FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-97-93 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. (EST) MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 606-5902 Wednesday, March 19, 1997 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: FEBRUARY 1997 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent before seasonal adjustment in February to a level of 159.6 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in February, the CPI-U increased 3.0 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.3 percent in February, prior to seasonal adjustment. The February 1997 CPI-W level of 156.8 was 3.0 percent higher than the index in February 1996. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in February, following an increase of 0.1 percent in January. The food index, which declined 0.3 percent in January, advanced 0.3 percent in February. The index for grocery store food prices increased 0.5 percent, reflecting an 8.9 percent rise in the index for fresh vegetables. The energy index--up 0.3 percent in February--continued to increase, but by less than in recent months. The index for petroleum-based energy turned down in February, declining 0.2 percent, while the index for energy services rose 0.7 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent. This compares with a 0.1 percent rise in January, but was the same as the average monthly increase in all of 1996. 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 1997 3-mos. ended ended Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. '97 Feb.'97 97 All Items .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .1 .3 2.5 3.0 Food and beverages .4 .5 .5 .4 .0 -.2 .3 .5 3.7 Housing .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 .3 .3 3.1 3.0 Apparel and upkeep -.9 .5 .2 .3 .1 .4 .2 2.8 .5 Transportation .0 .5 .3 .3 .6 -.2 -.1 1.4 3.1 Medical care .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.3 2.9 Entertainment .2 .1 .3 .2 .3 .0 .2 2.0 2.2 Other goods and services .4 .1 .3 .4 .1 .4 .5 3.9 3.8 Special Indexes: Energy -.2 .2 1.1 1.2 1.5 .8 .3 10.8 7.8 Food .4 .5 .5 .4 .0 -.3 .3 .3 3.8 All items less food and energy .1 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 2.2 2.5 The food and beverage index increased 0.3 percent in February. The index for grocery store food prices, which fell 0.6 percent in January, increased 0.5 percent in February. The February food advance reflects a sharp upturn in the index for fruits and vegetables, which rose 3.0 percent after declining 2.0 percent in January. The index for fresh vegetables increased 8.9 percent as a result of a late January freeze in the Southeastern part of the country. The index for fresh fruits increased 1.3 percent, while the index for processed fruits and vegetables declined slightly. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit prices fell 3.2 percent.) The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined for the second consecutive month--down 0.2 percent in February. In this group, prior to seasonal adjustment, price declines were registered for beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood, and eggs. The 1.1 percent decrease in the index for dairy products was the fourth consecutive month in which the index failed to advance after increases totaling 8.5 percent in the preceding five-month period. The indexes for cereal and bakery products and for other food at home increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively. The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.2 percent. The housing component rose 0.3 percent in February. Shelter costs also increased 0.3 percent. Within shelter, renters' costs and homeowners' costs each rose 0.3 percent, and maintenance and repair costs increased 0.6 percent. The rise in renters' costs reflected a 0.9 percent increase in the index for other renters' costs; residential rents rose 0.1 percent. The index for fuel and other utilities rose 0.3 percent in February. The index for household fuels increased 0.5 percent, as a 1.6 percent decline in fuel oil prices partially offset increases in charges for natural gas and electricity of 1.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. For the 12-month period ended in February, charges for natural gas have increased 14.4 percent. In February, the index for other utilities and public services was unchanged. The index for household furnishings and operation, which declined 0.2 percent in January, increased 0.2 percent in February, reflecting a return to regular prices after widespread sales in January. The transportation component, which declined 0.2 percent in January, fell 0.1 percent in February. Public transportation costs fell sharply for the second consecutive month. The index for airline fares, which increased 2.3 percent in December, fell 3.2 percent in January and 2.6 percent in February. The declines in early 1997 reflect, in part, the lapse of the 10 percent federal tax on airline fares on January 1; the tax was reimposed effective March 7. The index for gasoline, which had advanced 6.6 percent in the preceding four months, was unchanged in February. