FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-96-432 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 Wednesday, October 16, 1996 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: SEPTEMBER 1996 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent before seasonal adjustment in September to a level of 157.8 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in September, the CPI-U increased 3.0 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.4 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment. The September 1996 CPI-W level of 155.1 was 3.0 percent higher than the index in September 1995. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in September, following a 0.1 percent increase in August. The food index rose 0.5 percent in September, again reflecting sharp increases in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for dairy products. The energy index, which declined 3.2 percent in the 3-month period ended in August after advancing 9.4 percent in the prior 6-month period, was unchanged in September. The index for petroleum-based energy increased 0.1 percent, while the index for energy services declined 0.1 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent, following a 0.1 percent increase in August. About two-thirds of the acceleration in this index from August to September was due to a sharp turnaround in the index for apparel and upkeep--up 0.5 percent after declining 1.4 percent in August. Increases in the indexes for airline fares and for new vehicles also contributed to the larger advance in September. 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 1996 3-mos. ended ended Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Sep.'96 Sep.'96 All Items .4 .4 .3 .1 .3 .1 .3 2.6 3.0 Food and beverages .5 .3 .1 .7 .5 .3 .5 5.0 3.7 Housing .3 .3 .2 .1 .4 .2 .2 3.2 2.9 Apparel and upkeep .6 -.4 .1 -.4 -.1 -1.4 .5 -3.9 -.9 Transportation .7 1.1 .7 -.4 -.2 -.2 .5 .3 3.2 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 2.7 3.3 Entertainment .1 -.1 .4 .3 .1 .2 .1 1.3 3.2 Other goods and services .4 .3 .4 .2 .4 .3 .0 3.2 3.9 Special Indexes: Energy 1.4 3.2 1.1 -2.2 -.4 -.6 .0 -3.9 5.2 Food .6 .3 .1 .7 .5 .4 .5 5.3 3.8 All items less food and energy .3 .1 .2 .2 .3 .1 .3 2.7 2.7 Consumer prices rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 2.6 percent in the third quarter. This follows increases of 4.0 and 3.1 percent in the first and second quarters, respectively, and brings the year-to-date annual rate to 3.2 percent. This compares with an increase of 2.5 percent for all of 1995. The food and energy components have moved up sharply thus far in 1996, after acting as moderating influences on overall consumer price movements throughout most of the past 5 years. Through the first 9 months of 1996, energy costs have risen at a 6.5 percent annual rate. The index for petroleum-based energy goods advanced at an annual rate of 9.8 percent and the index for energy services at a 3.6 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 4.4 percent annual rate in the first 9 months of 1996, following an advance of 2.1 percent in all of 1995. Grocery store foods have risen at a 5.4 percent rate in 1996 with the sharpest advance occurring in the index for dairy products--up at a SAAR of 12.1 percent thus far in 1996. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose at a 2.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter and has advanced at a 2.8 percent annual rate thus far in 1996. This compares with an increase of 3.0 percent for all of 1995. Within this category, the index for commodities less food and energy has risen at a 1.0 percent annual rate, following a 1.7 percent increase in all of 1995. A larger decline in the index for apparel commodities in 1996 (at a SAAR) than in 1995-down 2.2 percent relative to down 0.1 percent-was primarily responsible for the moderation. The index for services less energy has advanced at a 3.5 percent rate in 1996, virtually the same as the 3.6 percent rise in 1995. The rates for selected groups during the past 8-3/4 years are shown below. SAAR Percent change 12 months 9- ended in December months ended in Septem- ber 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 All Items 4.4 4.6 6.1 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.5 3.2 Food and beverages 5.1 5.5 5.3 2.5 1.6 2.7 2.7 2.1 4.3 Housing 4.0 3.9 4.5 3.4 2.6 2.7 2.2 3.0 2.8 Apparel and upkeep 4.7 1.0 5.1 3.4 1.4 .9 -1.6 .1 -1.7 Transportation 3.0 4.0 10.4 -1.5 3.0 2.4 3.8 1.5 4.6 Medical care 6.9 8.5 9.6 7.9 6.6 5.4 4.9 3.9 3.1 Entertainment 4.6 5.1 4.3 3.9 2.8 2.8 2.3 3.3 2.7 Other goods and services 7.0 8.2 7.6 8.0 6.5 2.7 4.2 4.3 3.7 Special Indexes Energy .5 5.1 18.1 -7.4 2.0 -1.4 2.2 -1.3 6.5 Food 5.2 5.6 5.3 1.9 1.5 2.9 2.9 2.1 4.4 All items less food and energy 4.7 4.4 5.2 4.4 3.3 3.2 2.6 3.0 2.8 The food and beverage index rose 0.5 percent in September. The index for grocery store foods increased 0.6 percent, following a 0.5 percent rise in August. Increases in the indexes for dairy products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--up 1.7 and 1.1 percent, respectively- -accounted for four-fifths of the September advance. The index for dairy products has risen 6.8 percent in the past 4 months and 10.9 percent since September 1995. Within the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, pork prices increased 1.6 percent in September and have risen 13.4 percent in the last 12 months. The index for beef, which had risen 3.6 percent during the 3-month period ended in August, increased 0.2 percent in September. Over the past 12 months, beef prices have risen 1.1 percent. Prices for poultry increased 0.8 percent in September to a level 6.8 percent above a year ago. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the index for fruits and vegetables declined 0.1 percent as a decrease in fresh vegetable prices more than offset increases in the prices for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables. The indexes for cereal and bakery products and for other food at home rose 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.3 and 0.5 percent, respectively, in September. The housing component rose 0.2 percent in September, the same as in August. Shelter costs increased 0.2 percent in September, following a rise of 0.1 percent in August. Within shelter, homeowners' costs rose 0.2 percent, and renters' costs and maintenance and repair costs each rose 0.1 percent. The indexes for household fuels and for other utilities and public services each increased 0.2 percent in September. Among household fuels, the indexes for electricity and for fuel oil increased 0.2 and 4.5 percent, respectively, while the index for natural gas declined 0.7 percent. The index for household furnishings and operation rose 0.2 percent in September, the