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Economic News Release
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Consumer Price Index News Release

 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
 Stephen B. Reed        (202) 691-7000      USDL-08-1457
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 691-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 691-5200      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/  Thursday, October 16, 2008
 
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  SEPTEMBER 2008
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased
 0.1 percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The September
 level of 218.783 (1982-84=100) was 4.9 percent higher than in September
 2007.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) decreased 0.1 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The September level of 214.935 (1982-84=100) was 5.4 percent higher than
 in September 2007.
      
      The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 decreased 0.1 percent in September on a not seasonally adjusted basis.
 The September level of 125.774 (December 1999=100) was 4.3 percent higher
 than in September 2007.  Please note that the indexes for the post-2006
 period are subject to revision.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was virtually unchanged in
 September following a 0.1 percent decrease in August.  The index for
 energy fell 1.9 percent in September following a 3.1 percent decline in
 August.  The motor fuel index declined 0.8 percent in September but was
 31.8 percent higher than a year ago.  The index for household energy fell
 3.4 percent in September after a 1.6 percent decrease in August. The food
 index advanced 0.6 percent in September, the same increase as in August.
 The index for food at home rose 0.6 percent in September after a 0.8
 percent rise in August and is up 7.6 percent over the past year.  The
 index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in
 September, decelerating for the second straight month.  Contributing to
 the deceleration were downturns in the indexes for apparel and for airline
 fares, a smaller (cont.)


Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                  Seasonally adjusted                      
                                                                           
                                                                           
     Expenditure                                         Compound          
      Category          Changes from preceding month      annual     Un-   
                                                           rate    adjusted
                                                          3-mos.   12-mos. 
                     Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.   ended     ended  
                     2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Sep. 2008 Sep. 2008
                                                                                                                              
 All items..........   .3   .2   .6  1.1   .8  -.1   .0       2.6       4.9
  Food and beverages   .2   .9   .3   .7   .9   .6   .6       8.5       6.0
  Housing...........   .4   .3   .5   .5   .6  -.1  -.1       1.8       3.5
  Apparel........... -1.3   .5  -.3   .1  1.2   .5  -.1       6.6       1.4
  Transportation....   .7  -.7  2.0  3.8  1.7 -1.5  -.6      -1.7      10.5
  Medical care......   .1   .2   .2   .2   .1   .2   .3       2.5       3.2
  Recreation........   .3  -.1   .1   .1   .4   .5   .2       4.6       2.4
  Education and                                                            
     communication..   .3   .4   .4   .5   .5   .2   .1       3.3       3.5
  Other goods and                                                          
     services.......   .4   .5   .4   .4   .4   .2   .2       3.3       4.0
 Special indexes:                                                          
  Energy............  1.9   .0  4.4  6.6  4.0 -3.1 -1.9      -4.9      23.1
  Food..............   .2   .9   .3   .8   .9   .6   .6       8.7       6.2
  All items less                                                           
     food and energy   .2   .1   .2   .3   .3   .2   .1       2.7       2.5 
 
 increase in the index for recreation, and a steeper decline in the index for
 new and used motor vehicles.  These more than offset an upturn in the index 
 for lodging away from home and larger increases in the indexes for medical
 care and owners' equivalent rent.

     Consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate
 (SAAR) of 2.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008 following increases in
 the first and second quarters at annual rates of 3.1 and 7.9 percent,
 respectively.  This brings the year-to-date annual rate to 4.5 percent and
 compares with an increase of 4.1 percent for all of 2007.  The index for
 energy fell at a 4.9 percent annual rate in the third quarter of 2008,
 following increases at rates of 8.6 percent and 53.6 percent in the first
 two quarters, respectively.  So far this year, the energy index has risen
 at a 16.6 percent rate after increasing 17.4 percent in all of 2007.
 Within energy, petroleum-based energy costs (energy commodities) advanced
 at a 19.1 percent rate and energy services (gas and electricity) rose at a
 12.4 percent rate in the first nine months of 2008.  The food index rose
 at a 7.5 percent SAAR in the first nine months of 2008, compared to a 4.9
 percent increase in all of 2007.  The larger increase reflects
 acceleration in all of the major grocery store food groups except dairy
 and related products.  The cereals and bakery products index and the
 fruits and vegetables index rose the fastest, rising at a 14.2 percent and
 12.1 percent SAAR, respectively.
      
      The CPI-U excluding food and energy rose at a 2.7 percent SAAR in the
 third quarter following increases at rates of 2.0 and 2.5 percent in the
 first and second quarter, respectively.  The index increased over the
 first nine months of 2008 at a 2.4 percent SAAR, which matches the 2.4
 percent increase during all of 2007.    Deceleration in the shelter and
 medical care indexes, as well as the index for new and used motor
 vehicles, were offset by a larger increase in the recreation index and
 upturns in the indexes for apparel and for household furnishings and
 operations.
      
                                 Percentage change 12 months           SAAR 9
                                      ended in December                mos.  
                                                                       ended 
                                                                       Sep.  
                       2001   2002   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007  2008  
                                                                                                                              
 All items...........   1.6    2.4    1.9    3.3    3.4    2.5    4.1    4.5 
  Food and beverages    2.8    1.5    3.5    2.6    2.3    2.2    4.8    7.2 
  Housing............   2.9    2.4    2.2    3.0    4.0    3.3    3.0    3.5 
  Apparel............  -3.2   -1.8   -2.1    -.2   -1.1     .9    -.3     .9 
  Transportation.....  -3.8    3.8     .3    6.5    4.8    1.6    8.3    7.2 
  Medical care.......   4.7    5.0    3.7    4.2    4.3    3.6    5.2    2.6 
  Recreation.........   1.5    1.1    1.1     .7    1.1    1.0     .8    2.5 
  Education and                                                              
   communication.....   3.2    2.2    1.6    1.5    2.4    2.3    3.0    3.9 
  Other goods and                                                            
   services..........   4.5    3.3    1.5    2.5    3.1    3.0    3.3    4.3 
 Special indexes:                                                            
  Energy............. -13.0   10.7    6.9   16.6   17.1    2.9   17.4   16.6 
   Energy commodities -24.5   23.7    6.9   26.7   16.7    6.1   29.4   19.1 
   Energy services...  -1.5     .4    6.9    6.8   17.6    -.6    3.4   12.4 
  All items less                                                             
   energy............   2.8    1.8    1.5    2.2    2.2    2.5    2.8    3.2 
   Food..............   2.8    1.5    3.6    2.7    2.3    2.1    4.9    7.5 
  All items less food                                                        
   and energy........   2.7    1.9    1.1    2.2    2.2    2.6    2.4    2.4      
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.6 percent in September, the
 second straight such increase.  The index for food at home, which rose 0.8
 percent in August, increased 0.6 percent in September.  The index for
 cereals and bakery products turned up in September, rising 1.1 percent
 after a 0.1 percent decline in August.  The indexes for nonalcoholic
 beverages and other food at home accelerated in September, increasing 0.7
 percent and 1.1 percent respectively after increases of 0.4 percent and
 0.7 percent in August.  The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose
 1.0 percent in September, the third straight such increase.  Within this
 group, the index for eggs increased 2.6 percent in September after a 5.7
 percent decrease in August, while the index for beef and veal decelerated,
 rising 0.2 percent in September after a 2.4 percent increase in August.
 Turning down in September were the indexes for dairy and related products,
 down 0.6 percent after rising 0.4 percent in August, and for fruits and
 vegetables, down 0.5 percent after advancing 2.1 percent in August.  The
 indexes for food away from home and for alcoholic beverages both increased
 0.5 percent in September.
      
      The index for housing declined 0.1 percent in September, the same
 decline as in August.    The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in
 September after a 0.1 percent increase in August.  The index for rent
 increased 0.3 percent for the third month in a row while the index for
 owners' equivalent rent rose 0.2 percent after a 0.1 percent increase in
 August.  The index for lodging away from home turned up in September,
 increasing 0.9 percent after a 1.1 percent decrease in August.  The index
 for household energy declined 3.4 percent in September, but was still 13.1
 percent above its September 2007 level.  Within household energy, the
 indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas fell sharply, declining 7.8
 percent and 8.3 percent respectively, while the index for electricity fell
 0.9 percent.  The index for household furnishings and operations, which
 rose 0.2 percent in August, increased 0.5 percent in September.
      
