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

Bureau of Labor Statistics

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Patrick C. Jackman
(202) 691-7000
CPI QUICKLINE:
(202) 691-6994
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL
INFORMATION:
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USDL-03-549
TRANSMISSION OF
MATERIAL IN THIS
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
Thursday, October 16, 2003

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: SEPTEMBER 2003
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in September, before
seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The September
level of 185.2 (1982-84=100) was 2.3 percent higher than in September 2002.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.4 percent in
September, prior to seasonal adjustment. The September level of 181.0 was 2.3 percent higher than in September
2002.
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in September, the same as in August. Energy
costs advanced sharply for the second consecutive month--up 3.0 percent in September--reflecting a 6.3 percent
increase in the index for gasoline. The index for food rose 0.2 percent with the index for food at home up 0.3 percent.
Increases in the indexes for dairy products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were partially offset by declines in the
indexes for fruits and vegetables, for cereal and bakery products, and for nonalcoholic beverages. The index for all
items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in September, the same as in August. A smaller increase in the index
for shelter was offset by larger increases in the indexes for medical care and apparel.
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 Mar.
.3
.2
.4
-.4
1.0
.2
.1

Changes from preceding month
2003
Apr. May June July Aug.
-.3
.0
.2
.2
.3
-.1
.3
.4
.1
.3
-.1
.4
.1
.2
.1
-.6
-.3
.4
.0
.1
-1.7 -1.3
.3
.2
1.1
.2
.4
.3
.5
.2
-.1
.3
.1
.0
.0

Sep.
.3
.2
.1
.5
.9
.5
.2

Compound
annual rate
3-mos. ended
Sep. ’03
3.1
2.2
1.3
2.3
9.0
4.7
.7

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
Sep. ’03
’98‘97Jan.’
2.3
2.5
2.4
-2.1
3.5
4.0
1.4

-.1

-.2

-.2

-.1

.5

.5

.1

4.1

1.3

-.1

.3

.0

.0

.4

.1

.1

2.4

1.0

4.6
.2

-4.6
-.1

-3.1
.3

.8
.4

.4
.1

2.7
.3

3.0
.2

27.8
2.5

14.7
2.4

.0

.0

.3

.0

.2

.1

.1

1.5

1.2

Consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 3.1 percent in the third quarter of
2003, following an increase at a 5.2 percent rate in the first quarter and a decline at a 0.7 percent rate in the second
quarter. This brings the year-to-date annual rate to 2.5 percent and compares with an increase of 2.4 percent in all of
2002. The index for energy, which advanced at a 76.5 percent SAAR in the first quarter, before decreasing at a 24.5
percent rate in the second quarter, advanced at a 27.8 rate in the third quarter of 2003. Thus far this year energy
costs have risen at a 19.4 percent SAAR after increasing 10.7 percent in all of 2002. In the first nine months of 2003,
petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 27.4 percent rate and charges for energy services increased at an 11.8
percent rate. The food index rose at a 2.6 percent SAAR in the first nine months of 2003. The index for grocery
store food prices increased at a 3.0 percent rate, largely reflecting an increase in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and
eggs--up at an annual rate of 6.7 percent.
The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced at a 1.5 percent SAAR in the third quarter, following
increases at rates of 0.8 and 1.0 percent in the first two quarter of 2003. The advance at a 1.1 percent SAAR for the
first nine months of 2003 compares with a 1.9 percent rise in all of 2002. Smaller increases in the indexes for shelter
and medical care were largely responsible for the deceleration. The annual rates for selected groups for the last seven
and three-quarters years are shown below.
Percentage change 12 months
ended in December

All items
Food and beverages
Housing
Apparel
Transportation
Medical care
Recreation
Education and
Communication
Other goods and services
Special indexes
Energy
Energy commodities
Energy services
All items less energy
Food
All items less
food and energy

SAAR 9
mos. ended
in Sep.
2002
2003
2.4
2.5
1.5
2.5
2.4
2.3
-1.8
-1.8
3.8
4.8
5.0
3.3
1.1
1.4