same as in August. The transportation index, which had declined in each of the 3 preceding months, turned up in September, increasing 0.5 percent. Advances in the indexes for airline fares and new vehicles more than offset another decline in the index for motor fuels. The index for gasoline, which increased 18.2 percent in the period from November 1995 through May, has declined 8.0 percent in the past 4 months, including a 0.4 percent drop in September. As of September, the gasoline index was 12.0 percent below its peak level of December 1990. The index for new vehicle prices, which rose 0.1 percent in August, increased 0.6 percent in September. As of September, about 10 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 1997 models, a noticeably larger proportion than in recent years. The 1997 models will continue to be phased into the index over the next several months as they replace old models at dealerships. The index for automobile finance charges increased 0.9 percent in September and has risen 4.9 percent in the past 4 months. The index for used cars rose 0.3 percent, its first increase in 6 months. The index for airline fares increased 2.9 percent, in part as a result of the re-imposition of the 10 percent Federal tax that went back into effect on August 27. The index for apparel and upkeep, which declined 1.4 percent in August, turned up in September, advancing 0.5 percent. The proportion of higher priced fall-winter wear in the sample in September was about normal, in contrast to August, which was characterized by the slower than usual introduction of the seasonal clothing. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices rose 2.9 percent in September.) Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in September to a level 3.3 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities-- prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical supplies-- increased 0.1 percent in September. The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent. Charges for professional services and hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively. Entertainment costs rose 0.1 percent in September, following an increase of 0.2 percent in August. The index for other goods and services was unchanged in September, following a 0.3 percent rise in August. The indexes for college tuition and for school books and supplies, which increased 1.0 and 1.2 percent, respectively, in August, declined 1.0 percent and were unchanged, respectively, in September. (In September, prior to seasonal adjustment, college tuition costs rose 2.2 percent and the index for school books and supplies increased 1.0 percent.) The index for tobacco products increased 0.7 percent in September. 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 0.3 percent in September. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Compound Un- adjust Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual ed rate 12- Category 1996 3-mos. mos. ended ended Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Sep'96 Sep'96 All Items .5 .4 .3 .1 .2 .1 .3 2.1 3.0 Food and beverages .5 .3 .1 .7 .4 .4 .5 5.3 3.8 Housing .3 .3 .2 .1 .4 .2 .1 3.0 2.9 Apparel and upkeep .6 -.2 .2 -.6 .0 -1.5 .5 -4.2 -.8 Transportation .9 1.1 .6 -.6 -.4 -.1 .4 -.6 3.2 Medical care .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .1 .2 2.7 3.3 Entertainment .0 -.1 .4 .3 .0 .3 .1 1.3 3.1 Other goods and services .3 .3 .4 .1 .4 .2 .2 3.4 3.6 Special Indexes: Energy 1.8 3.3 1.1 -2.0 -.9 -.5 .0 -5.7 5.5 Food .6 .3 .1 .8 .5 .3 .5 5.3 3.8 All items less food and energy .3 .1 .2 .1 .2 .1 .3 2.5 2.6 Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on Thursday, November 14, 1996, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). 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 Aug. Sept. Sept. 1996 from- June to July to Aug. to 1995 1996 1996 Sept. 1995 Aug. 1996 July Aug. Sept. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 157.3 157.8 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 471.1 472.7 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.332 154.2 155.0 3.7 .5 .5 .3 .5 Food ................................... 15.766 153.7 154.6 3.8 .6 .5 .4 .5 Food at home ......................... 9.880 154.8 155.9 4.5 .7 .5 .5 .6 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.473 175.0 174.7 3.7 -.2 .2 .0 .2 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 2.936 145.6 147.2 5.5 1.1 .6 .9 1.1 Dairy products ..................... 1.169 144.6 146.7 10.9 1.5 1.5 2.0 1.7 Fruits and vegetables .............. 1.936 182.1 183.6 3.1 .8 .5 -.3 -.1 Other food at home ................. 2.365 143.2 143.6 1.8 .3 .2 -.1 .5 Sugar and sweets ................. .327 144.6 145.4 5.1 .6 .5 -.2 1.0 Fats and oils .................... .248 140.9 141.5 3.0 .4 -.6 .8 .6 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .763 128.5 127.9 -2.9 -.5 -.1 .5 -.6 Other prepared food .............. 1.027 156.4 157.5 4.0 .7 .4 -.5 1.0 Food away from home .................. 5.886 153.1 153.5 2.6 .3 .3 .2 .3 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.566 158.9 159.5 3.2 .4 .1 .3 .5 Housing .................................. 41.346 154.0 153.9 2.9 -.1 .4 .2 .2 Shelter ................................ 28.289 172.3 172.0 3.1 -.2 .5 .1 .2 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 7.988 183.4 180.9 3.3 -1.4 .8 .1 .1 Rent, residential .................. 5.762 162.5 162.9 2.8 .2 .3 .1 .2 Other renters' costs ............... 2.227 225.9 214.8 4.7 -4.9 2.1 -.1 -.1 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 20.102 177.0 177.5 3.0 .3 .3 .2 .2 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 19.716 177.3 177.9 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .2 Household insurance 1/ ............. .386 162.3 162.3 3.4 .0 .5 .1 .3 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .199 139.7 139.9 3.3 .1 .4 .2 .1 Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .122 147.1 147.4 5.1 .2 1.2 .5 .2 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .077 129.6 129.5 .5 -.1 -.6 -.4 -.1 Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.014 129.4 129.8 3.9 .3 .5 .4 .2 Fuels ................................ 3.792 117.9 118.4 4.4 .4 .9 .5 .2 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .356 92.2 95.6 10.4 3.7 -1.6 .5 3.6 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.436 126.1 126.2 3.8 .1 1.1 .6 -.1 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.222 158.0 158.3 3.3 .2 -.1 .3 .2 Household furnishings and operation .... 6.043 124.8 125.1 1.1 .2 .1 .2 .2 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.445 111.3 111.5 -.2 .2 -.3 .3 .2 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.116 141.1 141.2 2.1 .1 .4 .1 .1 Housekeeping services ................ 