      The transportation index declined in September, falling 0.6 percent
 after a 1.5 percent decrease in August.  The index for gasoline decreased
 0.6 percent following a 4.2 percent decrease in August.    (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 2.5 percent in September but
 were 31.7 percent above their September 2007 level.)   The index for new
 vehicles declined for the second straight month, falling 0.7 percent after
 a 0.6 percent decrease in August.  The index for used cars and trucks fell
 sharply in September, declining 1.8 percent after a 0.3 percent fall in
 August.  The index for public transportation decreased 1.0 percent in
 September after a 1.1 percent increase in August, as the index for airline
 fare turned down, declining 1.7 percent in September after rising 1.6
 percent in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for airline
 fare decreased 3.6 percent in September but was 17.5 percent higher than
 in September 2007.)
      
      The index for apparel declined 0.1 percent in September after
 increasing 0.5 percent in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel
 prices rose 4.1 percent in September and were 1.4 percent higher than in
 September 2007.)
      
      The medical care index rose 0.3 percent in September after rising 0.2
 percent in August, and was 3.2 percent higher than a year ago.  The index
 for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs,
 and medical supplies-increased 0.2 percent in September after a 0.1
 percent increase in August.  The index for medical care services increased
 0.4 percent in September.  The indexes for professional services and for
 hospital and related services increased 0.2 percent and 0.6 percent,
 respectively.
      
      The index for recreation increased 0.2 percent in September,
 following a 0.5 percent increase in August.  The index for video and audio
 rose 0.1 percent in September after a 0.5 percent increase in August.  The
 indexes for pets, pet products and services rose 1.0 percent in September
 and the index for photography rose 0.8 percent. The index for recreation
 services decreased 0.1 percent in September.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in
 September after a 0.2 percent increase in August.  The index for education
 rose 0.4 percent in September.  The index for college textbooks rose 1.0
 percent after a 3.4 percent increase in August.  The index for college
 tuition and fees rose 0.3 percent in September.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, charges for college tuition and fees rose 1.8 percent in
 September and are up 6.7 percent since September 2007.)  The communication
 index declined in September, falling 0.2 percent for the second
 consecutive month.  Within communication, the index for telephone services
 was virtually unchanged while the index for information technology,
 hardware and services declined 1.1 percent.
      
      The index for other goods and services increased 0.2 percent in
 September, the same increase as in August.  The index for tobacco and
 smoking products was virtually unchanged and the index for personal care
 rose 0.3 percent.
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers decreased 0.1 percent in September.
 
 Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
          Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                  Seasonally adjusted                      
                                                                           
                                                                           
     Expenditure                                         Compound          
      Category          Changes from preceding month      annual     Un-   
                                                           rate    adjusted
                                                          3-mos.   12-mos. 
                     Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.   ended     ended  
                     2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Sep. 2008 Sep. 2008
                                                                                                                              
 All items..........   .4   .2   .7  1.2   .9  -.2  -.1       2.5       5.4
  Food and beverages   .2   .9   .3   .8   .9   .6   .6       8.7       6.1
  Housing...........   .5   .4   .5   .5   .7   .0  -.2       1.9       3.8
  Apparel........... -1.2   .2  -.2   .0   .8  1.0   .0       7.6       1.7
  Transportation....   .7  -.7  2.1  4.0  1.8 -1.7  -.7      -2.4      11.1
  Medical care......   .1   .2   .1   .2   .1   .3   .3       2.8       3.3
  Recreation........   .3  -.2   .0   .2   .4   .5   .2       4.7       2.2
  Education and                                                            
     communication..   .2   .4   .3   .5   .5   .2   .0       3.2       3.2
  Other goods and                                                          
     services.......   .4   .4   .5   .6   .5   .2   .2       3.6       4.4
 Special indexes:                                                          
  Energy............  1.9  -.2  4.5  6.8  4.0 -3.2 -1.7      -4.1      23.8
  Food..............   .2  1.0   .3   .8   .9   .6   .6       8.9       6.3
  All items less                                                           
     food and energy   .1   .1   .2   .3   .3   .2   .1       2.5       2.4     
     
     Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on
 Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 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.
 
 Brief Explanation of the CPI
      
      The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups
 such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
      
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
      
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the 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.
      
 
 
 
 
 Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index
                                     
      The CPI is a statistical estimate that is subject to sampling error
 because it is based upon a sample of retail prices and not the complete
 universe of all prices.  BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-
 month, 2-month, 6-month and 12-month percent change standard errors
 annually, for the CPI-U.  These standard error estimates can be used to
 construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing.  For example, the
 estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for
 the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index.  This means that if we repeatedly
 sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology,
 and estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these
 estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 1 month percentage change
 based on all retail prices.  For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the
 All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that
 the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between
 0.08 and 0.32 percent.  For the latest data, including information on how
 to use the estimates of standard error, see "Variance Estimates for
 Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January 2005- December 2005" in the
 CPI Detailed Report, February 2006.  These data are available on the CPI
 home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), using the following link
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2006.pdf
      
 
 Calculating Index Changes
 
       Movements of the indexes from one month to another are usually
 expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index points, because
 index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to
 its
 base period while percent changes are not.  The example below illustrates
 the computation of index point and percent changes.
      
       Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed as
 annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula for
 compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent change would
 be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month period.
 
 Index Point Change
 
 CPI
 202.416
 Less previous index
 201.800
 Equals index point change
 .616
 
 Percent Change
 
 Index point difference
 .616
 Divided by the previous index
 201.800
 Equals
 0.003
 Results multiplied by one hundred
 0.003x100
 Equals percent change
 0.3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.
 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
 
 
 
 
 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
 
 
      Because price data are used for different purposes by different
 groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as
 well as unadjusted changes each month.
      
      For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally
 adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of
 changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same
 magnitude every year--such as price movements resulting from changing
 climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and
 sales.
      
      The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned
 about the prices they actually pay.  Unadjusted data also are used
 extensively for escalation purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract
 agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the
 Consumer Price Index before adjustment for seasonal variation.
      
      Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes
 are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.  Seasonally
 adjusted indexes and seasonal factors are computed annually.  Each year,
 the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised.  Data from
 January 2003 through December 2007 were replaced in January 2008.
 Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data
 at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
      
      The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is
 derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.
 Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon
 certain statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their
 seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
 adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of
 the dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted
 indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 48 of the 73 components
 are seasonally adjusted for 2008.
      
      
      
      
      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 seasonal factors introduced in January 2008, BLS adjusted 20
 series using Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, including selected
 food and beverage items, motor fuels, electricity and vehicles.  For
 example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the
 effects of events such as damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina.
      
      For a complete list of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment
 series and explanations, please refer to the article "Intervention
 Analysis Seasonal Adjustment," located on our website at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm.
      
      For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI, please
 write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and
 Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Jeff Wilson at (202) 691-
 6968, or by e-mail at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov.  If you have general questions
 about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-7000.
      