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices declined 0.5 percent in February.) The index for gasoline prices has risen 13.3 percent in the last 14 months, and as of February was 5.4 percent below its peak level of December 1990. New vehicle purchase costs continued to show little change in February; the index for new vehicle prices was unchanged, while automobile finance charges increased 0.2 percent. The index for used cars increased 0.5 percent in February. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, used car prices fell 0.2 percent.) The index for apparel and upkeep increased for the sixth consecutive month in February--up 0.2 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices rose 1.9 percent in February, reflecting the introduction of higher- priced spring-summer wear.) Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in February to a level 2.9 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.3 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent. Charges for professional services and hospital and related services each increased 0.1 percent. Entertainment costs, which were unchanged on average in January, rose 0.2 percent in February, principally as a result of a 0.8 percent increase in the index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events. The index for other goods and services rose 0.5 percent in February. Increases in the indexes for tobacco and smoking products and for personal expenses-up 0.6 and 0.8 percent, respectively-were largely responsible for the February rise in this major group. 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 February. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1996 1997 3-mos. ended ended Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. '97 Feb. '97 All Items .1 .3 .4 .3 .3 .1 .2 2.3 3.0 Food and beverages .4 .4 .5 .4 .1 -.2 .2 .3 3.8 Housing .2 .1 .3 .3 .2 .3 .2 2.9 3.0 Apparel and upkeep-1.0 .5 .2 .3 .1 .4 .4 3.4 .7 Transportation .0 .4 .4 .3 .6 .0 .0 2.5 3.1 Medical care .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.3 2.9 Entertainment .3 .1 .3 .3 .3 .0 .1 1.8 2.1 Other goods and services .3 .2 .3 .4 .0 .6 .4 4.1 3.7 Special Indexes: Energy -.3 .1 1.2 1.4 1.5 .9 .3 11.2 8.2 Food .4 .4 .6 .3 .1 -.3 .3 .3 3.8 All items less food and energy .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 2.2 2.4 After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items was 159.8 in February; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 156.9. 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 March are scheduled for release on Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT). A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation. Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are derived by the X-11-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method (1988). The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977. Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1992 through 1996 were replaced at the end of 1996. The seasonal movement of all items and 47 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement of 60 selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. If any of the 60 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data for those series. For some women's apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing methodology. For the tobacco and smoking products index, this procedure was used to offset the effects of increases in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices. For some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases. For the nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather. For the water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly. A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors for these items, may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968. 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 Jan. Feb. Feb. 1997 from- Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to 1996 1997 1997 Feb. 1996 Jan. 1997 Dec. Jan. Feb. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 159.1 159.6 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 476.7 478.2 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.484 156.9 156.9 3.7 .0 .0 -.2 .3 Food ................................... 15.913 156.5 156.5 3.8 .0 .0 -.3 .3 Food at home ......................... 