1.482 148.6 149.4 3.3 .5 .5 .0 .5 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.516 128.1 131.5 -.9 2.7 -.1 -1.4 .5 Apparel commodities .................... 4.967 124.2 127.8 -1.3 2.9 -.1 -1.5 .5 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.303 126.2 127.4 .5 1.0 -.2 .2 -.8 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.195 118.1 123.6 -2.6 4.7 .0 -2.7 1.0 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .195 125.1 131.4 .2 5.0 -2.6 -.5 5.0 Footwear ............................. .732 124.7 126.7 -.1 1.6 -.1 -.6 -.2 Other apparel commodities ............ .542 149.3 151.9 -2.2 1.7 .7 -2.3 1.5 Apparel services 2/ .................... .550 160.3 160.4 1.9 .1 .1 .3 .1 Transportation ........................... 16.953 142.8 143.2 3.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .5 Private transportation ................. 15.430 139.9 140.0 3.0 .1 -.2 -.2 .3 New vehicles ......................... 5.027 142.9 143.2 2.3 .2 .2 .1 .6 New cars ........................... 4.015 140.7 141.0 2.3 .2 .2 .3 .5 Used cars ............................ 1.342 156.6 157.0 .3 .3 -.1 .0 .3 Motor fuel ........................... 2.908 106.4 106.2 6.4 -.2 -1.9 -2.0 -.3 Gasoline ........................... - 106.1 105.7 6.0 -.4 -2.7 -2.0 -.4 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.535 158.6 160.0 3.2 .9 .3 .3 .8 Other private transportation ......... 4.618 174.1 174.1 2.4 .0 .3 .5 .3 Other private transportation commodities .................... .608 104.8 105.0 .1 .2 -.5 .1 .2 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.010 190.4 190.3 2.6 -.1 .4 .5 .4 Public transportation .................. 1.523 181.4 184.6 4.8 1.8 -.5 -.1 2.0 Medical care ............................. 7.362 229.2 229.4 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.282 211.1 211.2 3.1 .0 .0 .2 .1 Medical care services .................. 6.081 233.4 233.6 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Professional medical services ........ 3.465 209.2 209.6 3.6 .2 .4 .3 .3 Entertainment ............................ 4.367 159.2 159.8 3.2 .4 .1 .2 .1 Entertainment commodities .............. 1.975 143.2 143.3 2.9 .1 .0 .1 .0 Entertainment services ................. 2.392 178.0 179.1 3.3 .6 .2 .1 .1 Other goods and services ................. 7.123 216.3 218.3 3.9 .9 .4 .3 .0 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.610 233.4 234.1 2.6 .3 .4 .0 .7 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.170 150.5 150.8 2.2 .2 .3 .3 .2 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .613 145.0 145.1 1.5 .1 .3 .4 .1 Personal care services 2/ ............ .557 156.5 157.2 3.1 .4 .3 .1 .4 Personal and educational expenses ...... 4.342 248.7 252.1 4.7 1.4 .4 .5 -.2 School books and supplies ............ .258 227.6 229.9 6.0 1.0 .3 1.2 .0 Personal and educational services .... 4.084 250.5 254.0 4.7 1.4 .4 .5 -.3 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 157.3 157.8 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .3 Commodities .............................. 42.916 139.5 140.3 2.6 .6 .1 -.1 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 17.332 154.2 155.0 3.7 .5 .5 .3 .5 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.584 130.5 131.4 1.8 .7 -.2 -.4 .3 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.075 131.6 133.0 2.3 1.1 -.4 -.8 .2 Apparel commodities ................ 4.967 124.2 127.8 -1.3 2.9 -.1 -1.5 .5 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.108 138.5 138.7 4.1 .1 -.6 -.4 -.1 Durables ............................. 10.509 128.9 129.2 1.1 .2 -.1 .1 .3 Services ................................. 57.084 175.3 175.6 3.3 .2 .5 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 27.671 179.3 179.0 3.1 -.2 .4 .3 .1 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.681 144.4 144.6 3.5 .1 .5 .3 .3 Transportation services ................ 7.068 180.6 181.6 3.2 .6 .2 .3 .8 Medical care services .................. 6.081 233.4 233.6 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Other services ......................... 7.583 201.9 203.9 3.9 1.0 .3 .3 .0 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.234 157.9 158.4 2.9 .3 .2 .1 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 71.711 152.9 153.8 2.9 .6 .2 .0 .4 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 79.898 158.3 158.9 3.0 .4 .3 .0 .3 All items less medical care ................ 92.638 153.2 153.8 2.9 .4 .3 .1 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 27.150 131.7 132.5 1.8 .6 -.2 -.4 .4 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.641 133.2 134.5 2.4 1.0 -.4 -.7 .2 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.674 139.5 139.8 3.9 .2 -.6 -.3 .2 Nondurables ................................ 32.407 143.1 144.1 3.0 .7 .1 -.2 .3 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 29.414 183.7 184.6 3.5 .5 .4 .3 .4 Services less medical care services ........ 51.004 169.9 170.2 3.3 .2 .5 .2 .4 Energy ..................................... 6.700 111.6 111.7 5.2 .1 -.4 -.6 .0 All items less energy ...................... 93.300 163.4 164.0 2.8 .4 .3 .1 .3 All items less food and energy ........... 77.534 165.8 166.4 2.7 .4 .3 .1 .3 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.885 140.3 141.4 1.2 .8 .0 -.1 .4 Energy commodities ................... 3.264 105.0 105.2 6.8 .2 -2.0 -1.6 .1 Services less energy services .......... 53.648 180.4 180.7 3.3 .2 .3 .2 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.636 $.634 -2.9 -.3 -.2 -.2 -.3 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .212 .212 - - - - - 1/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - 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- June July Aug. Sept. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Mar. Sept. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 2.4 4.0 3.1 2.6 3.2 2.8 Food and beverages ......................... 153.4 154.1 154.6 155.3 1.9 3.2 4.6 5.0 2.6 4.8 Food ..................................... 153.1 153.8 154.4 155.1 1.9 3.2 4.6 5.3 2.6 4.9 Food at home ........................... 154.0 154.8 155.5 156.5 1.9 3.8 5.6 6.7 2.8 6.1 Cereals and bakery products .......... 173.9 174.3 174.3 174.7 4.3 5.5 3.3 1.9 4.9 2.6 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 143.7 144.5 145.8 147.4 6.7 -.6 5.5 10.7 3.0 8.1 Dairy products ....................... 139.9 142.0 144.8 147.2 7.1 4.2 10.3 22.6 5.6 16.3 Fruits and vegetables ................ 185.9 186.9 186.3 186.1 -8.8 12.0 9.1 .4 1.1 4.7 Other food at home ................... 142.8 143.1 143.0 143.7 .6 1.4 2.6 2.5 1.0 2.6 Sugar and sweets ................... 143.8 144.5 144.2 145.6 2.9 7.7 4.9 5.1 5.3 5.0 Fats and oils ...................... 140.8 139.9 141.0 141.9 3.2 2.3 3.2 3.2 2.8 3.2 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 128.4 128.3 129.0 128.2 -4.5 -4.5 -1.8 -.6 -4.5 -1.2 Other prepared food ................ 156.2 156.8 156.0 157.6 2.7 4.0 5.3 3.6 3.3 4.5 Food away from home .................... 