.2 181.9 147.5 152.9 193.5 2.0 2.0 1.6 2.1 -1.1 6.6 2.9 0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.4 -0.5 1.6 -1.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.6 -0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.7 1.6 -2.0 1.077 1.972 .377 .291 1.305 .309 5.680 .172 .983 132.0 152.1 150.2 149.7 166.9 103.5 161.5 102.3 165.7 132.2 152.2 150.8 152.4 166.3 103.6 162.1 102.7 166.3 -3.3 2.2 1.5 7.3 2.7 2.7 1.7 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.8 -0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 -0.7 2.6 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.3 -0.7 0.7 0.6 2.0 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.9 -0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 Housing .................................... Shelter ................................... Rent of primary residence ................ 39.560 29.788 6.885 161.5 183.3 172.8 161.5 183.4 173.4 2.4 3.5 3.3 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 Lodging away from home (2)................ Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3)......................... Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. Fuels and utilities ....................... Fuels .................................... Fuel oil and other fuels ................ Gas (piped) and electricity ............. Household furnishings and operations ...... 2.327 112.9 109.8 - -2.7 -0.7 0.7 2.8 20.199 .377 4.942 4.018 .261 3.757 4.831 188.5 99.2 130.6 115.9 86.7 124.0 126.8 189.2 99.2 130.0 115.2 85.9 123.3 126.5 3.3 -1.6 -3.8 -8.3 -3.7 0.9 0.4 0.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.9 -0.6 -0.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3 0.0 0.3 0.2 -0.1 -0.4 -0.4 -0.7 -0.4 -0.2 0.3 0.0 -0.6 -0.8 -1.7 -0.8 -0.3 Apparel .................................... Men's and boys' apparel ................... Women's and girls' apparel ................ Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... Footwear .................................. 4.944 1.390 1.990 .268 .895 131.6 130.6 123.8 124.4 127.7 133.6 131.1 127.8 124.9 128.6 0.5 -0.2 1.4 -1.4 0.9 1.5 0.4 3.2 0.4 0.7 -0.3 0.2 -0.9 -2.2 0.1 1.1 0.3 1.9 2.0 0.7 -0.7 -1.3 -0.5 0.4 -0.4 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 ........ Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... Public transportation ..................... 17.578 16.240 7.899 5.063 1.880 2.995 2.976 .560 1.603 1.338 141.2 137.4 99.9 142.8 151.1 91.6 91.1 101.2 167.3 192.2 140.7 137.0 99.8 142.3 151.9 90.0 89.5 101.2 168.3 190.2 -2.5 -2.8 0.5 -0.3 2.5 -17.7 -18.0 -0.5 2.9 2.3 -0.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.4 0.5 -1.7 -1.8 0.0 0.6 -1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.2 1.0 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.3 -0.1 -1.6 -1.5 0.0 0.2 2.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.5 -2.0 -2.0 0.0 0.5 -1.6 Medical care ............................... Medical care commodities .................. Medical care services ..................... Professional services .................... Hospital and related services ............ 5.614 1.222 4.392 2.808 1.334 243.5 223.1 248.2 223.3 289.5 243.9 224.0 248.4 223.7 289.2 3.6 4.0 3.5 3.4 3.5 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.0 Recreation (2).............................. Video and audio (1) (2).................... 6.145 1.763 101.3 101.2 101.3 101.4 1.4 1.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 Education and communication (2)............. Education (2).............................. Educational books and supplies ........... Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication (1) (2)...................... Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... Telephone services (1) (2)............... Information and information processing 5.528 2.615 .194 2.421 2.913 100.1 102.6 249.1 295.8 97.9 100.9 104.3 253.7 300.9 97.9 1.2 4.7 5.1 4.7 -1.9 0.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.3 -0.3 -0.5 0.4 -0.3 0.4 -1.2 0.0 0.0 1.2 -0.1 0.0 2.706 2.357 97.7 100.4 97.7 100.7 -2.1 - 0.0 0.3 -0.3 0.1 -1.3 -1.1 0.0 0.3 other than telephone services (1) (4) Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... .350 37.6 36.7 -24.3 -2.4 -3.7 -3.8 -2.4 .234 71.1 68.5 - -3.7 -6.0 -5.5 -3.7 Other goods and services ................... Tobacco and smoking products .............. Personal care (1).......................... Personal care products (1)................ Personal care services (1)................ Miscellaneous personal services .......... 