FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-97-283 CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 606-6994 TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED INFORMATION: (202) 606-7828 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT) MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 606-5902 Thursday, August 14, 1997 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: JULY 1997 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1 percent before seasonal adjustment in July to a level of 160.5 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in July, the CPI-U increased 2.2 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in July, prior to seasonal adjustment. The July 1997 CPI-W level of 157.5 was 2.1 percent higher than the index in July 1996. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in July, following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding four months. The food index increased 0.3 percent in July. Grocery store food prices, which increased 0.2 percent in June, advanced 0.3 percent in July, reflecting larger increases in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for fruits and vegetables. The energy index continued to exert a moderating effect on the CPI-U, declining 0.1 percent in July. The index for petroleum-based energy fell 0.4 percent, while the index for energy services rose 0.2 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent, following an increase of 0.1 percent in June. The larger advance in July reflects upturns in the indexes for transportation (other than for motor fuel) and for apparel and upkeep. 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 1997 3-mos. ended ended Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July `97 July `97 All Items .1 .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 1.5 2.2 Food and beverages -.2 .3 .0 -.2 .4 .2 .3 3.6 2.5 Housing .3 .3 .0 .2 .1 .3 .2 2.3 2.5 Apparel and upkeep .4 .2 -.3 .9 .1 -.2 .2 .3 1.5 Transportation -.2 -.1 .1 -.4 -.8 -.3 .1 -4.1 .1 Medical care .2 .2 .4 .3 .3 .2 .0 2.1 2.7 Entertainment .0 .2 .2 .1 .2 .5 .1 3.0 2.3 Other goods and services .4 .5 .5 .8 .2 .2 .3 2.7 4.1 Special Indexes: Energy .8 .3 -1.7 -1.5 -2.4 .0 -.1 -9.7 -1.0 Food -.3 .3 .0 -.2 .4 .2 .3 3.6 2.5 All items less food and energy .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 1.9 2.4 See page 4 for a note on the future use of a hedonic model to adjust personal computer prices in the CPI for changes in quality. For the first seven months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.5 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.3 percent in all of 1996. The energy and food components have been largely responsible for the moderation thus far in 1997. After advancing substantially in 1996, the energy index has declined at a 7.9 percent SAAR, while food prices have risen at a 1.3 percent annual rate. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has risen at a 2.4 percent SAAR in the first seven months of 1997, following a 2.6 percent increase in all of 1996. The food and beverage index rose 0.3 percent in July. The index for grocery store food prices, which rose 0.2 percent in June, advanced 0.3 percent in July, reflecting larger increases in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for fruits and vegetables. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.5 percent in July after increasing 0.1 percent in June, as a result of an upturn in egg prices and a larger increase in beef prices. Egg prices advanced 2.9 percent in July, following a 3.3 percent decline in June. The index for beef, which rose 0.2 percent in June, increased 0.7 percent in July. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.5 percent in July as an increase in the index for fresh vegetables more than offset declines in the indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables. The index for dairy products decreased 0.6 percent in July, the ninth consecutive month that this component failed to increase. During this period, dairy product prices have fallen 4.0 percent after registering increases totaling 8.5 percent in the preceding five-month period. The indexes for cereal and bakery products and for other food at home rose 0.1 and 0.6 percent, respectively. In the latter group, coffee prices continued to surge upwards--up 3.1 percent in July and 23.5 percent in the last five months. The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages-each increased 0.3 percent. The housing component rose 0.2 percent in July after increasing 0.3 percent in June. Shelter costs increased 0.2 percent. Within shelter, renters' costs declined 0.1 percent, while homeowners' costs and maintenance and repair costs increased 0.4 and 1.5 percent, respectively. The decline in renters' costs reflects a 0.7 percent decrease in the index for lodging while out of town; residential rents rose 0.2 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging while out of town rose 2.8 percent.) The index for fuel and other utilities, which advanced 0.6 percent in June, rose 0.2 percent in July. The index for household fuels was unchanged, following a 0.8 percent increase in June. A 1.1 percent increase in the index for natural gas was largely offset by declines in the indexes for electricity and for fuel oil--down 0.2 and 2.9 percent, respectively. The index for other utilities and public services rose 0.5 percent in July, reflecting increases of 1.1 percent in the index for cable television and 0.9 percent in the index for water and sewerage treatment. The index for household furnishings and operation, which was unchanged in June, declined 0.2 percent in July. The transportation component rose 0.1 percent in July, following declines in each of the three preceding months. The index for gasoline declined for the fifth consecutive month, down 0.4 percent in July. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 1.8 percent.) New vehicle purchase costs advanced somewhat more in July than in recent months; the index for new vehicle prices rose 0.1 percent, and automobile finance charges increased 1.6 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices declined 0.3 percent.) The index for used cars declined 1.1 percent. Public transportation costs turned up in July. The index for airline fares, which had declined 1.3 and 1.2 percent, respectively, in the two preceding months, rose 2.3 percent in July. The index for apparel and upkeep increased 0.2 percent in July. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel commodity prices fell 1.9 percent, reflecting seasonal price declines for spring and summer wear.) Medical care costs were virtually unchanged in July, and the July 1997 index was 2.7 percent above its level a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--decreased 0.1 percent. Charges for medical care services rose 0.1 percent. The indexes for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.1 percent and were virtually unchanged, respectively. Entertainment costs, which increased 0.5 percent in June, rose 0.1 percent in July. A substantially smaller increase in the index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events--up 0.2 percent in July, following a 1.9 percent rise in June--and a decline in the index for reading materials were responsible for the moderation. The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in July. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.4 percent, following declines of 0.5 and 0.9 percent, respectively, in the two preceding months.. CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers rose 0.2 percent in July. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- Changes from preceding month Compound adjust- annual ed Expenditure rate 12- 1997 3-mos. ended Category ended mos. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July `97 July`97 All Items .1 .2 .1 .0 .0 .1 .2 1.3 2.1 Food and beverages -.2 .2 .1 -.2 .4 .2 .3 3.6 2.5 Housing .3 .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 2.4 2.5 Apparel upkeep .4 .4 -.3 1.0 .2 -.3 .2 .3 1.5 Transportation .0 .0 -.1 -.6 -1.0 -.4 .1 -4.9 -.3 Medical care .2 .2 .3 .3 .3 .2 .1 2.3 2.6 Entertainment .0 .1 .1 .1 .1 .5 .1 2.5 2.2 Other goods and services .6 .4 .5 1.0 .1 .0 .3 1.5 4.1 Special Indexes: Energy .9 .3 -1.8 -1.9 -2.4 .0 -.2 -10.1 -1.2 Food -.3 .3 .1 -.2 .3 .3 .3 3.6 2.5 All items less food and energy .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 1.7 2.3 After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items was 160.6 in July; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 157.5. Beginning with January 1997 data, BLS is reporting the level of the seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items CPI-U and CPI-W in this monthly news release. Effective with the release of January 1998 data in February 1998, the seasonally adjusted All Items indexes will be fully integrated into the releases, appearing in tables 2 and 5 and in the text where relevant. Like other seasonally adjusted CPI data, 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. Consumer Price Index data for August are scheduled for release on Tuesday, September 16, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT). Using a hedonic model to adjust prices of personal computers in the Consumer Price Index for changes in quality Effective with the release of data for January 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an improved quality adjustment technique in the new stratum of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) called Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment. Currently, personal computers are part of the Information Processing Equipment stratum. As previously announced, beginning with the CPI for January 1998, Information Processing Equipment will become an expenditure class entitled Information and Information Processing Other Than Telephone Services. Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment will be one of four strata in that expenditure class. Analysts in the Producer Price Index (PPI) program have developed and implemented a regression procedure, called a hedonic model, that decomposes the price of personal computers into implicit prices for each important feature and component of the computer. This model, which has been used in the PPI since 1991, provides a way to estimate the value of changes or improvements. The CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for many years. Starting with the CPI for January 1998, when a personal computer or selected item of peripheral equipment, such as a modem, in the CPI sample improves in some way, a regression-based quality adjustment will be made. The value of the improvement, as derived from the PPI regression estimates, will be deducted from the observed price change for the product. (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value of the difference will be added to the price.) Additional information on these changes will be published in the June 1997 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (at http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm). This information can also be obtained by writing to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Room 3260, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20212 or by telephoning Joseph Chelena at (202) 606-6982 ext. 255. 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) + Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December June July July 1997 from- Apr. to May to June to 1996 1997 1997 July 1996 June 1997 May June July Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 160.3 160.5 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 480.2 480.7 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.484 157.1 157.5 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 Food ................................... 15.913 156.6 157.0 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 Food at home ......................... 10.040 157.3 157.7 2.3 .3 .6 .2 .3 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.479 178.2 178.3 2.0 .1 .3 .4 .1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.002 147.9 148.2 3.0 .2 .5 .1 .5 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.245 144.1 143.3 .9 -.6 -.2 -.9 -.6 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 1.974 183.7 184.6 .3 .5 1.8 .3 .5 + _ Other food at home ................. 2.340 147.8 148.6 4.0 .5 .1 .7 .6 Sugar and sweets ................. .331 148.1 149.2 3.2 .7 -.1 .5 .5 Fats and oils .................... .246 141.6 141.4 .6 -.1 -.1 -.3 -.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .724 134.8 136.3 6.9 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.6 Other prepared food .............. 1.039 161.2 161.3 2.9 .1 -.4 .6 .1 Food away from home .................. 5.873 156.6 157.1 2.8 .3 .1 .2 .3 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.571 162.7 162.9 2.8 .1 .3 .1 .3 Housing 2/ ............................... 41.203 156.9 157.5 2.5 .4 .1 .3 .2 + _ Shelter ................................ 28.194 176.0 177.0 3.0 .6 .3 .2 .2 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 7.994 186.6 188.4 3.0 1.0 .2 .3 -.1 + _ _ Rent, residential .................. 5.731 166.4 166.8 2.8 .2 .4 .2 .2 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 2.263 226.7 232.6 3.2 2.6 -.3 .5 -.7 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 20.000 181.1 181.7 2.9 .3 .3 .2 .4 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 19.616 181.4 182.1 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .4 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .383 165.3 165.7 2.3 .2 .5 .1 .0 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .200 143.3 145.4 4.3 1.5 .5 .1 1.5 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .123 150.0 153.8 5.1 2.5 .7 .1 2.5 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .077 134.1 133.7 2.8 -.3 .4 .0 -.3 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.102 131.9 132.1 2.4 .2 -.6 .6 .2 + _ Fuels ................................ 