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    Unadjusted                          
                                                             Unadjusted indexes   percent change   Seasonally adjusted  
                                                 Relative                          to Sep. 2008    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                     importance,                            from-                             
                                                 December                                                               
                                                   2007       Aug.       Sep.                      June    July    Aug. 
                                                              2008       2008      Sep.    Aug.     to      to      to  
                                                                                   2007    2008    July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000    219.086    218.783     4.9    -0.1     0.8    -0.1     0.0 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -    656.284    655.376       -       -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     14.914    216.419    217.672     6.0     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
   Food.......................................     13.833    216.422    217.696     6.2     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
    Food at home..............................      7.660    217.259    218.629     7.6     0.6     1.2     0.8     0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.030    250.080    250.924    12.3     0.3     1.8    -0.1     1.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      1.807    207.488    209.937     5.9     1.2     1.0     1.0     1.0 
     Dairy and related products...............       .887    214.748    213.533     4.9    -0.6     1.6     0.4    -0.6 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.156    283.296    285.986    10.4     0.9     1.2     2.1    -0.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................       .928    160.055    161.499     4.2     0.9     0.7     0.4     0.7 
     Other food at home.......................      1.852    186.991    187.944     7.9     0.5     1.0     0.7     1.1 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .277    187.813    189.929     6.6     1.1     0.4     0.6     1.7 
      Fats and oils...........................       .205    203.059    206.274    18.5     1.6     2.4     1.1     1.7 
      Other foods.............................      1.369    200.961    201.388     6.5     0.2     0.9     0.6     0.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .404    121.033    121.144     5.7     0.1     1.7     0.4     0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.173    217.063    218.225     4.5     0.5     0.6     0.3     0.5 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .297    151.133    152.040     3.6     0.6     0.8     0.0     0.6 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.080    215.094    216.055     3.7     0.4     0.4     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     42.427    219.148    218.184     3.5    -0.4     0.6    -0.1    -0.1 
   Shelter....................................     32.596    247.985    247.737     2.4    -0.1     0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      5.765    244.181    244.926     3.8     0.3     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.564    149.146    143.597    -0.6    -3.7     0.7    -1.1     0.9 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     23.942    252.957    253.493     2.4     0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .325    118.562    119.944     2.7     1.2    -0.3    -0.2     1.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.128    235.650    228.450    11.8    -3.1     3.3    -1.1    -2.8 
    Household energy..........................      4.215    217.455    209.501    13.1    -3.7     3.8    -1.6    -3.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .351    367.794    349.164    38.2    -5.1     1.3    -6.5    -5.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.864    218.656    210.950    10.9    -3.5     4.0    -1.1    -3.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .913    154.134    154.264     6.2     0.1     0.7     1.3     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.702    128.013    128.584     1.9     0.4     0.4     0.2     0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .737    149.169    150.193     6.7     0.7     0.2     0.6     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.731    116.376    121.168     1.4     4.1     1.2     0.5    -0.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................       .935    110.180    112.720     0.3     2.3     0.0     0.3    -0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.600    104.211    111.774     0.7     7.3     2.0     2.0    -0.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .185    109.558    113.494    -0.1     3.6    -0.3    -0.8     1.3 
   Footwear...................................       .679    121.982    124.907     1.4     2.4     1.3    -1.6    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     17.688    206.739    203.861    10.5    -1.4     1.7    -1.5    -0.6 
   Private transportation.....................     16.583    201.779    199.153    10.3    -1.3     1.7    -1.6    -0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.191     93.260     92.480    -1.6    -0.8     0.2    -0.4    -0.9 
     New vehicles.............................      4.632    133.404    132.399    -1.9    -0.8     0.2    -0.6    -0.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.773    135.405    132.916    -3.1    -1.8    -0.1    -0.3    -1.8 
    Motor fuel................................      5.482    323.822    315.078    31.8    -2.7     4.1    -4.2    -0.8 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      5.215    321.511    313.535    31.7    -2.5     4.1    -4.2    -0.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .356    130.327    131.048     7.2     0.6     1.0     0.9     0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.123    236.125    237.121     5.7     0.4     0.6     0.6     0.4 
   Public transportation......................      1.106    268.487    261.318    13.3    -2.7     1.1     1.1    -1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      6.231    364.477    365.036     3.2     0.2     0.1     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.601    295.003    295.461     1.4     0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      4.630    385.990    386.579     3.8     0.2     0.2     0.3     0.4 
    Professional services.....................      2.626    312.396    312.527     3.3     0.0     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.467    535.501    537.728     6.6     0.4     0.3     0.6     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.647    113.786    114.032     2.4     0.2     0.4     0.5     0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.843    102.546    102.706    -0.1     0.2     0.0     0.5     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      6.086    124.653    125.505     3.5     0.7     0.5     0.2     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.944    183.184    186.148     6.1     1.6     0.5     0.6     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies............       .207    458.989    462.787     7.6     0.8     0.8     2.6     0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.736    527.230    536.082     6.0     1.7     0.4     0.5     0.4 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.142     84.701     84.524     1.0    -0.2     0.5    -0.2    -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.975     81.815     81.635     0.8    -0.2     0.6    -0.2    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.342    101.301    101.311     2.5     0.0     0.7     0.0     0.0 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .634     10.012      9.901    -5.5    -1.1     0.2    -0.7    -1.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (6)...................       .242     92.921     90.797   -14.2    -2.3    -1.0    -1.9    -2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.277    346.990    348.166     4.0     0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .731    597.361    597.581     6.8     0.0     1.2     0.1     0.0 
   Personal care..............................      2.546    201.623    202.486     3.2     0.4     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .639    159.252    159.643     1.3     0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .629    224.151    224.614     3.2     0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.044    341.053    343.431     4.8     0.7     0.1     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     41.269    179.148    179.117     6.6     0.0     1.2    -0.5    -0.1 
  Food and beverages..........................     14.914    216.419    217.672     6.0     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     26.356    158.179    157.621     7.0    -0.4     1.3    -1.1    -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     15.519    207.284    206.919    13.1    -0.2     1.2    -1.8    -0.9 
    Apparel...................................      3.731    116.376    121.168     1.4     4.1     1.2     0.5    -0.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     11.787    268.740    265.100    17.0    -1.4     2.2    -2.0    -1.4 
   Durables...................................     10.837    110.779    110.077    -1.5    -0.6     0.2    -0.3    -0.6 
 Services.....................................     58.731    258.638    258.059     3.8    -0.2     0.5     0.1     0.0 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     32.271    258.547    258.255     2.4    -0.1     0.2     0.1     0.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .325    118.562    119.944     2.7     1.2    -0.3    -0.2     1.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.864    218.656    210.950    10.9    -3.5     4.0    -1.1    -3.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .913    154.134    154.264     6.2     0.1     0.7     1.3     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .737    149.169    150.193     6.7     0.7     0.2     0.6     0.7 
  Transportation services.....................      5.350    248.806    248.047     5.9    -0.3     0.5     0.8     0.1 
  Medical care services.......................      4.630    385.990    386.579     3.8     0.2     0.2     0.3     0.4 
  Other services..............................     10.641    297.923    299.598     3.9     0.6     0.4     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     86.167    219.552    218.991     4.7    -0.3     0.8    -0.3    -0.1 
 All items less shelter.......................     67.404    210.264    209.936     6.2    -0.2     1.1    -0.2    -0.2 
 All items less medical care..................     93.769    211.653    211.321     5.1    -0.2     0.9    -0.2    -0.1 
 Commodities less food........................     27.436    160.341    159.825     6.9    -0.3     1.3    -1.1    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food........................     16.599    207.769    207.483    12.5    -0.1     1.3    -2.0    -0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     12.868    262.470    259.278    15.9    -1.2     2.1    -2.2    -1.4 
 Nondurables..................................     30.432    212.882    213.274     9.6     0.2     1.1    -0.9    -0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.460    278.606    277.615     5.5    -0.4     1.0     0.2    -0.3 
 Services less medical care services..........     54.101    248.198    247.563     3.8    -0.3     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 Energy.......................................      9.698    266.283    258.020    23.1    -3.1     4.0    -3.1    -1.9 
 All items less energy........................     90.302    215.873    216.397     3.0     0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
  All items less food and energy..............     76.469    216.476    216.862     2.5     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     21.602    139.785    140.528     0.5     0.5     0.5     0.1    -0.2 
    Energy commodities........................      5.834    328.240    318.918    32.3    -2.8     3.9    -4.4    -1.1 
   Services less energy services..............     54.867    262.867    262.980     3.2     0.0     0.3     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -     $ .456     $ .457       -       -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -     $ .152     $ .153       -       -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes        Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change
                                                                                                          for                      
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                   CPI-U                                                                    3 months ended--            6 months   
                                                                                                                        ended--    
                                               June      July      Aug.      Sep.                                                  
                                               2008      2008      2008      2008                                                  
                                                                                      Dec.    Mar.    June    Sep.    Mar.    Sep. 
                                                                                      2007    2008    2008    2008    2008    2008 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
            Expenditure category                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
 All items.................................  217.403   219.181   218.880   218.813     6.2     3.1     7.9     2.6     4.6     5.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages.......................  213.612   215.539   216.778   217.996     2.6     5.1     8.1     8.5     3.9     8.3 
   Food....................................  213.542   215.545   216.807   218.029     2.6     5.3     8.5     8.7     3.9     8.6 
    Food at home...........................  213.706   216.227   217.949   219.225     2.5     5.9    11.5    10.7     4.2    11.1 
     Cereals and bakery products...........  244.840   249.210   249.024   251.760     6.8    15.7    15.2    11.8    11.2    13.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs........  203.295   205.361   207.479   209.534     0.7     2.6     7.8    12.9     1.6    10.3 
     Dairy and related products............  211.086   214.537   215.356   214.066     2.4     0.7    11.1     5.8     1.5     8.4 
     Fruits and vegetables.................  281.911   285.411   291.493   290.047     5.2     3.9    20.9    12.1     4.6    16.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                           
         materials.........................  158.735   159.796   160.411   161.609    -1.6     7.3     3.9     7.4     2.7     5.7 
     Other food at home....................  183.140   184.951   186.154   188.124     2.5     6.3    11.7    11.3     4.4    11.5 
      Sugar and sweets.....................  185.209   185.865   186.956   190.197     3.4     5.3     6.6    11.2     4.4     8.9 
      Fats and oils........................  196.211   200.870   202.996   206.381    10.2     8.6    34.5    22.4     9.4    28.3 
      Other foods..........................  196.980   198.743   199.930   201.577     0.8     6.3     9.5     9.7     3.5     9.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...  118.453   120.510   121.033   121.144     2.2     7.3     3.9     9.4     4.8     6.6 
    Food away from home (1)................  215.015   216.376   217.063   218.225     2.8     4.5     4.7     6.1     3.6     5.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2).....  149.873   151.120   151.133   152.040    -2.5     7.8     3.6     5.9     2.5     4.7 
   Alcoholic beverages.....................  213.246   214.173   215.105   216.276     3.0     2.9     3.1     5.8     2.9     4.4 
                                                                                                                                   