4.321 .894 3.427 .737 .963 1.465 238.0 273.7 157.1 148.5 166.6 235.7 240.4 283.5 157.5 149.1 167.1 236.2 5.4 15.0 3.1 3.8 2.6 3.4 1.0 3.6 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.6 0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.4 0.3 0.4 0.9 3.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 42.635 16.310 26.326 14.729 4.944 141.7 161.4 130.0 131.9 131.6 141.8 161.5 130.2 132.6 133.6 -0.2 2.0 -1.5 -2.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 -0.3 0.1 0.3 0.0 -0.1 1.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.3 -0.7 9.785 11.596 57.365 29.410 6.984 10.625 137.1 127.2 185.3 190.8 187.8 217.6 137.1 126.8 185.5 191.0 187.3 219.0 -3.4 -0.6 2.7 3.6 1.4 3.2 0.0 -0.3 0.1 0.1 -0.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.4 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.2 0.5 -0.3 0.2 84.674 70.212 94.386 27.309 15.712 10.768 31.039 27.955 52.973 7.013 92.987 77.661 163.9 157.4 159.0 131.4 133.9 138.9 146.8 192.7 179.5 103.8 171.2 173.8 164.1 157.6 159.2 131.6 134.6 138.9 147.1 193.0 179.6 102.7 171.6 174.2 1.4 0.6 1.3 -1.4 -1.9 -2.9 0.0 1.8 2.6 -9.8 2.4 2.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 -1.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 -1.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 -1.3 0.1 0.2 24.053 3.256 53.608 142.7 91.3 191.5 143.2 89.8 191.8 0.8 -16.6 3.1 0.4 -1.6 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -1.4 0.3 -0.1 -2.1 0.3 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 (3)......................... Transportation 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 (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 ............. 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 3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as - $ .612 $ .611 - - - - - - $ .204 $ .204 - - - - - base. base. base. 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 CPI-U 3 months ended-June 1998 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Sep. 1998 All items ................................... 163.0 163.3 163.6 Food and beverages ......................... Food ...................................... Food at home ............................. Cereals and bakery products ............. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... Dairy and related products (1)........... Fruits and vegetables ................... Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... Other food at home ...................... Sugar and sweets ....................... 160.8 160.6 160.8 181.0 146.9 148.1 201.4 161.2 161.0 161.3 181.2 147.6 148.2 202.0 133.0 150.4 150.3 133.0 150.9 149.3 6 months ended-- Dec. 1997 Mar. 1998 June 1998 Sep. 1998 Mar. 1998 Sep. 1998 163.6 1.5 0.2 2.5 1.5 0.9 2.0 161.7 161.4 161.8 182.1 148.1 150.5 201.1 161.7 161.4 161.4 182.1 147.1 152.9 197.0 1.8 1.5 1.0 1.8 -3.2 12.5 1.9 1.0 1.3 0.5 2.3 -2.9 1.6 4.5 2.8 3.0 3.3 2.0 0.8 -0.8 18.6 2.3 2.0 1.5 2.5 0.5 13.6 -8.5 1.4 1.4 0.8 2.0 -3.1 6.9 3.2 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.2 0.7 6.2 4.2 132.1 152.0 150.2 132.1 152.5 150.7 -6.6 -0.5 2.4 -1.8 1.6 3.8 -2.1 3.0 -1.1 -2.7 5.7 1.1 -4.2 0.5 3.1 -2.4 4.3 0.0 Expenditure category Fats and oils .......................... Other foods ............................ Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... Food away from home (1)................... Other food away from home (1) (2)........ Alcoholic beverages ....................... 143.3 165.5 102.5 160.7 101.0 165.3 147.0 165.7 102.6 161.1 101.6 165.8 149.9 166.5 103.5 161.5 102.3 165.8 152.7 166.4 103.6 162.1 102.7 166.5 -2.0 3.2 3.1 2.2 0.9 1.5 6.1 2.3 1.2 0.5 4.3 3.7 4.0 2.0 2.8 1.5 28.9 2.2 4.4 3.5 6.9 2.9 -0.6 2.4 2.7 1.3 16.0 2.9 4.2 2.8 4.8 2.2 Housing .................................... Shelter ................................... Rent of primary residence ................ Lodging away from home (2)................ Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3)......................... Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. Fuels and utilities ....................... Fuels .................................... Fuel oil and other fuels ................ Gas (piped) and electricity ............. Household furnishings and operations ...... 