1996
3.3
4.2
2.9
-.2
4.4
3.0
3.0

1997
1.7
1.6
2.4
1.0
-1.4
2.8
1.5

1998
1.6
2.3
2.3
-.7
-1.7
3.4
1.2

1999
2.7
2.0
2.2
-.5
5.4
3.7
.8

2000
3.4
2.8
4.3
-1.8
4.1
4.2
1.7

2001
1.6
2.8
2.9
-3.2
-3.8
4.7
1.5

3.4
3.6

3.0
5.2

.7
8.8

1.6
5.1

1.3
4.2

3.2
4.5

2.2
3.3

1.5
1.9

8.6
13.8
3.8
2.9
4.3

-3.4
-6.9
.2
2.1
1.5

-8.8
-15.1
-3.3
2.4
2.3

13.4
29.5
1.2
2.0
1.9

14.2
15.7
12.7
2.6
2.8

-13.0
-24.5
-1.5
2.8
2.8

10.7
23.7
.4
1.8
1.5

19.4
27.4
11.8
1.3
2.6

2.6

2.2

2.4

1.9

2.6

2.7

1.9

1.1

The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in September. The index for food at home increased 0.3
percent in September, following a 0.4 percent rise in August. Advances in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish and
eggs and for dairy products--up 0.7 and 1.7 percent, respectively--were partially offset by declines in the indexes for
fruits and vegetables, for cereal and bakery products, and for nonalcoholic beverages. Within the meats, poultry, fish,
and eggs group, beef and pork prices rose 1.5 and 1.7 percent, respectively. Beef prices have risen 10.0 percent and
pork prices 5.5 percent during the last 12 months. Milk prices rose 5.0 percent in September, their largest monthly
advance since a 6.5 percent increase in October 1999. On the other hand, the index for fruits and vegetables declined
for the second consecutive month, down 0.7 percent in September. Declines in the indexes for fresh fruits and for
processed fruits and vegetables--down 2.2 and 0.9 percent, respectively--more than offset a 1.0 percent increase in
the index for fresh vegetables. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for cereals and bakery
products and for nonalcoholic beverages each declined 0.1 percent, while the index for other food at home increased
0.2 percent. The other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic
beverages--increased 0.1 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.
The index for housing increased 0.1 percent in September, the same as in August. Shelter costs rose 0.1
percent in September, following an increase of 0.2 percent in August. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners'
equivalent rent rose 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, while the index for lodging away from home declined 0.3
percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home fell 5.3 percent, as a 5.9 percent
decline in other lodging away from home including hotels and motels more than offset a 2.1 percent rise in the index for
housing at school.) The index for fuels and utilities increased 0.2 percent in September. A 0.6 percent increase in the
index for electricity more than offset declines in the indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas—down 1.9 and 0.4 percent,
respectively. For the 12 months ended in September, charges for natural gas have risen 24.8 percent, fuel oil prices,
12.1 percent, and charges for electricity, 3.8 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations declined for
the seventh consecutive month, down 0.4 percent in September.
The transportation index increased 0.9 percent in September. The index for gasoline advanced for the fourth
consecutive month--up 6.3 percent in September. As of September the price of gasoline was 0.6 percent below its
peak level of March 2003. The index for new vehicles, which turned up in August, declined 0.4 percent in
September. (About 14 percent of the new vehicle sample in September was represented by 2004 models.) New
vehicle prices are 1.7 percent lower than in September 2002. The index for used cars and trucks decreased 3.1
percent in September, and this index has declined 8.7 percent in the last 12 months. The index for public
transportation declined 0.5 percent in September, reflecting declines in airline and other intercity transportation fares.
Airline fares declined for the second consecutive month--down 1.8 percent in September--following increases in each
of the preceding six months.
The index for apparel, which rose 0.1 percent in August, increased 0.5 percent in September. (Prior to
seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 4.1 percent, reflecting price increases associated with the introduction of fallwinter wear.)
Medical care costs rose 0.5 percent in September and are 4.0 percent higher than a year ago. The index for
medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.4 percent.
The index for medical care services rose 0.5 percent in September. The indexes for professional services and for
hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
The index for recreation, which was unchanged in each of the preceding two months, increased 0.2 percent in
September. Small price increases within the index for recreational services, primarily for admissions to movies,
theaters, concerts, and sporting events, more than offset declines in the indexes for toys, for sporting goods, for
photography, and for pets, pet products and services.
The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in September. Educational costs increased
0.6 percent, while communication costs declined 0.4 percent. The index for college tuition and fees, which rose 2.5
percent in August, increased 0.7 percent in September. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, this index rose 2.4 percent to a
level 9.5 percent above a year ago.) Within the communication group, the index for telephone services decreased 0.4
percent, reflecting a decline in long distance charges. The index for personal computers and peripheral equipment
declined 2.4 percent in September and 22.7 percent during the last 12 months.

The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in September. A decline in cigarette prices was more
than offset by price increases for haircuts and for miscellaneous personal services. Prices for cigarettes fell 0.7 percent
in September and are 4.0 percent lower than their level in September 2002.
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.3 percent
in September.

Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
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 Mar.
.5
.2
.6
-.2
1.1
.2
.0

Changes from preceding month
2003
Apr. May June July Aug.
-.5
-.1
.2
.1
.4
-.1
.3
.4
.1
.3
-.1
.3
.1
.2
.2
-.8
-.1
.4
-.5
.3
-1.9 -1.5
.3
.1
1.1
.1
.4
.3
.4
.2
-.1
.2
.0
.2
.0

Sep.
.3
.3
.1
.7
.8
.5
.0

Compound
annual rate
3-mos. ended
Sep. ’03
3.2
2.7
1.6
2.0
8.2
4.4
.8

Unadjusted
12-mos.
ended
Sep. ’03
’98‘97Jan.’
2.3
2.6
2.6
-2.0
3.3
4.0
1.1

-.2

-.3

-.2

-.2

.5

.4

-.1

3.0

.5

-.3

.3

-.1

.0

.5

.2

.0

2.5

.0

4.6
.1

-4.8
-.1

-3.4
.3

1.1
.4

.4
.1

3.0
.3

3.3
.3

30.2
2.7

15.1
2.6

.1

.0

.2

.1

.1

.1

.0

.6

.9

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
The C-CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in September on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The September level of
108.1 (December 1999=100) was 1.8 percent higher than in September 2002. Table 7 contains the most recent
indexes for all items and the component series that are published. Data are published monthly in the CPI Detailed
Report and are available on the CPI home page: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/. Please note that the indexes for the post2001 period are subject to revision.
Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at 8:30
A.M. (EST).

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 1998 through 2002 were replaced
at the end of 2002. 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: 44 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.
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 a large increase in
coffee prices due to adverse weather. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and
decreases in milk supply 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. It was used to offset an
increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to conserve supplies for Electricity. 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 a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled
for them, or for a description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of
Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending
e-mail to Chow_Dan@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
2002

Unadjusted
indexes
Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Unadjusted
percent change to
Sep. 2003 from—
Sep.
2002

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Aug.
2003

June to
July

July to
Aug.

Aug. to
Sep.

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

100.000

184.6
553.0

185.2
554.7

2.3

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.3

-

-

-

-

-

-

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 2 ............................................
Alcoholic beverages ..............................................................

15.583
14.554
8.338
1.281
2.222
.876
1.234
.954
1.771
.314
.252
1.205
.287
6.216
.388
1.029

180.9
180.4
179.7
204.5
169.7
167.5
224.9
139.7
163.2
162.5
157.7
179.4
109.9
182.6
121.4
187.1

181.3
180.7
180.1
203.5
171.1
170.3
224.4
139.2
163.1
162.3
157.6
179.4
111.0
182.8
121.8
187.9

2.5
2.4
2.8
2.6
5.7
2.4
2.7
-.7
1.4
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.2
2.0
2.5
2.2

.2
.2
.2
-.5
.8
1.7
-.2
-.4
-.1
-.1
-.1
.0
1.0
.1
.3
.4

.1
.1
-.1
.3
.4
.5
.3
-1.5
-.6
-.2
-.6
-.7
-.2
.2
-.3
-.1

.3
.3
.4
.0
.7
1.7
-.4
.5
.2
-.1
.8
.2
-1.3
.2
-.1
-.1

.2
.2
.3
-.1
.7
1.7
-.7
-.1
.2
-.1
.2
.3
1.0
.1
.0
.6

Housing ...................................................................................
Shelter ...................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 .................................................
Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................
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 .....................................................

