FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-99-133 CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 606-6994 TRANSMISSION OF FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS INFORMATION: (202) 606-7828 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 606-5902 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT) INTERNET ADDRESS: Friday, May 14, 1999 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: APRIL 1999 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.7 percent in April, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 166.2 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in April, the CPI-U increased 2.3 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.8 percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The April level of 162.7 was 2.3 percent higher than the index in April 1998. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.7 percent in April, its largest monthly advance since an increase of the same magnitude in October 1990. About half of the April advance was attributable to a record increase in gasoline prices. Overall energy costs rose 6.1 percent; the index for petroleum-based energy increased 14.0 percent, while the index for energy services decreased 0.1 percent. The food index, which declined 0.2 percent in March, increased 0.1 percent in April. The index for food at home also turned up in April, largely reflecting a sharp upturn in the index for fruits and vegetables. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.4 percent in April, following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the first three months of 1999. The acceleration in April reflects sharp upturns in the indexes for apparel and for tobacco and smoking products, coupled with a larger increase in shelter costs. Table A. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1998 1999 3-mos. ended ended Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. `99 Apr. `99 All Items .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .7 3.9 2.3 Food and beverages .5 .2 .1 .4 .2 -.2 .1 .2 2.3 Housing .2 .3 .1 -.1 .1 .2 .4 3.0 2.2 Apparel .0 -.1 -.6 -1.1 -.2 -.3 1.5 4.0 -.4 Transportation .1 -.1 -.4 -.1 -.1 .7 2.4 12.5 2.0 Medical care .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 .2 .4 3.4 3.5 Recreation -.2 .1 .1 .4 -.1 .0 .3 .8 .9 Education and communication .1 .3 -.2 .3 .1 .0 .1 .8 .8 Other goods and services .3 -.3 4.2 2.0 -.1 -.6 1.0 1.1 9.1 Special Indexes Energy .1 -.3 -1.1 -.2 .0 1.6 6.1 35.0 3.0 Food .5 .1 .1 .5 .1 -.2 .1 .0 2.3 All Items less food and energy .2 .1 .3 .1 .1 .1 .4 2.3 2.2 During the first four months of 1999, the CPI-U rose at a 3.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 1.6 percent for all of 1998. The index for energy, which acted as a moderating influence on overall consumer price index movements in 1998-- down 8.8 percent--turned up sharply during the first four months of 1999, increasing at a 24.5 percent annual rate. Food costs, which rose 2.3- percent in 1998, have increased at a 1.5-percent SAAR thus far in 1999. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 1.9-percent rate thus far in 1999, compared with a 2.4 percent rise for all of 1998. The more moderate rate of advance this year is largely due to smaller increases in the indexes for shelter and for tobacco and smoking products The food and beverages index rose 0.1 percent in April. The index for food at home, which decreased 0.5 percent in March, increased 0.1 percent in April. The indexes for fruits and vegetables, for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, and for other food at home, each of which declined in March, turned up in April, more than offsetting another decline in the index for dairy products. The index for fruits and vegetables, which declined 2.2 percent in March, rose 1.4 percent in April. A 3.8 percent increase in the index for fresh fruits more than offset small declines in the indexes for fresh vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.3 percent in April, reflecting price increases for beef, pork, and fish and seafood. The index for dairy products, reflecting sharp declines in the basic formula support prices, fell 3.3 percent in April, following a 0.5 percent decrease in March. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for other food at home rose 0.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively, while the index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.3 percent. The other two components of the food and beverage index-- food away from home and alcoholic beverages--each rose 0.2 percent. The housing component rose 0.4 percent in April. Shelter costs, which increased 0.3 percent in March, advanced 0.4 percent in April. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each rose 0.3 percent, and the cost of lodging away from home increased 1.9 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the cost of lodging while away from home rose 0.1 percent in April.) The index for fuels and utilities rose 0.2 percent in April. The index for household fuels increased 0.1 percent, as advances in the indexes for fuel oil and for electricity more than offset a 0.6 percent decline in the index for natural gas. The indexes for fuel oil and for electricity increased 3.8 and 0.2 percent, respectively. The index for household furnishings and operations increased 0.2 percent in April. The transportation component rose 2.4 percent in April. The index for gasoline, which turned up in March, rose 15.0 percent in April, accounting for more than 90 percent of the overall April transportation advance. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 17.0 percent, the largest monthly advance since gasoline prices were introduced into the CPI in 1935.) Despite the record monthly rise, gasoline prices are 15.5 percent lower than their peak level in November 1990. The index for new and used vehicles rose 0.2 percent in April, the first increase since November. The index for new vehicles rose 0.1 percent and the index for used cars and trucks increased 0.6 percent in April. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices fell 0.1 percent.) Public transportation costs increased 1.3 percent in April, reflecting a 2.0 percent rise in airline fares. In the five-month period ended in April, airline fares have risen 12.5 percent. The index for apparel rose 1.5 percent in April, its first monthly increase since August. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 1.9 percent, further reflecting the introduction of higher-priced spring- summer wear.) Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in April to a level 3.5 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.6 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent. Charges for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The index for recreation costs, which was unchanged in March, increased 0.3 percent in April. A 1.3 percent increase in the index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events more than offset small decreases in most recreational goods. The index for education and communication rose 0.1 percent in April. Educational costs rose 0.4 percent, while the index for communication declined 0.3 percent. Within the latter group, the indexes for personal computers and peripheral equipment and for telephone services declined 1.4 and 0.2 percent, respectively. The index for other goods and services increased 1.0 percent in April, following a 0.6 percent decrease in March. The index for tobacco and smoking products, which declined 3.5 percent in March, rose 3.6 percent in April. The March decline and April increase largely reflect variations in the discounting of selected major cigarette brands. CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.7 percent in April. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1998 1999 3-mos. ended ended Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. '99 Apr.'99 All Items .2 .2 .2 .2 .0 .1 .7 3.5 2.3 Food and beverages .4 .2 .1 .4 .1 -.2 .1 .0 2.2 Housing .2 .3 .2 .0 .1 .3 .3 2.6 2.1 Apparel .4 -.1 -.5 -1.1 -.4 -.4 1.4 2.5 -.2 Transportation .2 -.1 -.5 -.1 -.4 .6 2.6 12.0 1.9 Medical care .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3 .4 3.6 3.5 Recreation -.3 .1 .1 .4 -.2 -.1 .2 -.4 .4 Education and communication .1 .3 -.2 .3 .2 .0 -.1 .4 .8 Other goods and services .2 -.5 5.8 2.5 -.2 -1.0 1.4 .6 11.7 Special Indexes Energy .2 -.4 -1.3 -.1 -.2 2.0 6.4 38.0 3.4 Food .4 .2 .0 .5 .1 -.2 .1 .0 2.2 All Items less food and energy .1 .2 .4 .1 .0 .0 .4 1.6 2.2 Consumer Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on Wednesday, June 16, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT). ___________________________________________________________________________ CPI (Old Series) For the first six months of 1999, BLS will also publish Old Series CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the former method of calculating the elementary aggregates, that is, employing an arithmetic mean in all index categories. These old series data are contained in tables 1 (LAS)-4 (LAS). From March to April, the Old Series CPI-U and the Old Series CPI-W each rose 0.7 percent; these series are not seasonally adjusted. (The unadjusted CPI-U and CPI-W using the new method of calculating the elementary aggregates rose 0.7 and 0.8 percent, respectively, in April.) ___________________________________________________________________________ Consumer Price Index Formula Changed On April 16, 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This change is effective with data for January 1999. The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer spending represented by the CPI-U. The remaining index categories, which are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they have been. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by approximately 0.2 percentage point per year. The geometric mean estimator has been introduced in both the CPI-U and the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W series using the former calculation method for the first six months of 1999. These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent to June 1999, but will be available upon request. Additional information on this change was published in the April 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm). This information also may be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Room 3615, Washington, D.C. 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000. Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula 1. Selected shelter services: A) Rent of primary B) Owners' equivalent C) Housing at school, residence rent of primary excluding board residence 2. Selected utilities and government charges: A) Electricity C) Residential water and E) Telephone services, sewerage maintenance local charges B) Utility natural gas D) State and local F) Cable television service registration, license, and motor vehicle property tax 3. Selected medical care services: A) Physicians' services C) Eyeglasses and eye E) Hospital services care B) Dental services D) Services by other F) Nursing homes and medical professionals adult daycare ___________________________________________________________________________ A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation. Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977. Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1994 through 1998 were replaced at the end of 1998. The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. If any of the 73 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements. Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data for those series. For some women's apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing methodology. For the tobacco and smoking products index, this procedure was used to offset the effects wholesale tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers. For some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions affecting the Fats and oils series. For the Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly. A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV. 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 Relative Unadjusted indexes percent change to Seasonally adjusted importance, Apr. 1999 from- percent change from- CPI-U December 1998 Mar. Apr. 1999 1999 Apr. Mar. Jan. to Feb. to Mar. to 1998 1999 Feb. Mar. Apr. Expenditure category All items ................................... 100.000 165.0 166.2 2.3 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.7 All items (1967=100) ........................ - 494.4 497.8 - - - - - Food and beverages ......................... 16.408 163.7 163.9 2.3 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.1 Food ...................................... 15.422 163.3 163.4 2.3 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.1 Food at home ............................. 9.691 163.4 163.5 2.1 0.1 0.1 -0.5 0.1 Cereals and bakery products ............. 1.544 183.5 184.8 2.6 0.7 -0.4 0.2 0.4 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 2.569 146.8 146.7 0.3 -0.1 0.9 -0.2 0.3 Dairy and related products (1)........... 1.088 161.5 156.1 5.1 -3.3 0.7 -0.5 -3.3 Fruits and vegetables ................... 1.440 199.9 203.3 2.9 1.7 -1.1 -2.2 1.4 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 1.049 134.5 134.3 0.3 -0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.3 Other food at home ...................... 2.002 152.9 153.6 2.7 0.5 0.1 -0.2 0.3 Sugar and sweets ....................... .377 151.0 151.7 1.1 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 0.5 Fats and oils .......................... .309 149.4 149.0 5.9 -0.3 0.2 -0.9 -0.2 Other foods ............................ 1.316 168.1 169.2 2.5 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.5 Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... .320 104.9 105.6 3.8 0.7 1.7 -0.9 0.7 Food away from home (1)................... 5.730 164.2 164.5 2.7 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Other food away from home (1) (2)........ .175 103.7 104.0 3.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.3 Alcoholic beverages ....................... .986 168.4 168.8 2.2 0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.2 Housing .................................... 39.828 162.8 163.0 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 Shelter ................................... 30.283 186.3 186.6 3.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 Rent of primary residence (3)............. 7.007 176.0 176.4 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 Lodging away from home (2) (3)............ 2.376 114.5 114.6 4.0 0.1 -0.5 1.8 1.9 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3) (4)..................... 20.529 191.5 191.9 3.0 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. .371 100.2 100.3 -0.1 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 Fuels and utilities ....................... 4.735 125.9 125.7 -1.0 -0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Fuels .................................... 3.801 110.5 110.2 -1.9 -0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ .227 86.2 87.7 -5.5 1.7 -1.4 1.0 2.7 Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......... 3.574 117.9 117.5 -1.6 -0.3 0.4 0.3 -0.1 Household furnishings and operations ...... 4.810 126.7 127.2 0.2 0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 Apparel .................................... 4.831 132.7 135.2 -0.4 1.9 -0.2 -0.3 1.5 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 1.358 131.4 133.5 0.1 1.6 0.6 -0.8 1.6 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 1.939 126.3 128.7 -1.7 1.9 -0.4 0.4 1.1 Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... .272 125.6 128.2 1.3 2.1 -2.8 -0.6 2.1 Footwear .................................. .876 126.4 129.2 1.0 2.2 -1.3 0.7 1.1 Transportation ............................. 16.999 140.6 144.3 2.0 2.6 -0.1 0.7 2.4 Private transportation .................... 15.653 136.4 140.1 1.7 2.7 -0.3 0.5 2.6 New and used motor vehicles (2)........... 7.843 99.6 99.7 -0.4 0.1 -0.7 -0.2 0.2 New vehicles ............................ 4.983 143.4 143.3 -0.7 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.1 Used cars and trucks (1)................. 1.914 147.4 148.3 0.1 0.6 -1.5 -0.6 0.6 Motor fuel ............................... 2.493 86.3 100.9 10.0 16.9 -0.3 3.6 15.0 Gasoline (all types) .................... 2.476 85.8 100.4 10.2 17.0 -0.5 3.7 15.0 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ .549 100.1 100.3 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 -0.6 0.5 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 1.624 170.6 170.9 3.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 Public transportation (1).................. 1.346 198.8 201.4 4.1 1.3 1.4 3.0 1.3 Medical care ............................... 5.713 248.3 249.1 3.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 Medical care commodities .................. 1.252 227.7 229.3 4.1 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.6 Medical care services ..................... 4.461 253.1 253.5 3.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 Professional services (3)................. 2.854 227.4 228.2 3.2 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.3 Hospital and related services (3)......... 1.354 296.6 296.3 3.7 -0.1 0.5 0.3 0.1 Recreation (2).............................. 6.120 101.8 102.0 0.9 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.3 Video and audio (1) (2).................... 1.748 101.2 101.0 -0.4 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5 -0.1 Education and communication (2)............. 5.478 100.8 100.7 0.8 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 Education (2).............................. 2.694 105.4 105.5 4.8 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 Educational books and supplies ........... .203 261.4 261.2 5.0 -0.1 1.2 0.3 0.2 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 2.492 303.5 303.8 4.8 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.4 Communication (1) (2)...................... 2.783 96.6 96.3 -3.0 -0.3 -0.4 -0.3 -0.3 Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... 2.580 96.1 95.8 -3.4 -0.3 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3 Telephone services (1) (2)............... 2.327 100.2 100.0 -0.5 -0.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (5) .253 32.4 32.1 -25.0 -0.9 -1.5 -2.7 -0.9 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... .148 57.6 56.8 -34.4 -1.4 -2.8 -3.5 -1.4 Other goods and services ................... 4.624 253.3 256.1 9.1 1.1 -0.1 -0.6 1.0 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 1.159 335.9 349.9 32.8 4.2 -1.4 -3.5 3.6 Personal care (1).......................... 3.465 160.0 160.2 2.8 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 Personal care products (1)................ .742 150.8 150.9 2.4 0.1 -0.1 0.7 0.1 Personal care services (1)................ .973 169.9 170.3 3.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 1.491 241.1 241.4 3.4 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 42.109 142.6 144.6 1.8 1.4 -0.2 -0.1 1.3 Food and beverages ......................... 16.408 163.7 163.9 2.3 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.1 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 25.702 130.2 133.2 1.7 2.3 -0.4 0.0 2.1 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 14.345 133.2 138.6 4.2 4.1 -0.2 0.3 3.4 Apparel .................................. 4.831 132.7 135.2 -0.4 1.9 -0.2 -0.3 1.5 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 9.514 138.5 145.7 6.7 5.2 -0.4 0.7 4.4 Durables .................................. 11.356 126.0 126.1 -1.6 0.1 -0.6 -0.2 0.0 Services .................................... 