160.1 181.6 171.8 101.4 160.4 181.9 172.2 100.7 160.6 182.4 172.8 101.4 161.0 183.3 173.4 104.2 2.6 3.9 3.1 - 1.5 2.7 2.9 -0.4 3.1 3.8 3.6 6.1 2.3 3.8 3.8 11.5 2.0 3.3 3.0 - 2.7 3.8 3.7 8.8 187.6 99.1 128.3 112.9 90.6 120.6 126.6 188.1 99.3 128.3 112.9 90.3 120.6 127.0 188.5 99.2 127.8 112.4 89.7 120.1 126.8 189.0 99.2 127.0 111.5 88.2 119.1 126.4 3.3 0.0 -1.7 -0.4 -1.9 0.6 3.1 1.2 -7.1 -9.6 -14.9 -9.4 2.6 3.7 -4.7 0.0 -0.7 -7.2 0.0 1.3 3.0 0.4 -4.0 -4.9 -10.2 -4.9 -0.6 3.2 -3.6 -5.8 -7.9 -5.7 1.6 3.4 -2.2 -2.0 -2.8 -8.7 -2.5 0.3 Apparel .................................... Men's and boys' apparel ................... Women's and girls' apparel ................ Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... Footwear .................................. 133.2 131.7 127.2 124.7 128.4 132.8 131.9 126.0 122.0 128.5 134.2 132.3 128.4 124.4 129.4 133.2 130.6 127.7 124.9 128.9 1.2 2.5 -0.9 -2.8 5.8 -2.1 3.4 -0.6 -4.4 -10.1 2.1 -3.3 5.9 1.0 7.5 0.0 -3.3 1.6 0.6 1.6 -0.5 2.9 -0.8 -3.6 -2.5 1.1 -3.3 3.7 0.8 4.5 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 ........ Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... Public transportation ..................... 141.3 137.9 100.1 142.7 150.9 92.1 91.5 101.2 166.6 188.2 141.7 138.2 100.5 143.4 151.3 92.1 91.3 101.3 167.0 190.1 141.7 137.9 100.7 143.9 151.1 90.6 89.9 101.3 167.3 194.2 141.1 137.5 100.8 143.7 151.9 88.8 88.1 101.3 168.1 191.0 -3.3 -3.3 -1.9 -0.8 -14.7 -15.7 -2.0 3.5 -1.9 -4.9 -6.4 0.4 0.8 -1.6 -34.8 -35.0 -0.8 2.5 14.3 -1.1 -0.3 0.0 -2.8 10.1 -3.8 -4.3 0.4 2.2 -7.9 -0.6 -1.2 2.8 2.8 2.7 -13.6 -14.1 0.4 3.7 6.1 -4.1 -4.9 -0.6 -1.2 -25.4 -26.0 -1.4 3.0 5.9 -0.8 -0.7 1.4 0.0 6.3 -8.8 -9.3 0.4 2.9 -1.1 Medical care ............................... Medical care commodities .................. Medical care services ..................... Professional services .................... Hospital and related services ............ 242.3 221.6 246.8 222.3 286.7 242.8 221.7 247.4 222.6 288.5 243.7 223.1 248.2 223.3 289.5 244.4 224.5 248.6 224.0 289.5 3.4 3.0 3.5 2.6 4.4 2.9 1.3 3.2 3.5 2.6 4.6 6.6 4.2 4.2 3.0 3.5 5.3 2.9 3.1 4.0 3.2 2.1 3.4 3.1 3.5 4.0 6.0 3.6 3.7 3.5 Recreation (2).............................. Video and audio (1) (2).................... 101.1 101.2 101.1 101.1 101.2 101.2 101.3 101.4 0.4 4.1 5.7 0.4 -0.8 0.8 0.8 3.0 0.6 0.0 Education and communication (2)............. Education (2).............................. Educational books and supplies ........... Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication (1) (2)...................... Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... Telephone services (1) (2)............... Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (4) Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... 100.9 102.6 249.8 294.3 99.4 100.9 102.9 250.8 295.3 99.1 100.4 103.3 250.1 296.4 97.9 100.4 103.3 253.2 296.1 97.9 4.7 5.3 0.8 0.8 4.9 4.2 5.0 -2.8 2.8 5.6 5.8 5.6 0.4 -2.0 2.8 5.6 2.5 -5.9 4.4 5.2 -1.0 0.4 4.2 5.7 4.0 -2.8 99.3 101.4 99.0 101.5 97.7 100.4 97.7 100.7 0.8 - -2.8 1.6 0.0 4.0 -6.3 -2.7 -1.0 - -3.2 0.6 40.6 39.1 37.6 36.7 -8.8 -29.7 -23.4 -33.2 -19.9 -28.5 80.0 75.2 71.1 68.5 - -38.1 -33.8 -46.2 - -40.4 Other goods and services ................... Tobacco and smoking products .............. Personal care (1).......................... Personal care products (1)................ Personal care services (1)................ Miscellaneous personal services .......... 236.9 266.9 156.8 149.2 165.3 234.2 238.5 273.8 157.0 149.1 166.1 234.8 238.7 274.2 157.1 148.5 166.6 235.7 240.9 283.2 157.5 149.1 167.1 236.5 5.9 9.8 3.4 4.5 2.7 4.6 3.9 3.5 4.0 5.6 2.0 2.1 6.9 21.3 3.4 5.3 1.5 3.1 6.9 26.8 1.8 -0.3 4.4 4.0 4.9 6.6 3.7 5.1 2.3 3.4 6.9 24.0 2.6 2.5 2.9 3.6 141.8 160.8 130.6 132.6 133.2 142.1 161.2 130.7 132.7 132.8 142.2 161.7 130.7 132.6 134.2 142.0 161.7 130.4 132.2 133.2 -0.3 1.8 -1.5 -1.5 1.2 -2.2 1.0 -4.5 -8.3 -2.1 1.4 2.8 0.9 2.8 2.1 0.6 2.3 -0.6 -1.2 0.0 -1.3 1.4 -3.0 -5.0 -0.5 1.0 2.5 0.2 0.8 1.1 137.5 127.4 184.1 189.3 187.5 217.5 137.6 127.8 184.4 189.5 187.8 217.8 137.1 127.8 184.8 190.3 188.6 218.1 136.8 127.4 185.2 191.2 188.0 218.6 -3.9 -1.6 2.9 4.0 0.6 3.6 -10.7 0.3 2.2 2.8 5.0 3.2 3.6 -1.2 3.1 3.7 -1.5 4.3 -2.0 0.0 2.4 4.1 1.1 2.0 -7.3 -0.6 2.6 3.4 2.8 3.4 0.7 -0.6 2.8 3.9 -0.2 3.2 163.3 157.2 158.3 132.1 134.5 139.2 146.7 163.6 157.5 158.6 132.3 134.8 139.3 147.0 163.8 157.6 158.9 132.3 134.6 138.9 147.0 163.9 157.4 158.9 131.9 134.2 138.7 147.0 1.5 0.8 1.5 -1.2 -1.2 -3.0 0.5 0.2 -0.8 0.3 -4.1 -7.1 -10.0 -3.2 2.2 1.8 2.0 0.6 2.1 3.5 2.2 1.5 0.5 1.5 -0.6 -0.9 -1.4 0.8 0.9 0.0 0.9 -2.7 -4.2 -6.6 -1.4 1.9 1.2 1.8 0.0 0.6 1.0 1.5 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 (3)......................... Transportation 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 (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 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as 191.9 178.3 102.5 170.9 173.5 192.4 178.7 102.5 171.3 173.8 192.4 178.9 101.5 171.7 174.2 192.4 179.3 100.2 171.9 174.5 2.1 3.0 -7.7 2.2 2.4 1.3 2.1 -21.1 2.1 2.4 2.8 3.0 -1.9 2.6 2.6 1.0 2.3 -8.7 2.4 2.3 1.7 2.5 -14.7 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.6 -5.4 2.5 2.5 143.2 91.9 190.5 143.4 91.8 190.9 143.7 90.5 191.4 143.6 88.6 191.9 0.6 -13.2 3.3 0.8 -33.3 3.0 1.1 -4.2 3.2 1.1 -13.6 3.0 0.7 -23.9 3.1 1.1 -9.0 3.1 base. base. base. 