3.878 119.8 119.6 1.9 -.2 -1.1 .8 .0 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .424 98.0 94.7 2.6 -3.4 -.4 -.7 -1.9 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.453 127.5 127.8 1.8 .2 -1.3 1.0 .2 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.224 161.7 162.4 3.1 .4 .1 .4 .5 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.908 125.7 125.6 .7 -.1 .4 .0 -.2 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.332 111.2 110.7 -.4 -.4 .7 -.2 -.6 + _ Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.093 142.9 144.0 2.1 .8 -.1 .1 .7 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.482 151.8 152.1 2.4 .2 .1 .3 .2 + _ Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.330 132.4 130.2 1.5 -1.7 .1 -.2 .2 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.786 128.6 126.2 1.4 -1.9 .2 -.3 .1 + _ Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.280 129.0 128.0 2.3 -.8 .2 -.6 .5 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.102 125.6 121.1 2.2 -3.6 .6 -.1 -.5 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .186 132.9 131.3 4.5 -1.2 .1 -.7 -1.2 + _ Footwear ............................. .718 126.3 125.9 .2 -.3 -.3 -1.0 1.0 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .500 146.4 146.9 -3.0 .3 -.6 .5 .4 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .545 163.2 163.5 2.3 .2 .2 .2 .2 + _ _ Transportation ........................... 17.140 144.0 143.7 .1 -.2 -.8 -.3 .1 Private transportation ................. 15.499 140.7 140.1 -.3 -.4 -.9 -.3 .1 New vehicles ......................... 4.955 144.2 143.7 .3 -.3 -.2 .0 .1 New cars ........................... 3.952 141.7 141.1 .1 -.4 -.1 -.1 .1 Used cars ............................ 1.278 151.8 149.9 -4.5 -1.3 -.9 -1.8 -1.1 Motor fuel ........................... 3.171 105.9 103.9 -4.6 -1.9 -4.0 -1.1 -.2 Gasoline ........................... - 105.4 103.5 -4.9 -1.8 -4.1 -.9 -.4 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.533 162.6 162.9 3.0 .2 .2 .4 .2 Other private transportation 4/....... 4.562 176.7 177.5 2.3 .5 .0 .1 .5 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .589 104.7 105.3 .6 .6 .1 .1 .7 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 3.973 193.8 194.5 2.5 .4 .1 .1 .5 + _ Public transportation .................. 1.642 186.6 189.4 3.7 1.5 .2 -.6 .5 Medical care ............................. 7.346 234.4 234.8 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .0 Medical care commodities ............... 1.273 216.0 216.0 2.4 .0 .4 .1 -.1 Medical care services .................. 6.073 238.7 239.2 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .1 Professional medical services ........ 3.472 215.5 215.9 3.4 .2 .3 .2 .1 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.352 162.7 162.6 2.3 -.1 .2 .5 .1 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 1.957 143.9 143.8 .6 -.1 -.1 .2 -.1 + _ Entertainment services 4/ .............. 2.395 184.5 184.5 3.7 .0 .3 .8 .2 + _ Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.145 223.1 223.5 4.1 .2 .2 .2 .3 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.601 241.3 242.0 3.7 .3 -.5 -.9 .4 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.145 152.8 152.6 1.7 -.1 -.1 .1 -.1 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .588 144.2 143.7 -.5 -.3 -.3 .1 -.3 + _ Personal care services 1/ ............ .557 162.6 162.5 4.0 -.1 .2 .2 -.1 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 4.398 257.3 258.0 5.0 .3 .5 .6 .3 + _ School books and supplies ............ .264 237.2 237.7 5.8 .2 .6 .9 .4 Personal and educational services 4/ . 4.134 259.1 259.8 4.9 .3 .5 .6 .4 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 160.3 160.5 2.2 .1 .1 .1 .2 Commodities .............................. 42.873 141.5 141.0 1.1 -.4 -.1 -.1 .1 Food and beverages ..................... 17.484 157.1 157.5 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.389 132.0 131.0 .1 -.8 -.5 -.3 -.2 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.147 134.2 132.9 .5 -1.0 -.7 -.3 .0 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.786 128.6 126.2 1.4 -1.9 .2 -.3 .1 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.362 140.1 139.3 .0 -.6 -1.1 -.6 -.1 Durables ............................. 10.242 129.0 128.3 -.6 -.5 .0 -.2 -.3 Services ................................. 57.127 179.3 180.1 3.0 .4 .2 .3 .3 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 27.577 183.1 184.1 2.9 .5 .3 .3 .2 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.698 147.0 147.5 2.5 .3 -.3 .6 .3 + _ _ Transportation services ................ 7.148 184.5 185.6 2.9 .6 .1 .0 .4 Medical care services .................. 6.073 238.7 239.2 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .1 Other services ......................... 7.631 208.8 209.1 4.2 .1 .4 .6 .3 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.087 161.0 161.1 2.2 .1 -.1 .1 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 71.806 155.7 155.6 1.8 -.1 .0 .1 .1 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 80.000 161.2 161.3 2.0 .1 -.1 .1 .1 + _ _ All items less medical care ................ 92.654 156.1 156.3 2.2 .1 .0 .1 .2 Commodities less food ...................... 26.960 133.3 132.3 .2 -.8 -.4 -.3 -.1 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.718 135.9 134.7 .7 -.9 -.4 -.4 .0 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.932 141.4 140.8 .4 -.4 -1.0 -.3 .1 Nondurables ................................ 32.631 145.8 145.4 1.6 -.3 -.2 .1 .2 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 29.550 188.1 188.8 3.1 .4 .1 .4 .3 + _ _ Services less medical care services ........ 51.054 173.8 174.6 3.1 .5 .1 .3 .3 Energy ..................................... 7.049 112.3 111.4 -1.0 -.8 -2.4 .0 -.1 All items less energy ...................... 92.951 166.7 167.0 2.4 .2 .2 .1 .2 All items less food and energy ........... 77.038 169.2 169.5 2.4 .2 .2 .1 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.364 142.2 141.5 .9 -.5 .1 -.2 -.1 Energy commodities ................... 3.596 105.2 103.1 -3.8 -2.0 -3.6 -1.1 -.4 Services less energy services .......... 53.674 184.6 185.4 3.1 .4 .3 .3 .3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.624 $.623 -2.2 -.2 .2 -.2 -.2 + _ 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .208 .208 - - - - - + _ + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Apr. May June July Oct. Jan. Apr. July Jan. July 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 3.1 2.8 1.5 1.5 2.9 1.5 Food and beverages ......................... 156.5 157.1 157.4 157.9 5.3 .8 .5 3.6 3.0 2.1 Food ..................................... 156.2 156.8 157.1 157.6 5.3 .5 .5 3.6 2.9 2.1 Food at home ........................... 156.5 157.4 157.7 158.2 6.6 -1.3 -.5 4.4 2.6 1.9 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.3 176.9 177.6 177.7 2.8 2.1 .0 3.2 2.4 1.6 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 147.7 148.5 148.6 149.3 8.2 2.5 -2.7 4.4 5.3 .8 Dairy products 1/ .................... 145.7 145.4 144.1 143.3 22.2 -4.0 -5.6 -6.4 8.3 -6.0 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 181.5 184.7 185.3 186.2 4.4 -11.0 -1.5 10.8 -3.6 4.4 + _ Other food at home ................... 146.5 146.7 147.7 148.6 2.5 2.0 5.7 5.9 2.3 5.8 Sugar and sweets ................... 147.6 147.4 148.1 148.8 3.4 4.2 1.9 3.3 3.8 2.6 Fats and oils ...................... 142.0 141.8 141.4 141.0 4.7 .9 .3 -2.8 2.7 -1.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 131.5 133.3 134.9 137.1 -2.2 .9 11.7 18.2 -.6 14.9 Other prepared food ................ 160.8 160.1 161.0 161.2 4.7 2.5 3.6 1.0 3.6 2.3 Food away from home .................... 156.2 156.3 156.6 157.1 3.4 3.2 2.3 2.3 3.3 2.3 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 161.8 162.3 162.4 162.9 4.4 3.