10.040 157.9 157.7 4.2 -.1 -.1 -.6 .5 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.479 176.5 176.7 2.7 .1 .2 -.2 .1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.002 149.6 148.8 4.5 -.5 .6 -.4 -.2 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.245 147.8 146.2 6.6 -1.1 -.5 -.5 -1.1 Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 1.974 187.3 187.4 5.5 .1 -1.5 -2.0 3.0 Other food at home ................. 2.340 144.8 145.4 2.5 .4 .3 .1 .2 Sugar and sweets ................. .331 146.9 147.2 4.0 .2 .6 .6 .0 Fats and oils .................... .246 142.3 142.7 2.1 .3 .1 -.1 .1 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .724 128.3 128.5 -1.1 .2 .2 .2 -.5 Other prepared food .............. 1.039 159.4 160.6 4.7 .8 .3 -.1 .8 Food away from home .................. 5.873 155.3 155.6 3.1 .2 .2 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.571 161.1 161.8 3.3 .4 .3 .2 .2 Housing 2/ ............................... 41.203 155.1 155.8 3.0 .5 .2 .3 .3 Shelter ................................ 28.194 173.6 174.6 3.1 .6 .2 .3 .3 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 7.994 182.7 185.3 3.6 1.4 .1 .6 .3 Rent, residential .................. 5.731 164.4 164.8 2.7 .2 .2 .2 .1 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 2.263 217.3 226.4 5.7 4.2 -.2 1.4 .9 Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 20.000 179.1 179.5 2.8 .2 .2 .2 .3 Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 19.616 179.5 179.9 2.8 .2 .2 .2 .3 Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .383 162.6 163.8 3.3 .7 -1.2 .2 .9 Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .200 141.5 142.3 3.9 .6 .3 .0 .6 Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .123 148.2 148.4 3.8 .1 .3 .1 .1 Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .077 132.5 133.9 4.0 1.1 .2 -.1 1.1 Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.102 130.8 131.0 4.8 .2 .5 .7 .3 Fuels ................................ 3.878 119.1 119.2 6.0 .1 .8 1.0 .5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .424 111.5 109.6 12.2 -1.7 2.9 -1.2 -1.9 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.453 124.9 125.3 5.2 .3 .4 1.4 .7 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.224 159.7 160.2 3.4 .3 .3 .3 .0 Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.908 124.9 125.2 .7 .2 .2 -.2 .2 Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.332 110.8 111.2 -.2 .4 .2 -.4 .2 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.093 142.3 142.5 1.5 .1 .0 .4 .1 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.482 149.6 149.9 2.5 .2 .3 -.5 .1 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.330 129.6 131.9 .5 1.8 .1 .4 .2 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.786 125.8 128.2 .3 1.9 .0 .5 .2 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.280 127.0 127.3 .7 .2 -.5 1.0 -.9 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.102 121.5 126.1 1.2 3.8 .7 .6 .7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .186 127.9 127.2 -5.4 -.5 .2 .8 -.5 Footwear ............................. .718 125.0 126.3 .4 1.0 .3 -.8 .2 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .500 145.6 146.9 -1.9 .9 -1.9 .1 .7 Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .545 161.7 162.2 2.3 .3 .4 .1 .3 Transportation ........................... 17.140 145.0 144.8 3.1 -.1 .6 -.2 -.1 Private transportation ................. 15.499 141.8 141.9 3.2 .1 .6 .1 .2 New vehicles ......................... 4.955 145.4 145.4 1.3 .0 .1 -.2 .0 New cars ........................... 3.952 143.0 142.9 1.1 -.1 .1 -.2 .0 Used cars ............................ 1.278 154.7 154.4 -2.0 -.2 -.4 .1 .5 Motor fuel ........................... 3.171 108.6 108.1 10.1 -.5 2.5 .6 .0 Gasoline ........................... - 107.9 107.4 9.8 -.5 2.5 .7 .0 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.533 161.1 161.2 2.9 .1 .2 .4 -.1 Other private transportation 4/....... 4.562 176.2 177.1 2.3 .5 .0 -.1 .5 Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .589 105.2 105.4 .0 .2 -.1 -.2 .3 Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 3.973 193.0 194.1 2.6 .6 .0 -.1 .6 Public transportation .................. 1.642 185.8 182.4 2.8 -1.8 1.4 -2.9 -2.0 Medical care ............................. 7.346 231.8 232.7 2.9 .4 .2 .2 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.273 212.8 213.9 2.6 .5 .1 .2 .3 Medical care services .................. 6.073 236.3 237.1 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .2 Professional medical services ........ 3.472 212.2 213.2 3.4 .5 .2 .4 .1 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.352 161.3 161.8 2.2 .3 .3 .0 .2 Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 1.957 144.2 144.3 1.3 .1 .3 -.3 .1 Entertainment services 4/ .............. 