57.891 187.6 187.8 2.5 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 Rent of shelter (4)......................... 29.912 193.9 194.3 3.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4 Transportation services .................... 6.963 190.7 191.0 1.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 0.2 Other services ............................. 10.768 221.3 221.7 2.8 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 84.578 165.3 166.7 2.3 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.8 All items less shelter ...................... 69.717 158.5 159.9 1.9 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.9 All items less medical care ................. 94.287 160.5 161.6 2.2 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.7 Commodities less food ....................... 26.688 131.7 134.6 1.7 2.2 -0.4 0.1 2.0 Nondurables less food ....................... 15.331 135.3 140.4 4.0 3.8 -0.3 0.4 3.2 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 10.500 140.5 147.0 6.2 4.6 -0.4 0.7 4.0 Nondurables ................................. 30.753 148.5 151.4 3.2 2.0 -0.1 0.2 1.3 Services less rent of shelter (4)............ 27.979 194.2 194.5 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Services less medical care services ......... 53.429 181.5 181.8 2.5 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Energy ...................................... 6.294 98.4 105.0 3.0 6.7 0.0 1.6 6.1 All items less energy ....................... 93.706 173.7 174.2 2.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.4 All items less food and energy ............. 78.284 176.2 176.8 2.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 23.967 143.9 144.9 0.8 0.7 -0.4 -0.3 0.6 Energy commodities ....................... 2.720 86.4 99.9 8.8 15.6 -0.5 3.5 14.0 Services less energy services ............. 54.316 194.7 195.0 2.8 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar ..... - $ .606 $ .602 - - - - - Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old base .................................... - $ .202 $ .201 - - - - - 1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for CPI-U 3 months ended-- 6 months ended-- Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. 1999 1999 1999 1999 July Oct. Jan. Apr. Oct. Apr. 1998 1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 Expenditure category All items ................................... 164.6 164.7 165.0 166.2 2.0 1.5 1.7 3.9 1.7 2.8 Food and beverages ......................... 163.5 163.8 163.4 163.6 3.0 3.3 2.7 0.2 3.2 1.5 Food ...................................... 163.3 163.5 163.2 163.3 3.3 3.3 2.7 0.0 3.3 1.4 Food at home ............................. 163.5 163.7 162.9 163.0 3.6 3.5 2.5 -1.2 3.5 0.6 Cereals and bakery products ............. 184.4 183.6 183.9 184.6 2.5 2.7 4.5 0.4 2.6 2.4 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 145.5 146.8 146.5 147.0 1.6 0.3 -5.1 4.2 1.0 -0.5 Dairy and related products (1)........... 161.2 162.3 161.5 156.1 -0.8 19.7 17.0 -12.1 8.9 1.4 Fruits and vegetables ................... 204.8 202.6 198.1 200.9 13.1 1.6 6.3 -7.4 7.2 -0.8 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 133.4 133.7 133.9 133.5 -0.3 -1.2 2.4 0.3 -0.7 1.4 Other food at home ...................... 152.9 153.1 152.8 153.3 4.9 4.6 0.5 1.1 4.7 0.8 Sugar and sweets ....................... 151.1 151.0 150.6 151.3 -0.3 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.2 0.9 Fats and oils .......................... 150.2 150.5 149.1 148.8 20.2 27.8 -14.9 -3.7 23.9 -9.5 Other foods ............................ 167.6 167.9 167.9 168.7 3.2 0.2 4.2 2.7 1.7 3.4 Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... 104.1 105.9 104.9 105.6 3.6 3.6 2.3 5.9 3.6 4.1 Food away from home (1)................... 163.5 163.8 164.2 164.5 2.3 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.6 2.7 Other food away from home (1) (2)........ 103.5 103.7 103.7 104.0 4.0 4.4 3.2 1.9 4.2 2.5 Alcoholic beverages ....................... 167.6 168.3 168.1 168.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 Housing .................................... 161.9 162.1 162.5 163.1 2.0 2.3 1.5 3.0 2.1 2.2 Shelter ................................... 184.6 184.9 185.4 186.2 2.9 4.0 2.0 3.5 3.5 2.7 Rent of primary residence (3)............. 175.3 175.6 176.0 176.5 3.3 3.8 3.5 2.8 3.5 3.1 Lodging away from home (2) (3)............ 101.9 101.4 103.2 105.2 -0.4 11.6 -7.1 13.6 5.4 2.7 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3) (4)..................... 190.8 191.3 191.5 192.1 3.3 3.2 2.6 2.8 3.2 2.7 Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. 99.7 100.1 100.2 100.3 -4.3 1.6 0.0 2.4 -1.4 1.2 Fuels and utilities ....................... 126.8 127.1 127.4 127.6 -2.2 -4.6 0.0 2.5 -3.4 1.3 Fuels .................................... 110.8 111.1 111.4 111.5 -2.8 -6.2 -1.1 2.6 -4.5 0.7 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ 84.8 83.6 84.4 86.7 -6.0 -12.2 -11.4 9.3 -9.2 -1.6 Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......... 118.6 119.1 119.4 119.3 -2.9 -5.8 -0.3 2.4 -4.4 1.0 Household furnishings and operations ...... 127.0 126.7 126.6 126.9 1.0 -0.9 1.0 -0.3 0.0 0.3 Apparel .................................... 130.8 130.6 130.2 132.1 0.0 1.5 -7.0 4.0 0.8 -1.6 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 130.3 131.1 130.1 132.2 -0.3 0.3 -5.3 6.0 0.0 0.2 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 122.2 121.7 122.2 123.5 0.3 0.3 -11.0 4.3 0.3 -3.6 Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... 130.0 126.4 125.6 128.2 -13.8 29.7 -0.6 -5.4 5.8 -3.0 Footwear .................................. 127.1 125.5 126.4 127.8 6.5 -0.3 -4.0 2.2 3.0 -0.9 Transportation ............................. 140.4 140.2 141.2 144.6 0.0 -1.4 -2.5 12.5 -0.7 4.7 Private transportation .................... 136.8 136.4 137.1 140.6 0.3 -1.2 -2.9 11.6 -0.4 4.1 New and used motor vehicles (2)........... 100.5 99.8 99.6 99.8 1.2 0.8 -0.8 -2.8 1.0 -1.8 New vehicles ............................ 143.5 143.0 142.7 142.8 -0.8 -0.3 0.6 -1.9 -0.6 -0.7 Used cars and trucks (1)................. 150.6 148.3 147.4 148.3 8.6 4.6 -6.1 -6.0 6.6 -6.0 Motor fuel ............................... 86.4 86.1 89.2 102.6 -4.2 -10.0 -14.3 98.9 -7.2 30.5 Gasoline (all types) .................... 86.0 85.6 88.8 102.1 -4.7 -9.7 -14.0 98.7 -7.2 30.7 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ 101.0 100.6 100.0 100.5 2.0 0.8 -1.6 -2.0 1.4 -1.8 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 169.8 170.2 170.6 171.1 2.9 4.1 2.6 3.1 3.5 2.9 Public transportation (1).................. 190.4 193.1 198.8 201.4 -2.9 -4.3 1.1 25.2 -3.6 12.5 Medical care ............................... 246.9 247.5 248.1 249.0 3.7 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.4 Medical care commodities .................. 226.2 226.6 227.5 228.8 3.9 5.1 2.9 4.7 4.5 3.8 Medical care services ..................... 251.3 252.1 252.6 253.3 3.6 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.3 Professional services (3)................. 226.1 226.4 227.0 227.7 3.5 3.5 2.9 2.9 3.5 2.9 Hospital and related services (3)......... 293.5 295.0 296.0 296.3 3.7 3.1 4.3 3.9 3.4 4.1 Recreation (2).............................. 101.6 101.5 101.5 101.8 0.4 0.4 2.4 0.8 0.4 1.6 Video and audio (1) (2).................... 101.7 101.2 100.7 100.6 0.4 1.6 1.2 -4.3 1.0 -1.6 Education and communication (2)............. 101.0 101.1 101.1 101.2 2.0 -1.2 1.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 Education (2).............................. 105.0 105.8 106.2 106.6 4.4 3.9 4.7 6.2 4.2 5.5 Educational books and supplies ........... 256.4 259.4 260.3 260.7 4.3 9.4 -0.3 6.9 6.8 3.2 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 301.2 303.3 304.4 305.6 4.6 3.6 4.9 6.0 4.1 5.4 Communication (1) (2)...................... 97.3 96.9 96.6 96.3 -0.8 -5.1 -2.0 -4.0 -3.0 -3.0 Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... 96.9 96.5 96.1 95.8 -0.8 -5.5 -2.8 -4.5 -3.2 -3.7 Telephone services (1) (2)............... 100.7 100.4 100.2 100.0 4.0 -3.1 0.0 -2.8 0.4 -1.4 Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (5) 33.8 33.3 32.4 32.1 -30.3 -27.3 -23.2 -18.7 -28.9 -20.9 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... 61.4 59.7 57.6 56.8 -43.1 -35.1 -31.5 -26.8 -39.2 -29.2 Other goods and services ................... 255.9 255.6 254.1 256.6 5.7 5.7 25.7 1.1 5.7 12.7 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 353.9 349.0 336.9 348.9 17.7 15.8 142.2 -5.5 16.7 51.2 Personal care (1).......................... 158.9 159.4 160.0 160.2 2.9 2.8 2.0 3.3 2.8 2.7 Personal care products (1)................ 149.9 149.8 150.8 150.9 5.0 0.8 1.3 2.7 2.9 2.0 Personal care services (1)................ 168.8 169.3 169.9 170.3 2.2 3.4 3.1 3.6 2.8 3.4 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 239.4 240.4 240.7 241.0 3.7 3.8 3.8 2.7 3.7 3.2 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 142.8 142.5 142.4 144.3 1.1 0.8 1.4 4.3 1.0 2.8 Food and beverages ......................... 163.5 163.8 163.4 163.6 3.0 3.3 2.7 0.2 3.2 1.5 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 130.6 130.1 130.1 132.8 0.0 -0.6 0.3 6.9 -0.3 3.6 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 133.0 132.7 133.1 137.6 2.1 0.3 0.6 14.6 1.2 7.4 Apparel .................................. 130.8 130.6 130.2 132.1 0.0 1.5 -7.0 4.0 0.8 -1.6 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 139.3 138.7 139.7 145.8 1.8 0.0 5.6 20.0 0.9 12.6 Durables .................................. 126.8 126.0 125.7 125.7 -0.3 -1.6 -1.3 -3.4 -0.9 -2.3 Services .................................... 186.5 186.9 187.5 188.1 2.4 2.2 2.2 3.5 2.3 2.8 Rent of shelter (4)......................... 192.5 192.7 193.4 194.1 3.0 4.3 1.9 3.4 3.6 2.6 Transportation services .................... 188.4 189.1 190.6 191.0 -0.2 -0.6 1.1 5.6 -0.4 3.3 Other services ............................. 220.8 221.3 221.6 222.2 3.2 1.8 3.7 2.6 2.5 3.1 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 164.7 164.8 165.2 166.