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 1.9 Housing 2/ ................................. 155.9 156.1 156.5 156.8 2.6 3.4 1.8 2.3 3.0 2.1 + _ Shelter .................................. 174.9 175.4 175.8 176.2 2.4 2.8 3.5 3.0 2.6 3.3 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 184.5 184.8 185.4 185.3 2.5 3.8 3.8 1.7 3.1 2.8 + _ _ Rent, residential .................... 165.5 166.1 166.5 166.8 2.5 3.0 2.7 3.2 2.7 2.9 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 224.6 224.0 225.2 223.7 2.2 6.0 6.5 -1.6 4.1 2.4 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 180.4 180.9 181.2 181.9 2.3 2.7 3.2 3.4 2.5 3.3 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 180.7 181.3 181.6 182.3 2.3 2.7 3.2 3.6 2.5 3.4 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 164.2 165.0 165.1 165.1 5.1 -1.0 3.2 2.2 2.0 2.7 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 142.5 143.2 143.3 145.4 2.3 3.8 2.9 8.4 3.0 5.6 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 148.9 149.9 150.0 153.8 2.8 2.5 1.9 13.8 2.6 7.7 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 133.6 134.1 134.1 133.7 1.2 6.3 3.4 .3 3.7 1.8 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 130.2 129.4 130.2 130.5 5.1 7.0 -3.0 .9 6.1 -1.1 + _ Fuels .................................. 116.7 115.4 116.3 116.3 6.1 10.4 -6.9 -1.4 8.2 -4.2 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 100.4 100.0 99.3 97.4 45.9 15.8 -25.9 -11.4 30.0 -19.0 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 123.9 122.3 123.5 123.8 2.3 10.2 -4.4 -.3 6.2 -2.4 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 160.6 160.8 161.5 162.3 3.6 3.1 1.5 4.3 3.3 2.9 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 125.2 125.7 125.7 125.5 1.0 .0 1.0 1.0 .5 1.0 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 110.7 111.5 111.3 110.6 .0 -.4 -1.1 -.4 -.2 -.7 + _ Housekeeping supplies .................. 143.0 142.9 143.0 144.0 1.1 2.3 2.0 2.8 1.7 2.4 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 151.1 151.3 151.8 152.1 3.5 -.8 4.1 2.7 1.4 3.4 + _ Apparel and upkeep ......................... 133.4 133.6 133.3 133.5 -.6 3.1 3.4 .3 1.2 1.8 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 129.7 129.9 129.5 129.6 -.6 3.2 3.5 -.3 1.3 1.6 + _ Men's and boys' apparel ................ 130.3 130.5 129.7 130.4 -.3 6.8 2.5 .3 3.2 1.4 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 126.8 127.5 127.4 126.8 -1.3 6.6 3.5 .0 2.6 1.8 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 133.7 133.8 132.9 131.3 9.2 -1.9 19.4 -7.0 3.5 5.4 + _ Footwear ............................... 127.7 127.3 126.0 127.3 -.6 -1.3 4.2 -1.2 -.9 1.4 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 146.5 145.6 146.3 146.9 -2.6 -9.5 -.8 1.1 -6.1 .1 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 162.6 162.9 163.2 163.5 1.8 2.8 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.2 + _ _ Transportation ............................. 144.8 143.6 143.2 143.3 3.4 3.1 -1.6 -4.1 3.2 -2.9 Private transportation ................... 141.6 140.3 139.9 140.0 2.3 4.0 -2.2 -4.4 3.2 -3.3 New vehicles ........................... 144.6 144.3 144.3 144.4 2.0 -.6 .6 -.6 .7 .0 New cars ............................. 142.0 141.8 141.7 141.8 2.0 -1.4 .3 -.6 .3 -.1 Used cars .............................. 155.1 153.7 150.9 149.2 -.3 -2.5 .0 -14.4 -1.4 -7.5 Motor fuel ............................. 106.8 102.5 101.4 101.2 2.3 21.0 -16.7 -19.4 11.2 -18.1 Gasoline ............................. 106.2 101.8 100.9 100.5 1.1 21.6 -17.1 -19.8 10.9 -18.5 Maintenance and repairs ................ 161.9 162.2 162.8 163.2 4.9 2.8 1.5 3.3 3.8 2.4 Other private transportation 4/......... 177.0 177.0 177.2 178.1 2.3 .2 4.2 2.5 1.3 3.3 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 104.7 104.8 104.9 105.6 .8 -1.5 -.4 3.5 -.4 1.5 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 194.3 194.4 194.5 195.5 2.5 .4 4.9 2.5 1.5 3.7 + _ Public transportation .................... 188.1 188.4 187.2 188.1 15.4 -5.0 5.5 .0 4.7 2.7 Medical care ............................... 233.8 234.5 234.9 235.0 2.6 2.6 3.3 2.1 2.6 2.7 Medical care commodities ................. 215.0 215.8 216.0 215.8 3.1 .8 4.2 1.5 1.9 2.8 Medical care services .................... 237.9 238.5 239.0 239.2 2.6 2.9 3.3 2.2 2.8 2.7 Professional medical services .......... 214.4 215.0 215.5 215.7 3.9 3.7 3.8 2.4 3.8 3.1 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 161.8 162.1 162.9 163.0 2.5 2.0 1.7 3.0 2.3 2.4 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 143.9 143.8 144.1 143.9 2.3 .6 -.3 .0 1.4 -.1 + _ Entertainment services 4/ ................ 182.7 183.3 184.7 185.0 2.7 3.2 3.6 5.1 2.9 4.4 + _ Other goods and services 2/................. 224.1 224.5 224.9 225.6 3.4 3.5 7.1 2.7 3.4 4.9 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ............. 244.2 242.9 240.6 241.5 4.4 1.4 14.3 -4.3 2.9 4.5 Personal care 1/ ......................... 152.7 152.6 152.8 152.6 2.4 1.9 2.9 -.3 2.1 1.3 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 144.5 144.1 144.2 143.7 .6 -2.7 2.5 -2.2 -1.1 .1 + _ Personal care services 1/ .............. 162.0 162.3 162.6 162.5 4.2 7.3 3.3 1.2 5.7 2.3 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 257.0 258.4 260.0 260.9 3.3 4.7 5.6 6.2 4.0 5.9 + _ School books and supplies .............. 235.1 236.6 238.7 239.6 7.4 2.8 5.1 7.9 5.1 6.5 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 258.5 259.9 261.4 262.4 3.1 4.8 5.6 6.2 4.0 5.9 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 3.1 2.8 1.5 1.5 2.9 1.5 Commodities ................................ 141.7 141.5 141.3 141.4 3.2 2.3 -.3 -.8 2.7 -.6 Food and beverages ....................... 156.5 157.1 157.4 157.9 5.3 .8 .5 3.6 3.0 2.1 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.7 132.0 131.6 131.4 1.8 3.4 -.9 -3.9 2.6 -2.4 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 134.8 133.9 133.5 133.5 1.8 5.5 -1.5 -3.8 3.6 -2.6 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 129.7 129.9 129.5 129.6 -.6 3.2 3.5 -.3 1.3 1.6 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 140.8 139.3 138.4 138.2 2.9 8.9 -3.9 -7.2 5.9 -5.5 Durables ............................... 129.3 129.3 129.0 128.6 .9 -.3 -.6 -2.1 .3 -1.4 Services ................................... 178.5 178.8 179.3 179.8 3.0 3.2 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 182.3 182.8 183.3 183.6 2.5 3.2 3.4 2.9 2.8 3.1 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 145.0 144.6 145.5 145.9 3.1 4.8 -.3 2.5 4.0 1.1 + _ _ Transportation services .................. 184.9 185.0 185.0 185.8 5.9 -.4 4.4 2.0 2.7 3.2 Medical care services .................... 237.9 238.5 239.0 239.2 2.6 2.9 3.3 2.2 2.8 2.7 Other services ........................... 208.4 209.3 210.5 211.1 3.0 4.4 4.5 5.3 3.7 4.9 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 160.6 160.5 160.7 161.0 2.8 3.1 1.8 1.0 2.9 1.4 All items less shelter ....................... 155.5 155.5 155.6 155.8 3.4 2.6 .8 .8 3.0 .8 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 161.0 160.9 161.1 161.3 3.3 2.8 1.3 .7 3.1 1.0 + _ _ All items less medical care .................. 155.7 155.7 155.9 156.2 3.2 2.6 1.6 1.3 2.9 1.4 Commodities less food ........................ 