40.854
31.728
6.467
2.654
22.243
.365
4.469
3.604
.205
3.399
.864
4.658
.820

186.1
214.3
206.1
125.1
220.1
115.8
159.2
143.0
130.7
151.0
118.0
125.5
121.8

185.8
213.8
206.6
118.5
220.7
115.9
159.6
143.4
130.5
151.5
118.3
125.2
122.3

2.4
2.2
2.9
.8
2.1
5.4
8.4
9.5
13.3
9.2
4.1
-2.3
2.2

-.2
-.2
.2
-5.3
.3
.1
.3
.3
-.2
.3
.3
-.2
.4

.2
.3
.2
.7
.3
.3
-.2
-.4
1.0
-.5
.3
-.2
-.1

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

.1
.1
.2
-.3
.1
.1
.2
.1
-1.9
.3
.3
-.4
.4

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

4.220
1.065
1.738
.193
.853

117.2
113.4
107.9
120.8
117.8

122.0
117.3
115.5
124.1
120.3

-2.1
-2.3
-2.1
-1.7
-1.1

4.1
3.4
7.0
2.7
2.1

.0
.1
-.1
-1.3
-.2

.1
-.6
.2
2.2
.0

.5
1.7
-.1
1.1
.8

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

17.293
16.121
8.170
4.864
2.025
3.119
3.091
.416
1.418
1.172

158.3
154.1
96.0
136.8
143.3
139.0
138.4
107.9
195.7
213.8

159.4
155.4
95.1
136.4
139.0
147.1
146.5
107.7
196.2
211.2

3.5
3.6
-3.6
-1.7
-8.7
20.9
21.0
.3
2.5
2.3

.7
.8
-.9
-.3
-3.0
5.8
5.9
-.2
.3
-1.2

.2
.1
-.4
-.1
-1.4
1.5
1.2
-.1
.6
.5

1.1
1.2
-.2
.5
-1.6
6.0
6.2
.3
-.3
-.8

.9
.9
-1.0
-.4
-3.1
6.2
6.3
-.2
.2
-.5

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

5.961
1.387
4.574
2.808
1.451

298.4
264.1
307.2
261.7
398.0

299.2
264.9
308.2
262.3
399.6

4.0
2.7
4.4
2.9
7.0

.3
.3
.3
.2
.4

.5
.5
.4
.2
.7

.2
.3
.2
.0
.5

.5
.4
.5
.3
.6

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
2002

Unadjusted
percent change to
Sep. 2003 from—

Unadjusted
indexes
Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Sep.
2002

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Aug.
2003

June to
July

July to
Aug.

Aug. to
Sep.

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

5.943
1.638

107.7
103.7

107.7
103.5

1.4
1.2

0.0
-.2

0.0
.1

0.0
.0

0.2
.3

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

5.798
2.835
.236
2.599
2.963
2.765
2.273

110.1
136.2
338.5
392.1
89.0
87.0
97.8

110.9
138.7
338.2
400.0
88.6
86.7
97.4

1.3
7.0
4.6
7.3
-4.2
-4.4
-2.7

.7
1.8
-.1
2.0
-.4
-.3
-.4

.5
.7
.5
.7
.2
.3
.6

.5
1.3
.7
1.4
-.4
-.6
-.3

.1
.6
-1.0
.7
-.4
-.3
-.4

.492
.210

15.7
16.7

15.6
16.3

-12.4
-22.7

-.6
-2.4

-1.2
-1.7

-1.9
-2.9

-.6
-2.4

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

4.350
.992
3.358
.680
.897
1.573

299.6
471.8
178.4
153.5
193.9
284.3

299.9
468.7
179.0
153.4
195.4
285.3

1.0
-3.5
2.3
-.6
3.3
3.7

.1
-.7
.3
-.1
.8
.4

.4
1.2
.1
.3
.2
.1

.1
.6
.0
-.5
.4
.1

.1
-.7
.3
-.1
.8
.4

40.822
15.583
25.239
13.824
4.220
9.604
11.416
59.178
31.364
.365
3.399
.864
.820
6.722
4.574
11.071

150.9
180.9
133.9
149.2
117.2
173.0
116.7
218.0
223.1
115.8
151.0
118.0
121.8
217.2
307.2
255.5

152.0
181.3
135.4
153.1
122.0
176.4
115.7
218.1
222.6
115.9
151.5
118.3
122.3
216.8
308.2
257.0

1.2
2.5
.4
4.0
-2.1
6.8
-4.1
3.1
2.2
5.4
9.2
4.1
2.2
3.2
4.4
3.2

.7
.2
1.1
2.6
4.1
2.0
-.9
.0
-.2
.1
.3
.3
.4
-.2
.3
.6

.1
.1
.1
1.1
.0
.7
-.5
.2
.3
.3
-.5
.3
-.1
.4
.4
.3

.5
.3
.7
2.2
.1
2.7
-.3
.2
.1
.2
-.1
.8
.1
-.2
.2
.4

.4
.2
.5
.9
.5
1.4
-.9
.2
.1
.1
.3
.3
.4
.1
.5
.4

85.446
68.272
94.039
26.268
14.853
10.633
29.406
27.815
54.604
6.723
93.277
78.724
22.945
3.324
55.779

185.3
175.0
178.7
135.9
151.5
173.4
165.2
228.4
210.3
140.6
190.8
193.5
139.7
139.2
224.9
$ .542
$ .181

186.0
176.0
179.2
137.3
155.2
176.6
167.4
229.2
210.3
144.6
191.0
193.6
140.2
146.9
224.9
$ .540
$ .180

2.3
2.4
2.2
.4
4.0
6.3
3.2
4.2
3.0
14.7
1.4
1.2
-2.4
20.4
2.7

.4
.6
.3
1.0
2.4
1.8
1.3
.4
.0
2.8
.1
.1
.4
5.5
.0

.2
.2
.2
.1
.9
.7
.5
.1
.2
.4
.2
.2
-.1
1.5
.3

.3
.3
.3
.7
2.1
2.0
1.2
.2
.1
2.7
.1
.1
-.1
5.6
.2

.3
.4
.3
.5
.9
1.7
.5
.4
.3
3.0
.1
.1
-.4
5.8
.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 converted to a geometric means estimator in
January, 1999.

-

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
June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Dec.
2002

Mar.
2003

June
2003

6 months
ended—
Sep.
2003

Mar.
2003

Sep.
2003

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

183.6

183.9

184.5

185.0

1.6

5.2

-0.7

3.1

3.3

1.2

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 2 ............................................
Alcoholic beverages ..............................................................

180.3
179.7
179.1
203.1
167.5
163.9
228.8
141.0
163.2
162.8
156.8
179.7
111.5
181.9
121.8
187.1

180.4
179.8
179.0
203.7
168.1
164.7
229.5
138.9
162.3
162.4
155.8
178.5
111.3
182.3
121.4
187.0

180.9
180.4
179.7
203.7
169.2
167.5
228.5
139.6
162.7
162.3
157.0
178.9
109.9
182.6
121.3
186.9

181.3
180.8
180.3
203.5
170.4
170.3
227.0
139.5
163.0
162.2
157.3
179.4
111.0
182.8
121.3
188.0

2.3
2.1
2.1
-.8
3.0
2.4
4.6
.6
2.5
2.3
-1.8
3.2
1.8
2.0
4.5
2.6

2.5
2.7
3.0
9.6
6.8
-.5
-1.2
-3.9
1.7
4.6
9.4
-.2
-.4
2.0
3.7
2.8

2.7
2.7
3.4
.8
6.2
-7.4
11.6
5.0
2.0
1.7
-2.3
2.9
5.2
2.0
3.7
1.1

2.2
2.5
2.7
.8
7.1
16.6
-3.1
-4.2
-.5
-1.5
1.3
-.7
-1.8
2.0
-1.6
1.9

2.4
2.4
2.5
4.3
4.9
1.0
1.6
-1.7
2.1
3.4
3.6
1.5
.7
2.0
4.1
2.7

2.5
2.6
3.1
.8
6.7
3.9
4.0
.3
.7
.1
-.5
1.1
1.6
2.0
1.0
1.5

Housing ...................................................................................
Shelter ...................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 .................................................
Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................
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 .....................................................