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 Pricing schedule (1) Indexes Percent change to Sep.1998 from-- June 1998 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Sep. 1998 M 163.0 163.2 163.4 Northeast urban ............................. Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M M M 169.6 170.4 101.9 169.9 170.7 102.0 Midwest urban (4)............................ Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M M 159.5 160.8 159.8 161.2 U.S. city average ........................... Percent change to Aug.1998 from-- Sep. 1997 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Aug. 1997 June 1998 July 1998 163.6 1.5 0.2 0.1 1.6 0.2 0.1 170.5 171.4 102.2 170.6 171.7 102.2 1.3 1.5 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 1.6 1.8 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.2 159.5 161.0 159.9 161.4 1.5 2.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 1.5 1.9 0.0 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 Region and area size(2) Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 102.2 102.2 102.0 102.2 1.0 0.0 0.2 1.1 -0.2 -0.2 M 153.3 153.5 153.3 154.0 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.0 -0.1 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 159.1 158.4 102.3 159.3 158.5 102.4 159.5 158.9 102.5 159.5 158.8 102.5 1.3 1.5 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.0 1.5 1.9 1.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 M 160.0 160.0 160.2 160.1 1.9 0.1 -0.1 2.4 0.1 0.1 West urban .................................. Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M M M 164.2 165.0 102.3 164.3 165.1 102.3 164.8 165.6 102.5 165.1 165.9 102.7 1.9 2.2 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.0 2.4 1.0 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 M M M 147.5 102.2 159.2 147.7 102.3 159.3 148.1 102.4 159.4 148.2 102.4 159.7 1.8 1.0 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 2.1 1.1 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 Size classes A (5)...................................... B/C (3).................................... D ......................................... Selected local areas(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 166.0 162.2 166.5 162.1 165.4 162.6 165.3 162.6 2.0 1.3 -0.7 0.3 -0.1 0.0 1.8 1.8 -0.4 0.2 -0.7 0.3 M 173.1 173.6 174.2 174.4 1.6 0.5 0.1 2.0 0.6 0.3 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........ 1 1 1 1 - 170.7 159.9 154.2 102.8 - 172.1 161.5 154.5 102.9 2.6 2.7 1.5 0.8 1.0 0.2 0.1 - - - - 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 2 162.0 159.4 146.4 160.2 - 161.9 160.5 147.4 160.8 - - - - 2.3 1.4 - -0.1 0.7 0.7 0.4 - 2 2 2 168.0 165.5 167.5 - 168.6 166.6 168.5 - - - - 1.1 3.3 - 0.4 0.7 0.6 - 1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau. It is composed of the same geographic entities. 5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 6 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; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) CPI-W Relative importance, December 1997 Unadjusted Unadjusted indexes percent change to Sep. 1998 fromAug. 1998 Sep. 1998 Sep. 1997 Aug. 1998 Seasonally adjusted percent change fromJune to July to Aug. to July Aug. Sep. Expenditure category All items ................................... All items (1967=100) ........................ 100.000 - 160.0 476.5 160.2 477.2 1.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.1 - Food and beverages ......................... Food ...................................... Food at home ............................. Cereals and bakery products ............. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... Dairy and related products (1)........... Fruits and vegetables ................... Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... Other food at home ...................... Sugar and sweets ....................... Fats and oils .......................... Other foods ............................ 