134.0 133.4 133.0 132.9 2.1 3.0 -.6 -3.2 2.6 -1.9 Nondurables less food ........................ 136.3 135.7 135.2 135.2 1.8 5.4 -1.5 -3.2 3.6 -2.3 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 141.5 140.1 139.7 139.8 4.4 6.1 -3.9 -4.7 5.2 -4.3 Nondurables .................................. 145.7 145.4 145.5 145.8 3.4 3.6 -1.1 .3 3.5 -.4 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 187.2 187.3 188.0 188.6 3.5 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.3 2.9 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 172.9 173.1 173.6 174.2 3.1 3.3 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.9 Energy ....................................... 111.2 108.5 108.5 108.4 4.5 14.9 -11.3 -9.7 9.5 -10.5 All items less energy ........................ 166.6 167.0 167.2 167.5 3.0 1.7 2.7 2.2 2.3 2.4 All items less food and energy ............. 169.2 169.5 169.7 170.0 2.4 2.2 3.1 1.9 2.3 2.5 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 142.7 142.8 142.5 142.4 1.4 .8 2.0 -.8 1.1 .6 Energy commodities ..................... 106.2 102.4 101.3 100.9 6.2 20.1 -17.7 -18.5 13.0 -18.1 Services less energy services ............ 184.0 184.5 185.0 185.5 2.9 2.7 3.6 3.3 2.8 3.4 + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Indexes Percent change to Percent change to Area Pricing July 1997 from- June 1997 from- schedule Apr. May June July July May June June Apr. May 1/ 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 160.2 160.1 160.3 160.5 2.2 0.2 0.1 2.3 0.1 0.1 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 167.1 166.8 167.0 167.6 2.6 .5 .4 2.4 -.1 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 167.7 167.5 167.7 168.2 2.5 .4 .3 2.4 .0 .1 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 165.4 164.7 165.2 165.9 2.5 .7 .4 2.7 -.1 .3 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 165.6 165.2 165.6 166.4 3.0 .7 .5 2.9 .0 .2 + _ North Central urban .................... M 156.1 156.3 156.7 156.6 2.2 .2 -.1 2.5 .4 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 156.9 157.0 157.3 157.3 2.3 .2 .0 2.5 .3 .2 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 154.8 155.4 155.7 155.8 2.2 .3 .1 2.4 .6 .2 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 158.2 158.3 158.7 158.5 2.5 .1 -.1 3.0 .3 .3 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 152.1 152.2 152.6 152.6 1.5 .3 .0 1.9 .3 .3 South urban ............................ M 156.7 156.6 157.0 157.0 1.9 .3 .0 1.9 .2 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 155.7 155.5 155.8 155.8 1.7 .2 .0 1.7 .1 .2 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 159.8 159.7 160.4 160.5 2.4 .5 .1 2.6 .4 .4 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 156.0 156.1 156.4 156.0 1.5 -.1 -.3 1.7 .3 .2 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 156.1 156.0 156.3 156.4 2.6 .3 .1 2.2 .1 .2 West urban ............................. M 161.1 161.1 161.0 161.1 2.0 .0 .1 2.2 -.1 -.1 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 161.2 161.1 161.1 161.3 2.1 .1 .1 2.4 -.1 .0 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 166.5 166.5 166.0 166.1 2.3 -.2 .1 2.2 -.3 -.3 + _ Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 144.5 144.5 144.6 144.8 2.2 .2 .1 2.3 .1 .1 + _ B 3/ ................................. M 160.4 160.4 160.7 160.9 2.2 .3 .1 2.4 .2 .2 + _ C 3/ ................................. M 160.0 160.0 160.2 160.1 2.1 .1 -.1 2.4 .1 .1 + _ D .................................... M 156.5 156.4 156.6 156.7 2.0 .2 .1 1.9 .1 .1 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 160.9 161.1 161.7 161.7 2.5 .4 .0 2.6 .5 .4 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 159.9 159.5 159.4 159.5 1.2 .0 .1 1.7 -.3 -.1 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 170.2 169.9 170.3 170.8 2.5 .5 .3 2.3 .1 .2 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 166.0 166.0 166.1 166.4 2.2 .2 .2 2.3 .1 .1 + _ San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 159.6 159.8 160.0 160.6 3.0 .5 .4 3.1 .3 .1 + _ Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 - 155.5 - 156.9 .8 .9 - - - - + _ Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 - 166.7 - 167.1 3.1 .2 - - - - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 - 155.6 - 156.3 2.8 .4 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 - 157.9 - 157.9 3.6 .0 - - - - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 - 152.1 - 153.3 2.3 .8 - - - - + _ Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 - 162.1 - 162.9 1.7 .5 - - - - + _ Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 150.6 - 151.4 - - - - 1.3 .5 - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 156.0 - 155.0 - - - - 2.0 -.6 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 145.2 - 144.8 - - - - 1.4 -.3 - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 156.6 - 157.4 - - - - 2.7 .5 - + _ + 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/ Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current + _ Size Class B and Size Class C cities. There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C. 4/ Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. + _ 5/ Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly + _ basis starting in January, 1998. Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a bi-monthly basis. 6/ Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997. + _ Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore combined metropolitan area. 7/ Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly + _ basis after December, 1997. Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each January and July. - Data not available. NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December June July July 1997 from- Apr. to May to June to 1996 1997 1997 July 1996 June 1997 May June July Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 157.4 157.5 2.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 468.8 469.0 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.436 156.6 157.0 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 Food ................................... 17.749 156.1 156.6 2.5 .3 .3 .3 .3 Food at home ......................... 11.387 156.5 156.9 2.3 .3 .5 .3 .3 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.688 177.9 177.9 1.9 .0 .4 .4 .0 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.535 147.5 148.0 3.1 .3 .5 .1 .5 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.387 143.8 143.0 .8 -.6 -.2 -.9 -.6 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 2.086 183.1 184.0 .3 .5 1.7 .5 .5 + _ Other food at home ................. 2.691 147.2 147.9 3.7 .5 .2 .5 .6 Sugar and sweets ................. .373 148.1 149.2 3.2 .7 -.1 .3 .5 Fats and oils .................... .282 141.3 141.1 .6 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.6 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .841 133.6 134.9 6.1 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.5 Other prepared food .............. 1.194 160.9 161.2 2.9 .2 -.4 .4 .2 Food away from home .................. 6.362 156.6 157.1 2.9 .3 .0 .3 .3 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.687 162.1 162.2 2.8 .1 .4 .1 .2 Housing 2/ ............................... 