184.8
212.7
205.4
119.4
219.3
115.2
156.4
140.4
134.7
147.9
116.6
126.1
121.8

185.1
213.3
205.8
120.2
219.9
115.6
156.1
139.9
136.0
147.2
117.0
125.9
121.7

185.3
213.7
206.3
119.8
220.4
115.8
156.2
139.8
137.6
147.0
117.9
125.5
121.8

185.4
214.0
206.8
119.4
220.7
115.9
156.5
140.0
135.0
147.4
118.3
125.0
122.3

2.5
2.7
3.0
1.7
2.8
8.6
3.4
3.2
13.4
3.0
3.9
-1.6
.7

4.2
1.1
3.2
-11.3
2.2
6.2
36.0
44.5
215.3
37.4
3.2
-.9
5.8

1.5
2.5
3.0
14.6
.7
4.3
-1.3
-2.0
-54.4
3.0
3.5
-3.1
.7

1.3
2.5
2.8
.0
2.6
2.5
.3
-1.1
.9
-1.3
6.0
-3.4
1.7

3.3
1.9
3.1
-5.0
2.5
7.4
18.6
22.1
89.1
18.9
3.6
-1.2
3.2

1.4
2.5
2.9
7.1
1.7
3.4
-.5
-1.6
-32.2
.8
4.7
-3.3
1.2

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

120.5
116.5
113.1
122.2
119.4

120.5
116.6
113.0
120.6
119.2

120.6
115.9
113.2
123.2
119.2

121.2
117.9
113.1
124.5
120.1

-2.6
-3.3
-2.7
-4.0
.0

-5.7
2.4
-7.1
-8.9
-8.6

-2.0
-12.3
1.1
-.7
2.4

2.3
4.9
.0
7.7
2.4

-4.2
-.5
-5.0
-6.5
-4.4

.2
-4.1
.5
3.5
2.4

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

156.6
152.5
97.1
137.6
147.5
128.9
128.3
107.7
195.3
211.8

156.9
152.7
96.7
137.4
145.5
130.8
129.9
107.6
196.4
212.9

158.6
154.6
96.5
138.1
143.1
138.6
138.0
107.9
195.9
211.3

160.0
156.0
95.5
137.6
138.6
147.2
146.7
107.7
196.2
210.3

.0
.0
-3.6
-.3
-9.6
.7
1.0
-1.5
4.7
1.6

17.6
19.3
-1.2
-3.1
5.0
120.0
120.8
3.4
1.2
-1.9

-10.3
-11.7
-3.6
-3.1
-5.8
-43.5
-43.7
-.7
2.5
12.8

9.0
9.5
-6.4
.0
-22.0
70.1
70.9
.0
1.9
-2.8

8.5
9.2
-2.4
-1.7
-2.6
48.8
49.3
.9
2.9
-.2

-1.1
-1.6
-5.0
-1.6
-14.3
-2.0
-1.9
-.4
2.2
4.7

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

296.1
261.6
305.2
261.0
392.6

297.5
263.0
306.4
261.6
395.5

298.1
263.9
306.9
261.7
397.6

299.5
264.9
308.5
262.6
400.0

6.1
3.1
7.1
4.6
11.5

1.7
2.2
1.5
.9
3.8

3.6
.3
4.7
3.8
5.4

4.7
5.1
4.4
2.5
7.8

3.9
2.7
4.2
2.8
7.6

4.1
2.7
4.6
3.1
6.6

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
June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Dec.
2002

Mar.
2003

June
2003

6 months
ended—
Sep.
2003

Mar.
2003

Sep.
2003

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

107.6
103.5

107.6
103.6

107.6
103.6

107.8
103.9

1.5
4.4

2.3
-1.9

1.1
.8

0.7
1.6

1.9
1.2

0.9
1.2

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

109.1
133.4
335.7
383.6
89.2
87.2
97.5

109.6
134.3
337.4
386.2
89.4
87.5
98.1

110.1
136.1
339.9
391.7
89.0
87.0
97.8

110.2
136.9
336.5
394.5
88.6
86.7
97.4

.7
5.1
4.3
4.9
-3.0
-3.1
-.8

2.2
6.7
8.9
6.6
-2.2
-2.2
-.8

-1.8
5.9
4.8
6.1
-8.9
-9.9
-8.5

4.1
10.9
1.0
11.9
-2.7
-2.3
-.4

1.5
5.9
6.6
5.7
-2.6
-2.6
-.8

1.1
8.4
2.9
8.9
-5.8
-6.2
-4.6

16.2
17.5

16.0
17.2

15.7
16.7

15.6
16.3

-12.8
-24.0

-9.0
-13.5

-13.5
-28.0

-14.0
-24.7

-10.9
-18.9

-13.8
-26.4

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

298.1
463.5
178.2
153.8
192.8
283.8

299.2
469.1
178.4
154.2
193.2
284.1

299.6
471.8
178.4
153.5
193.9
284.3

299.9
468.7
179.0
153.4
195.4
285.5

-1.6
-10.5
1.1
-2.6
1.5
3.4

2.0
-4.4
4.2
-.3
3.8
4.4

1.1
-3.1
2.3
1.3
2.3
4.3

2.4
4.6
1.8
-1.0
5.5
2.4

.2
-7.5
2.6
-1.4
2.7
3.9

1.8
.6
2.0
.1
3.9
3.4

150.5
180.3
133.7
145.6
120.5
168.2
118.2
216.4
221.5
115.2
147.9
116.6
121.8
216.8
305.2
253.6

150.7
180.4
133.8
147.2
120.5
169.4
117.6
216.9
222.2
115.6
147.2
117.0
121.7
217.6
306.4
254.4

151.5
180.9
134.8
150.5
120.6
173.9
117.2
217.3
222.5
115.8
147.0
117.9
121.8
217.2
306.9
255.3

152.1
181.3
135.5
151.8
121.2
176.4
116.1
217.8
222.8
115.9
147.4
118.3
122.3
217.5
308.5
256.3

-.8
2.3
-2.6
6.2
-2.6
-.5
-4.2
3.3
2.4
8.6
3.0
3.9
.7
3.3
7.1
2.9

7.7
2.5
10.9
18.4
-5.7
37.9
-1.0
3.8
1.5
6.2
37.4
3.2
5.8
2.5
1.5
3.7

-5.9
2.7
-10.6
-21.1
-2.0
-21.7
-4.0
2.8
2.4
4.3
3.0
3.5
.7
5.9
4.7
1.6

4.3
2.2
5.5
18.2
2.3
21.0
-6.9
2.6
2.4
2.5
-1.3
6.0
1.7
1.3
4.4
4.3

3.4
2.4
3.9
12.1
-4.2
17.1
-2.6
3.5
1.9
7.4
18.9
3.6
3.2
2.9
4.2
3.3

-.9
2.5
-2.9
-3.5
.2
-2.7
-5.5
2.7
2.4
3.4
.8
4.7
1.2
3.6
4.6
3.0

184.3
174.2
177.7
135.7
148.1
168.9
163.1
226.8
208.7
134.4
190.4
193.0
141.0
129.9
223.4