  Housing..................................  216.918   218.267   218.101   217.891     3.5     3.4     5.2     1.8     3.4     3.5 
   Shelter.................................  246.612   247.090   247.258   247.971     2.9     2.0     2.3     2.2     2.5     2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3)..........  242.837   243.535   244.296   244.977     4.9     3.1     3.5     3.6     4.0     3.5 
    Lodging away from home (2).............  144.426   145.394   143.846   145.173    -2.8    -2.5     0.8     2.1    -2.6     1.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                             
        residence (3) (4)..................  252.299   252.610   252.970   253.493     3.2     2.5     2.2     1.9     2.8     2.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)                                                                                           
        (2)................................  119.092   118.764   118.562   119.944     0.8     2.4     4.8     2.9     1.6     3.8 
   Fuels and utilities.....................  226.160   233.540   230.876   224.377    10.4    13.7    28.8    -3.1    12.0    11.7 
    Household energy.......................  207.912   215.751   212.286   205.021    11.4    15.6    34.2    -5.4    13.5    12.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels..............  396.000   401.283   375.211   353.309    78.2    49.2   116.7   -36.6    63.1    17.2 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......  206.565   214.896   212.549   205.785     6.5    12.8    27.9    -1.5     9.6    12.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                           
        services (2).......................  150.831   151.857   153.832   154.269     5.7     5.0     4.8     9.4     5.3     7.1 
   Household furnishings and operations....  127.369   127.919   128.222   128.917    -0.3     2.5     0.5     5.0     1.1     2.7 
    Household operations (1) (2)...........  148.006   148.290   149.169   150.193     4.0     8.5     8.5     6.0     6.3     7.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Apparel..................................  118.107   119.574   120.157   120.005     3.1    -4.7     1.0     6.6    -0.9     3.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel.................  113.139   113.090   113.420   113.108    -2.1     3.9    -0.4    -0.1     0.9    -0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel..............  105.698   107.860   110.057   109.678     6.0   -16.6     0.6    15.9    -5.9     8.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel..........  112.922   112.638   111.741   113.172     4.8    -3.4    -2.6     0.9     0.7    -0.9 
   Footwear................................  124.489   126.047   124.023   123.572     2.0     2.4     4.3    -2.9     2.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                                   
  Transportation...........................  205.915   209.358   206.303   205.036    21.1     2.4    22.3    -1.7    11.3     9.7 
   Private transportation..................  201.450   204.899   201.552   200.367    21.6     1.8    22.2    -2.1    11.2     9.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)........   93.909    94.052    93.702    92.900    -0.1    -1.4    -0.7    -4.2    -0.8    -2.5 
     New vehicles..........................  134.990   135.300   134.548   133.567    -0.5    -2.7    -0.1    -4.2    -1.6    -2.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1)..............  135.980   135.840   135.405   132.916    -0.6     0.8    -3.6    -8.7     0.1    -6.2 
    Motor fuel.............................  321.618   334.732   320.647   317.962    81.1     3.0    69.2    -4.5    36.6    27.1 
     Gasoline (all types)..................  319.107   332.237   318.255   316.443    80.9     1.8    69.1    -3.3    35.7    27.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1)..  127.824   129.118   130.327   131.048     5.5     8.0     4.8    10.5     6.7     7.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair...  233.321   234.818   236.340   237.284     3.0     6.3     6.6     7.0     4.7     6.8 
   Public transportation...................  258.462   261.275   264.183   261.556    14.0    11.5    23.6     4.9    12.7    13.8 
                                                                                                                                   
  Medical care.............................  363.618   363.852   364.710   365.836     5.0     3.2     2.1     2.5     4.1     2.3 
   Medical care commodities................  295.102   294.438   294.694   295.231     4.4     4.3    -3.0     0.2     4.3    -1.4 
   Medical care services...................  384.727   385.353   386.458   387.816     5.1     2.8     4.0     3.3     4.0     3.6 
    Professional services..................  311.068   311.739   312.575   313.273     3.7     2.1     4.7     2.9     2.9     3.8 
    Hospital and related services (3)......  532.592   534.172   537.549   540.539     8.7     6.5     5.4     6.1     7.6     5.7 
                                                                                                                                   
  Recreation (2)...........................  112.831   113.264   113.876   114.120     1.9     2.3     0.6     4.6     2.1     2.6 
   Video and audio (2).....................  102.181   102.195   102.658   102.801     1.7     0.3    -4.5     2.4     1.0    -1.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (2)..........  123.613   124.226   124.505   124.615     2.6     3.2     5.1     3.3     2.9     4.2 
   Education (2)...........................  180.749   181.582   182.734   183.462     6.9     5.3     6.0     6.1     6.1     6.1 
    Educational books and supplies.........  444.469   447.821   459.494   461.555     7.0     1.2     6.4    16.3     4.1    11.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and                                                                                                
        childcare..........................  520.969   523.254   525.789   527.863     6.9     5.6     5.9     5.4     6.3     5.7 
   Communication (2).......................   84.393    84.840    84.702    84.526    -1.9     1.0     4.3     0.6    -0.5     2.5 
    Information and information processing                                                                                         
        (1) (2)............................   81.513    81.965    81.815    81.635    -2.1     1.0     3.8     0.6    -0.6     2.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)............  100.677   101.339   101.301   101.311    -0.4     1.0     6.8     2.5     0.3     4.7 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                                          
         services (1) (5)..................   10.071    10.087    10.012     9.901    -9.6     1.2    -6.7    -6.6    -4.4    -6.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                            
          equipment (1) (6)................   95.663    94.711    92.921    90.797   -20.2     1.4   -17.4   -18.8   -10.0   -18.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services.................  345.693   346.962   347.715   348.540     3.0     4.5     5.2     3.3     3.7     4.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)........  589.904   596.782   597.361   597.581     5.1     5.9    10.9     5.3     5.5     8.0 
   Personal care...........................  201.392   201.660   202.169   202.768     2.4     4.1     3.6     2.8     3.2     3.2 
    Personal care products (1).............  158.868   158.989   159.252   159.643     1.5     0.5     1.1     2.0     1.0     1.5 
    Personal care services (1).............  223.520   223.719   224.151   224.614     3.9     5.8     1.4     2.0     4.8     1.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services........  340.085   340.264   341.606   343.441     3.3     5.4     6.4     4.0     4.4     5.2 
                                                                                                                                   
        Commodity and service group                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                   
 Commodities...............................  178.550   180.657   179.687   179.530    10.3     2.6    12.0     2.2     6.4     7.0 
  Food and beverages.......................  213.612   215.539   216.778   217.996     2.6     5.1     8.1     8.5     3.9     8.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages......  158.506   160.622   158.775   158.058    15.0     1.1    14.2    -1.1     7.8     6.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages.....  208.661   211.267   207.465   205.585    27.1     8.4    26.1    -5.8    17.4     9.0 
    Apparel................................  118.107   119.574   120.157   120.005     3.1    -4.7     1.0     6.6    -0.9     3.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                                          
        apparel............................  269.755   275.611   270.166   266.376    29.0    13.3    34.9    -4.9    20.9    13.3 
   Durables................................  111.258   111.425   111.140   110.513    -0.3    -1.1    -1.9    -2.7    -0.7    -2.3 
 Services..................................  255.872   257.269   257.642   257.662     3.6     3.5     5.1     2.8     3.5     4.0 
  Rent of shelter (4)......................  257.040   257.575   257.717   258.498     2.8     2.2     2.2     2.3     2.5     2.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)   119.092   118.764   118.562   119.944     0.8     2.4     4.8     2.9     1.6     3.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  206.565   214.896   212.549   205.785     6.5    12.8    27.9    -1.5     9.6    12.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                             
      services (2).........................  150.831   151.857   153.832   154.269     5.7     5.0     4.8     9.4     5.3     7.1 
  Household operations (1) (2).............  148.006   148.290   149.169   150.193     4.0     8.5     8.5     6.0     6.3     7.2 
  Transportation services..................  245.102   246.409   248.277   248.422     3.7     5.5     8.7     5.5     4.6     7.1 
  Medical care services....................  384.727   385.353   386.458   387.816     5.1     2.8     4.0     3.3     4.0     3.6 
  Other services...........................  295.504   296.752   297.887   298.481     3.5     3.6     4.3     4.1     3.6     4.2 
                                                                                                                                   