152.3 152.8 153.1 153.5 2.2 2.1 2.9 3.2 2.2 3.1 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 158.3 158.5 158.9 159.7 1.6 4.7 3.1 3.6 3.1 3.3 Housing .................................... 152.3 152.9 153.2 153.5 3.3 3.2 2.1 3.2 3.2 2.7 Shelter .................................. 170.4 171.2 171.4 171.7 3.4 3.4 2.6 3.1 3.4 2.9 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 178.7 180.2 180.3 180.5 1.8 5.1 2.3 4.1 3.5 3.2 Rent, residential .................... 161.8 162.3 162.5 162.9 2.8 2.5 3.0 2.7 2.7 2.9 Other renters' costs ................. 212.6 217.1 216.8 216.5 .0 11.3 .2 7.5 5.5 3.8 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 176.2 176.7 177.0 177.4 4.0 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.3 2.8 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 176.5 177.1 177.3 177.7 4.0 2.5 2.8 2.7 3.3 2.8 Household insurance 1/ ............... 160.6 161.4 161.6 162.1 4.4 2.0 3.3 3.8 3.2 3.5 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 138.8 139.4 139.7 139.9 3.6 2.7 3.8 3.2 3.1 3.5 Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 144.6 146.3 147.1 147.4 5.2 4.9 2.2 8.0 5.1 5.1 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 130.9 130.1 129.6 129.5 .6 -.3 6.0 -4.2 .2 .8 Fuel and other utilities ................. 126.9 127.5 128.0 128.3 3.3 5.2 2.9 4.5 4.3 3.7 Fuels .................................. 113.2 114.2 114.8 115.0 4.4 4.4 2.5 6.5 4.4 4.5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 95.3 93.8 94.3 97.7 1.8 47.1 -9.8 10.5 22.4 -.2 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 120.4 121.7 122.4 122.3 4.8 .3 4.1 6.5 2.6 5.3 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 157.6 157.5 158.0 158.3 1.8 6.7 3.1 1.8 4.2 2.4 Household furnishings and operation ...... 124.4 124.5 124.7 125.0 1.6 1.0 .0 1.9 1.3 1.0 Housefurnishings ....................... 111.2 110.9 111.2 111.4 .0 -.7 -.7 .7 -.4 .0 Housekeeping supplies .................. 140.5 141.1 141.3 141.4 4.7 4.1 -2.5 2.6 4.4 .0 Housekeeping services .................. 147.8 148.6 148.6 149.3 3.4 1.7 4.2 4.1 2.5 4.1 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 131.8 131.7 129.9 130.5 1.5 1.5 -2.7 -3.9 1.5 -3.3 Apparel commodities ...................... 128.1 128.0 126.1 126.7 1.6 1.2 -3.4 -4.3 1.4 -3.8 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 127.7 127.4 127.6 126.6 -.3 8.9 -2.8 -3.4 4.2 -3.1 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 124.5 124.5 121.1 122.3 4.9 -4.0 -3.5 -6.9 .3 -5.2 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 129.1 125.7 125.1 131.4 -7.4 15.1 -12.0 7.3 3.2 -2.8 Footwear ............................... 127.3 127.2 126.4 126.1 -2.5 6.5 -.3 -3.7 1.9 -2.0 Other apparel commodities .............. 150.7 151.8 148.3 150.5 .3 -2.6 -5.9 -.5 -1.2 -3.2 Apparel services 2/....................... 159.7 159.9 160.3 160.4 .8 3.1 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.9 Transportation ............................. 143.7 143.4 143.1 143.8 -1.1 8.0 5.8 .3 3.3 3.0 Private transportation ................... 140.7 140.4 140.1 140.5 .6 7.5 4.4 -.6 4.0 1.9 New vehicles ........................... 143.7 144.0 144.2 145.0 .8 2.0 2.8 3.7 1.4 3.2 New cars ............................. 141.4 141.7 142.1 142.8 .6 2.3 2.3 4.0 1.4 3.2 Used cars .............................. 155.9 155.7 155.7 156.2 4.2 9.7 -12.3 .8 6.9 -6.0 Motor fuel ............................. 108.7 106.6 104.5 104.2 -1.6 32.5 16.6 -15.6 14.2 -.8 Gasoline ............................. 108.9 106.0 103.9 103.5 -1.2 32.0 18.8 -18.4 14.2 -1.5 Maintenance and repairs ................ 157.8 158.2 158.6 159.8 2.3 2.9 2.3 5.2 2.6 3.7 Other private transportation ........... 173.6 174.1 174.9 175.5 .2 .0 4.5 4.5 .1 4.5 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 105.4 104.9 105.0 105.2 -.4 .8 .8 -.8 .2 .0 Other private transportation services ......................... 189.9 190.6 191.5 192.3 .4 .0 5.0 5.2 .2 5.1 Public transportation .................... 184.4 183.5 183.4 187.1 -16.6 12.5 21.6 6.0 -3.1 13.5 Medical care ............................... 228.3 228.9 229.4 229.8 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.7 3.4 3.0 Medical care commodities ................. 210.7 210.7 211.1 211.4 3.2 3.5 4.3 1.3 3.3 2.8 Medical care services .................... 232.1 232.9 233.4 233.8 3.8 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.5 3.1 Professional medical services .......... 207.7 208.5 209.2 209.8 4.0 3.0 3.1 4.1 3.5 3.6 Entertainment .............................. 159.2 159.3 159.6 159.7 4.2 4.7 2.3 1.3 4.4 1.8 Entertainment commodities ................ 143.1 143.1 143.3 143.3 4.7 5.2 1.1 .6 4.9 .8 Entertainment services ................... 178.2 178.5 178.7 178.9 3.7 3.9 3.7 1.6 3.8 2.6 Other goods and services ................... 215.9 216.8 217.5 217.6 4.1 4.4 3.6 3.2 4.2 3.4 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 232.2 233.1 233.0 234.6 .7 3.7 1.9 4.2 2.2 3.1 Personal care 2/ ......................... 149.6 150.0 150.5 150.8 3.9 1.3 .5 3.2 2.6 1.9 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 143.9 144.4 145.0 145.1 3.1 -.3 -.3 3.4 1.4 1.5 Personal care services 2/ .............. 155.9 156.3 156.5 157.2 5.1 2.6 1.6 3.4 3.8 2.5 Personal and educational expenses ........ 247.8 248.8 250.1 249.5 5.5 5.8 5.0 2.8 5.6 3.9 School books and supplies .............. 225.6 226.2 229.0 229.0 7.0 8.4 2.3 6.2 7.7 4.2 Personal and educational services ...... 249.3 250.4 251.6 250.9 5.3 5.5 5.1 2.6 5.4 3.9 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 2.4 4.0 3.1 2.6 3.2 2.8 Commodities ................................ 139.9 140.0 139.8 140.4 1.8 5.0 2.3 1.4 3.4 1.9 Food and beverages ....................... 153.4 154.1 154.6 155.3 1.9 3.2 4.6 5.0 2.6 4.8 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 131.7 131.4 130.9 131.3 1.6 6.0 1.2 -1.2 3.8 .0 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 133.3 132.8 131.8 132.0 2.2 9.9 1.2 -3.8 6.0 -1.3 Apparel commodities .................. 128.1 128.0 126.1 126.7 1.6 1.2 -3.4 -4.3 1.4 -3.8 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 139.3 138.4 137.8 137.7 2.1 15.6 3.8 -4.5 8.6 -.4 Durables ............................... 129.3 129.2 129.3 129.7 .9 2.5 -.6 1.2 1.7 .3 Services ................................... 173.9 174.7 175.0 175.4 2.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.5 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 177.6 178.3 178.8 179.0 3.3 3.5 2.5 3.2 3.4 2.9 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 141.7 142.4 142.8 143.2 3.5 2.3 4.1 4.3 2.9 4.2 Transportation services .................. 180.7 181.0 181.6 183.0 -3.1 3.2 7.9 5.2 .0 6.5 Medical care services .................... 232.1 232.9 233.4 233.8 3.8 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.5 3.1 Other services ........................... 