184.6
174.5
178.0
135.8
149.4
170.0
163.9
227.1
209.2
135.0
190.7
193.4
140.9
131.8
224.1

185.2
175.1
178.6
136.7
152.6
173.4
165.9
227.5
209.5
138.7
190.9
193.6
140.7
139.2
224.5

185.8
175.8
179.1
137.4
154.0
176.4
166.8
228.5
210.1
142.9
191.1
193.7
140.2
147.3
225.0

1.6
1.2
1.4
-2.6
6.4
.7
3.8
3.5
2.8
2.3
1.7
1.5
-2.5
1.3
3.3

5.8
7.2
5.6
10.7
17.2
33.4
10.7
6.5
3.8
76.5
1.1
.8
-1.7
125.0
1.8

-1.3
-2.3
-1.1
-10.2
-19.8
-20.0
-9.5
3.8
2.9
-24.5
1.5
1.0
-3.1
-44.4
2.9

3.3
3.7
3.2
5.1
16.9
19.0
9.4
3.0
2.7
27.8
1.5
1.5
-2.3
65.3
2.9

3.7
4.1
3.5
3.8
11.7
15.9
7.2
5.0
3.3
34.4
1.4
1.2
-2.1
51.0
2.6

1.0
.7
1.0
-2.8
-3.2
-2.4
-.5
3.4
2.8
-1.8
1.5
1.3
-2.7
-4.1
2.9

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.
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
U.S. city average ...........................................

Indexes

Percent change to
Sep.2003 from—

Pricing
schedule
1

June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Sep.
2002

July
2003

Percent change to
Aug.2003 from—

Aug.
2003

Aug.
2002

June
2003

July
2003

M

183.7

183.9

184.6

185.2

2.3

0.7

0.3

2.2

0.5

0.4

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

M
M
M

192.8
194.9
113.9

193.5
195.5
114.5

194.3
196.6
114.4

195.0
197.3
115.0

2.9
3.2
2.1

.8
.9
.4

.4
.4
.5

2.6
2.8
2.1

.8
.9
.4

.4
.6
-.1

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

178.4
180.7
113.2

178.1
180.5
113.1

178.8
181.2
113.6

179.5
182.0
113.9

1.9
1.8
2.2

.8
.8
.7

.4
.4
.3

1.7
1.7
2.0

.2
.3
.4

.4
.4
.4

M

172.6

171.4

172.1

172.3

1.4

.5

.1

1.4

-.3

.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

177.2
179.0
113.1

177.3
179.1
113.1

177.9
179.8
113.4

178.3
180.1
113.8

2.4
2.5
2.3

.6
.6
.6

.2
.2
.4

2.4
2.5
2.3

.4
.4
.3

.3
.4
.3

M

174.9

175.0

175.9

176.3

2.1

.7

.2

1.9

.6

.5

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

M
M
M

188.1
190.9
114.4

188.4
190.9
115.1

189.2
191.7
115.5

189.6
192.3
115.6

2.1
2.2
2.2

.6
.7
.4

.2
.3
.1

2.1
2.0
2.2

.6
.4
1.0

.4
.4
.3

M
M
M

168.2
113.4
176.4

168.3
113.6
176.1

169.0
113.9
177.1

169.6
114.3
177.4

2.5
2.2
1.8

.8
.6
.7

.4
.4
.2

2.2
2.2
1.8

.5
.4
.4

.4
.3
.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

184.1
186.3

184.1
186.3

184.5
186.9

186.1
188.2

2.2
2.6

1.1
1.0

.9
.7

1.6
2.1

.2
.3

.2
.3

M

196.9

197.7

199.1

199.6

3.3

1.0

.3

3.1

1.1

.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

-

203.0
176.0
176.5
116.8

-

206.8
178.5
177.0
117.2

3.9
2.2
2.2
2.8

1.9
1.4
.3
.3

-

-

-

-

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

181.5
182.8
162.5
179.4

-

181.7
183.6
164.1
180.9

-

-

-

-

1.1
1.5
2.5
3.3

.1
.4
1.0
.8

-

2
2
2

189.7
196.3
191.7

-

191.1
196.3
194.4

-

-

-

-

1.5
1.4
2.2

.7
.0
1.4

-

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
2002

Unadjusted
indexes
Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Unadjusted
percent change to
Sep. 2003 from—
Sep.
2002

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Aug.
2003

June to
July

July to
Aug.

Aug. to
Sep.

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

100.000

180.3
537.1

181.0
539.2

2.3

0.4

0.1

0.4

0.3

-

-

-

-

-

-

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 2 ............................................
Alcoholic beverages ..............................................................

17.072
16.071
9.646
1.449
2.773
.977
1.337
1.118
1.992
.337
.302
1.353
.308
6.425
.278
1.001

180.2
179.7
178.8
204.5
169.5
167.0
223.8
138.9
162.6
162.1
157.7
179.7
110.1
182.4
121.6
186.9

180.7
180.2
179.4
203.5
170.9
170.2
223.4
138.5
162.8
162.1
157.6
180.0
111.3
182.7
122.0
187.7

2.6
2.6
2.9
2.6
5.8
2.5
2.7
-.8
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.1
2.1
2.3
2.3

.3
.3
.3
-.5
.8
1.9
-.2
-.3
.1
.0
-.1
.2
1.1
.2
.3
.4

.1
.1
.0
.3
.5
.6
.3
-1.5
-.6
-.4
-.6
-.6
-.4
.2
-.2
.0

.3
.3
.4
.0
.5
1.6
-.4
.4
.2
.1
.9
.1
-1.3
.2
.0
.1

.3
.3
.4
.0
.7
1.9
-.7
.1
.3
.0
-.1
.5
1.1
.2
-.1
.5

Housing ...................................................................................
Shelter ...................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 .................................................
Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................
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 .....................................................