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 4.7 1.5 3.1 All items less shelter ...................... 158.4 158.4 158.5 159.9 1.3 0.8 1.8 3.8 1.0 2.8 All items less medical care ................. 159.9 159.9 160.2 161.4 1.8 1.5 1.8 3.8 1.7 2.8 Commodities less food ....................... 132.2 131.7 131.8 134.4 0.3 -0.6 0.3 6.8 -0.2 3.5 Nondurables less food ....................... 135.1 134.7 135.2 139.5 1.8 0.6 0.9 13.7 1.2 7.1 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 141.1 140.5 141.5 147.2 2.0 0.3 5.3 18.4 1.2 11.7 Nondurables ................................. 148.3 148.2 148.5 150.5 3.3 1.4 1.9 6.1 2.3 4.0 Services less rent of shelter (4)............ 193.5 193.8 194.4 194.9 2.1 0.4 2.3 2.9 1.3 2.6 Services less medical care services ......... 180.5 180.9 181.4 182.0 2.5 2.3 2.0 3.4 2.4 2.7 Energy ...................................... 98.8 98.8 100.4 106.5 -3.4 -7.9 -6.2 35.0 -5.7 12.5 All items less energy ....................... 173.2 173.3 173.4 174.1 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.2 All items less food and energy ............. 175.7 175.8 176.0 176.7 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 144.4 143.8 143.3 144.1 0.8 0.8 2.2 -0.8 0.8 0.7 Energy commodities ....................... 86.2 85.8 88.8 101.2 -4.2 -10.4 -14.0 90.0 -7.4 27.9 Services less energy services ............. 193.4 193.8 194.4 195.1 2.6 3.0 2.3 3.6 2.8 2.9 1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) All items Prici- Indexes Percent change to Percent change to CPI-U ng Apr.1999 from-- Mar.1999 from-- sched- ule Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. (1) 1999 1999 1999 1999 Apr. Feb. Mar. Mar. Jan. Feb. 1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 U.S. city average ........................... M 164.3 164.5 165.0 166.2 2.3 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.4 0.3 Region and area size(2) Northeast urban ............................. M 171.4 171.6 171.9 172.8 1.9 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.3 0.2 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 172.5 172.4 172.8 173.6 2.0 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.2 0.2 Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M 102.6 103.0 103.2 103.9 1.8 0.9 0.7 1.5 0.6 0.2 Midwest urban ............................... M 160.4 160.5 161.0 162.2 2.0 1.1 0.7 1.6 0.4 0.3 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 161.6 161.8 162.4 163.6 2.2 1.1 0.7 1.8 0.5 0.4 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 102.6 102.6 103.0 103.7 1.8 1.1 0.7 1.4 0.4 0.4 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 155.5 155.6 155.7 156.4 2.1 0.5 0.4 1.8 0.1 0.1 South urban ................................. M 159.9 160.0 160.6 161.5 1.9 0.9 0.6 1.5 0.4 0.4 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 158.9 158.9 159.7 160.5 1.8 1.0 0.5 1.6 0.5 0.5 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........ M 102.9 103.0 103.3 103.9 1.9 0.9 0.6 1.5 0.4 0.3 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 160.8 160.9 161.5 162.6 2.2 1.1 0.7 2.0 0.4 0.4 West urban .................................. M 166.4 166.9 167.3 169.0 3.3 1.3 1.0 2.4 0.5 0.2 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 167.3 167.8 168.2 170.0 3.5 1.3 1.1 2.7 0.5 0.2 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 103.6 103.8 104.1 105.1 2.8 1.3 1.0 1.8 0.5 0.3 Size classes A (4)...................................... M 148.9 149.0 149.5 150.5 2.4 1.0 0.7 2.0 0.4 0.3 B/C (3).................................... M 102.9 103.0 103.3 104.1 2.1 1.1 0.8 1.5 0.4 0.3 D ......................................... M 160.6 160.7 161.1 162.1 2.3 0.9 0.6 1.9 0.3 0.2 Selected local areas(5) Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .............. M 166.1 166.4 167.0 167.6 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.8 0.5 0.4 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ..... M 164.2 164.6 165.0 166.6 3.0 1.2 1.0 2.2 0.5 0.2 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA ............................. M 175.0 175.1 175.5 176.0 1.7 0.5 0.3 1.4 0.3 0.2 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... 1 174.1 - 174.8 - - - - 2.0 0.4 - Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... 1 160.6 - 161.2 - - - - 1.6 0.4 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... 1 155.0 - 156.4 - - - - 2.2 0.9 - Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........ 1 102.8 - 103.2 - - - - 1.6 0.4 - Atlanta, GA ................................. 2 - 161.9 - 164.0 2.0 1.3 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ................. 2 - 161.2 - 164.1 3.1 1.8 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .............. 2 - 146.6 - 148.3 1.4 1.2 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ................... 2 - 161.4 - 161.7 0.9 0.2 - - - - Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD ............................. 2 - 168.6 - 171.1 2.4 1.5 - - - - San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 169.4 - 172.2 4.6 1.7 - - - - Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................ 2 - 170.6 - 172.2 3.5 0.9 - - - - 1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 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; 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 Relative Unadjusted indexes percent change to Seasonally adjusted importance, Apr. 1999 from- percent change from- CPI-W December 1998 Mar. Apr. 1999 1999 Apr. Mar. Jan. to Feb. to Mar. to 1998 1999 Feb. Mar. Apr. Expenditure category All items ................................... 100.000 161.4 162.7 2.3 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.7 All items (1967=100) ........................ - 480.9 484.7 - - - - - Food and beverages ......................... 18.011 162.9 163.0 2.2 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.1 Food ...................................... 16.966 162.6 162.6 2.2 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.1 Food at home ............................. 10.832 162.3 162.2 1.9 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 0.0 Cereals and bakery products ............. 1.689 183.2 184.5 2.6 0.7 -0.4 0.2 0.4 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 3.055 146.4 146.3 0.2 -0.1 1.0 -0.3 0.3 Dairy and related products (1)........... 1.193 161.5 155.7 5.1 -3.6 0.7 -0.4 -3.6 Fruits and vegetables ................... 1.492 198.7 201.7 2.8 1.5 -1.4 -2.2 1.1 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 1.184 133.6 133.2 0.4 -0.3 0.2 0.2 -0.3 Other food at home ...................... 2.220 152.3 153.0 2.8 0.5 0.1 -0.2 0.3 Sugar and sweets ....................... .420 151.1 151.7 1.1 0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.5 Fats and oils .......................... .354 148.9 148.6 5.8 -0.2 0.2 -1.1 0.0 Other foods ............................ 1.446 168.0 169.0 2.4 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.4 Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... .355 105.0 105.2 3.4 0.2 1.6 -0.8 0.2 Food away from home (1)................... 6.133 164.1 164.4 2.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Other food away from home (1) (2)........ .216 103.8 104.1 3.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 Alcoholic beverages ....................... 1.045 167.3 167.8 2.2 0.3 0.5 -0.4 0.3 Housing .................................... 36.685 158.8 159.1 2.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 Shelter ................................... 27.496 180.5 180.8 3.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Rent of primary residence (3)............. 8.500 175.6 176.0 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Lodging away from home (2) (3)............ 1.379 114.2 114.5 3.8 0.3 -0.5 1.6 1.8 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3) (4)..................... 17.296 174.5 174.8 2.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. .320 100.6 100.6 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 Fuels and utilities ....................... 4.850 125.8 125.5 -1.1 -0.2 0.2 0.4 0.1 Fuels .................................... 3.928 110.0 109.7 -1.9 -0.3 0.1 0.5 0.0 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ .201 86.8 88.1 -5.4 1.5 -1.4 1.1 2.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......... 3.727 117.3 116.9 -1.7 -0.3 0.2 0.4 -0.1 Household furnishings and operations ...... 4.339 124.9 125.2 -0.3 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 0.2 Apparel .................................... 5.199 131.1 133.7 -0.2 2.0 -0.4 -0.4 1.4 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 1.474 131.6 133.6 0.5 1.5 0.8 -0.5 1.5 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 1.948 123.9 126.5 -1.4 2.1 -0.9 0.0 1.2 Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... .344 126.5 129.3 1.9 2.2 -2.8 -0.6 2.2 Footwear .................................. 1.057 126.8 129.5 0.9 2.1 -1.2 0.5 1.2 Transportation ............................. 19.166 139.1 142.9 1.9 2.7 -0.4 0.6 2.6 Private transportation .................... 18.109 136.2 140.1 1.7 2.9 -0.5 0.6 2.6 New and used motor vehicles (2)........... 9.250 99.5 99.7 -0.4 0.2 -0.9 -0.2 0.2 New vehicles ............................ 5.224 144.5 144.5 -0.7 0.0 -0.5 -0.2 0.1 Used cars and trucks (1)................. 3.216 148.7 149.6 0.1 0.6 -1.4 -0.6 0.6 Motor fuel ............................... 3.066 86.4 100.8 9.7 16.7 -0.6 4.0 14.5 Gasoline (all types) .................... 3.045 85.9 100.3 9.9 16.8 -0.5 3.9 14.7 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ .682 99.8 99.6 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.5 0.1 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 1.690 172.0 172.3 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Public transportation (1).................. 1.056 194.1 196.4 3.3 1.2 1.2 2.6 1.2 Medical care ............................... 4.672 247.5 248.2 3.