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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

4

E04 Tuition or fixed fees for a college or university Services EB011 College tuition and fixed fees IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data. All public and private colleges and universities. The estimated proportion of revenue generated by each school from students living in the given PSU.

4

E05 Tuition or fixed fees for elementary or high schools Services EB021 Elementary and high school tuition and fixed fees IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data. All private schools in the United States. Student enrollment numbers.

4

E06 Day care providers including nursery schools Services EB031 Day care and preschool 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 624410 (Child Care 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 Day care providers including nursery schools services.

4

E07 Tuition or fixed fees for technical or vocational schools Services EB041 Technical and business school tuition and fixed fees IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data All vocational schools. The estimated proportion of revenue generated by each school from students living in the given PSU.

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.

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.

2

G10 Funeral Services Services GD021 Funeral and burial 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.

14

H03 Fuel oil for household heating Housing HE011 Fuel oil 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 457210 (Fuel Dealers) 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 Fuel oil for household heating.

1

H38 Major appliance repair Housing HP041 Appliance repair 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 811412 (Appliance Repair and Maintenance) 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 Major appliance repair.

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.

13

H92 Electricity Services HF011 Electricity RateAcuity zip code file and CPI PSU zip code population concordance. EIA (Energy Information Agency Survey) Electric outlets listed in the RateAcuity zip code file. Estimated residential population within the utility company’s PSU service territory                                           

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: July 3, 2025