              Special indexes                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
 All items less food.......................  218.065   219.806   219.250   218.972     6.8     2.7     7.8     1.7     4.8     4.7 
 All items less shelter....................  208.438   210.755   210.264   209.885     7.9     3.6    10.7     2.8     5.7     6.7 
 All items less medical care...............  209.955   211.774   211.433   211.322     6.3     3.1     8.3     2.6     4.7     5.4 
 Commodities less food.....................  160.607   162.695   160.922   160.257    14.4     1.2    13.8    -0.9     7.6     6.2 
 Nondurables less food.....................  209.702   212.335   208.004   206.042    26.3     6.0    28.3    -6.8    15.7     9.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel.........  263.688   269.125   263.228   259.597    29.5    10.4    34.2    -6.1    19.6    12.3 
 Nondurables...............................  212.718   215.067   213.122   212.583    14.9     5.9    18.8    -0.3    10.3     8.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4).........  274.317   276.996   277.598   276.660     3.9     5.1     9.5     3.5     4.5     6.5 
 Services less medical care services.......  245.531   246.945   247.327   247.172     3.2     3.5     5.6     2.7     3.4     4.2 
 Energy....................................  260.316   270.602   262.107   257.086    45.6     8.6    53.6    -4.9    25.8    20.9 
 All items less energy.....................  214.624   215.529   216.080   216.528     2.6     2.5     3.4     3.6     2.6     3.5 
  All items less food and energy...........  215.526   216.230   216.650   216.956     2.6     2.0     2.5     2.7     2.3     2.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                                
       commodities.........................  140.156   140.792   140.885   140.655     0.7    -0.1    -0.1     1.4     0.3     0.7 
    Energy commodities.....................  327.625   340.411   325.603   321.888    80.9     5.6    71.8    -6.8    38.3    26.5 
   Services less energy services...........  261.005   261.729   262.367   263.046     3.4     2.9     3.6     3.2     3.1     3.4 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated using a
 geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   All items                                      
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                       Indexes                 Percent change to Percent change to
                    CPI-U                      Pricing                                          Sep. 2008 from--   Aug. 2008 from-- 
                                              schedule                                                                            
                                                 (1)      June      July      Aug.      Sep.                                      
                                                          2008      2008      2008      2008    Sep.  July  Aug.  Aug.  June  July
                                                                                                2007  2008  2008  2007  2008  2008
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                  
 U.S. city average...........................    M      218.815   219.964   219.086   218.783   4.9  -0.5  -0.1   5.4   0.1  -0.4 
                                                                                                                                  
           Region and area size(2)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Northeast urban.............................    M      232.649   234.545   233.788   232.841   5.2  -0.7  -0.4   5.5   0.5  -0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      234.518   236.460   236.107   235.314   4.9  -0.5  -0.3   5.3   0.7  -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      138.542   139.623   138.537   137.723   5.8  -1.4  -0.6   6.1   0.0  -0.8 
                                                                                                                                  
 Midwest urban...............................    M      208.968   210.071   209.351   209.252   4.8  -0.4   0.0   5.4   0.2  -0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      209.813   211.003   210.341   210.283   4.5  -0.3   0.0   5.3   0.3  -0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.018   134.595   133.969   133.982   5.1  -0.5   0.0   5.6   0.0  -0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      205.122   206.435   206.251   205.522   5.1  -0.4  -0.4   5.9   0.6  -0.1 
                                                                                                                                  
 South urban.................................    M      212.324   213.304   212.387   212.650   5.4  -0.3   0.1   5.6   0.0  -0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      214.359   215.373   214.496   214.854   5.2  -0.2   0.2   5.4   0.1  -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.980   135.643   135.004   135.093   5.3  -0.4   0.1   5.6   0.0  -0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      214.739   215.274   214.655   215.258   7.1   0.0   0.3   6.9   0.0  -0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
 West urban..................................    M      223.040   223.867   222.823   222.132   4.3  -0.8  -0.3   4.9  -0.1  -0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      226.767   227.562   226.541   225.910   4.4  -0.7  -0.3   5.0  -0.1  -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      135.283   136.021   135.207   134.834   4.5  -0.9  -0.3   4.9  -0.1  -0.6 
                                                                                                                                  
                 Size classes                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                  
   A (4).....................................    M      199.840   200.941   200.278   199.982   4.7  -0.5  -0.1   5.2   0.2  -0.3 
   B/C (3)...................................    M      135.330   136.055   135.315   135.160   5.2  -0.7  -0.1   5.5   0.0  -0.5 
   D.........................................    M      211.989   212.555   212.138   211.740   5.4  -0.4  -0.2   5.9   0.1  -0.2 
                                                                                                                                  
           Selected local areas(5)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI..............    M      215.738   217.459   215.971   215.465   4.4  -0.9  -0.2   4.9   0.1  -0.7 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA.....    M      229.033   229.886   228.484   227.449   4.5  -1.1  -0.5   5.1  -0.2  -0.6 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                              
     NY-NJ-CT-PA.............................    M      238.580   240.273   240.550   240.089   5.2  -0.1  -0.2   5.4   0.8   0.1 
                                                                                                                                  
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT.........    1            -   241.258         -   238.519   4.7  -1.1     -     -     -     - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH.........................    1            -   206.941         -   206.219   4.7  -0.3     -     -     -     - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.......................    1            -   206.413         -   205.883   5.7  -0.3     -     -     -     - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6).......    1            -   142.065         -   142.036   5.5   0.0     -     -     -     - 
                                                                                                                                  
 Atlanta, GA.................................    2      212.032         -   211.404         -     -     -     -   5.0  -0.3     - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI.................    2      207.593         -   209.484         -     -     -     -   4.9   0.9     - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX..............    2      193.567         -   192.723         -     -     -     -   4.9  -0.4     - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL...................    2      225.079         -   225.473         -     -     -     -   5.8   0.2     - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                           
     PA-NJ-DE-MD.............................    2      228.408         -   228.337         -     -     -     -   4.4   0.0     - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA..........    2      225.181         -   225.411         -     -     -     -   4.2   0.1     - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA................    2      228.068         -   227.745         -     -     -     -   5.4  -0.1     - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   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.