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 Medical care commodities .................. .926 223.9 225.7 4.0 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.8 Medical care services ..................... 3.746 252.8 253.3 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Professional services (3)................. 2.415 228.9 229.7 3.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 Hospital and related services (3)......... 1.114 292.8 292.3 3.8 -0.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 Recreation (2).............................. 5.925 101.3 101.4 0.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 Video and audio (1) (2).................... 1.951 101.0 100.8 -0.6 -0.2 -0.6 -0.5 -0.1 Education and communication (2)............. 5.361 101.0 100.9 0.8 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.1 Education (2).............................. 2.478 105.6 105.7 5.0 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 Educational books and supplies ........... .200 264.0 263.9 5.1 0.0 1.2 0.3 0.2 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 2.278 298.0 298.3 4.9 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.3 Communication (1) (2)...................... 2.883 97.4 97.0 -2.5 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3 -0.4 Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... 2.733 97.1 96.7 -2.8 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3 -0.4 Telephone services (1) (2)............... 2.519 100.4 100.0 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.4 Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (5) .213 33.5 33.0 -25.2 -1.5 -1.7 -2.6 -1.5 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... .120 56.9 55.9 -35.0 -1.8 -2.9 -4.0 -1.8 Other goods and services ................... 4.981 255.6 259.5 11.7 1.5 -0.2 -1.0 1.4 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 1.694 336.0 350.5 33.0 4.3 -1.3 -3.5 3.9 Personal care (1).......................... 3.287 160.3 160.4 2.9 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 Personal care products (1)................ .838 151.6 151.7 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 Personal care services (1)................ .975 170.2 170.6 3.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 1.253 241.4 241.7 4.0 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.0 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 46.764 142.5 144.7 2.2 1.5 -0.3 -0.1 1.4 Food and beverages ......................... 18.011 162.9 163.0 2.2 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.1 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 28.753 130.3 133.6 2.1 2.5 -0.5 0.0 2.2 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 15.564 133.1 139.1 5.1 4.5 -0.5 0.5 3.7 Apparel .................................. 5.199 131.1 133.7 -0.2 2.0 -0.4 -0.4 1.4 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 10.365 138.7 146.7 7.9 5.8 -0.5 0.7 4.9 Durables .................................. 13.189 125.7 125.8 -1.4 0.1 -0.7 -0.3 0.0 Services .................................... 53.236 184.0 184.2 2.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 Rent of shelter (4)......................... 27.175 173.8 174.1 3.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 Transportation services .................... 6.800 187.8 187.9 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.1 Other services ............................. 10.144 217.8 218.1 2.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 83.034 161.1 162.6 2.3 0.9 -0.1 0.2 0.9 All items less shelter ...................... 72.504 156.1 157.7 2.0 1.0 -0.1 0.1 1.0 All items less medical care ................. 95.328 157.5 158.8 2.3 0.8 -0.1 0.1 0.8 Commodities less food ....................... 29.798 131.8 135.0 2.1 2.4 -0.5 0.0 2.2 Nondurables less food ....................... 16.609 135.1 140.8 4.9 4.2 -0.5 0.4 3.6 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 11.410 140.5 147.9 7.3 5.3 -0.4 0.6 4.5 Nondurables ................................. 33.575 148.3 151.4 3.6 2.1 -0.1 0.2 1.7 Services less rent of shelter (4)............ 26.061 172.6 172.7 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 Services less medical care services ......... 49.490 178.2 178.4 2.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 Energy ...................................... 6.994 97.5 104.5 3.4 7.2 -0.2 2.0 6.4 All items less energy ....................... 93.006 170.2 170.7 2.2 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.4 All items less food and energy ............. 76.040 172.2 172.9 2.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 26.531 143.7 144.8 1.2 0.8 -0.5 -0.5 0.6 Energy commodities ....................... 3.267 86.6 100.2 8.8 15.7 -0.7 3.7 13.9 Services less energy services ............. 49.509 191.5 191.8 2.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar ..... - $ .619 $ .615 - - - - - Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old base .................................... - $ .208 $ .206 - - - - - 1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for CPI-W 3 months ended-- 6 months ended-- Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. 1999 1999 1999 1999 July Oct. Jan. Apr. Oct. Apr. 1998 1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 Expenditure category All items ................................... 161.3 161.3 161.5 162.7 1.8 1.5 2.3 3.5 1.6 2.9 Food and beverages ......................... 162.9 163.1 162.8 162.9 3.0 3.0 2.7 0.0 3.0 1.4 Food ...................................... 162.5 162.7 162.4 162.5 3.3 3.0 2.8 0.0 3.2 1.4 Food at home ............................. 162.4 162.6 161.9 161.9 3.6 3.3 2.5 -1.2 3.4 0.6 Cereals and bakery products ............. 184.0 183.3 183.6 184.3 2.9 2.2 4.2 0.7 2.6 2.4 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 145.1 146.5 146.1 146.6 1.4 0.3 -5.1 4.2 0.8 -0.5 Dairy and related products (1)........... 161.1 162.2 161.5 155.7 -1.1 19.7 17.9 -12.7 8.8 1.4 Fruits and vegetables ................... 205.0 202.1 197.7 199.9 13.4 2.0 7.6 -9.6 7.6 -1.4 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 132.3 132.5 132.8 132.4 0.3 -1.5 2.8 0.3 -0.6 1.5 Other food at home ...................... 152.2 152.4 152.1 152.6 4.9 4.0 0.8 1.1 4.5 0.9 Sugar and sweets ....................... 151.2 150.9 150.7 151.4 -0.3 2.2 2.1 0.5 0.9 1.3 Fats and oils .......................... 149.8 150.1 148.5 148.5 19.9 27.2 -14.5 -3.4 23.5 -9.2 Other foods ............................ 167.5 167.8 167.8 168.5 3.2 -0.2 4.4 2.4 1.5 3.4 Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...... 104.2 105.9 105.0 105.2 4.4 2.0 3.5 3.9 3.2 3.7 Food away from home (1)................... 163.5 163.8 164.1 164.4 2.3 3.0 3.0 2.2 2.6 2.6 Other food away from home (1) (2)........ 103.6 103.7 103.8 104.1 3.6 5.2 3.1 1.9 4.4 2.5 Alcoholic beverages ....................... 166.7 167.5 166.9 167.4 2.2 2.0 2.9 1.7 2.1 2.3 Housing .................................... 158.2 158.4 158.8 159.2 2.1 2.1 1.8 2.6 2.1 2.2 Shelter ................................... 179.3 179.7 180.2 180.7 2.8 3.9 2.3 3.2 3.3 2.7 Rent of primary residence (3)............. 174.9 175.3 175.6 176.0 3.8 3.5 3.5 2.5 3.7 3.0 Lodging away from home (2) (3)............ 101.9 101.4 103.0 104.9 -2.0 12.9 -6.4 12.3 5.2 2.5 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (3) (4)..................... 173.8 174.2 174.6 174.9 2.9 3.3 2.6 2.6 3.1 2.6 Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2).. 100.1 100.4 100.6 100.6 -4.3 2.4 0.4 2.0 -1.0 1.2 Fuels and utilities ....................... 126.5 126.7 127.2 127.3 -1.5 -4.9 0.0 2.6 -3.2 1.3 Fuels .................................... 110.3 110.4 110.9 110.9 -2.5 -6.6 -0.4 2.2 -4.5 0.9 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ 85.3 84.1 85.0 87.1 -5.5 -11.8 -11.3 8.7 -8.7 -1.8 Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......... 118.1 118.3 118.8 118.7 -2.0 -6.2 0.0 2.0 -4.1 1.0 Household furnishings and operations ...... 125.2 124.8 124.6 124.9 0.3 -1.3 0.6 -1.0 -0.5 -0.2 Apparel .................................... 129.9 129.4 128.9 130.7 0.0 3.4 -6.5 2.5 1.7 -2.1 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 130.0 131.1 130.5 132.4 -0.3 2.5 -7.1 7.6 1.1 0.0 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 121.1 120.0 120.0 121.4 0.3 2.6 -9.3 1.0 1.5 -4.3 Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1)......... 130.8 127.2 126.5 129.3 -12.6 29.9 -0.6 -4.5 6.6 -2.6 Footwear .................................. 127.7 126.2 126.8 128.3 5.8 0.3 -4.0 1.9 3.0 -1.1 Transportation ............................. 139.2 138.7 139.6 143.2 0.3 -1.4 -2.8 12.0 -0.6 4.3 Private transportation .................... 136.7 136.0 136.8 140.4 0.6 -1.4 -2.9 11.3 -0.4 4.0 New and used motor vehicles (2)........... 100.6 99.7 99.5 99.7 2.0 1.2 -1.2 -3.5 1.6 -2.4 New vehicles ............................ 144.8 144.1 143.8 143.9 -1.1 -0.6 1.4 -2.5 -0.8 -0.6 Used cars and trucks (1)................. 151.8 149.6 148.7 149.6 8.8 4.0 -6.1 -5.7 6.4 -5.9 Motor fuel ............................... 86.5 86.0 89.4 102.4 -4.2 -10.4 -14.3 96.4 -7.4 29.7 Gasoline (all types) .................... 86.0 85.6 88.9 102.0 -4.2 -9.7 -14.7 97.9 -7.0 29.9 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ 100.4 100.2 99.7 99.8 1.6 1.2 -1.6 -2.4 1.4 -2.0 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 171.2 171.6 172.0 172.3 3.4 4.3 2.9 2.6 3.9 2.7 Public transportation (1).................. 186.8 189.1 194.1 196.4 -2.9 -5.0 1.1 22.2 -4.0 11.1 Medical care ............................... 245.9 246.4 247.2 248.1 3.7 3.3 3.2 3.6 3.5 3.4 Medical care commodities .................. 222.6 223.0 223.6 225.4 3.6 4.8 2.6 5.1 4.2 3.8 Medical care services ..................... 251.0 251.5 252.3 253.0 3.8 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.2 Professional services (3)................. 227.7 228.0 228.5 229.2 3.7 3.6 2.9 2.7 3.6 2.8 Hospital and related services (3)......... 