201.9 202.5 203.2 203.1 4.4 4.7 4.1 2.4 4.6 3.2 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 157.4 157.7 157.8 158.1 2.1 4.5 2.8 1.8 3.3 2.3 All items less shelter ....................... 152.8 153.1 153.1 153.7 1.6 4.3 3.5 2.4 3.0 2.9 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 157.9 158.3 158.3 158.8 1.8 4.5 3.4 2.3 3.1 2.8 All items less medical care .................. 152.6 153.0 153.1 153.5 2.2 4.1 3.2 2.4 3.1 2.8 Commodities less food ........................ 132.9 132.6 132.1 132.6 1.2 6.3 1.2 -.9 3.7 .2 Nondurables less food ........................ 134.8 134.3 133.4 133.7 2.5 8.8 1.8 -3.2 5.6 -.7 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 140.1 139.2 138.8 139.1 3.0 11.8 4.4 -2.8 7.3 .7 Nondurables .................................. 143.6 143.7 143.4 143.8 1.7 6.7 3.1 .6 4.2 1.8 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 182.2 182.9 183.5 184.2 2.0 3.6 4.1 4.5 2.8 4.3 Services less medical care services .......... 168.3 169.1 169.4 170.0 2.5 3.7 3.2 4.1 3.1 3.6 Energy ....................................... 110.2 109.8 109.1 109.1 1.9 15.8 8.4 -3.9 8.7 2.0 All items less energy ........................ 163.1 163.6 163.8 164.3 2.3 3.3 2.7 3.0 2.8 2.9 All items less food and energy ............. 165.6 166.1 166.2 166.7 2.2 3.5 2.2 2.7 2.9 2.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.2 141.2 141.0 141.5 1.7 2.6 -.3 .9 2.2 .3 Energy commodities ..................... 107.3 105.2 103.5 103.6 -1.2 34.3 13.3 -13.1 15.2 -.8 Services less energy services ............ 179.4 180.0 180.4 180.8 2.5 3.4 3.9 3.2 3.0 3.5 1/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - 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 Sept. 1996 from- Aug. 1996 from- schedule June July Aug. Sept. Sept. July Aug. Aug. June July 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 156.7 157.0 157.3 157.8 3.0 0.5 0.3 2.9 0.4 0.2 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 163.1 163.4 164.0 164.6 2.9 .7 .4 2.7 .6 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 163.8 164.1 164.7 165.4 2.9 .8 .4 2.7 .5 .4 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 160.9 161.8 162.2 162.2 2.7 .2 .0 2.7 .8 .2 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 161.0 161.5 161.8 162.2 2.3 .4 .2 2.1 .5 .2 North Central urban .................... M 152.9 153.2 153.4 154.0 3.1 .5 .4 3.0 .3 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.5 153.7 154.0 154.5 2.8 .5 .3 2.8 .3 .2 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 152.0 152.4 152.8 153.3 3.7 .6 .3 3.4 .5 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 154.1 154.6 154.7 155.4 3.2 .5 .5 3.2 .4 .1 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 149.8 150.4 150.4 151.0 3.2 .4 .4 3.2 .4 .0 South urban ............................ M 154.0 154.0 154.1 154.5 3.1 .3 .3 2.9 .1 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.2 153.2 153.1 153.5 2.9 .2 .3 2.5 -.1 -.1 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 156.3 156.7 156.9 157.3 3.3 .4 .3 3.2 .4 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 153.8 153.7 154.0 154.4 3.3 .5 .3 3.1 .1 .2 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 153.0 152.5 152.6 153.2 3.2 .5 .4 3.2 -.3 .1 West urban ............................. M 157.5 157.9 158.0 158.6 2.9 .4 .4 2.8 .3 .1 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 157.3 158.0 158.1 158.7 2.7 .4 .4 2.6 .5 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 162.4 162.4 162.6 163.0 3.4 .4 .2 3.6 .1 .1 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 141.4 141.7 141.9 142.4 2.8 .5 .4 2.7 .4 .1 B .................................... M 156.9 157.4 157.6 157.9 3.1 .3 .2 3.1 .4 .1 C .................................... M 156.5 156.8 157.0 157.4 3.1 .4 .3 3.0 .3 .1 D .................................... M 153.7 153.7 154.0 154.7 3.4 .7 .5 3.5 .2 .2 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 157.6 157.7 158.1 158.3 2.8 .4 .1 2.8 .3 .3 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 156.7 157.6 157.3 158.2 2.3 .4 .6 1.9 .4 -.2 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 166.5 166.7 167.2 168.2 3.1 .9 .6 2.7 .4 .3 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 162.3 162.8 163.6 164.5 2.6 1.0 .6 2.5 .8 .5 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 155.2 155.9 155.6 156.3 2.6 .3 .4 2.7 .3 -.2 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 - 155.7 - 155.4 2.4 -.2 - - - - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 - 162.0 - 163.5 3.1 .9 - - - - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 - 152.1 - 153.5 3.0 .9 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 - 152.4 - 154.6 3.8 1.4 - - - - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 - 149.9 - 151.0 2.7 .7 - - - - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 - 160.1 - 160.8 2.9 .4 - - - - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 149.4 - 149.5 - - - - 3.0 .1 - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 151.9 - 152.7 - - - - 2.6 .5 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 142.8 - 142.8 - - - - 1.9 .0 - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 153.2 - 153.6 - - - - 2.3 .3 - 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 1986=100 base. - 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 Aug. Sept. Sept. 1996 from- June to July to Aug. to 1995 1996 1996 Sept. 1995 Aug. 1996 July Aug. Sept. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 154.5 155.1 3.0 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 460.2 461.9 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.262 153.7 154.5 3.8 .5 .4 .4 .5 Food ................................... 17.581 153.4 154.1 3.8 .5 .5 .3 .5 Food at home ......................... 11.206 154.1 155.1 4.5 .6 .6 .5 .6 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.682 174.8 174.3 3.6 -.3 .2 .1 .1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.453 145.3 146.8 5.5 1.0 .7 .9 1.0 Dairy products ..................... 1.300 144.3 146.4 10.8 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.9 Fruits and vegetables .............. 2.052 181.8 183.2 3.2 .8 .6 -.2 -.2 Other food at home ................. 2.719 142.8 143.2 1.8 .3 .2 .0 .5 Sugar and sweets ................. .369 144.5 145.3 5.1 .6 .5 -.1 .9 Fats and oils .................... .285 140.6 141.2 2.8 .4 -.8 .8 .6 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .885 128.0 127.4 -2.8 -.5 -.1 .5 -.5 Other prepared food .............. 1.180 156.3 157.2 4.0 .6 .4 -.4 1.0 Food away from home .................. 6.374 153.1 153.4 2.6 .2 .3 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.681 158.2 158.9 3.3 .4 .1 .3 .6 Housing .................................. 38.888 150.7 150.8 2.9 .1 .4 .2 .1 Shelter ................................ 25.976 167.3 167.2 3.0 -.1 .4 .1 .2 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 8.091 159.4 158.1 3.1 -.8 .6 .1 .1 Rent, residential .................. 