38.747 153.6 154.1 2.5 .3 .1 .3 .2 + _ Shelter ................................ 25.867 170.9 171.7 2.9 .5 .3 .2 .2 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 8.079 162.6 163.7 2.9 .7 .3 .3 -.1 + _ _ Rent, residential .................. 6.580 166.0 166.5 2.8 .3 .3 .3 .2 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 1.499 227.3 232.9 3.1 2.5 .2 .6 -1.1 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 17.599 165.1 165.7 2.9 .4 .2 .2 .4 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 17.277 165.4 166.0 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .4 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .322 149.8 150.3 1.7 .3 .3 .1 .1 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .189 141.7 143.6 4.1 1.3 .5 .0 1.3 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .105 152.0 155.9 5.2 2.6 .7 .1 2.6 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .084 128.6 128.3 2.8 -.2 .3 .0 -.2 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.344 131.7 131.9 2.5 .2 -.5 .6 .2 + _ Fuels ................................ 3.979 119.2 119.1 1.8 -.1 -1.1 .9 .0 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .391 97.6 94.5 2.6 -3.2 -.4 -.7 -1.8 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.588 127.0 127.3 1.8 .2 -1.2 1.0 .2 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.365 162.5 163.2 3.3 .4 .1 .4 .6 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.536 124.2 124.1 .7 -.1 .5 -.1 -.1 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.261 110.0 109.5 -.3 -.5 .7 -.2 -.5 + _ Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.129 143.4 144.4 2.0 .7 -.1 -.1 .6 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.145 154.4 154.7 2.4 .2 .1 .5 .2 + _ Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.348 131.8 129.8 1.5 -1.5 .2 -.3 .2 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.838 128.3 126.1 1.4 -1.7 .2 -.3 .2 + _ Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.286 128.8 128.0 2.6 -.6 .0 -.5 .8 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.053 124.8 120.6 2.1 -3.4 .6 .0 -.4 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .240 133.8 132.0 4.1 -1.3 .0 -.8 -1.3 + _ Footwear ............................. .799 127.2 126.8 .0 -.3 -.3 -.9 .9 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .461 146.3 146.8 -2.7 .3 -.7 .3 .6 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .510 162.2 162.6 2.1 .2 .1 .2 .2 + _ _ Transportation ........................... 19.190 143.4 142.9 -.3 -.3 -1.0 -.4 .1 Private transportation ................. 17.934 141.1 140.4 -.5 -.5 -1.0 -.3 -.1 New vehicles ......................... 4.893 145.4 144.9 .4 -.3 -.3 .0 .1 New cars ........................... 3.533 141.3 140.7 .1 -.4 -.1 -.1 .1 Used cars ............................ 2.320 153.3 151.4 -4.2 -1.2 -.9 -1.7 -1.2 Motor fuel ........................... 3.921 105.9 104.0 -4.4 -1.8 -3.8 -.9 -.4 Gasoline ........................... - 105.5 103.6 -4.7 -1.8 -4.1 -.8 -.4 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.616 163.7 164.0 3.2 .2 .2 .4 .3 Other private transportation 4/....... 5.185 172.1 172.8 2.1 .4 -.1 .2 .5 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .742 103.8 104.4 .6 .6 .2 .1 .6 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 4.442 189.4 190.2 2.4 .4 -.1 .2 .5 + _ Public transportation .................. 1.256 184.0 186.2 3.1 1.2 -.1 -.7 .9 Medical care ............................. 6.251 233.8 234.2 2.6 .2 .3 .2 .1 Medical care commodities ............... 1.047 213.4 213.3 2.3 .0 .5 .0 .0 Medical care services .................. 5.204 238.4 238.9 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .1 Professional medical services ........ 2.973 216.8 217.2 3.5 .2 .3 .2 .1 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.015 160.1 160.1 2.2 .0 .1 .5 .1 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 2.036 142.7 142.7 .6 .0 .0 .1 .0 + _ Entertainment services 4/ .............. 1.979 185.0 184.8 3.7 -.1 .2 .8 .2 + _ Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.012 219.9 220.3 4.1 .2 .1 .0 .3 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.117 240.9 241.7 3.6 .3 -.5 -.9 .5 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.107 152.7 152.4 1.6 -.2 .0 .1 -.2 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .610 145.0 144.6 -.3 -.3 -.3 .0 -.3 + _ Personal care services 1/ ............ .497 162.7 162.6 4.1 -.1 .2 .2 -.1 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 3.788 253.1 253.6 5.1 .2 .6 .4 .3 + _ School books and supplies ............ .232 239.6 240.1 6.5 .2 .7 1.1 .4 Personal and educational services 4/ . 3.556 254.5 255.0 5.0 .2 .6 .4 .3 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 157.4 157.5 2.1 .1 .0 .1 .2 Commodities .............................. 47.057 141.5 141.0 .9 -.4 -.2 -.1 .1 Food and beverages ..................... 19.436 156.6 157.0 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.621 132.3 131.3 -.1 -.8 -.5 -.4 -.2 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.215 134.1 132.9 .4 -.9 -.7 -.4 .1 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.838 128.3 126.1 1.4 -1.7 .2 -.3 .2 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.377 139.9 139.1 -.1 -.6 -1.3 -.6 -.2 Durables ............................. 11.407 128.6 128.0 -.8 -.5 .1 -.5 -.3 Services ................................. 52.943 176.4 177.1 3.0 .4 .2 .3 .3 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 25.329 164.5 165.3 2.9 .5 .3 .3 .2 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.553 135.1 135.5 2.4 .3 -.3 .6 .3 + _ _ Transportation services ................ 7.314 182.0 182.9 2.7 .5 -.1 .1 .5 Medical care services .................. 5.204 238.4 238.9 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .1 Other services ......................... 6.542 205.7 205.9 4.3 .1 .4 .5 .2 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.251 157.5 157.5 1.9 .0 -.1 .1 .1 All items less shelter ..................... 74.133 153.8 153.6 1.7 -.1 -.1 .1 .1 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 82.401 147.7 147.6 1.8 -.1 -.1 .1 .1 + _ _ All items less medical care ................ 93.749 153.8 153.8 2.0 .0 -.1 .1 .1 Commodities less food ...................... 29.308 133.5 132.5 .1 -.7 -.5 -.4 -.1 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.901 135.8 134.7 .7 -.8 -.7 -.3 .1 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 13.064 141.1 140.4 .3 -.5 -1.2 -.3 .1 Nondurables ................................ 35.651 145.7 145.3 1.5 -.3 -.3 .0 .3 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 27.613 167.7 168.2 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 + _ _ Services less medical care services ........ 47.738 171.1 171.8 3.0 .4 .2 .4 .4 Energy ..................................... 7.901 111.8 110.8 -1.2 -.9 -2.4 .0 -.2 All items less energy ...................... 92.099 163.8 164.0 2.3 .1 .2 .1 .2 All items less food and energy ........... 74.350 165.8 165.9 2.3 .1 .2 .1 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 24.996 141.8 141.1 .7 -.5 .0 -.3 .0 Energy commodities ................... 4.312 105.5 103.4 -3.9 -2.0 -3.5 -.9 -.5 Services less energy services .......... 