289.9 291.2 292.2 292.3 4.0 3.1 4.7 3.4 3.6 4.0 Recreation (2).............................. 101.2 101.0 100.9 101.1 0.0 -0.4 2.4 -0.4 -0.2 1.0 Video and audio (1) (2).................... 101.6 101.0 100.5 100.4 -0.4 1.2 1.6 -4.6 0.4 -1.6 Education and communication (2)............. 101.2 101.4 101.4 101.3 2.0 -0.8 1.6 0.4 0.6 1.0 Education (2).............................. 105.1 105.9 106.3 106.7 4.4 4.3 4.7 6.2 4.4 5.5 Educational books and supplies ........... 259.0 262.1 263.0 263.4 3.9 9.0 0.5 7.0 6.4 3.7 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 295.5 297.8 298.9 299.8 4.6 3.9 5.0 5.9 4.2 5.5 Communication (1) (2)...................... 98.1 97.7 97.4 97.0 0.4 -4.7 -1.2 -4.4 -2.2 -2.8 Information and information processing (1) (2)................................... 97.8 97.4 97.1 96.7 0.0 -4.7 -2.0 -4.4 -2.4 -3.2 Telephone services (1) (2)............... 100.8 100.5 100.4 100.0 4.0 -2.7 0.0 -3.1 0.6 -1.6 Information and information processing other than telephone services (1) (5) 35.0 34.4 33.5 33.0 -31.0 -25.1 -23.3 -21.0 -28.1 -22.1 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1) (2)................... 61.1 59.3 56.9 55.9 -44.0 -32.2 -32.9 -29.9 -38.4 -31.4 Other goods and services ................... 259.3 258.7 256.1 259.7 6.7 6.9 35.6 0.6 6.8 16.8 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 353.8 349.3 337.0 350.1 16.4 15.8 141.5 -4.1 16.1 52.2 Personal care (1).......................... 159.1 159.6 160.3 160.4 2.9 3.4 2.0 3.3 3.1 2.7 Personal care products (1)................ 150.7 150.8 151.6 151.7 4.7 0.8 0.8 2.7 2.7 1.7 Personal care services (1)................ 169.1 169.6 170.2 170.6 2.2 3.4 3.1 3.6 2.8 3.4 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 239.5 240.4 240.9 241.0 3.5 5.2 4.5 2.5 4.4 3.5 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 142.9 142.5 142.4 144.4 1.7 0.8 2.0 4.3 1.3 3.1 Food and beverages ......................... 162.9 163.1 162.8 162.9 3.0 3.0 2.7 0.0 3.0 1.4 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 131.0 130.3 130.3 133.2 0.3 -0.3 1.5 6.9 0.0 4.2 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 133.3 132.6 133.2 138.1 2.1 0.9 2.7 15.2 1.5 8.8 Apparel .................................. 129.9 129.4 128.9 130.7 0.0 3.4 -6.5 2.5 1.7 -2.1 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 139.8 139.1 140.1 147.0 1.8 0.3 8.4 22.2 1.0 15.1 Durables .................................. 126.7 125.8 125.4 125.4 0.6 -0.9 -1.6 -4.0 -0.2 -2.8 Services .................................... 183.1 183.5 184.1 184.5 2.2 2.0 2.2 3.1 2.1 2.7 Rent of shelter (4)......................... 172.8 173.1 173.5 174.1 2.6 4.1 2.3 3.0 3.3 2.7 Transportation services .................... 185.9 186.5 187.7 187.9 0.0 -0.4 0.9 4.4 -0.2 2.6 Other services ............................. 217.4 217.8 218.2 218.5 3.2 2.1 3.4 2.0 2.6 2.7 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 160.7 160.6 160.9 162.4 1.5 1.3 2.0 4.3 1.4 3.2 All items less shelter ...................... 156.2 156.0 156.1 157.6 1.6 0.8 2.1 3.6 1.2 2.9 All items less medical care ................. 157.3 157.2 157.4 158.6 1.8 1.5 2.1 3.3 1.7 2.7 Commodities less food ....................... 132.6 131.9 131.9 134.8 0.6 -0.3 1.5 6.8 0.2 4.1 Nondurables less food ....................... 135.3 134.6 135.2 140.0 2.1 0.9 2.7 14.6 1.5 8.5 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 141.3 140.8 141.6 148.0 1.8 0.6 7.4 20.4 1.2 13.7 Nondurables ................................. 148.1 148.0 148.3 150.8 3.1 1.4 2.5 7.5 2.2 5.0 Services less rent of shelter (4)............ 172.1 172.3 172.8 173.0 1.9 0.7 1.9 2.1 1.3 2.0 Services less medical care services ......... 177.5 177.8 178.2 178.6 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.4 Energy ...................................... 97.9 97.7 99.7 106.1 -3.1 -8.4 -7.0 38.0 -5.8 13.3 All items less energy ....................... 170.1 170.1 170.0 170.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 1.2 2.4 2.0 All items less food and energy ............. 172.1 172.1 172.1 172.8 2.1 2.1 2.8 1.6 2.1 2.2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 144.6 143.9 143.2 144.1 1.4 1.1 3.7 -1.4 1.3 1.1 Energy commodities ....................... 86.5 85.9 89.1 101.5 -4.6 -10.4 -13.9 89.6 -7.6 27.8 Services less energy services ............. 190.6 191.0 191.6 192.1 2.6 2.8 2.3 3.2 2.7 2.8 1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) All items Prici- Indexes Percent change to Percent change to CPI-W ng Apr.1999 from-- Mar.1999 from-- sched- ule Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. (1) 1999 1999 1999 1999 Apr. Feb. Mar. Mar. Jan. Feb. 1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 U.S. city average ........................... M 161.0 161.1 161.4 162.7 2.3 1.0 0.8 1.7 0.2 0.2 Region and area size(2) Northeast urban ............................. M 168.4 168.3 168.5 169.5 1.9 0.7 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.1 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 168.5 168.1 168.3 169.3 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.5 -0.1 0.1 Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M 102.4 102.6 102.8 103.5 2.0 0.9 0.7 1.5 0.4 0.2 Midwest urban ............................... M 156.6 156.5 156.9 158.2 2.1 1.1 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.3 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 157.1 157.2 157.5 158.8 2.2 1.0 0.8 1.8 0.3 0.2 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 102.3 102.2 102.6 103.5 1.8 1.3 0.9 1.3 0.3 0.4 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 153.6 153.4 153.4 154.4 2.3 0.7 0.7 1.8 -0.1 0.0 South urban ................................. M 157.9 158.0 158.4 159.4 1.9 0.9 0.6 1.5 0.3 0.3 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 156.4 156.4 156.9 157.9 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.4 0.3 0.3 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........ M 102.5 102.6 102.8 103.5 2.0 0.9 0.7 1.5 0.3 0.2 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 161.1 161.0 161.5 162.7 2.3 1.1 0.7 2.1 0.2 0.3 West urban .................................. M 162.4 162.7 163.2 164.9 3.3 1.4 1.0 2.4 0.5 0.3 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 161.6 161.9 162.3 164.2 3.6 1.4 1.2 2.7 0.4 0.2 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 103.4 103.6 104.0 105.0 2.9 1.4 1.0 1.9 0.6 0.4 Size classes A (4)...................................... M 147.4 147.4 147.7 148.9 2.4 1.0 0.8 1.9 0.2 0.2 B/C (3).................................... M 102.6 102.6 102.9 103.7 2.1 1.1 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.3 D ......................................... M 159.6 159.4 159.8 160.9 2.3 0.9 0.7 1.9 0.1 0.3 Selected local areas(5) Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .............. M 160.5 160.6 161.1 161.7 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.8 0.4 0.3 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ..... M 157.8 158.1 158.3 160.1 2.9 1.3 1.1 2.1 0.3 0.1 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA ............................. M 170.8 170.6 170.8 171.3 1.7 0.4 0.3 1.5 0.0 0.1 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... 1 172.2 - 172.3 - - - - 1.8 0.1 - Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... 1 152.7 - 152.9 - - - - 1.9 0.1 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... 1 154.6 - 155.8 - - - - 2.0 0.8 - Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........ 1 102.7 - 102.8 - - - - 1.5 0.1 - Atlanta, GA ................................. 2 - 159.1 - 160.9 2.0 1.1 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ................. 2 - 155.8 - 158.7 3.4 1.9 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .............. 2 - 145.0 - 146.6 1.2 1.1 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ................... 2 - 158.8 - 159.1 1.1 0.2 - - - - Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD ............................. 2 - 167.8 - 170.6 2.5 1.7 - - - - San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 165.7 - 168.8 5.0 1.9 - - - - Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................ 2 - 166.0 - 167.8 3.6 1.1 - - - - 1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 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; 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 1(LAS). Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Unadjusted Relative Unadjusted percent change to importance, indexes Apr. 1999 from- CPI-U December 1998 Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. 1999 1999 1998 1999 Expenditure category All items ................................... 100.000 165.2 166.3 2.3 0.7 All items (1967=100) ........................ - 494.9 498.2 - - Food and beverages ......................... 16.408 163.7 163.9 2.3 0.1 Food ...................................... 15.422 163.3 163.5 2.3 0.1 Food at home ............................. 9.691 163.5 163.6 2.1 0.1 Cereals and bakery products ............. 1.544 183.4 184.7 2.5 0.7 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 2.569 147.0 146.9 0.4 -0.1 Dairy and related products .............. 1.088 161.4 156.3 5.3 -3.2 Fruits and vegetables ................... 1.440 200.4 203.7 3.1 1.6 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 1.049 134.4 134.0 0.1 -0.3 Other food at home ...................... 2.002 152.8 153.6 2.7 0.5 Sugar and sweets ....................... .377 151.0 151.8 1.1 0.5 Fats and oils .......................... .309 149.1 148.9 5.8 -0.1 Other foods ............................ 1.316 168.0 169.2 2.5 0.7 Other miscellaneous foods (1)......... .320 104.9 105.7 3.9 0.8 Food away from home ...................... 5.730 164.2 164.5 2.7 0.2 Other food away from home (1)........... .175 103.7 104.0 3.4 0.3 Alcoholic beverages ....................... .986 168.4 168.8 2.2 0.2 Housing .................................... 39.828 163.0 163.2 2.3 0.1 Shelter ................................... 30.283 186.5 186.7 3.1 0.1 Rent of primary residence ................ 