Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Consumer Price Index
Appendix 4. Non-Consumer Expenditure sample rotation categories
Group Category Category title Commodity type ELI ELI title Source of the universe data Sampling unit for outlets Measure of size Desired final pricing unit

15

E08 Sending packages, not including use of the United States Postal Service Services EC021 Delivery services Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/) Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 492110 (Couriers and Express Delivery Services) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf) Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Delivery Services. Specific delivery services sales.

N/A

E90 Postage Services EC011 Postage The distribution of household mail by type of postal service and postal zone, as provided by the postal service. U.S. Postal Service Estimated Postal revenue for each type of postal service and postal zone. Specific postal service by weight and zones traveled.

2

G10 Funeral Services Services GD021 Funeral Services Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/) Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 812210 (Funeral Homes and Funeral Services) or 812220 (Cemeteries and Crematories) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf) Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Funeral Services. Specific funeral services sales and specific sales of associated merchandise purchased from funeral homes.

N/A

H91 Tenants and household insurance Housing HD011 Tenants' and household insurance National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Insurance companies serving the states in which CPI sample areas are located. Revenue of state level direct premiums written for noncommercial policies, prorated by its within PSU State population proportions. Specific policy serving within each CPI sample area.

13

H92 Electricity Services HF011 Electricity Platts zip code file and CPI PSU zip code population concordance. Electric companies listed in the Platts zip code file. Aggregated utility company zip code residential territory populations at the PSU/unique company level. Specific type of service for a specific number of kilowatt hours for a specific zip code identified.

13

H93 Utility (piped) natural gas Services HF021 Utility (piped) gas service Platts zip code file and CPI PSU zip code population concordance. Gas local distribution companies (LDC) listed in the Platts zip code file Aggregated utility company zip code residential territory populations at the PSU/unique company level. Specific type of service for a specific number of therms for a specific zip code identified.

8

M08 Hospital Services Services MD011 Hospital services American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center in each CPI sample area. Number of admissions plus the number of outpatient visits. Specific medical services provided.

16

M90 Nursing and convalescent home care Services MD021 Nursing and convalescent home care Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services Home Healthcare Care System. Facilities providing nursing home care in each CPI sample area. Number of certified beds. Specific accommodations and services provided.

16

M91 Care of invalids, elderly, and convalescents in home Services MD031 Care of invalides, the elderly, and convalescents in the home Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Healthcare Care System. Facilities providing adult home care in each CPI sample area. Each facility is weighted by its zip code population. Specific services provided.

9

R11 Veterinarian Services Services RB022 Veterinarian Services Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/) Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 541940 (Veterinary Services) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf) Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Veterinarian Services. Specific veterinarian services.

N/A

T90 Used Cars and Trucks Transportation TA021 Used cars and trucks J.D. Power data. Specific type of vehicle by model year, model, and trim level. Number of vehicle purchases by vehicle model year, model, and trim level using JD Powers data. Specific used vehicles with specific options; prices collected from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) e-Valuator.

N/A

T91 Motor vehicle insurance Services TE011 Motor vehicle insurance National Association of Insurance Commissioners - State data on premium written by carrier by type of insurance Insurance companies serving the states in which CPI sample areas are located. Revenue of state level direct premiums written for noncommercial policies, prorated by its within PSU State population proportions. Specific motor vehicle policy serving within each CPI sample area.

10

T92 State vehicle registration Services TF011 State vehicle registration and driver's license Each state's Department of Motor Vehicles. State motor vehicle department in each CPI sample area. There is no sampling for this ELI. Measures of sizes are not applicable. All state DMVs are priced for each state spanning the PSU. Specific class/vehicle registration, type of license, or vehicle property tax.

8

T93 Airline fares Services TG011 Airline fares Department of Transportation data file consisting of a 10-percent sample of all passenger itineraries originating in the United States. All non regional and non charter airlines providing service from any CPI sample area as found in the latest available DOT Databank 1B file. Total number of nonbusiness passengers per airline, per trip itinerary, per fare class. Specific trip itinerary and fare class for the selected airline.

2

T94 Intercity buses Services TG021 Intercity bus fares Scheduled intercity bus trips from each CPI sample area. Bus companies serving each CPI sample area. Estimates of "market share" using city populations and other web based information. Specific trip itinerary and fare class.

2

T95 Intercity trains Services TG022 Intercity train fares Data file of intercity train trips provided by Amtrak and web based information for the Alaskan Railroad. Amtrak and the Alaskan Railroad. Amtrak - Number of passengers per specific trip itinerary. Alaskan Railroad - Number of seasonal days of operation for a given train within a given calendar year. Specific trip itinerary and fare class.

Note: ELI = Entry-level item. PSU = primary sampling units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Download an excel version of this appendix here:

  • CPI Handbook of Methods Appendix 4: Non-CE Sample Rotation Categories (XLSX)

Last Modified Date: February 15, 2023