49.354 181.9 182.6 3.0 .4 .2 .3 .3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.635 $.635 -2.0 .0 .0 -.2 .0 + _ 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .213 .213 - - - - - + _ + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - 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): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Apr. May June July Oct. Jan. Apr. July Jan. July 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 3.1 2.9 1.0 1.3 3.0 1.2 Food and beverages ......................... 156.1 156.7 157.0 157.5 5.3 1.0 .3 3.6 3.1 1.9 Food ..................................... 155.7 156.2 156.6 157.1 5.6 .5 .5 3.6 3.0 2.1 Food at home ........................... 155.8 156.6 157.0 157.5 6.7 -1.0 -.5 4.4 2.7 1.9 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.0 176.7 177.4 177.4 2.6 2.8 -.5 3.2 2.7 1.4 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 147.4 148.2 148.3 149.1 8.0 2.5 -2.4 4.7 5.2 1.1 Dairy products 1/ .................... 145.4 145.1 143.8 143.0 21.2 -3.4 -5.8 -6.4 8.2 -6.1 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 181.0 184.1 185.0 186.0 3.7 -10.9 -1.7 11.5 -3.8 4.7 + _ Other food at home ................... 145.9 146.2 147.0 147.9 2.0 2.3 5.1 5.6 2.1 5.3 Sugar and sweets ................... 147.7 147.5 147.9 148.7 3.1 3.6 3.0 2.7 3.4 2.9 Fats and oils ...................... 141.7 141.6 141.3 140.5 4.7 .3 .9 -3.3 2.4 -1.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 130.6 132.2 133.7 135.7 -2.5 .9 10.4 16.6 -.8 13.5 Other prepared food ................ 160.7 160.0 160.7 161.0 4.7 2.8 3.6 .7 3.7 2.1 Food away from home .................... 156.2 156.2 156.6 157.1 3.7 3.4 2.1 2.3 3.6 2.2 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 161.0 161.7 161.8 162.2 4.6 3.0 .5 3.0 3.8 1.7 Housing 2/ ................................. 152.5 152.7 153.1 153.4 2.4 3.5 1.6 2.4 3.0 2.0 + _ Shelter .................................. 170.0 170.5 170.9 171.3 2.2 2.9 3.4 3.1 2.5 3.2 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 161.0 161.5 162.0 161.9 2.0 3.3 3.6 2.3 2.7 2.9 + _ _ Rent, residential .................... 165.2 165.7 166.2 166.5 2.2 3.0 2.7 3.2 2.6 2.9 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 223.9 224.3 225.7 223.3 1.3 5.8 6.3 -1.1 3.5 2.6 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 164.5 164.9 165.3 165.9 2.3 2.7 3.2 3.4 2.5 3.3 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 164.8 165.3 165.6 166.2 2.2 2.7 3.2 3.4 2.5 3.3 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 149.0 149.4 149.6 149.7 3.6 -1.6 3.0 1.9 1.0 2.4 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 141.0 141.7 141.7 143.6 1.8 4.7 2.6 7.6 3.2 5.1 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 150.9 151.9 152.0 155.9 3.6 1.3 2.4 13.9 2.4 8.0 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 128.2 128.6 128.6 128.3 .0 8.3 2.9 .3 4.0 1.6 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 129.7 129.0 129.8 130.1 4.8 7.4 -3.3 1.2 6.1 -1.1 + _ Fuels .................................. 115.9 114.6 115.6 115.6 6.1 10.5 -7.2 -1.0 8.3 -4.2 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 100.0 99.6 98.9 97.1 45.5 17.2 -27.0 -11.1 30.5 -19.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 123.2 121.7 122.9 123.1 2.7 10.2 -5.0 -.3 6.4 -2.7 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 161.3 161.5 162.1 163.0 3.9 3.0 1.8 4.3 3.4 3.0 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 123.6 124.2 124.1 124.0 1.0 .3 .3 1.3 .7 .8 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 109.4 110.2 110.0 109.5 .4 -.4 -1.1 .4 .0 -.4 + _ Housekeeping supplies .................. 143.8 143.7 143.6 144.4 1.1 2.6 2.5 1.7 1.8 2.1 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 153.7 153.9 154.6 154.9 3.2 .0 3.2 3.2 1.6 3.2 + _ Apparel and upkeep ......................... 132.7 132.9 132.5 132.8 -1.2 3.1 4.3 .3 .9 2.3 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 129.4 129.6 129.2 129.4 -1.6 3.2 4.4 .0 .8 2.2 + _ Men's and boys' apparel ................ 130.1 130.1 129.4 130.4 .3 6.1 2.8 .9 3.2 1.9 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 125.9 126.7 126.7 126.2 -3.5 7.4 4.6 1.0 1.8 2.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 134.9 134.9 133.8 132.0 6.8 -1.2 21.5 -8.3 2.7 5.5 + _ Footwear ............................... 128.6 128.2 127.0 128.1 -.6 -.9 3.2 -1.5 -.8 .8 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 146.9 145.8 146.2 147.1 -1.3 -11.2 1.7 .5 -6.4 1.1 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 161.7 161.9 162.2 162.6 1.0 2.8 2.3 2.2 1.9 2.3 + _ _ Transportation ............................. 144.2 142.8 142.3 142.4 3.1 4.0 -2.7 -4.9 3.5 -3.8 Private transportation ................... 141.9 140.5 140.1 140.0 2.3 4.3 -3.0 -5.2 3.3 -4.2 New vehicles ........................... 146.0 145.6 145.6 145.7 1.9 .0 .8 -.8 1.0 .0 New cars ............................. 141.7 141.5 141.3 141.4 2.0 -.8 .3 -.8 .6 -.3 Used cars .............................. 156.5 155.1 152.5 150.6 .3 -2.5 .3 -14.2 -1.1 -7.3 Motor fuel ............................. 106.5 102.5 101.6 101.2 2.7 21.8 -18.5 -18.5 11.8 -18.5 Gasoline ............................. 106.1 101.8 101.0 100.6 2.3 21.9 -18.3 -19.2 11.7 -18.7 Maintenance and repairs ................ 162.8 163.2 163.8 164.3 4.9 2.8 1.5 3.7 3.8 2.6 Other private transportation 4/......... 172.6 172.5 172.8 173.6 2.9 .0 3.6 2.3 1.4 2.9 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 103.7 103.9 104.0 104.6 .4 -1.1 -.8 3.5 -.4 1.4 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 190.1 189.9 190.2 191.1 3.3 .2 4.3 2.1 1.7 3.2 + _ Public transportation .................... 185.1 184.9 183.6 185.3 11.8 -1.7 2.4 .4 4.8 1.4 Medical care ............................... 233.0 233.7 234.1 234.3 2.7 2.6 3.2 2.3 2.6 2.7 Medical care commodities ................. 212.1 213.1 213.1 213.0 3.1 .4 3.9 1.7 1.7 2.8 Medical care services .................... 237.6 238.2 238.7 238.9 2.6 3.3 2.9 2.2 2.9 2.6 Professional medical services .......... 215.7 216.3 216.8 217.0 3.9 3.6 4.2 2.4 3.8 3.3 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 159.3 159.4 160.2 160.3 2.3 2.3 1.3 2.5 2.3 1.9 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 142.5 142.5 142.7 142.7 2.0 .8 -1.1 .6 1.4 -.3 + _ Entertainment services 4/ ................ 183.3 183.6 185.1 185.4 2.7 3.4 4.3 4.7 3.0 4.5 + _ Other goods and services 2/................. 220.8 221.1 221.0 221.6 3.2 4.0 7.6 1.5 3.6 4.5 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ............. 243.7 242.4 240.1 241.2 3.5 2.2 13.5 -4.0 2.9 4.4 Personal care 1/ ......................... 152.6 152.6 152.7 152.4 2.4 1.9 2.7 -.5 2.1 1.1 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 145.4 145.0 145.0 144.6 1.1 -2.7 2.8 -2.2 -.8 .3 + _ Personal care services 1/ .............. 162.1 162.4 162.7 162.6 4.7 7.3 3.3 1.2 6.0 2.3 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 252.6 254.1 255.2 256.0 3.5 5.6 5.6 5.5 4.6 5.5 + _ School books and supplies .............. 236.9 238.5 241.1 242.1 8.7 3.1 5.1 9.1 5.9 7.0 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 254.1 255.5 256.6 257.3 3.1 5.8 5.7 5.1 4.5 5.4 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 3.1 2.9 1.0 1.3 3.0 1.2 Commodities ................................ 141.7 141.4 141.2 141.3 3.2 2.6 -.6 -1.1 2.9 -.8 Food and beverages ....................... 