38.134
29.422
8.456
1.499
19.144
.323
4.783
3.902
.192
3.710
.880
3.929
.357

181.6
207.7
205.3
125.2
199.9
115.7
158.7
141.9
129.6
150.1
118.1
121.4
122.9

181.6
207.6
205.8
119.8
200.4
115.8
159.1
142.3
129.4
150.6
118.4
121.0
123.4

2.6
2.3
2.9
1.8
2.0
5.2
8.6
9.5
13.0
9.4
4.1
-2.3
2.7

.0
.0
.2
-4.3
.3
.1
.3
.3
-.2
.3
.3
-.3
.4

.2
.2
.2
.8
.2
.3
-.2
-.4
1.0
-.4
.5
-.2
.0

.2
.2
.2
-.1
.3
.3
.1
-.1
.7
-.1
.6
-.2
.2

.1
.1
.1
-.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
-1.4
.3
.3
-.5
.4

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

4.638
1.176
1.801
.244
1.136

116.1
112.9
106.9
122.9
117.2

121.0
116.5
114.5
126.5
119.6

-2.0
-2.8
-2.0
-1.5
-1.5

4.2
3.2
7.1
2.9
2.0

-.5
-.3
-.9
-1.0
-.4

.3
-.5
.9
1.6
.1

.7
1.6
.1
1.3
.8

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

19.666
18.751
9.568
4.682
3.783
3.836
3.803
.524
1.458
.915

157.1
154.2
95.7
137.9
144.0
139.4
138.8
107.3
197.3
210.5

158.1
155.3
94.4
137.6
139.8
147.5
147.0
107.2
197.9
208.4

3.3
3.3
-4.6
-1.6
-8.7
20.8
20.9
.5
2.6
3.2

.6
.7
-1.4
-.2
-2.9
5.8
5.9
-.1
.3
-1.0

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

1.1
1.2
-.4
.6
-1.6
6.1
6.2
.3
-.3
-.7

.8
.8
-1.5
-.3
-3.2
6.3
6.2
-.1
.2
-.3

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

4.747
1.012
3.735
2.265
1.177

297.4
258.6
307.0
263.9
394.2

298.3
259.4
307.9
264.4
395.8

4.0
2.7
4.4
3.0
7.3

.3
.3
.3
.2
.4

.4
.6
.4
.2
.7

.2
.2
.1
.0
.4

.5
.4
.5
.3
.7

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
2002

Unadjusted
percent change to
Sep. 2003 from—

Unadjusted
indexes
Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Sep.
2002

Seasonally adjusted
percent change from—

Aug.
2003

June to
July

July to
Aug.

Aug. to
Sep.

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

5.567
1.795

105.7
102.9

105.5
102.7

1.1
1.3

-0.2
-.2

0.2
.2

0.0
-.1

0.0
.2

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

5.604
2.472
.217
2.256
3.132
2.972
2.536

109.1
135.5
339.6
382.1
90.5
89.1
98.0

109.7
137.8
339.6
389.2
90.2
88.8
97.6

.5
6.6
4.8
6.7
-3.9
-4.2
-2.7

.5
1.7
.0
1.9
-.3
-.3
-.4

.5
.6
.4
.6
.2
.3
.6

.4
1.3
.8
1.4
-.4
-.6
-.3

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

.436
.191

16.3
16.3

16.1
16.0

-13.0
-23.1

-1.2
-1.8

-1.8
-1.7

-1.2
-3.6

-1.2
-1.8

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

4.571
1.542
3.030
.786
.896
1.170

308.0
473.2
177.4
154.3
194.6
284.4

307.9
469.9
177.9
154.0
196.1
285.2

.0
-3.8
2.0
-.8
3.2
3.7

.0
-.7
.3
-.2
.8
.3

.5
1.2
.2
.3
.2
.0

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

.0
-.7
.3
-.2
.8
.4

45.066
17.072
27.994
15.152
4.638
10.514
12.842
54.934
29.099
.323
3.710
.880
.357
6.706
3.735
10.123

151.6
180.2
135.4
151.7
116.1
177.4
116.9
214.0
200.0
115.7
150.1
118.1
122.9
216.8
307.0
249.3

152.7
180.7
136.7
155.9
121.0
181.2
115.5
214.3
199.9
115.8
150.6
118.4
123.4
216.8
307.9
250.6

1.1
2.6
.2
4.4
-2.0
7.2
-4.6
3.2
2.3
5.2
9.4
4.1
2.7
3.8
4.4
2.7

.7
.3
1.0
2.8
4.2
2.1
-1.2
.1
-.1
.1
.3
.3
.4
.0
.3
.5

.1
.1
.0
1.1
-.5
.8
-.5
.2
.3
.3
-.4
.5
.0
.3
.4
.3

.6
.3
.8
2.6
.3
3.0
-.5
.1
.2
.3
-.1
.6
.2
-.1
.1
.3

.4
.3
.4
1.0
.7
1.5
-1.1
.2
.3
.1
.3
.3
.4
.2
.5
.3

83.929
70.578
95.253
28.995
16.153
11.514
32.224
25.835
51.199
7.738
92.262
76.191
24.967
4.028
51.224

180.3
172.3
175.2
137.2
153.9
177.5
166.4
203.1
206.6
140.0
186.2
187.9
140.1
139.5
221.0
$ .555
$ .186

181.0
173.3
176.0
138.6
157.9
181.1
168.8
203.7
206.8
144.2
186.4
188.1
140.2
147.2
221.3
$ .552
$ .185

2.2
2.2
2.2
.4
4.2
6.8
3.4
4.3
3.1
15.1
1.1
.9
-2.9
20.5
2.7

.4
.6
.5
1.0
2.6
2.0
1.4
.3
.1
3.0
.1
.1
.1
5.5
.1

.2
.1
.1
.0
1.1
.9
.5
.1
.2
.4
.1
.1
-.2
1.3
.3

.3
.4
.4
.7
2.4
2.1
1.5
.2
.2
3.0
.1
.1
-.1
5.9
.2

.3
.4
.3
.5
1.0
1.9
.5
.4
.3
3.3
.1
.0
-.6
5.8
.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 converted to a geometric means estimator in
January, 1999.

-

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
June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Dec.
2002

Mar.
2003

June
2003

6 months
ended—
Sep.
2003

Mar.
2003

Sep.
2003

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

179.5

179.7

180.4

180.9

1.4

6.2

-1.5

3.2

3.8

0.8

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 2 ............................................
Alcoholic beverages ..............................................................

179.6
179.0
178.1
203.0
167.2
163.5
227.1
140.3
162.8
162.4
156.8
180.1
112.1
181.7
121.8
186.8

179.7
179.2
178.1
203.6
168.1
164.4
227.8
138.2
161.9
161.8
155.9
179.1
111.6
182.1
121.5
186.8

180.2
179.7
178.8
203.7
169.0
167.0
227.0
138.8
162.3
162.0
157.3
179.3
110.1
182.4
121.5
186.9

180.8
180.2
179.5
203.7
170.2
170.2
225.5
139.0
162.8
162.0
157.2
180.2
111.3
182.7
121.4
187.9

2.1
2.3
2.1
-1.2
3.3
2.7
4.1
.3
2.3
1.8
-1.5
3.4
2.2
2.3
4.5
3.1

2.7
2.5
3.0
9.6
6.8
-1.2
-.5
-5.0
2.0
4.1
9.4
-.2
-.7
2.2
3.0
3.9

2.7
2.7
3.4
1.0
5.7
-7.5
10.7
5.9
2.0
1.7
-2.5
3.2
5.9
1.6
3.0
.0

2.7
2.7
3.2
1.4
7.4
17.4
-2.8
-3.7
.0
-1.0
1.0
.2
-2.8
2.2
-1.3
2.4

2.4
2.4
2.5
4.1
5.0
.7
1.7
-2.4
2.1
2.9
3.8
1.6
.7
2.2
3.7
3.5

2.7
2.7
3.3
1.2
6.5
4.2
3.7
1.0
1.0
.4
-.8
1.7
1.5
1.9
.8
1.2

Housing ...................................................................................
Shelter ...................................................................................
Rent of primary residence 3 .................................................
Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................
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 .....................................................