 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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    Unadjusted                          
                                                             Unadjusted indexes   percent change   Seasonally adjusted  
                                                 Relative                          to Sep. 2008    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                     importance,                            from-                             
                                                 December                                                               
                                                   2007       Aug.       Sep.                      June    July    Aug. 
                                                              2008       2008      Sep.    Aug.     to      to      to  
                                                                                   2007    2008    July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000    215.247    214.935     5.4    -0.1     0.9    -0.2    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -    641.155    640.226       -       -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     15.926    215.850    217.098     6.1     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
   Food.......................................     14.901    215.812    217.090     6.3     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
    Food at home..............................      8.595    216.214    217.594     7.5     0.6     1.2     0.8     0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.110    250.842    251.448    12.3     0.2     1.8     0.0     0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.192    207.211    209.515     5.8     1.1     1.0     1.2     0.9 
     Dairy and related products...............       .965    214.139    212.841     4.6    -0.6     1.7     0.3    -0.7 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.218    282.171    284.612    10.6     0.9     1.2     1.9    -0.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................      1.094    159.024    160.850     4.1     1.1     0.8     0.2     1.0 
     Other food at home.......................      2.016    186.458    187.467     8.1     0.5     0.9     0.7     1.1 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .279    186.860    188.914     7.1     1.1     0.4     0.7     1.6 
      Fats and oils...........................       .232    203.721    207.069    18.3     1.6     2.1     1.1     1.7 
      Other foods.............................      1.504    201.119    201.632     6.6     0.3     0.8     0.6     0.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .438    121.443    121.589     6.1     0.1     1.8     0.4     0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.305    217.002    218.147     4.6     0.5     0.6     0.4     0.5 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .218    150.301    151.321     3.8     0.7     0.6     0.0     0.7 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.025    214.931    215.728     3.6     0.4     0.5     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     39.994    214.743    213.954     3.8    -0.4     0.7     0.0    -0.2 
   Shelter....................................     30.397    240.038    240.163     2.5     0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.979    243.010    243.741     3.6     0.3     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.233    148.368    142.591    -0.8    -3.9    -0.1    -1.0     0.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.888    229.219    229.670     2.4     0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .297    118.894    120.279     2.7     1.2    -0.2    -0.1     1.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.637    233.373    226.709    12.1    -2.9     3.3    -1.0    -2.6 
    Household energy..........................      4.670    213.807    206.544    13.3    -3.4     3.8    -1.4    -3.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .323    363.535    345.907    36.9    -4.8     1.4    -5.6    -5.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      4.347    216.557    209.442    11.4    -3.3     4.0    -1.1    -2.9 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .966    154.475    154.628     6.3     0.1     0.7     1.4     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      3.960    123.944    124.500     2.2     0.4     0.5     0.2     0.6 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .339    152.083    152.850     6.7     0.5     0.3     0.5     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.998    116.214    120.990     1.7     4.1     0.8     1.0     0.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.031    110.513    112.973     0.9     2.2    -0.6     1.0    -0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.619    104.584    112.304     1.3     7.4     1.5     2.9     0.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .251    111.593    115.764    -0.1     3.7    -0.5    -1.3     1.5 
   Footwear...................................       .821    122.026    124.873     1.7     2.3     1.4    -1.6    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     20.054    207.796    204.785    11.1    -1.4     1.8    -1.7    -0.7 
   Private transportation.....................     19.287    204.348    201.476    11.0    -1.4     1.8    -1.8    -0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.952     92.287     91.305    -1.9    -1.1     0.1    -0.4    -1.1 
     New vehicles.............................      4.172    134.540    133.504    -1.9    -0.8     0.2    -0.5    -0.8 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.103    136.186    133.669    -3.1    -1.8    -0.1    -0.3    -1.8 
    Motor fuel................................      6.940    325.116    316.717    31.8    -2.6     4.1    -4.2    -0.8 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      6.597    322.930    315.324    31.8    -2.4     4.1    -4.2    -0.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .446    130.228    131.072     7.3     0.6     1.0     1.0     0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.169    238.583    239.571     5.6     0.4     0.7     0.6     0.4 
   Public transportation......................       .767    264.755    258.142    12.7    -2.5     1.0     0.8    -1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      5.192    364.652    365.250     3.3     0.2     0.1     0.3     0.3 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.295    286.880    287.397     1.3     0.2    -0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      3.897    387.420    388.036     3.9     0.2     0.1     0.4     0.4 
    Professional services.....................      2.159    314.893    314.977     3.3     0.0     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.260    532.065    534.394     7.2     0.4     0.3     0.7     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.341    110.698    110.904     2.2     0.2     0.4     0.5     0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.987    102.643    102.819     0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.987    120.809    121.439     3.2     0.5     0.5     0.2     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.377    180.819    183.613     6.1     1.5     0.5     0.8     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies............       .204    461.104    465.570     7.4     1.0     0.8     2.4     0.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.174    509.241    517.389     6.0     1.6     0.5     0.7     0.2 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.609     87.369     87.224     1.2    -0.2     0.5    -0.1    -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.488     85.355     85.208     1.1    -0.2     0.6    -0.2    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.869    101.339    101.350     2.3     0.0     0.6     0.0     0.0 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .619     10.525     10.414    -5.0    -1.1     0.1    -0.7    -1.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (6)...................       .228     92.931     90.722   -14.2    -2.4    -1.1    -1.9    -2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.508    360.102    361.125     4.4     0.3     0.5     0.2     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.183    599.823    600.293     7.0     0.1     1.2     0.1     0.1 
   Personal care..............................      2.325    199.501    200.284     3.2     0.4     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .647    159.345    159.730     1.3     0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .560    224.464    224.910     3.3     0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........       .910    342.974    345.175     4.8     0.6     0.1     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     44.745    182.846    182.647     7.4    -0.1     1.3    -0.6    -0.1 
  Food and beverages..........................     15.926    215.850    217.098     6.1     0.6     0.9     0.6     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     28.819    163.761    162.971     8.1    -0.5     1.4    -1.2    -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     17.315    218.454    217.828    14.7    -0.3     1.3    -1.9    -0.9 
    Apparel...................................      3.998    116.214    120.990     1.7     4.1     0.8     1.0     0.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     13.318    287.124    283.056    18.8    -1.4     2.5    -2.6    -1.6 
   Durables...................................     11.504    111.357    110.451    -1.5    -0.8     0.1    -0.3    -0.7 
 Services.....................................     55.255    253.304    252.861     3.9    -0.2     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     30.100    231.445    231.541     2.5     0.0     0.2     0.1     0.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .297    118.894    120.279     2.7     1.2    -0.2    -0.1     1.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      4.347    216.557    209.442    11.4    -3.3     4.0    -1.1    -2.9 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .966    154.475    154.628     6.3     0.1     0.7     1.4     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .339    152.083    152.850     6.7     0.5     0.3     0.5     0.5 
  Transportation services.....................      5.266    246.041    245.722     5.1    -0.1     0.5     0.7     0.1 
  Medical care services.......................      3.897    387.420    388.036     3.9     0.2     0.1     0.4     0.4 
  Other services..............................     10.042    286.389    287.792     3.6     0.5     0.5     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     85.099    214.950    214.361     5.3    -0.3     0.9    -0.3    -0.2 
 All items less shelter.......................     69.603    208.544    208.068     6.7    -0.2     1.2    -0.3    -0.2 
 All items less medical care..................     94.808    208.900    208.563     5.5    -0.2     0.9    -0.2    -0.1 
 Commodities less food........................     29.844    165.689    164.937     7.9    -0.5     1.4    -1.2    -0.5 
 Nondurables less food........................     18.341    218.562    218.010    14.0    -0.3     1.3    -1.8    -0.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     14.343    279.753    276.112    17.6    -1.3     2.3    -2.4    -1.4 
 Nondurables..................................     33.241    218.473    218.725    10.5     0.1     1.1    -0.8    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.155    246.834    245.787     5.5    -0.4     1.1     0.2    -0.4 
 Services less medical care services..........     51.358    243.354    242.868     3.9    -0.2     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 Energy.......................................     11.610    267.624    259.864    23.8    -2.9     4.0    -3.2    -1.7 
 All items less energy........................     88.390    209.718    210.325     3.1     0.3     0.4     0.3     0.2 
  All items less food and energy..............     73.489    208.857    209.329     2.4     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     22.581    140.802    141.428     0.7     0.4     0.4     0.1    -0.2 
    Energy commodities........................      7.264    328.310    319.507    32.2    -2.7     4.0    -4.3    -1.1 
   Services less energy services..............     50.908    257.072    257.411     3.2     0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -     $ .465     $ .465       -       -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -     $ .156     $ .156       -       -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes        Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change
                                                                                                          for                      
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                   CPI-W                                                                    3 months ended--            6 months   
                                                                                                                        ended--    
                                               June      July      Aug.      Sep.                                                  
                                               2008      2008      2008      2008                                                  
                                                                                      Dec.    Mar.    June    Sep.    Mar.    Sep. 
                                                                                      2007    2008    2008    2008    2008    2008 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   
            Expenditure category                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
 All items.................................  213.601   215.507   215.130   214.946     7.0     3.3     9.0     2.5     5.1     5.7 
                                                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages.......................  212.937   214.883   216.195   217.401     2.5     5.1     8.4     8.7     3.8     8.5 
   Food....................................  212.814   214.813   216.160   217.375     2.5     5.2     8.7     8.9     3.9     8.8 
    Food at home...........................  212.594   215.085   216.812   218.085     2.4     5.8    11.4    10.7     4.1    11.1 
     Cereals and bakery products...........  245.533   249.875   249.930   252.230     6.4    16.0    15.7    11.4    11.1    13.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs........  202.831   204.852   207.265   209.114     0.8     2.4     7.5    13.0     1.6    10.2 
     Dairy and related products............  210.453   214.042   214.768   213.317     2.5    -0.2    10.9     5.6     1.2     8.2 
     Fruits and vegetables.................  280.522   283.919   289.447   288.190     5.2     4.1    22.7    11.4     4.6    16.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                           
         materials.........................  157.651   158.971   159.322   160.916    -2.0     7.5     2.8     8.5     2.6     5.6 
     Other food at home....................  182.718   184.409   185.692   187.670     2.7     6.5    12.1    11.3     4.6    11.7 
      Sugar and sweets.....................  184.097   184.838   186.049   189.095     3.9     6.6     6.6    11.3     5.2     8.9 
      Fats and oils........................  197.297   201.406   203.666   207.065     9.9     7.8    36.3    21.3     8.8    28.6 
      Other foods..........................  197.277   198.916   200.172   201.892     1.0     6.4     9.6     9.7     3.7     9.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...  118.879   121.015   121.443   121.589     3.8     7.4     3.9     9.4     5.6     6.6 
    Food away from home (1)................  214.851   216.177   217.002   218.147     2.6     4.4     5.1     6.3     3.5     5.7 
     Other food away from home (1) (2).....  149.306   150.232   150.301   151.321    -3.6     7.8     5.9     5.5     1.9     5.7 
   Alcoholic beverages.....................  213.293   214.434   215.219   216.292     2.6     3.0     3.0     5.7     2.8     4.3 
                                                                                                                                   