6.616 162.2 162.6 2.8 .2 .3 .1 .2 Other renters' costs ............... 1.475 226.5 215.0 4.6 -5.1 1.7 -.1 -.2 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 17.695 161.4 161.9 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .2 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 17.366 161.7 162.2 3.0 .3 .3 .2 .2 Household insurance 1/ ............. .329 148.0 148.0 3.0 .0 .5 .0 .3 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .189 138.0 138.0 2.2 .0 .3 .1 .0 Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .105 149.0 149.4 4.5 .3 1.0 .5 .3 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .085 124.1 123.6 -.6 -.4 -.6 -.6 -.4 Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.247 129.2 129.5 4.0 .2 .4 .5 .2 Fuels ................................ 3.887 117.5 117.9 4.6 .3 .9 .5 .2 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .327 92.1 95.4 10.3 3.6 -1.5 .5 3.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.560 125.7 125.7 4.1 .0 1.1 .6 -.2 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.360 158.5 158.8 3.4 .2 -.1 .3 .2 Household furnishings and operation .... 5.666 123.3 123.6 .9 .2 .1 .2 .2 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.367 110.0 110.1 -.4 .1 -.2 .2 .2 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.149 141.8 141.8 2.3 .0 .5 .2 .1 Housekeeping services ................ 1.150 151.2 152.2 3.0 .7 .5 .1 .4 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.533 127.5 130.6 -.8 2.4 .0 -1.5 .5 Apparel commodities .................... 5.017 123.8 127.2 -1.0 2.7 .0 -1.6 .4 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.310 125.7 127.0 .5 1.0 -.2 .1 -.8 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.148 117.4 122.2 -2.6 4.1 .1 -2.9 .7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .251 126.7 132.4 -.2 4.5 -2.5 -.1 4.5 Footwear ............................. .812 126.1 127.8 .2 1.3 .2 -.4 -.5 Other apparel commodities ............ .495 147.8 151.4 -1.2 2.4 .9 -3.7 2.3 Apparel services 2/ .................... .516 159.6 159.7 1.8 .1 .2 .2 .1 Transportation ........................... 19.020 142.6 142.9 3.2 .2 -.4 -.1 .4 Private transportation ................. 17.847 140.5 140.7 3.0 .1 -.4 -.1 .3 New vehicles ......................... 4.958 144.0 144.3 2.4 .2 .2 .2 .4 New cars ........................... 3.591 140.3 140.6 2.3 .2 .3 .3 .5 Used cars ............................ 2.432 157.8 158.2 .5 .3 -.3 -.1 .4 Motor fuel ........................... 3.584 106.3 106.2 6.4 -.1 -2.7 -1.7 -.1 Gasoline ........................... - 106.0 105.8 6.1 -.2 -2.5 -1.9 -.3 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.619 159.6 160.8 3.1 .8 .2 .4 .6 Other private transportation ......... 5.255 169.7 169.8 2.3 .1 .4 .5 .4 Other private transportation commodities .................... .767 104.0 104.1 .0 .1 -.5 .2 .2 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.488 186.3 186.4 2.7 .1 .5 .5 .4 Public transportation .................. 1.173 179.4 181.8 5.6 1.3 -.6 .0 1.6 Medical care ............................. 6.262 228.5 228.8 3.3 .1 .3 .1 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.055 208.5 208.5 3.0 .0 .2 -.1 .3 Medical care services .................. 5.208 233.1 233.3 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Professional medical services ........ 2.965 210.4 210.8 3.6 .2 .4 .2 .4 Entertainment ............................ 4.029 157.0 157.4 3.1 .3 .0 .3 .1 Entertainment commodities .............. 2.053 142.2 142.2 2.7 .0 -.1 .3 .1 Entertainment services ................. 1.976 178.3 179.3 3.4 .6 .2 .2 .1 Other goods and services ................. 7.006 213.0 214.7 3.6 .8 .4 .2 .2 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.135 233.0 233.7 2.5 .3 .4 -.2 .7 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.132 150.4 150.8 2.2 .3 .3 .3 .3 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .635 145.6 145.7 1.4 .1 .3 .4 .1 Personal care services 2/ ............ .497 156.5 157.2 3.1 .4 .1 .2 .4 Personal and educational expenses ...... 3.739 244.2 247.3 4.7 1.3 .5 .5 -.1 School books and supplies ............ .227 228.8 231.5 6.1 1.2 .2 1.5 .2 Personal and educational services .... 3.512 245.7 248.8 4.6 1.3 .5 .4 -.1 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 154.5 155.1 3.0 .4 .2 .1 .3 Commodities .............................. 47.052 139.6 140.4 2.7 .6 .0 -.1 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 19.262 153.7 154.5 3.8 .5 .4 .4 .5 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.790 130.9 131.7 1.9 .6 -.3 -.5 .3 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.074 131.6 132.8 2.5 .9 -.4 -.8 .1 Apparel commodities ................ 5.017 123.8 127.2 -1.0 2.7 .0 -1.6 .4 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.057 138.2 138.4 4.0 .1 -.7 -.5 -.1 Durables ............................. 11.716 128.9 129.2 1.2 .2 .0 .0 .5 Services ................................. 52.948 172.5 172.8 3.3 .2 .4 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 25.430 161.0 160.9 3.1 -.1 .4 .2 .1 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.531 132.7 133.0 3.7 .2 .5 .4 .1 Transportation services ................ 7.279 178.4 179.2 3.3 .4 .3 .4 .7 Medical care services .................. 5.208 233.1 233.3 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Other services ......................... 6.501 198.7 200.5 3.9 .9 .4 .3 .0 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.419 154.6 155.2 2.8 .4 .1 .0 .3 All items less shelter ..................... 74.024 151.2 151.9 3.0 .5 .1 .1 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 82.305 145.1 145.7 3.0 .4 .2 .1 .3 All items less medical care ................ 93.738 151.0 151.6 3.0 .4 .2 .1 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 29.471 132.0 132.8 2.0 .6 -.3 -.5 .4 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.756 133.1 134.3 2.5 .9 -.4 -.6 .1 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 12.739 139.2 139.5 3.9 .2 -.7 -.3 .1 Nondurables ................................ 35.336 143.0 143.9 3.2 .6 .0 -.1 .2 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 27.518 163.8 164.5 3.6 .4 .5 .2 .4 Services less medical care services ........ 47.740 167.3 167.6 3.3 .2 .5 .2 .2 Energy ..................................... 7.470 111.1 111.3 5.5 .2 -.9 -.5 .0 All items less energy ...................... 92.530 160.6 161.2 2.8 .4 .2 .1 .4 All items less food and energy ........... 74.949 162.5 163.1 2.6 .4 .2 .1 .3 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 25.560 140.0 141.0 1.2 .7 .1 -.2 .4 Energy commodities ................... 3.911 105.3 105.5 6.7 .2 -2.6 -1.5 .2 Services less energy services .......... 