180.4
206.5
204.6
119.7
199.2
115.0
155.8
139.2
133.9
146.8
116.7
121.8
122.7

180.7
207.0
205.0
120.6
199.6
115.4
155.5
138.7
135.3
146.2
117.3
121.6
122.7

181.0
207.4
205.5
120.5
200.1
115.7
155.6
138.6
136.3
146.1
118.0
121.4
122.9

181.1
207.7
205.8
120.4
200.4
115.8
155.9
138.9
134.4
146.5
118.4
120.8
123.4

2.7
3.0
3.2
1.7
2.9
8.2
3.7
3.5
14.5
3.0
3.6
-1.0
2.0

5.0
1.6
3.0
-8.8
2.0
5.5
35.5
43.3
202.4
37.7
3.9
-1.9
5.7

1.1
2.2
2.8
12.6
.8
4.3
-.5
-1.1
-53.6
2.8
3.1
-3.2
.7

1.6
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.8
.3
-.9
1.5
-.8
6.0
-3.2
2.3

3.9
2.3
3.1
-3.7
2.5
6.8
18.5
21.8
86.1
19.1
3.7
-1.4
3.9

1.3
2.3
2.6
7.4
1.6
3.5
-.1
-1.0
-31.3
1.0
4.5
-3.2
1.5

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

119.7
116.3
112.3
124.4
118.9

119.1
116.0
111.3
123.2
118.4

119.5
115.4
112.3
125.2
118.5

120.3
117.2
112.4
126.8
119.4

-2.6
-3.9
-2.8
-4.6
.3

-5.5
2.0
-7.8
-9.1
-5.8

-2.0
-11.8
2.5
.6
-1.7

2.0
3.1
.4
7.9
1.7

-4.0
-1.0
-5.3
-6.9
-2.8

.0
-4.6
1.4
4.2
.0

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

155.6
152.7
97.1
138.6
148.3
129.4
128.7
107.1
197.0
208.9

155.7
152.8
96.5
138.4
146.2
131.1
130.5
107.0
198.0
209.7

157.4
154.6
96.1
139.2
143.9
139.1
138.6
107.3
197.5
208.2

158.7
155.9
94.7
138.8
139.3
147.8
147.2
107.2
197.9
207.6

-.8
-1.1
-4.7
-.3
-10.1
-.3
.0
-1.5
4.9
2.0

19.9
21.2
.0
-3.1
4.9
119.7
118.6
3.4
1.4
-1.2

-11.4
-12.5
-4.0
-3.4
-5.7
-43.0
-43.0
-.4
2.5
15.3

8.2
8.6
-9.5
.6
-22.2
70.2
71.1
.4
1.8
-2.5

9.1
9.5
-2.4
-1.7
-2.9
48.0
47.8
.9
3.1
.4

-2.1
-2.5
-6.8
-1.4
-14.3
-1.5
-1.2
.0
2.2
6.0

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

295.3
256.1
305.1
263.3
388.9

296.6
257.7
306.3
263.8
391.7

297.1
258.3
306.7
263.9
393.4

298.5
259.4
308.2
264.7
396.1

6.6
3.0
7.5
4.9
12.8

1.7
2.5
1.5
.8
3.9

3.5
.0
4.4
3.9
5.1

4.4
5.3
4.1
2.1
7.6

4.1
2.8
4.5
2.8
8.3

3.9
2.6
4.3
3.0
6.3

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
June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Dec.
2002

Mar.
2003

June
2003

6 months
ended—
Sep.
2003

Mar.
2003

Sep.
2003

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

105.4
102.7

105.6
102.9

105.6
102.8

105.6
103.0

1.9
5.2

1.1
-1.5

0.4
.4

0.8
1.2

1.5
1.8

0.6
.8

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 and information processing other than
telephone services 1 5 ................................................
Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 ..........

108.3
133.0
336.8
374.8
90.7
89.3
97.7

108.8
133.8
338.3
377.2
90.9
89.6
98.3

109.2
135.6
341.0
382.5
90.5
89.1
98.0

109.1
136.1
337.6
384.2
90.2
88.8
97.6

.4
4.5
5.2
4.4
-2.9
-3.0
-.8

1.5
6.0
8.7
5.8
-1.7
-1.7
-.8

-2.5
5.9
4.6
6.0
-8.7
-9.7
-8.5

3.0
9.7
1.0
10.4
-2.2
-2.2
-.4

.9
5.2
6.9
5.1
-2.3
-2.4
-.8

.2
7.8
2.8
8.2
-5.5
-6.0
-4.6

16.8
17.2

16.5
16.9

16.3
16.3

16.1
16.0

-14.3
-25.9

-8.7
-13.7

-13.1
-26.9

-15.7
-25.1

-11.5
-20.0

-14.4
-26.0

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

306.0
464.8
177.2
154.4
193.5
283.9

307.5
470.5
177.5
154.8
193.9
284.0

308.0
473.2
177.4
154.3
194.6
284.4

307.9
469.9
177.9
154.0
196.1
285.5

-3.5
-11.1
.7
-2.6
1.5
3.7

.7
-4.3
3.2
-1.0
3.6
4.1

.5
-3.6
2.5
1.6
2.3
4.9

2.5
4.5
1.6
-1.0
5.5
2.3

-1.4
-7.7
2.0
-1.8
2.5
3.9

1.5
.3
2.1
.3
3.9
3.6

151.2
179.6
135.1
147.4
119.7
171.7
118.4
212.6
198.7
115.0
146.8
116.7
122.7
216.8
305.1
247.7

151.3
179.7
135.1
149.0
119.1
173.1
117.8
213.1
199.3
115.4
146.2
117.3
122.7
217.4
306.3
248.5

152.2
180.2
136.2
152.8
119.5
178.3
117.2
213.4
199.6
115.7
146.1
118.0
122.9
217.1
306.7
249.3

152.8
180.8
136.8
154.4
120.3
181.0
115.9
213.9
200.1
115.8
146.5
118.4
123.4
217.5
308.2
250.0

-1.3
2.1
-3.5
7.8
-2.6
-.9
-4.9
3.5
2.9
8.2
3.0
3.6
2.0
4.5
7.5
2.8

8.8
2.7
12.4
19.9
-5.5
41.9
-.3
4.3
1.8
5.5
37.7
3.9
5.7
3.1
1.5
3.1

-6.6
2.7
-11.5
-23.7
-2.0
-24.0
-4.6
2.7
1.6
4.3
2.8
3.1
.7
6.5
4.4
1.0

4.3
2.7
5.1
20.4
2.0
23.5
-8.2
2.5
2.8
2.8
-.8
6.0
2.3
1.3
4.1
3.8

3.6
2.4
4.1
13.7
-4.0
18.6
-2.6
3.9
2.4
6.8
19.1
3.7
3.9
3.8
4.5
3.0

-1.3
2.7
-3.6
-4.1
.0
-3.1
-6.4
2.6
2.2
3.5
1.0
4.5
1.5
3.9
4.3
2.4

179.4
171.6
174.4
137.0
149.6
172.1
163.8
201.6
205.2
133.6
186.0
187.9
141.5
130.1
219.8