7.007 176.0 176.4 3.3 0.2 Lodging away from home (1)................ 2.376 116.1 115.4 4.7 -0.6 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......................... 20.529 191.5 191.9 3.0 0.2 Tenants' and household insurance (1)..... .371 100.2 100.3 -0.1 0.1 Fuels and utilities ....................... 4.735 125.9 125.7 -1.0 -0.2 Fuels .................................... 3.801 110.5 110.2 -1.9 -0.3 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ .227 86.2 87.7 -5.5 1.7 Gas (piped) and electricity ............. 3.574 117.9 117.5 -1.6 -0.3 Household furnishings and operations ...... 4.810 127.0 127.4 0.3 0.3 Apparel .................................... 4.831 133.7 135.8 0.0 1.6 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 1.358 132.0 133.9 0.4 1.4 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 1.939 127.9 130.1 -0.6 1.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............ .272 125.6 128.3 1.3 2.1 Footwear .................................. .876 127.2 129.1 0.9 1.5 Transportation ............................. 16.999 140.7 144.3 2.0 2.6 Private transportation .................... 15.653 136.5 140.1 1.7 2.6 New and used motor vehicles (1)........... 7.843 99.7 99.8 -0.3 0.1 New vehicles ............................ 4.983 143.4 143.3 -0.7 -0.1 Used cars and trucks .................... 1.914 147.5 148.4 0.1 0.6 Motor fuel ............................... 2.493 86.3 100.9 10.0 16.9 Gasoline (all types) .................... 2.476 85.8 100.3 10.1 16.9 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ .549 100.3 100.3 -0.2 0.0 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 1.624 170.6 171.0 3.2 0.2 Public transportation ..................... 1.346 198.4 201.3 4.1 1.5 Medical care ............................... 5.713 248.4 249.2 3.5 0.3 Medical care commodities .................. 1.252 228.1 229.8 4.4 0.7 Medical care services ..................... 4.461 253.1 253.5 3.3 0.2 Professional services .................... 2.854 227.4 228.2 3.2 0.4 Hospital and related services ............ 1.354 296.6 296.3 3.7 -0.1 Recreation (1).............................. 6.120 102.0 102.2 1.1 0.2 Video and audio (1)....................... 1.748 101.1 101.0 -0.4 -0.1 Education and communication (1)............. 5.478 100.8 100.7 0.8 -0.1 Education (1).............................. 2.694 105.4 105.5 4.8 0.1 Educational books and supplies ........... .203 261.1 260.9 4.9 -0.1 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 2.492 303.4 303.8 4.8 0.1 Communication (1)......................... 2.783 96.7 96.4 -2.9 -0.3 Information and information processing (1)................................... 2.580 96.2 95.9 -3.3 -0.3 Telephone services (1).................. 2.327 100.3 100.1 -0.4 -0.2 Information and information processing other than telephone services (3)... .253 32.5 32.2 -24.8 -0.9 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1)...................... .148 57.7 57.0 -34.2 -1.2 Other goods and services ................... 4.624 253.3 256.2 9.2 1.1 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 1.159 335.8 348.5 32.3 3.8 Personal care ............................. 3.465 160.1 160.4 2.9 0.2 Personal care products ................... .742 150.2 150.9 2.4 0.5 Personal care services ................... .973 170.1 170.6 3.3 0.3 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 1.491 241.5 241.8 3.6 0.1 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 42.109 142.8 144.8 2.0 1.4 Food and beverages ......................... 16.408 163.7 163.9 2.3 0.1 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 25.702 130.4 133.3 1.8 2.2 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 14.345 133.6 138.8 4.4 3.9 Apparel .................................. 4.831 133.7 135.8 0.0 1.6 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 9.514 138.6 145.7 6.7 5.1 Durables .................................. 11.356 126.1 126.2 -1.5 0.1 Services .................................... 57.891 187.7 187.9 2.6 0.1 Rent of shelter (2)......................... 29.912 194.2 194.4 3.2 0.1 Transportation services .................... 6.963 190.7 191.1 1.5 0.2 Other services ............................. 10.768 221.5 221.9 2.9 0.2 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 84.578 165.6 166.8 2.3 0.7 All items less shelter ...................... 69.717 158.6 160.1 2.0 0.9 All items less medical care ................. 94.287 160.6 161.7 2.3 0.7 Commodities less food ....................... 26.688 132.0 134.8 1.8 2.1 Nondurables less food ....................... 15.331 135.7 140.7 4.2 3.7 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 10.500 140.6 147.1 6.3 4.6 Nondurables ................................. 30.753 148.8 151.6 3.3 1.9 Services less rent of shelter (2)............ 27.979 194.3 194.6 2.0 0.2 Services less medical care services ......... 53.429 181.7 181.9 2.5 0.1 Energy ...................................... 6.294 98.5 104.9 2.9 6.5 All items less energy ....................... 93.706 173.9 174.3 2.3 0.2 All items less food and energy ............. 78.284 176.5 177.0 2.3 0.3 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 23.967 144.2 145.1 0.9 0.6 Energy commodities ....................... 2.720 86.4 99.9 8.8 15.6 Services less energy services ............. 54.316 194.9 195.1 2.8 0.1 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ......................... - $ .605 $ .601 - - Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............................ - $ .202 $ .201 - - 1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Index is on a December 1982=100 base. 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 2(LAS). Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Unadjusted Relative Unadjusted percent change to importance, indexes Apr. 1999 from- CPI-W December 1998 Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. 1999 1999 1998 1999 Expenditure category All items ................................... 100.000 161.6 162.8 2.3 0.7 All items (1967=100) ........................ - 481.3 485.0 - - Food and beverages ......................... 18.011 163.0 163.1 2.3 0.1 Food ...................................... 16.966 162.6 162.7 2.3 0.1 Food at home ............................. 10.832 162.3 162.3 2.0 0.0 Cereals and bakery products ............. 1.689 183.1 184.4 2.5 0.7 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......... 3.055 146.6 146.5 0.3 -0.1 Dairy and related products .............. 1.193 161.3 155.9 5.2 -3.3 Fruits and vegetables ................... 1.492 199.2 202.0 2.9 1.4 Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................... 1.184 133.4 132.9 0.2 -0.4 Other food at home ...................... 2.220 152.1 153.0 2.8 0.6 Sugar and sweets ....................... .420 151.1 151.7 1.1 0.4 Fats and oils .......................... .354 148.7 148.5 5.8 -0.1 Other foods ............................ 1.446 167.8 169.0 2.4 0.7 Other miscellaneous foods (1)......... .355 104.9 105.4 3.6 0.5 Food away from home ...................... 6.133 164.2 164.5 2.7 0.2 Other food away from home (1)........... .216 103.8 104.1 3.5 0.3 Alcoholic beverages ....................... 1.045 167.3 167.8 2.2 0.3 Housing .................................... 36.685 158.9 159.1 2.1 0.1 Shelter ................................... 27.496 180.6 180.9 3.1 0.2 Rent of primary residence ................ 8.500 175.6 176.0 3.3 0.2 Lodging away from home (1)................ 1.379 115.2 115.0 4.3 -0.2 Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......................... 17.296 174.5 174.8 2.9 0.2 Tenants' and household insurance (1)..... .320 100.6 100.7 0.2 0.1 Fuels and utilities ....................... 4.850 125.8 125.5 -1.1 -0.2 Fuels .................................... 3.928 110.0 109.7 -1.9 -0.3 Fuel oil and other fuels ................ .201 86.8 88.1 -5.4 1.5 Gas (piped) and electricity ............. 3.727 117.3 116.9 -1.7 -0.3 Household furnishings and operations ...... 4.339 125.1 125.6 0.0 0.4 Apparel .................................... 5.199 132.1 134.2 0.1 1.6 Men's and boys' apparel ................... 1.474 132.1 134.0 0.8 1.4 Women's and girls' apparel ................ 1.948 125.4 127.8 -0.4 1.9 Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............ .344 126.6 129.5 2.0 2.3 Footwear .................................. 1.057 127.6 129.4 0.8 1.4 Transportation ............................. 19.166 139.1 143.0 1.9 2.8 Private transportation .................... 18.109 136.3 140.2 1.8 2.9 New and used motor vehicles (1)........... 9.250 99.5 99.7 -0.4 0.2 New vehicles ............................ 5.224 144.5 144.4 -0.8 -0.1 Used cars and trucks .................... 3.216 148.8 149.7 0.1 0.6 Motor fuel ............................... 3.066 86.4 100.7 9.6 16.6 Gasoline (all types) .................... 3.045 85.9 100.2 9.7 16.6 Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........ .682 100.0 99.8 -0.1 -0.2 Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ..... 1.690 172.1 172.5 3.4 0.2 Public transportation ..................... 1.056 193.7 196.2 3.2 1.3 Medical care ............................... 4.672 247.6 248.3 3.5 0.3 Medical care commodities .................. .926 224.3 226.1 4.2 0.8 Medical care services ..................... 3.746 252.8 253.3 3.3 0.2 Professional services .................... 2.415 228.9 229.7 3.2 0.3 Hospital and related services ............ 1.114 292.8 292.3 3.8 -0.2 Recreation (1).............................. 5.925 101.4 101.5 0.5 0.1 Video and audio (1)....................... 1.951 101.0 100.8 -0.6 -0.2 Education and communication (1)............. 5.361 101.1 100.9 0.8 -0.2 Education (1).............................. 2.478 105.6 105.7 5.0 0.1 Educational books and supplies ........... .200 263.7 263.5 4.9 -0.1 Tuition, other school fees, and childcare 2.278 297.9 298.3 4.9 0.1 Communication (1)......................... 