  Housing..................................  212.511   213.943   213.851   213.496     3.9     3.6     5.9     1.9     3.8     3.9 
   Shelter.................................  239.047   239.431   239.715   240.297     3.2     2.1     2.6     2.1     2.7     2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3)..........  241.841   242.535   243.215   243.875     4.6     3.0     3.5     3.4     3.8     3.5 
    Lodging away from home (2).............  144.505   144.351   142.928   144.035    -1.6    -5.2     4.8    -1.3    -3.4     1.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                             
        residence (3) (4)..................  228.635   228.943   229.239   229.663     3.1     2.6     2.0     1.8     2.8     1.9 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)                                                                                           
        (2)................................  119.293   119.006   118.894   120.279     0.9     2.1     4.5     3.3     1.5     3.9 
   Fuels and utilities.....................  223.395   230.774   228.472   222.522    10.1    13.1    28.3    -1.6    11.6    12.4 
    Household energy.......................  203.870   211.612   208.571   202.000    10.9    15.0    33.5    -3.6    13.0    13.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels..............  388.227   393.808   371.762   350.353    75.4    45.0   108.2   -33.7    59.5    17.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......  204.597   212.785   210.473   204.284     6.6    12.8    28.7    -0.6     9.6    13.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                           
        services (2).......................  151.009   152.020   154.174   154.652     5.8     4.7     4.7    10.0     5.2     7.3 
   Household furnishings and operations....  123.200   123.832   124.141   124.860    -0.2     2.6     1.0     5.5     1.2     3.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)...........  150.867   151.290   152.083   152.850     4.0     7.6    10.0     5.4     5.8     7.7 
                                                                                                                                   
  Apparel..................................  117.920   118.892   120.050   120.102     2.6    -3.1     0.2     7.6    -0.3     3.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel.................  113.486   112.842   113.971   113.679     0.1     4.3    -1.5     0.7     2.2    -0.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel..............  105.595   107.177   110.267   110.689     3.8   -15.1    -0.8    20.7    -6.1     9.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel..........  115.785   115.245   113.771   115.496     2.8     0.7    -2.9    -1.0     1.8    -1.9 
   Footwear................................  124.267   126.005   124.021   123.558     2.0     4.2     2.7    -2.3     3.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Transportation...........................  207.141   210.841   207.328   205.872    22.6     2.8    23.7    -2.4    12.3     9.9 
   Private transportation..................  203.949   207.657   203.988   202.585    23.1     2.5    23.7    -2.6    12.3     9.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)........   92.928    93.007    92.659    91.646    -0.4    -0.9    -1.3    -5.4    -0.6    -3.4 
     New vehicles..........................  136.143   136.460   135.721   134.684    -0.8    -2.4    -0.2    -4.2    -1.6    -2.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1)..............  136.790   136.639   136.186   133.669    -0.6     0.8    -3.7    -8.8     0.1    -6.3 
    Motor fuel.............................  322.859   336.117   321.941   319.245    81.0     3.5    68.6    -4.4    36.9    27.0 
     Gasoline (all types)..................  320.576   333.854   319.790   317.912    80.9     2.0    69.1    -3.3    35.8    27.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1)..  127.750   128.997   130.228   131.072     5.5     8.5     4.6    10.8     7.0     7.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair...  235.703   237.365   238.826   239.756     2.9     6.4     6.1     7.1     4.6     6.6 
   Public transportation...................  256.314   258.873   261.046   258.294    12.3    11.4    24.9     3.1    11.8    13.5 
                                                                                                                                   
  Medical care.............................  363.629   363.864   364.964   366.132     5.1     3.2     2.1     2.8     4.2     2.4 
   Medical care commodities................  286.749   286.207   286.645   287.227     4.6     3.6    -3.5     0.7     4.1    -1.4 
   Medical care services...................  386.038   386.607   387.963   389.352     5.2     3.1     4.0     3.5     4.2     3.7 
    Professional services..................  313.396   314.053   315.066   315.757     3.8     2.1     4.4     3.0     2.9     3.7 
    Hospital and related services (3)......  529.160   530.663   534.373   537.382     8.9     7.4     6.1     6.4     8.2     6.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Recreation (2)...........................  109.737   110.173   110.748   110.998     1.5     2.5     0.2     4.7     2.0     2.4 
   Video and audio (2).....................  102.166   102.269   102.685   102.922     2.1     1.1    -4.4     3.0     1.6    -0.8 
                                                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (2)..........  119.805   120.439   120.740   120.747     1.9     2.6     5.1     3.2     2.2     4.2 
   Education (2)...........................  178.167   179.067   180.563   181.030     6.9     5.2     5.8     6.6     6.0     6.2 
    Educational books and supplies.........  446.991   450.380   461.173   464.432     6.6     0.4     6.5    16.5     3.4    11.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and                                                                                                
        childcare..........................  502.545   504.965   508.443   509.542     6.9     5.7     5.7     5.7     6.3     5.7 
   Communication (2).......................   87.016    87.490    87.369    87.225    -1.6     0.8     4.7     1.0    -0.4     2.8 
    Information and information processing                                                                                         
        (1) (2)............................   85.007    85.484    85.355    85.208    -1.7     0.8     4.4     0.9    -0.5     2.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)............  100.723   101.375   101.339   101.350    -0.6     0.8     6.8     2.5     0.1     4.6 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                                          
         services (1) (5)..................   10.585    10.600    10.525    10.414    -8.3     0.9    -5.8    -6.3    -3.8    -6.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                            
          equipment (1) (6)................   95.766    94.691    92.931    90.722   -19.9     1.1   -16.8   -19.5   -10.0   -18.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services.................  358.283   360.084   360.634   361.459     3.2     4.8     6.1     3.6     4.0     4.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)........  592.248   599.180   599.823   600.293     5.3     6.1    11.1     5.5     5.7     8.3 
   Personal care...........................  199.288   199.599   199.951   200.567     2.3     4.1     3.7     2.6     3.2     3.1 
    Personal care products (1).............  159.052   159.237   159.345   159.730     1.9     0.8     0.8     1.7     1.4     1.3 
    Personal care services (1).............  223.838   223.994   224.464   224.910     4.0     5.8     1.4     1.9     4.9     1.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services........  341.405   341.783   343.214   345.068     3.1     5.2     6.6     4.4     4.1     5.5 
                                                                                                                                   
        Commodity and service group                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                   
 Commodities...............................  182.091   184.380   183.312   183.072    11.4     3.1    13.3     2.2     7.1     7.6 
  Food and beverages.......................  212.937   214.883   216.195   217.401     2.5     5.1     8.4     8.7     3.8     8.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages......  163.920   166.283   164.264   163.433    16.9     1.8    16.0    -1.2     9.1     7.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages.....  219.911   222.730   218.408   216.425    30.2     9.3    29.4    -6.2    19.3    10.2 
    Apparel................................  117.920   118.892   120.050   120.102     2.6    -3.1     0.2     7.6    -0.3     3.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                                          
        apparel............................  288.571   295.649   287.973   283.308    36.3    11.7    40.6    -7.1    23.4    14.3 
   Durables................................  111.778   111.904   111.513   110.738     0.3    -0.3    -2.2    -3.7     0.0    -2.9 
 Services..................................  250.646   252.098   252.502   252.363     3.6     3.5     5.5     2.8     3.6     4.1 
  Rent of shelter (4)......................  230.376   230.750   231.020   231.740     3.3     2.0     2.5     2.4     2.6     2.4 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)   119.293   119.006   118.894   120.279     0.9     2.1     4.5     3.3     1.5     3.9 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  204.597   212.785   210.473   204.284     6.6    12.8    28.7    -0.6     9.6    13.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                             
      services (2).........................  151.009   152.020   154.174   154.652     5.8     4.7     4.7    10.0     5.2     7.3 
  Household operations (1) (2).............  150.867   151.290   152.083   152.850     4.0     7.6    10.0     5.4     5.8     7.7 
  Transportation services..................  243.223   244.333   246.033   246.228     2.7     4.7     7.8     5.0     3.7     6.4 
  Medical care services....................  386.038   386.607   387.963   389.352     5.2     3.1     4.0     3.5     4.2     3.7 
  Other services...........................  283.979   285.261   286.423   286.893     3.0     3.2     4.1     4.2     3.1     4.1 
                                                                                                                                   