49.388 177.7 178.0 3.2 .2 .3 .2 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.647 $.645 -2.9 -.3 -.2 -.2 -.3 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .217 .216 - - - - - 1/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - 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- June July Aug. Sept. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Mar. Sept. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 2.4 4.3 3.2 2.1 3.4 2.6 Food and beverages ......................... 153.0 153.6 154.2 155.0 1.9 3.2 4.6 5.3 2.6 5.0 Food ..................................... 152.6 153.3 153.8 154.6 2.2 3.2 4.6 5.3 2.7 5.0 Food at home ........................... 153.1 154.0 154.7 155.7 1.9 3.5 5.4 7.0 2.7 6.2 Cereals and bakery products .......... 173.7 174.0 174.1 174.3 4.1 5.3 3.8 1.4 4.7 2.6 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 143.2 144.2 145.5 147.0 7.1 -.8 5.2 11.0 3.0 8.1 Dairy products ....................... 139.8 141.9 144.3 147.0 6.2 4.8 10.7 22.2 5.5 16.3 Fruits and vegetables ................ 185.2 186.3 186.0 185.7 -8.4 13.3 7.0 1.1 1.9 4.0 Other food at home ................... 142.4 142.7 142.7 143.4 .6 1.4 2.6 2.8 1.0 2.7 Sugar and sweets ................... 143.7 144.4 144.2 145.5 2.9 8.3 4.3 5.1 5.6 4.7 Fats and oils ...................... 140.7 139.6 140.7 141.5 2.9 2.3 3.5 2.3 2.6 2.9 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 127.9 127.8 128.5 127.8 -4.5 -4.5 -1.5 -.3 -4.5 -.9 Other prepared food ................ 155.9 156.6 155.9 157.5 2.9 3.7 5.3 4.2 3.3 4.7 Food away from home .................... 152.3 152.7 153.1 153.4 2.2 2.1 3.2 2.9 2.2 3.1 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 157.6 157.8 158.2 159.1 1.8 4.7 2.8 3.9 3.3 3.4 Housing .................................... 149.1 149.7 150.0 150.2 3.0 3.3 2.2 3.0 3.2 2.6 Shelter .................................. 165.8 166.5 166.7 167.0 3.5 3.0 2.7 2.9 3.2 2.8 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 156.6 157.6 157.7 157.9 2.4 4.5 2.6 3.4 3.4 3.0 Rent, residential .................... 161.5 162.0 162.2 162.6 3.1 2.5 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.9 Other renters' costs ................. 213.6 217.3 217.0 216.6 -1.0 12.8 1.5 5.7 5.7 3.6 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 160.7 161.2 161.4 161.7 4.4 2.3 2.8 2.5 3.3 2.6 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 160.9 161.4 161.7 162.0 4.4 2.0 2.8 2.8 3.2 2.8 Household insurance 1/ ............... 146.7 147.4 147.4 147.9 6.0 1.1 1.9 3.3 3.5 2.6 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 137.5 137.9 138.0 138.0 2.4 1.5 3.6 1.5 1.9 2.5 Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 146.7 148.2 149.0 149.4 4.8 3.1 2.5 7.6 4.0 5.0 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 125.6 124.8 124.1 123.6 -.3 -.3 4.9 -6.2 -.3 -.8 Fuel and other utilities ................. 126.5 127.0 127.6 127.8 3.6 5.9 2.6 4.2 4.8 3.4 Fuels .................................. 112.5 113.5 114.1 114.3 4.8 5.5 1.8 6.6 5.2 4.1 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 95.0 93.6 94.1 97.4 1.8 46.6 -10.2 10.5 22.2 -.4 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 119.8 121.1 121.8 121.6 4.9 2.4 3.1 6.1 3.6 4.6 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 158.2 158.0 158.5 158.8 1.8 7.2 3.1 1.5 4.5 2.3 Household furnishings and operation ...... 123.0 123.1 123.3 123.6 .7 1.0 .0 2.0 .8 1.0 Housefurnishings ....................... 109.9 109.7 109.9 110.1 -1.4 .0 -.7 .7 -.7 .0 Housekeeping supplies .................. 140.9 141.6 141.9 142.0 4.1 4.6 -2.2 3.2 4.4 .4 Housekeeping services .................. 150.6 151.4 151.5 152.1 3.6 .3 4.1 4.0 1.9 4.1 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 131.0 131.0 129.0 129.6 1.2 2.5 -2.4 -4.2 1.8 -3.3 Apparel commodities ...................... 127.8 127.8 125.7 126.2 .9 2.5 -2.8 -4.9 1.7 -3.8 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 127.2 127.0 127.1 126.1 .6 8.9 -4.0 -3.4 4.7 -3.7 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 124.0 124.1 120.5 121.3 3.9 -2.8 -2.2 -8.4 .5 -5.4 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 130.1 126.8 126.7 132.4 -8.2 16.0 -13.0 7.3 3.2 -3.4 Footwear ............................... 128.1 128.4 127.9 127.3 -1.9 5.8 -.3 -2.5 1.9 -1.4 Other apparel commodities .............. 150.2 151.5 145.9 149.2 1.1 -.8 -2.4 -2.6 .1 -2.5 Apparel services 2/....................... 159.0 159.3 159.6 159.7 .8 2.8 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.9 Transportation ............................. 143.3 142.7 142.5 143.1 .6 8.3 4.6 -.6 4.4 2.0 Private transportation ................... 141.3 140.7 140.5 140.9 .9 8.1 4.4 -1.1 4.4 1.6 New vehicles ........................... 144.7 145.0 145.3 145.9 1.1 2.5 2.5 3.4 1.8 2.9 New cars ............................. 140.9 141.3 141.7 142.4 1.2 1.7 2.0 4.3 1.4 3.2 Used cars .............................. 157.2 156.8 156.7 157.4 4.1 9.4 -11.1 .5 6.7 -5.5 Motor fuel ............................. 109.0 106.1 104.3 104.2 -1.2 31.9 17.9 -16.5 14.2 -.8 Gasoline ............................. 108.6 105.9 103.9 103.6 -2.0 33.6 16.6 -17.2 14.4 -1.7 Maintenance and repairs ................ 158.8 159.1 159.7 160.7 2.6 2.8 2.3 4.9 2.7 3.6 Other private transportation ........... 169.3 170.0 170.8 171.5 .2 -.5 4.4 5.3 -.1 4.8 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 104.5 104.0 104.2 104.4 -.4 .4 .8 -.4 .0 .2 Other private transportation services ......................... 185.6 186.6 187.6 188.4 .4 -.7 4.9 6.2 -.1 5.5 Public transportation .................... 181.0 180.0 180.0 182.9 -6.8 12.0 14.2 4.3 2.2 9.1 Medical care ............................... 227.6 228.3 228.6 229.1 3.7 3.1 3.6 2.7 3.4 3.1 Medical care commodities ................. 208.0 208.5 208.3 208.9 3.0 3.4 3.9 1.7 3.2 2.8 Medical care services .................... 231.9 232.6 233.1 233.6 3.8 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.4 3.2 Professional medical services .......... 208.8 209.7 210.1 211.0 4.2 2.9 3.1 4.3 3.6 3.7 Entertainment .............................. 156.9 156.9 157.3 157.4 3.4 4.8 2.6 1.3 4.1 1.9 Entertainment commodities ................ 141.9 141.8 142.2 142.4 3.2 5.6 .9 1.4 4.4 1.1 Entertainment services ................... 178.4 178.7 179.0 179.1 3.7 4.2 4.1 1.6 4.0 2.9 Other goods and services ................... 212.2 213.1 213.6 214.0 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.5 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 232.1 233.0 232.5 234.2 1.2 3.0 2.1 3.7 2.1 2.9 Personal care 2/ ......................... 149.6 150.0 150.4 150.8 3.6 1.1 .8 3.2 2.3 2.0 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 144.6 145.0 145.6 145.7 2.8 -.3 .0 3.1 1.3 1.5 Personal care services 2/ .............. 156.0 156.2 156.5 157.2 4.5 2.6 2.1 3.1 3.6 2.6 Personal and educational expenses ........ 242.8 243.9 245.0 244.8 5.4 5.0 5.1 3.3 5.2 4.2 School books and supplies .............. 