17.903 16.861 10.785 1.678 3.125 1.135 1.447 160.7 160.4 160.4 182.5 147.9 150.1 194.9 160.8 160.4 160.2 181.8 147.1 152.6 192.5 1.9 1.9 1.6 2.3 -1.1 6.6 2.7 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.5 1.7 -1.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.6 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.7 1.7 -2.0 1.215 2.185 .420 .332 1.432 130.7 151.5 150.3 149.3 166.8 130.9 151.7 150.6 151.9 166.3 -3.2 2.4 1.5 7.2 2.8 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.7 -0.3 0.2 0.5 -0.6 2.5 0.4 -0.7 0.7 0.7 1.9 0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.1 1.7 -0.1 Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... Food away from home (1)................... Other food away from home (1) (2)........ Alcoholic beverages ....................... .344 6.076 .212 1.042 103.5 161.4 102.2 164.6 103.7 162.0 102.8 165.1 2.7 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.3 Housing .................................... Shelter ................................... Rent of primary residence ................ Lodging away from home (2)................ Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3)......................... Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. Fuels and utilities ....................... Fuels .................................... Fuel oil and other fuels ................ Gas (piped) and electricity ............. Household furnishings and operations ...... 36.450 27.033 8.347 1.346 157.7 177.6 172.4 112.8 157.8 177.9 173.0 109.8 2.2 3.3 3.3 - 0.1 0.2 0.3 -2.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 -1.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.3 2.7 17.016 .324 5.053 4.143 .229 3.914 4.365 171.8 99.4 130.6 115.6 87.0 123.6 125.2 172.4 99.4 130.0 114.9 86.2 122.9 124.9 3.2 -1.4 -3.7 -7.7 -3.7 0.8 0.3 0.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.9 -0.6 -0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.3 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.8 -0.7 -0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.6 -0.9 -1.8 -0.8 -0.4 Apparel .................................... Men's and boys' apparel ................... Women's and girls' apparel ................ Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... Footwear .................................. 5.300 1.503 1.985 .337 1.082 129.9 129.9 121.3 125.0 128.4 132.0 130.7 125.5 125.8 129.3 -0.1 -0.4 0.7 -1.9 0.8 1.6 0.6 3.5 0.6 0.7 -0.4 0.2 -1.0 -2.2 -0.2 0.9 -0.1 1.9 1.9 0.9 -0.5 -1.0 -0.1 0.6 -0.3 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 ........ Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... Public transportation ..................... 19.847 18.790 9.285 5.304 3.162 3.682 3.658 .694 1.664 1.057 140.2 137.6 100.2 144.0 152.4 91.7 91.2 100.5 168.4 188.9 139.6 137.1 100.1 143.4 153.2 90.1 89.6 100.5 169.4 186.5 -2.8 -3.0 0.7 -0.4 2.3 -17.5 -17.9 -0.3 3.0 1.6 -0.4 -0.4 -0.1 -0.4 0.5 -1.7 -1.8 0.0 0.6 -1.3 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.9 -0.1 -0.3 0.2 0.3 -0.2 -1.6 -1.6 -0.1 0.2 1.8 -0.4 -0.3 0.0 -0.2 0.5 -2.1 -2.0 0.0 0.5 -1.7 Medical care ............................... Medical care commodities .................. Medical care services ..................... Professional services .................... Hospital and related services ............ 4.591 .906 3.684 2.372 1.097 242.8 219.9 248.0 224.8 285.6 243.2 220.8 248.2 225.3 285.3 3.6 3.9 3.5 3.4 3.5 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.0 Recreation (2).............................. Video and audio (1) (2).................... 5.969 1.968 101.1 101.1 101.0 101.3 1.0 1.4 -0.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 Education and communication (2)............. 5.396 100.3 101.1 1.4 0.8 0.1 -0.5 0.1 Education (2).............................. Educational books and supplies ........... Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication (1) (2)...................... Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... Telephone services (1) (2)............... Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (4) Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... Other goods and services ................... Tobacco and smoking products .............. Personal care (1).......................... Personal care products (1)................ Personal care services (1)................ Miscellaneous personal services .......... 