179.7
171.7
174.6
137.0
151.3
173.7
164.7
201.8
205.6
134.2
186.2
188.1
141.2
131.8
220.5

180.3
172.4
175.3
138.0
155.0
177.3
167.1
202.3
206.0
138.2
186.4
188.2
141.0
139.6
220.9

180.9
173.1
175.8
138.7
156.5
180.7
167.9
203.1
206.6
142.7
186.5
188.2
140.2
147.7
221.3

1.1
.7
1.2
-3.1
7.4
.5
4.8
3.7
3.0
1.6
1.3
1.3
-3.3
.3
3.6

6.9
8.3
6.4
12.2
19.3
37.7
10.9
7.1
4.4
78.6
1.3
.9
-1.4
123.8
2.2

-2.4
-3.0
-1.8
-11.1
-23.0
-22.8
-10.9
3.4
2.4
-25.3
1.1
.9
-3.3
-43.7
2.4

3.4
3.5
3.2
5.1
19.8
21.5
10.4
3.0
2.8
30.2
1.1
.6
-3.6
66.1
2.8

4.0
4.4
3.8
4.2
13.2
17.6
7.8
5.4
3.7
34.7
1.3
1.1
-2.3
49.8
2.9

.4
.2
.7
-3.4
-4.0
-3.1
-.8
3.2
2.6
-1.4
1.1
.7
-3.5
-3.3
2.6

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.
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
U.S. city average ...........................................

Indexes

Percent change to
Sep.2003 from—

Pricing
schedule
1

June
2003

July
2003

Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Sep.
2002

July
2003

Percent change to
Aug.2003 from—

Aug.
2003

Aug.
2002

June
2003

July
2003

M

179.6

179.6

180.3

181.0

2.3

0.8

0.4

2.1

0.4

0.4

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

M
M
M

189.2
190.0
113.9

190.0
190.8
114.5

190.7
191.8
114.5

191.9
193.0
115.1

3.1
3.4
2.3

1.0
1.2
.5

.6
.6
.5

2.7
2.9
2.2

.8
.9
.5

.4
.5
.0

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

173.7
175.1
112.7

173.3
174.8
112.5

174.1
175.5
113.0

174.6
176.4
113.2

1.7
1.7
1.9

.8
.9
.6

.3
.5
.2

1.6
1.6
1.8

.2
.2
.3

.5
.4
.4

M

170.1

169.1

169.8

170.0

1.3

.5

.1

1.3

-.2

.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

174.3
176.2
112.0

174.3
176.2
111.9

174.8
177.0
112.1

175.3
177.5
112.4

2.1
2.7
1.7

.6
.7
.4

.3
.3
.3

2.0
2.5
1.7

.3
.5
.1

.3
.5
.2

M

174.8

174.6

175.5

175.9

1.7

.7

.2

1.6

.4

.5

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

M
M
M

183.3
184.5
114.1

183.4
184.3
114.6

184.2
185.3
114.8

185.0
186.1
115.3

2.4
2.4
2.3

.9
1.0
.6

.4
.4
.4

2.2
2.2
2.0

.5
.4
.6

.4
.5
.2

M
M
M

166.3
112.8
174.9

166.3
112.9
174.4

167.2
113.1
175.3

168.0
113.5
175.6

2.6
2.0
1.6

1.0
.5
.7

.5
.4
.2

2.3
1.9
1.6

.5
.3
.2

.5
.2
.5

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

178.0
179.6

177.8
179.6

178.3
180.5

179.8
181.9

2.3
3.2

1.1
1.3

.8
.8

1.6
2.8

.2
.5

.3
.5

M

191.9

192.8

194.1

195.0

3.4

1.1

.5

3.2

1.1

.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

-

202.2
167.0
175.9
116.2

-

206.2
169.5
176.7
116.9

4.3
2.3
2.2
2.8

2.0
1.5
.5
.6

-

-

-

-

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

178.7
176.7
160.7
176.8

-

179.4
177.5
162.5
178.3

-

-

-

-

1.5
1.4
2.8
3.2

.4
.5
1.1
.8

-

2
2
2

187.8
192.2
185.7

-

189.2
192.3
188.2

-

-

-

-

1.3
1.6
1.8

.7
.1
1.3

-

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,
1999-2000

Unadjusted
percent change to
Sep. 2003 from—

Unadjusted
indexes
Aug.
2003

Sep.
2003

Sep.
2002

Aug.
2003

Expenditure category
All items .....................................................................................
Food and beverages ...............................................................
Food ......................................................................................
Food at home ......................................................................
Food away from home .........................................................
Alcoholic beverages ..............................................................
Housing ...................................................................................
Shelter ...................................................................................
Fuels and utilities ...................................................................
Household furnishings and operations ..................................
Apparel ....................................................................................
Transportation .........................................................................
Private transportation ............................................................
Public transportation ..............................................................
Medical care ............................................................................
Medical care commodities .....................................................
Medical care services ............................................................
Recreation ...............................................................................
Education and communication ................................................
Education ..............................................................................
Communication .....................................................................
Other goods and services .......................................................

100.000
15.451
14.432
8.335
6.096
1.019
40.040
30.643
4.376
5.020
4.819
17.770
16.520
1.250
5.563
1.330
4.233
6.124
6.068
2.546
3.522
4.164

107.8
108.3
108.3
107.3
109.5
108.3
112.1
113.4
123.3
96.0
89.2
105.9
105.9
105.9
116.7
112.5
118.1
103.1
97.0
125.1
80.1
112.1

108.1
108.5
108.4
107.5
109.6
108.8
111.9
113.1
123.6
95.7
93.0
106.4
106.5
104.6
117.1
112.8
118.4
103.0
97.4
127.3
79.6
112.2

1.8
2.4
2.3
2.6
2.0
2.2
2.2
2.2
8.2
-2.6
-2.4
2.8
2.8
1.9
3.8
2.5
4.1
.7
-1.3
7.0
-6.9
.9

0.3
.2
.1
.2
.1
.5
-.2
-.3
.2
-.3
4.3
.5
.6
-1.2
.3
.3
.3
-.1
.4
1.8
-.6
.1

57.098
42.902
12.953
29.949
78.851
6.717

113.8
100.4
88.4
105.9
106.3
125.2

113.8
101.0
87.6
107.3
106.4
128.8

2.9
.4
-4.8
2.8
.7
14.6

.0
.6
-.9
1.3
.1
2.9

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

Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.