2.883 97.4 97.1 -2.4 -0.3 Information and information processing (1)................................... 2.733 97.1 96.8 -2.7 -0.3 Telephone services (1).................. 2.519 100.4 100.1 -0.4 -0.3 Information and information processing other than telephone services (3)... .213 33.5 33.2 -24.7 -0.9 Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1)...................... .120 57.0 56.1 -34.8 -1.6 Other goods and services ................... 4.981 255.6 259.4 11.7 1.5 Tobacco and smoking products .............. 1.694 335.9 349.0 32.4 3.9 Personal care ............................. 3.287 160.3 160.7 3.1 0.2 Personal care products ................... .838 151.1 151.7 2.2 0.4 Personal care services ................... .975 170.4 170.9 3.3 0.3 Miscellaneous personal services .......... 1.253 241.7 242.1 4.1 0.2 Commodity and service group Commodities ................................. 46.764 142.6 144.8 2.3 1.5 Food and beverages ......................... 18.011 163.0 163.1 2.3 0.1 Commodities less food and beverages ........ 28.753 130.6 133.8 2.2 2.5 Nondurables less food and beverages ....... 15.564 133.4 139.2 5.2 4.3 Apparel .................................. 5.199 132.1 134.2 0.1 1.6 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .............................. 10.365 138.8 146.7 7.9 5.7 Durables .................................. 13.189 125.8 125.9 -1.3 0.1 Services .................................... 53.236 184.1 184.3 2.4 0.1 Rent of shelter (2)......................... 27.175 173.9 174.2 3.1 0.2 Transportation services .................... 6.800 187.9 188.1 1.3 0.1 Other services ............................. 10.144 218.0 218.3 2.8 0.1 Special indexes All items less food ......................... 83.034 161.3 162.7 2.3 0.9 All items less shelter ...................... 72.504 156.2 157.8 2.1 1.0 All items less medical care ................. 95.328 157.6 158.9 2.3 0.8 Commodities less food ....................... 29.798 132.0 135.1 2.2 2.3 Nondurables less food ....................... 16.609 135.4 141.0 5.1 4.1 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 11.410 140.5 147.9 7.3 5.3 Nondurables ................................. 33.575 148.5 151.5 3.6 2.0 Services less rent of shelter (2)............ 26.061 172.7 172.8 1.8 0.1 Services less medical care services ......... 49.490 178.3 178.5 2.4 0.1 Energy ...................................... 6.994 97.5 104.5 3.4 7.2 All items less energy ....................... 93.006 170.4 170.9 2.3 0.3 All items less food and energy ............. 76.040 172.4 173.0 2.3 0.3 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................... 26.531 144.0 145.0 1.3 0.7 Energy commodities ....................... 3.267 86.6 100.1 8.7 15.6 Services less energy services ............. 49.509 191.6 191.8 2.7 0.1 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ......................... - $ .619 $ .614 - - Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............................ - $ .208 $ .206 - - 1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Index is on a December 1984=100 base. 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 3(LAS). Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): Selected areas, all items index using a Laspeyres Estimator (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change to Pricing Apr.1999 from-- CPI-U schedule (1) Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Jan. Feb. Mar. 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 U.S. city average ........................... M 164.4 164.7 165.2 166.3 1.2 1.0 0.7 Region and area size(2) Northeast urban ............................. M 171.6 171.7 172.1 173.0 0.8 0.8 0.5 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 172.6 172.6 173.1 173.8 0.7 0.7 0.4 Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M 102.8 103.0 103.3 104.0 1.2 1.0 0.7 Midwest urban ............................... M 160.4 160.6 161.2 162.3 1.2 1.1 0.7 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 161.6 161.9 162.5 163.7 1.3 1.1 0.7 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 102.6 102.7 103.1 103.8 1.2 1.1 0.7 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 155.6 155.7 155.8 156.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 South urban ................................. M 160.0 160.2 160.8 161.6 1.0 0.9 0.5 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 158.9 159.1 159.8 160.6 1.1 0.9 0.5 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........ M 102.9 103.1 103.4 104.0 1.1 0.9 0.6 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 160.9 161.1 161.7 162.8 1.2 1.1 0.7 West urban .................................. M 166.5 167.0 167.5 169.2 1.6 1.3 1.0 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 167.3 167.9 168.4 170.1 1.7 1.3 1.0 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 103.7 103.9 104.3 105.2 1.4 1.3 0.9 Size classes A (4)...................................... M 148.9 149.1 149.6 150.7 1.2 1.1 0.7 B/C (3).................................... M 103.0 103.1 103.5 104.1 1.1 1.0 0.6 D ......................................... M 160.6 160.8 161.3 162.3 1.1 0.9 0.6 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .............. M 166.0 166.4 166.9 167.6 1.0 0.7 0.4 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ..... M 164.2 164.7 165.2 166.6 1.5 1.2 0.8 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA ............................. M 175.2 175.4 175.8 176.3 0.6 0.5 0.3 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... 1 174.1 - 175.2 - - - - Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... 1 160.6 - 161.1 - - - - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... 1 155.2 - 156.4 - - - - Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........ 1 102.8 - 103.4 - - - - Atlanta, GA ................................. 2 - 162.1 - 163.8 - 1.0 - Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ................. 2 - 161.3 - 164.0 - 1.7 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .............. 2 - 146.8 - 148.3 - 1.0 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ................... 2 - 161.4 - 161.8 - 0.2 - Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD ............................. 2 - 168.7 - 171.1 - 1.4 - San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 169.5 - 172.5 - 1.8 - Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................ 2 - 170.8 - 172.6 - 1.1 - 1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 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(LAS). Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): Selected areas, all items index using a Laspeyres Estimator (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change to Pricing Apr.1999 from-- CPI-W schedule (1) Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Jan. Feb. Mar. 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 U.S. city average ........................... M 161.1 161.2 161.6 162.8 1.1 1.0 0.7 Region and area size(2) Northeast urban ............................. M 168.5 168.4 168.7 169.7 0.7 0.8 0.6 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 168.5 168.3 168.5 169.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).......... M 102.5 102.7 102.8 103.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 Midwest urban ............................... M 156.6 156.6 157.1 158.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 157.1 157.2 157.6 158.8 1.1 1.0 0.8 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 102.3 102.3 102.7 103.6 1.3 1.3 0.9 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 153.7 153.5 153.5 154.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 South urban ................................. M 158.0 158.1 158.5 159.5 0.9 0.9 0.6 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............. M 156.5 156.5 157.0 157.9 0.9 0.9 0.6 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........ M 102.5 102.7 102.9 103.6 1.1 0.9 0.7 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ............................... M 161.2 161.2 161.7 162.8 1.0 1.0 0.7 West urban .................................. M 162.5 162.8 163.3 165.0 1.5 1.4 1.0 Size A - More than 1,500,000 ............ M 161.6 162.0 162.4 164.2 1.6 1.4 1.1 Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)......... M 103.5 103.7 104.1 105.1 1.5 1.4 1.0 Size classes A (4)...................................... M 147.4 147.5 147.8 149.0 1.1 1.0 0.8 B/C (3).................................... M 102.6 102.7 103.0 103.8 1.2 1.1 0.8 D ......................................... M 159.6 159.5 159.9 160.9 0.8 0.9 0.6 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .............. M 160.5 160.6 161.1 161.7 0.7 0.7 0.4 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ..... M 157.9 158.1 158.5 160.1 1.4 1.3 1.0 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA ............................. M 170.9 170.8 171.0 171.6 0.4 0.5 0.4 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ......... 1 172.2 - 172.7 - - - - Cleveland-Akron, OH ......................... 1 152.8 - 152.9 - - - - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ....................... 1 154.8 - 155.9 - - - - Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........ 1 102.7 - 103.0 - - - - Atlanta, GA ................................. 2 - 159.3 - 160.9 - 1.0 - Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ................. 2 - 155.9 - 158.6 - 1.7 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .............. 2 - 145.2 - 146.6 - 1.0 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ................... 2 - 158.8 - 159.2 - 0.3 - Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD ............................. 2 - 167.9 - 170.5 - 1.5 - San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 165.8 - 169.0 - 1.9 - Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................ 2 - 166.2 - 168.1 - 1.1 - 1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.