2.402 .192 2.211 2.994 102.6 251.3 289.9 98.4 104.3 255.9 294.9 98.5 4.7 4.9 4.8 -1.3 1.7 1.8 1.7 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.3 -0.2 0.3 -0.4 0.4 -1.2 0.2 1.2 0.0 0.1 2.841 2.547 98.3 100.5 98.4 100.8 -1.4 - 0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.1 -1.2 -1.0 0.1 0.3 .294 38.9 38.2 -22.8 -1.8 -3.8 -3.2 -1.8 .191 71.2 69.0 - -3.1 -6.4 -4.3 -3.1 4.544 1.300 3.244 .832 .964 1.226 236.2 273.7 157.2 149.6 167.0 234.9 239.4 283.7 157.7 150.1 167.4 236.0 6.6 15.3 3.3 3.7 2.7 3.8 1.4 3.7 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.9 2.7 0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 -0.3 0.4 0.5 1.3 3.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.6 47.234 17.903 29.331 15.928 5.300 141.5 160.7 130.0 131.3 129.9 141.7 160.8 130.3 132.1 132.0 -0.3 1.9 -1.7 -2.5 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4 -0.4 0.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.5 0.9 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.5 10.628 13.403 52.766 26.708 6.824 10.006 136.6 127.0 181.9 171.0 185.1 214.3 136.6 126.7 182.2 171.3 184.7 215.7 -3.7 -0.4 2.5 3.3 1.3 3.2 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.2 -0.2 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 -0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.3 -0.2 0.2 0.5 -0.3 0.3 83.139 72.967 95.409 30.373 16.970 11.670 33.831 26.057 49.082 159.8 155.1 156.1 131.4 133.3 138.3 146.3 171.5 176.3 160.0 155.3 156.3 131.7 134.0 138.4 146.7 171.8 176.6 1.0 0.5 1.0 -1.5 -2.3 -3.1 -0.2 1.8 2.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.2 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 (3)......................... Transportation 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 (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 ............. 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 3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as 7.825 92.175 75.315 102.9 167.8 169.8 101.8 168.3 170.3 -10.3 2.2 2.3 -1.1 0.3 0.3 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -1.1 0.2 0.2 -1.4 0.2 0.2 26.463 3.910 48.852 142.2 91.5 188.4 142.8 90.0 188.8 0.9 -16.7 3.0 0.4 -1.6 0.2 0.2 -0.2 0.2 0.1 -1.6 0.2 0.1 -2.1 0.3 - $ .625 $ .624 - - - - - - $ .210 $ .210 - - - - - base. base base. 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 CPI-W 3 months ended-June 1998 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Sep. 1998 All items ................................... 159.6 159.9 160.0 Food and beverages ......................... Food ...................................... Food at home ............................. 160.2 159.8 159.8 160.7 160.3 160.3 161.1 160.8 160.8 6 months ended-- Dec. 1997 Mar. 1998 June 1998 Sep. 1998 Mar. 1998 Sep. 1998 160.1 1.3 -0.3 2.5 1.3 0.5 1.9 161.1 160.7 160.4 1.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 1.3 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.1 2.3 2.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 0.8 2.4 2.5 2.3 Expenditure category Cereals and bakery products ............. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... Dairy and related products (1)........... Fruits and vegetables ................... Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... Other food at home ...................... Sugar and sweets ....................... Fats and oils .......................... Other foods ............................ Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... Food away from home (1)................... Other food away from home (1) (2)........ Alcoholic beverages ....................... 180.8 146.6 147.7 200.5 181.0 147.3 147.8 201.6 181.9 147.8 150.1 200.4 182.0 146.7 152.6 196.4 2.3 -2.9 12.6 0.4 2.0 -3.0 1.6 6.3 2.2 0.8 -1.1 17.4 2.7 0.3 13.9 -7.9 2.1 -2.9 7.0 3.3 2.5 0.5 6.2 4.0 131.7 149.7 150.2 143.1 165.3 102.5 160.8 101.0 164.1 131.9 150.4 149.3 146.7 165.9 102.8 161.1 101.5 164.7 131.0 151.5 150.3 149.5 166.6 103.5 161.4 102.2 164.7 130.9 151.8 150.4 152.1 166.5 103.7 162.0 102.8 165.2 -6.4 -0.8 2.4 -1.7 2.7 3.1 2.0 -1.5 2.2 4.1 0.3 2.0 7.4 2.3 1.2 0.0 -2.1 2.7 -1.3 4.9 3.5 2.8 2.3 2.8 1.2 -2.4 5.7 0.5 27.6 2.9 4.8 3.0 7.3 2.7 -4.0 0.7 3.3 -0.7 2.4 2.7 1.0 -2.3 4.2 -0.4 15.7 3.2 3.8 2.6 5.0 2.0 Housing .................................... Shelter ................................... Rent of primary residence ................ Lodging away from home (2)................ Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3)......................... Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. Fuels and utilities ....................... Fuels .................................... Fuel oil and other fuels ................ Gas (piped) and electricity ............. Household furnishings and operations ...... 156.5 176.4 171.5 101.9 156.8 176.8 172.0 100.8 156.9 177.2 172.4 101.3 157.2 177.9 173.0 104.0 2.4 3.3 3.1 - 1.6 3.0 3.1 0.4 2.9 3.7 3.6 7.4 1.8 3.4 3.5 8.5 2.0 3.2 3.1 - 2.3 3.6 3.6 7.9 170.9 99.3 128.0 112.4 91.1 120.0 125.0 171.4 99.4 128.1 112.4 90.8 120.1 125.5 171.8 99.4 127.4 111.7 90.1 119.3 125.2 172.2 99.4 126.6 110.7 88.5 118.4 124.7 2.9 0.3 -1.7 0.4 -1.9 0.6 3.4 2.0 -7.2 -9.4 -13.4 -9.4 2.9 3.3 -4.7 0.0 -0.4 -5.9 0.0 0.6 3.1 0.4 -4.3 -5.9 -10.9 -5.2 -1.0 3.1 -3.5 -5.6 -6.8 -5.7 1.8 3.2 -2.2 -2.2 -3.2 -8.5 -2.6 -0.2 Apparel .................................... Men's and boys' apparel ................... Women's and girls' apparel ................ Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... Footwear .................................. 131.5 131.4 124.6 125.4 129.0 131.0 131.6 123.4 122.7 128.8 132.2 131.5 125.7 125.0 130.0 131.6 130.2 125.6 125.8 129.6 0.0 1.5 -2.8 -5.5 6.4 -4.5 2.2 -3.5 -6.2 -11.4 3.1 -1.5 5.3 2.9 7.8 0.3 -3.6 3.2 1.3 1.9 -2.3 1.8 -3.2 -5.8 -2.9 1.7 -2.6 4.3 2.1 4.8 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 ........ Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... Public transportation ..................... 140.4 138.0 100.3 144.0 152.3 92.4 91.7 100.6 167.7 185.5 140.7 138.2 100.7 144.6 152.7 92.2 91.5 100.7 168.1 187.2 140.5 137.8 100.9 145.1 152.4 90.7 90.0 100.6 168.5 190.6 139.9 137.4 100.9 144.8 153.2 88.8 88.2 100.6 169.3 187.4 -3.6 -3.9 -2.2 -0.5 -15.4 -16.0 -1.2 3.5 -0.6 -6.0 -6.7 0.0 0.8 -1.9 -33.2 -34.1 -0.4 2.2 10.4 0.0 0.3 1.2 -2.5 9.7 -3.8 -4.2 0.4 2.4 -6.6 -1.4 -1.7 2.4 2.2 2.4 -14.7 -14.4 0.0 3.9 4.2 -4.8 -5.3 -0.7 -1.2 -24.8 -25.6 -0.8 2.8 4.7 -0.7 -0.7 1.8 -0.1 6.0 -9.4 -9.5 0.2 3.1 -1.4 Medical care ............................... Medical care commodities .................. Medical care services ..................... Professional services .................... Hospital and related services ............ 241.6 218.5 246.6 223.9 282.8 242.1 218.7 247.2 224.1 284.5 242.9 219.9 248.0 224.6 285.6 243.7 221.5 248.5 225.5 285.6 3.4 2.8 3.7 3.0 4.3 2.7 0.9 3.0 3.1 2.8 4.8 6.5 4.3 4.8 2.9 3.5 5.6 3.1 2.9 4.0 3.1 1.9 3.4 3.1 3.5 4.1 6.0 3.7 3.8 3.4 Recreation (2).............................. Video and audio (1) (2).................... 100.9 101.1 100.8 101.0 101.0 101.1 101.0 101.3 0.4 3.6 5.7 0.0 -1.2 0.4 0.8 3.0 0.2 -0.2 Education and communication (2)............. Education (2).............................. Educational books and supplies ........... Tuition, other school fees, and childcare Communication (1) (2)...................... Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... Telephone services (1) (2)............... Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (4) Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... 101.0 102.6 252.4 288.5 99.8 101.1 102.9 253.3 289.4 99.6 100.6 103.2 252.3 290.5 98.4 100.7 103.4 255.3 290.6 98.5 4.5 5.6 0.8 1.2 4.9 4.3 5.1 -2.0 2.8 5.6 6.1 5.4 1.2 -1.2 3.2 4.7 2.9 -5.1 4.4 5.3 -0.6 0.8 4.4 5.4 4.2 -2.0 99.8 101.4 99.5 101.5 98.3 100.5 98.4 100.8 0.8 - -2.0 1.6 1.2 4.0 -5.5 -2.3 -0.6 - -2.2 0.8 41.8 40.2 38.9 38.2 -4.8 -29.6 -24.2 -30.2 -18.1 -27.3 79.5 74.4 71.2 69.0 - -39.2 -34.3 -43.3 - -38.9 Other goods and services ................... Tobacco and smoking products .............. Personal care (1).......................... Personal care products (1)................ Personal care services (1)................ Miscellaneous personal services .......... 234.3 266.6 156.8 150.3 165.6 233.1 236.3 273.7 157.0 150.1 166.4 233.7 236.7 274.5 157.2 149.6 167.0 234.9 239.7 283.7 157.7 150.1 167.4 236.2 6.2 9.4 3.5 3.9 2.7 4.5 3.9 3.7 4.2 5.9 2.0 2.3 8.4 21.6 3.4 5.8 1.7 3.1 9.5 28.2 2.3 -0.5 4.4 5.4 5.1 6.5 3.8 4.9 2.3 3.4 9.0 24.9 2.8 2.6 3.1 4.3 141.6 160.2 130.5 131.9 131.5 141.9 160.7 130.7 132.4 131.0 142.0 161.1 130.6 131.8 132.2 141.8 161.1 130.3 131.5 131.6 -0.3 1.5 -2.1 -2.3 0.0 -3.1 1.3 -5.1 -8.9 -4.5 2.0 2.5 1.5 2.5 3.1 0.6 2.3 -0.6 -1.2 0.3 -1.7 1.4 -3.6 -5.7 -2.3 1.3 2.4 0.5 0.6 1.7 136.9 127.0 180.9 169.8 185.3 214.2 137.1 127.6 181.2 170.1 185.6 214.5 136.5 127.5 181.5 170.5 186.0 214.6 136.1 127.2 181.9 171.3 185.5 215.3 -3.6 -1.2 2.7 3.4 0.9 3.5 -11.7 0.0 2.3 2.7 3.8 3.5 3.3 -0.9 2.9 3.6 -0.4 4.2 -2.3 0.6 2.2 3.6 0.4 2.1 -7.8 -0.6 2.5 3.0 2.3 3.5 0.4 -0.2 2.6 3.6 0.0 3.1 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. Food and beverages ......................... Commodities less food and beverages ........ Nondurables less food and beverages ....... Apparel .................................. Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. Durables .................................. Services .................................... Rent of shelter (3)......................... Transportation 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 (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 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as 159.2 154.9 155.7 132.0 134.0 138.2 146.3 170.8 175.4 101.9 167.6 169.7 159.5 155.2 156.0 132.2 134.2 138.5 146.7 171.1 175.7 101.8 168.0 170.1 159.6 155.3 156.1 132.1 133.8 138.2 146.7 171.2 176.0 100.7 168.3 170.4 159.7 155.1 156.1 131.9 133.5 137.9 146.6 171.3 176.3 99.3 168.6 170.7 1.0 0.3 1.0 -1.5 -1.7 -1.7 -0.5 2.4 2.6 -8.7 2.2 2.2 -0.5 -1.3 -0.5 -5.3 -8.3 -12.1 -3.2 0.9 2.1 -21.2 1.7 1.9 2.6 2.1 2.6 1.5 2.7 2.6 2.2 2.6 3.0 -1.9 2.9 2.9 1.3 0.5 1.0 -0.3 -1.5 -0.9 0.8 1.2 2.1 -9.8 2.4 2.4 0.3 -0.5 0.3 -3.4 -5.1 -7.0 -1.9 1.7 2.3 -15.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 0.9 1.5 1.9 2.5 -6.0 2.7 2.6 142.7 92.4 187.9 143.0 92.2 188.2 143.2 90.7 188.6 143.3 88.8 189.1 0.6 -14.2 2.9 0.0 -32.1 3.3 2.0 -3.8 3.3 1.7 -14.7 2.6 0.3 -23.7 3.1 1.8 -9.4 2.9 base. base base. 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 U.S. city average ........................... Region and area size(2) Pricing schedule (1) M Indexes Percent change to Sep.1998 from-- June 1998 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Sep. 1998 159.7 159.8 160.0 160.2 Percent change to Aug.1998 from-- Sep. 1997 July 1998 Aug. 1998 Aug. 1997 June 1998 July 1998 1.2 0.3 0.1 1.4 0.2 0.1 Northeast urban ............................. Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M M M 166.5 166.3 101.5 166.6 166.5 101.5 167.1 167.1 101.7 167.4 167.5 101.8 1.1 1.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.3 1.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 Midwest urban (4)............................ 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 155.7 156.2 101.9 155.9 156.5 101.9 155.6 156.4 101.7 156.0 156.7 101.9 1.4 1.8 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.3 1.8 0.9 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 M 151.3 151.7 151.4 152.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 -0.2 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 157.1 155.9 101.8 157.2 156.1 101.9 157.5 156.3 102.1 157.5 156.3 102.1 1.0 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 M 160.4 160.4 160.6 160.6 1.8 0.1 0.0 2.3 0.1 0.1 West urban .................................. Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M M M 160.3 159.3 102.1 160.3 159.3 102.1 160.7 159.7 102.3 160.9 160.0 102.5 1.5 1.8 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.2 1.7 2.0 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 M M M 146.0 101.8 158.1 146.2 101.9 158.3 146.4 101.9 158.3 146.6 102.0 158.7 1.5 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.7 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 Size classes A (5)...................................... B/C (3).................................... D ......................................... Selected local areas(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 160.2 156.1 160.6 155.9 159.6 156.1 159.6 156.1 2.0 0.9 -0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.9 1.4 -0.4 0.0 -0.6 0.1 M 168.8 169.1 169.7 169.9 1.3 0.5 0.1 1.8 0.5 0.4 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........ 1 1 1 1 - 168.8 152.1 154.0 102.5 - 169.9 153.3 154.3 102.7 2.2 2.7 1.3 0.7 0.8 0.2 0.2 - - - - Atlanta, GA ................................. Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ................. Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .............. Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ................... 2 2 2 2 159.3 154.0 145.1 157.6 - 159.1 155.1 146.1 158.0 - - - - 2.3 0.8 - -0.1 0.7 0.7 0.3 - Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD ............................. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................ 2 2 2 167.4 161.7 162.8 - 167.9 162.7 163.8 - - - - 1.2 2.9 - 0.3 0.6 0.6 - 1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau. It is composed of the same geographic entities. 5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 6 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; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
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