156.1 156.7 157.0 157.5 5.3 1.0 .3 3.6 3.1 1.9 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.8 132.1 131.6 131.4 1.8 3.7 -1.5 -4.2 2.8 -2.8 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 134.7 133.7 133.2 133.3 1.8 6.1 -2.1 -4.1 4.0 -3.1 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 129.4 129.6 129.2 129.4 -1.6 3.2 4.4 .0 .8 2.2 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 140.7 138.9 138.0 137.7 3.5 9.5 -4.2 -8.3 6.5 -6.2 Durables ............................... 129.0 129.1 128.5 128.1 .9 -.3 -.9 -2.8 .3 -1.8 Services ................................... 175.5 175.8 176.3 176.8 2.8 3.3 2.8 3.0 3.1 2.9 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 163.7 164.2 164.7 165.0 2.3 3.3 3.0 3.2 2.8 3.1 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 133.2 132.8 133.6 134.0 3.1 5.3 -.9 2.4 4.2 .8 + _ _ Transportation services .................. 182.4 182.3 182.4 183.4 5.0 .2 3.6 2.2 2.6 2.9 Medical care services .................... 237.6 238.2 238.7 238.9 2.6 3.3 2.9 2.2 2.9 2.6 Other services ........................... 205.3 206.1 207.2 207.6 2.8 5.1 4.6 4.6 4.0 4.6 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 157.0 156.9 157.0 157.2 2.6 3.4 1.3 .5 3.0 .9 All items less shelter ....................... 153.6 153.4 153.5 153.7 3.5 2.9 .3 .3 3.2 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 147.4 147.3 147.4 147.6 3.4 2.8 .8 .5 3.1 .7 + _ _ All items less medical care .................. 153.4 153.3 153.5 153.7 3.2 2.9 1.0 .8 3.1 .9 Commodities less food ........................ 134.2 133.5 133.0 132.9 1.8 3.6 -1.2 -3.8 2.7 -2.5 Nondurables less food ........................ 136.0 135.1 134.7 134.9 2.7 5.7 -2.6 -3.2 4.2 -2.9 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 141.3 139.6 139.2 139.3 4.4 6.7 -4.1 -5.5 5.5 -4.8 Nondurables .................................. 145.6 145.2 145.2 145.6 3.4 3.9 -1.1 .0 3.7 -.5 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 166.7 166.8 167.3 167.8 3.5 3.2 2.4 2.7 3.3 2.6 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 170.1 170.4 171.0 171.6 2.7 3.4 2.4 3.6 3.0 3.0 Energy ....................................... 110.7 108.0 108.0 107.8 4.1 16.1 -12.9 -10.1 9.9 -11.5 All items less energy ........................ 163.6 163.9 164.1 164.4 3.0 1.7 2.5 2.0 2.4 2.2 All items less food and energy ............. 165.8 166.1 166.2 166.5 2.2 2.2 2.9 1.7 2.2 2.3 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 142.4 142.4 142.0 142.0 1.1 .9 2.3 -1.1 1.0 .6 Energy commodities ..................... 106.2 102.5 101.6 101.1 5.8 21.4 -19.2 -17.9 13.3 -18.5 Services less energy services ............ 181.5 181.9 182.4 182.9 3.0 2.7 3.4 3.1 2.8 3.2 + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. 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: Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Indexes Percent change to Percent change to Area Pricing July 1997 from- June 1997 from- schedule Apr. May June July July May June June Apr. May 1/ 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 157.2 157.2 157.4 157.5 2.1 0.2 0.1 2.1 0.1 0.1 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 164.4 164.1 164.3 164.7 2.4 .4 .2 2.3 -.1 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 163.9 163.8 164.0 164.3 2.4 .3 .2 2.2 .1 .1 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 163.1 162.3 162.8 163.5 2.4 .7 .4 2.6 -.2 .3 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 167.0 166.9 167.1 167.5 2.8 .4 .2 2.8 .1 .1 + _ North Central urban .................... M 152.6 152.8 153.1 153.1 2.2 .2 .0 2.4 .3 .2 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 152.6 152.7 152.9 152.9 2.1 .1 .0 2.2 .2 .1 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 150.8 151.5 151.7 151.9 2.4 .3 .1 2.5 .6 .1 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 155.4 155.6 156.0 155.7 2.5 .1 -.2 3.0 .4 .3 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 150.0 150.2 150.8 150.7 1.5 .3 -.1 1.9 .5 .4 South urban ............................ M 155.1 155.1 155.4 155.3 1.8 .1 -.1 1.8 .2 .2 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.6 153.6 153.9 153.9 1.5 .2 .0 1.5 .2 .2 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 155.8 155.7 156.1 156.2 2.2 .3 .1 2.3 .2 .3 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 155.8 156.0 156.2 155.7 1.4 -.2 -.3 1.6 .3 .1 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 156.3 156.3 156.5 156.6 2.5 .2 .1 1.9 .1 .1 West urban ............................. M 157.8 157.8 157.5 157.6 1.7 -.1 .1 1.9 -.2 -.2 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 156.2 156.1 156.0 156.2 1.8 .1 .1 2.0 -.1 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 163.3 163.2 162.7 162.9 2.3 -.2 .1 2.2 -.4 -.3 + _ Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 143.4 143.3 143.5 143.6 2.0 .2 .1 2.1 .1 .1 + _ B 3/ ................................. M 157.3 157.3 157.6 157.8 2.2 .3 .1 2.3 .2 .2 + _ C 3/ ................................. M 159.0 159.1 159.2 159.1 2.1 .0 -.1 2.2 .1 .1 + _ D .................................... M 155.6 155.6 155.7 155.8 1.8 .1 .1 1.7 .1 .1 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 155.3 155.5 156.0 156.0 2.2 .3 .0 2.2 .5 .3 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 154.3 154.0 153.8 153.8 1.0 -.1 .0 1.5 -.3 -.1 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 166.1 166.0 166.2 166.6 2.3 .4 .2 2.1 .1 .1 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 165.1 165.2 165.3 165.5 2.1 .2 .1 2.2 .1 .1 + _ San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 156.7 156.8 157.0 157.5 2.7 .4 .3 2.7 .2 .1 + _ Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 - 154.3 - 155.6 .6 .8 - - - - + _ Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 - 165.6 - 165.8 3.0 .1 - - - - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 - 147.8 - 148.2 2.7 .3 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 - 155.6 - 155.5 3.1 -.1 - - - - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 - 151.2 - 152.5 2.3 .9 - - - - + _ Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 - 159.7 - 160.2 1.6 .3 - - - - + _ Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 150.4 - 151.4 - - - - 1.2 .7 - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 151.0 - 149.8 - - - - 1.8 -.8 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 144.1 - 144.1 - - - - 1.3 .0 - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 150.1 - 150.8 - - - - 2.7 .5 - + _ + 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/ Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current + _ Size Class B and Size Class C cities. There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C. 4/ Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. + _ 5/ Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly + _ basis starting in January, 1998. Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a bi-monthly basis. 6/ Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997. + _ Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore combined metropolitan area. 7/ Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly + _ basis after December, 1997. Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each January and July. - Data not available. NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator clauses.