              Special indexes                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
 All items less food.......................  213.542   215.430   214.752   214.323     7.8     2.9     9.0     1.5     5.3     5.2 
 All items less shelter....................  206.640   209.123   208.500   208.034     8.6     3.8    11.8     2.7     6.2     7.2 
 All items less medical care...............  207.249   209.190   208.771   208.547     7.1     3.3     9.4     2.5     5.2     5.9 
 Commodities less food.....................  165.803   168.143   166.189   165.404    16.3     1.9    15.6    -1.0     8.9     7.0 
 Nondurables less food.....................  219.878   222.640   218.543   216.742    28.2     9.2    27.9    -5.6    18.3     9.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel.........  281.115   287.558   280.555   276.627    32.8    11.2    38.2    -6.2    21.5    13.9 
 Nondurables...............................  218.042   220.363   218.559   218.036    15.8     7.6    19.5     0.0    11.6     9.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4).........  242.816   245.434   245.949   244.940     3.4     5.0    10.2     3.5     4.2     6.8 
 Services less medical care services.......  240.801   242.231   242.706   242.484     3.1     3.4     6.1     2.8     3.3     4.5 
 Energy....................................  261.655   272.093   263.479   258.926    47.5     8.3    54.1    -4.1    26.4    21.6 
 All items less energy.....................  208.598   209.458   210.097   210.452     2.5     2.6     3.5     3.6     2.6     3.6 
  All items less food and energy...........  208.116   208.747   209.244   209.425     2.5     2.1     2.5     2.5     2.3     2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                                
       commodities.........................  141.128   141.700   141.896   141.581     0.6     0.6     0.0     1.3     0.6     0.7 
    Energy commodities.....................  327.093   340.121   325.564   322.124    80.7     5.5    70.2    -5.9    38.1    26.5 
   Services less energy services...........  255.507   256.168   256.890   257.459     3.4     2.7     3.6     3.1     3.0     3.3 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated using a
 geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   All items                                      
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                       Indexes                 Percent change to Percent change to
                    CPI-W                      Pricing                                          Sep. 2008 from--   Aug. 2008 from-- 
                                              schedule                                                                            
                                                 (1)      June      July      Aug.      Sep.                                      
                                                          2008      2008      2008      2008    Sep.  July  Aug.  Aug.  June  July
                                                                                                2007  2008  2008  2007  2008  2008
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 U.S. city average...........................    M      215.223   216.304   215.247   214.935   5.4  -0.6  -0.1   5.9   0.0  -0.5 
                                                                                                                                  
           Region and area size(2)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Northeast urban.............................    M      229.829   231.488   230.790   229.949   5.7  -0.7  -0.4   6.2   0.4  -0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      230.120   231.808   231.465   230.579   5.4  -0.5  -0.4   6.0   0.6  -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      139.286   140.253   139.329   138.881   6.5  -1.0  -0.3   6.6   0.0  -0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
 Midwest urban...............................    M      204.867   206.038   205.121   205.023   5.2  -0.5   0.0   5.9   0.1  -0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      204.509   205.761   204.989   205.002   5.0  -0.4   0.0   5.6   0.2  -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.409   135.037   134.236   134.215   5.6  -0.6   0.0   6.2  -0.1  -0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      204.023   205.452   204.812   204.064   5.4  -0.7  -0.4   6.4   0.4  -0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
 South urban.................................    M      210.469   211.438   210.362   210.572   5.9  -0.4   0.1   6.2  -0.1  -0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      213.549   214.379   213.439   213.579   5.5  -0.4   0.1   6.0  -0.1  -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.222   134.952   134.179   134.285   5.8  -0.5   0.1   6.1   0.0  -0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      216.357   216.901   216.031   216.762   7.7  -0.1   0.3   7.5  -0.2  -0.4 
                                                                                                                                  
 West urban..................................    M      218.508   219.248   217.854   217.028   4.8  -1.0  -0.4   5.4  -0.3  -0.6 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      220.603   221.232   219.827   219.169   4.9  -0.9  -0.3   5.6  -0.4  -0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      135.738   136.478   135.464   134.873   4.8  -1.2  -0.4   5.4  -0.2  -0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
                 Size classes                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                  
   A (4).....................................    M      199.028   200.009   199.187   198.842   5.2  -0.6  -0.2   5.8   0.1  -0.4 
   B/C (3)...................................    M      135.240   135.986   135.138   135.003   5.7  -0.7  -0.1   6.1  -0.1  -0.6 
   D.........................................    M      211.236   211.929   211.233   210.844   5.8  -0.5  -0.2   6.4   0.0  -0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
           Selected local areas(5)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI..............    M      209.021   211.020   209.435   209.084   4.8  -0.9  -0.2   5.4   0.2  -0.8 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA.....    M      222.435   223.245   221.230   220.285   5.0  -1.3  -0.4   5.7  -0.5  -0.9 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                              
     NY-NJ-CT-PA.............................    M      233.776   235.446   235.510   234.703   5.6  -0.3  -0.3   6.1   0.7   0.0 
                                                                                                                                  
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT.........    1            -   240.511         -   238.133   4.7  -1.0     -     -     -     - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH.........................    1            -   198.063         -   197.260   5.0  -0.4     -     -     -     - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.......................    1            -   210.830         -   209.666   6.4  -0.6     -     -     -     - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6).......    1            -   141.622         -   141.679   5.5   0.0     -     -     -     - 
                                                                                                                                  
 Atlanta, GA.................................    2      212.013         -   211.113         -     -     -     -   5.5  -0.4     - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI.................    2      203.524         -   205.492         -     -     -     -   5.5   1.0     - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX..............    2      193.742         -   193.206         -     -     -     -   5.9  -0.3     - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL...................    2      223.849         -   224.597         -     -     -     -   6.4   0.3     - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                           
     PA-NJ-DE-MD.............................    2      228.429         -   228.212         -     -     -     -   5.0  -0.1     - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA..........    2      221.454         -   221.385         -     -     -     -   4.6   0.0     - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA................    2      223.573         -   223.273         -     -     -     -   6.2  -0.1     - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   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.


 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)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Sep. 2008 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                2005-2006                                         
                                                              Aug.      Sep.      Sep.      Aug.  
                                                              2008      2008      2007      2008  
                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items....................................    100.000   125.843   125.774       4.3      -0.1 
                                                                                                  
  Food and beverages..........................     14.726   127.106   127.824       5.9       0.6 
   Food.......................................     13.648   127.307   128.041       6.0       0.6 
    Food at home..............................      7.557   125.255   126.023       7.3       0.6 
    Food away from home.......................      6.091   130.051   130.741       4.5       0.5 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.077   124.950   125.484       3.7       0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Housing.....................................     42.421   130.003   129.521       3.3      -0.4 
   Shelter....................................     32.409   130.741   130.655       2.4      -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.004   173.245   168.047      11.3      -3.0 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      5.008    96.144    96.455       1.3       0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Apparel.....................................      3.988    86.236    89.952       1.0       4.3 
                                                                                                  
  Transportation..............................     17.393   135.388   133.713       8.8      -1.2 
   Private transportation.....................     16.285   135.808   134.260       8.5      -1.1 
   Public transportation......................      1.108   131.800   128.320      13.1      -2.6 
                                                                                                  
  Medical care................................      6.085   141.848   142.011       2.9       0.1 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.615   124.943   125.116       1.4       0.1 
   Medical care services......................      4.470   148.191   148.349       3.5       0.1 
                                                                                                  
  Recreation..................................      5.935   106.026   106.174       1.4       0.1 
                                                                                                  
  Education and communication.................      6.196   108.467   109.058       2.7       0.5 
   Education..................................      2.771   169.625   172.330       5.9       1.6 
   Communication..............................      3.425    74.293    74.072       0.2      -0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Other goods and services....................      3.257   128.634   129.384       3.8       0.6 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services.....................................     58.427   133.970   133.734       3.6      -0.2 
 Commodities..................................     41.573   115.695   115.828       5.4       0.1 
  Durables....................................     11.817    82.845    82.250      -2.1      -0.7 
 Nondurables..................................     29.756   133.199   133.796       8.5       0.4 
  All items less food and energy..............     77.561   117.757   117.985       2.2       0.2 
 Energy.......................................      8.790   225.983   218.818      22.5      -3.2 

 Indexes for 2008 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2007 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Last Modified Date: October 16, 2008