226.4 226.8 230.2 230.6 7.6 7.8 1.8 7.6 7.7 4.7 Personal and educational services ...... 244.2 245.4 246.4 246.1 5.2 4.8 5.2 3.1 5.0 4.2 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 2.4 4.3 3.2 2.1 3.4 2.6 Commodities ................................ 140.0 140.0 139.8 140.4 1.5 5.3 2.6 1.1 3.4 1.9 Food and beverages ....................... 153.0 153.6 154.2 155.0 1.9 3.2 4.6 5.3 2.6 5.0 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.0 131.6 131.0 131.4 1.2 7.0 1.2 -1.8 4.1 -.3 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 133.4 132.8 131.7 131.8 2.2 10.6 2.4 -4.7 6.3 -1.2 Apparel commodities .................. 127.8 127.8 125.7 126.2 .9 2.5 -2.8 -4.9 1.7 -3.8 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 139.1 138.1 137.4 137.3 1.8 15.9 4.1 -5.1 8.7 -.6 Durables ............................... 129.1 129.1 129.1 129.7 1.3 2.5 -.9 1.9 1.9 .5 Services ................................... 171.1 171.8 172.2 172.5 3.2 3.1 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.4 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 159.8 160.4 160.7 160.9 3.4 3.1 3.1 2.8 3.2 2.9 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 130.2 130.8 131.3 131.4 4.2 3.5 3.1 3.7 3.8 3.4 Transportation services .................. 178.1 178.6 179.3 180.5 -.2 2.1 5.8 5.5 .9 5.7 Medical care services .................... 231.9 232.6 233.1 233.6 3.8 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.4 3.2 Other services ........................... 198.5 199.2 199.8 199.8 4.2 4.4 4.3 2.6 4.3 3.5 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 154.1 154.3 154.3 154.7 2.7 4.3 2.9 1.6 3.5 2.2 All items less shelter ....................... 151.0 151.2 151.3 151.8 1.9 4.7 3.2 2.1 3.3 2.7 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 144.7 145.0 145.1 145.5 2.0 4.6 3.1 2.2 3.3 2.7 All items less medical care .................. 150.5 150.8 150.9 151.3 2.2 4.4 3.0 2.1 3.3 2.6 Commodities less food ........................ 133.2 132.8 132.2 132.7 .9 7.2 1.2 -1.5 4.0 -.2 Nondurables less food ........................ 134.7 134.1 133.3 133.4 2.2 10.2 2.1 -3.8 6.1 -.9 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 139.9 138.9 138.5 138.6 2.4 13.1 4.4 -3.7 7.6 .3 Nondurables .................................. 143.3 143.3 143.2 143.5 2.0 7.3 2.8 .6 4.7 1.7 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 162.3 163.1 163.5 164.2 2.8 3.0 4.0 4.8 2.9 4.4 Services less medical care services .......... 165.8 166.6 167.0 167.3 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.7 3.0 3.6 Energy ....................................... 110.3 109.3 108.7 108.7 1.6 17.7 9.6 -5.7 9.3 1.7 All items less energy ........................ 160.3 160.7 160.9 161.5 2.3 3.3 2.5 3.0 2.8 2.8 All items less food and energy ............. 162.4 162.8 162.9 163.4 2.5 3.3 2.0 2.5 2.9 2.2 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 140.8 140.9 140.6 141.1 1.7 3.2 -.8 .9 2.5 .0 Energy commodities ..................... 108.0 105.2 103.6 103.8 -1.2 33.2 15.4 -14.7 14.7 -.8 Services less energy services ............ 176.9 177.5 177.9 178.3 3.0 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.2 3.3 1/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - 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 Sept. 1996 from- Aug. 1996 from- schedule June July Aug. Sept. Sept. July Aug. Aug. June July 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 154.1 154.3 154.5 155.1 3.0 0.5 0.4 2.9 0.3 0.1 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 160.6 160.9 161.4 162.0 2.8 .7 .4 2.7 .5 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 160.4 160.5 161.0 161.8 2.9 .8 .5 2.7 .4 .3 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 158.7 159.7 160.0 159.8 2.5 .1 -.1 2.8 .8 .2 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 162.5 162.9 163.2 163.7 2.2 .5 .3 2.1 .4 .2 North Central urban .................... M 149.5 149.8 149.9 150.6 3.1 .5 .5 3.0 .3 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 149.6 149.7 149.9 150.4 2.8 .5 .3 2.8 .2 .1 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 148.0 148.3 148.7 149.5 3.7 .8 .5 3.3 .5 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 151.5 151.9 151.9 152.6 3.2 .5 .5 3.1 .3 .0 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 148.0 148.5 148.5 149.1 3.2 .4 .4 3.1 .3 .0 South urban ............................ M 152.6 152.6 152.7 153.1 3.2 .3 .3 3.0 .1 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 151.6 151.6 151.4 151.7 3.0 .1 .2 2.6 -.1 -.1 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 152.6 152.9 153.1 153.6 3.3 .5 .3 3.2 .3 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 153.7 153.6 153.9 154.4 3.3 .5 .3 3.0 .1 .2 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 153.6 152.8 153.1 153.9 3.4 .7 .5 3.2 -.3 .2 West urban ............................. M 154.5 154.9 154.9 155.5 3.0 .4 .4 2.8 .3 .0 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 152.9 153.4 153.4 154.0 2.7 .4 .4 2.5 .3 .0 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 159.2 159.3 159.5 159.9 3.5 .4 .3 3.6 .2 .1 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 140.6 140.8 140.9 141.4 2.8 .4 .4 2.7 .2 .1 B .................................... M 154.0 154.4 154.6 155.0 3.1 .4 .3 3.1 .4 .1 C .................................... M 155.7 155.8 156.0 156.6 3.1 .5 .4 3.0 .2 .1 D .................................... M 153.1 153.0 153.3 154.0 3.4 .7 .5 3.4 .1 .2 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 152.6 152.7 152.9 153.2 2.8 .3 .2 2.8 .2 .1 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 151.5 152.3 151.9 152.7 2.3 .3 .5 1.8 .3 -.3 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 162.8 162.8 163.3 164.4 3.1 1.0 .7 2.8 .3 .3 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 161.7 162.1 163.0 163.7 2.4 1.0 .4 2.4 .8 .6 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 152.9 153.4 153.0 153.8 2.5 .3 .5 2.5 .1 -.3 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 - 154.6 - 154.4 2.4 -.1 - - - - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 - 160.9 - 162.1 3.0 .7 - - - - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 - 144.3 - 145.8 3.2 1.0 - - - - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 - 150.8 - 152.6 3.9 1.2 - - - - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 - 149.0 - 150.1 2.5 .7 - - - - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 - 157.6 - 158.2 3.1 .4 - - - - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 149.6 - 149.5 - - - - 3.2 -.1 - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 147.1 - 148.0 - - - - 2.8 .6 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 142.2 - 142.2 - - - - 1.7 .0 - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 146.9 - 147.2 - - - - 2.4 .2 - 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 1986=100 base. - 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.