2.395 181.3 182.1 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .3 Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.145 220.0 220.7 3.8 .3 .1 .4 .5 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.601 236.4 237.4 3.3 .4 -.3 .4 .6 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.145 151.6 151.5 1.5 -.1 -.5 .7 -.1 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .588 143.6 143.3 -.6 -.2 -1.3 .6 -.2 Personal care services 1/ ............ .557 160.7 160.7 3.5 .0 .4 .9 .0 Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 4.398 254.0 255.0 4.6 .4 .4 .3 .6 School books and supplies ............ .264 234.5 235.3 4.7 .3 .4 -.1 .4 Personal and educational services 4/ . 4.134 255.8 256.7 4.6 .4 .4 .4 .6 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) - Continued Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December Jan. Feb. Feb. 1997 from- Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to 1996 1997 1997 Feb. 1996 Jan. 1997 Dec. Jan. Feb. Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 159.1 159.6 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .3 Commodities .............................. 42.873 141.5 141.8 2.8 .2 .2 .0 .2 Food and beverages ..................... 17.484 156.9 156.9 3.7 .0 .0 -.2 .3 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.389 132.1 132.6 2.1 .4 .3 .2 .1 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.147 133.8 134.6 3.3 .6 .7 .1 .3 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.786 125.8 128.2 .3 1.9 .0 .5 .2 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.362 141.0 141.0 4.8 .0 1.1 .3 .1 Durables ............................. 10.242 129.7 129.8 .3 .1 .1 -.2 .1 Services ................................. 57.127 177.0 177.7 3.2 .4 .3 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 27.577 180.6 181.6 3.0 .6 .2 .3 .3 Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.698 144.6 145.0 3.9 .3 .2 .6 .4 Transportation services ................ 7.148 183.5 183.4 2.7 -.1 .4 -.7 -.1 Medical care services .................. 6.073 236.3 237.1 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .2 Other services ......................... 7.631 205.9 206.7 3.9 .4 .3 .3 .4 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.087 159.6 160.2 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 71.806 155.0 155.3 3.0 .2 .3 .1 .2 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 80.000 160.2 160.8 3.1 .4 .3 .1 .2 All items less medical care ................ 92.654 155.0 155.5 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 26.960 133.3 133.8 2.1 .4 .4 .1 .1 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.718 135.4 136.2 3.3 .6 .7 .1 .2 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.932 142.0 142.1 4.6 .1 .7 .1 .1 Nondurables ................................ 32.631 145.5 145.9 3.5 .3 .3 .1 .3 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 29.550 185.9 186.4 3.4 .3 .3 .1 .2 Services less medical care services ........ 51.054 171.5 172.2 3.2 .4 .3 .2 .2 Energy ..................................... 7.049 113.3 113.1 7.8 -.2 1.5 .8 .3 All items less energy ...................... 92.951 165.3 165.9 2.7 .4 .1 .1 .2 All items less food and energy ........... 77.038 167.5 168.3 2.5 .5 .2 .1 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.364 141.5 142.2 1.0 .5 .1 .1 .1 Energy commodities ................... 3.596 109.2 108.6 10.5 -.5 2.6 .4 -.2 Services less energy services .......... 53.674 182.4 183.1 3.1 .4 .3 .1 .3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.628 $.626 -2.9 -.3 .0 -.5 -.3 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .210 .209 - - - - - 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- Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. May Aug. Nov. Feb. Aug. Feb. 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1997 1996 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 3.7 2.3 3.6 2.5 3.0 3.1 Food and beverages ......................... 156.6 156.6 156.3 156.8 3.2 5.9 5.3 .5 4.5 2.9 Food ..................................... 156.4 156.4 156.0 156.5 3.2 6.2 5.3 .3 4.7 2.7 Food at home ........................... 157.8 157.7 156.7 157.5 3.5 8.4 6.0 -.8 5.9 2.6 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.3 176.6 176.3 176.4 4.3 2.1 4.4 .2 3.2 2.3 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 148.4 149.3 148.7 148.4 .0 11.4 7.0 .0 5.6 3.5 Dairy products 1/ .................... 149.3 148.6 147.8 146.2 1.2 22.0 13.6 -8.1 11.1 2.2 Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 188.7 185.9 182.2 187.7 10.0 7.7 6.4 -2.1 8.8 2.1 Other food at home ................... 144.0 144.4 144.5 144.8 3.1 1.7 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.4 Sugar and sweets ................... 145.2 146.0 146.9 146.9 4.6 4.0 2.2 4.8 4.3 3.5 Fats and oils ...................... 141.8 142.0 141.9 142.1 2.0 3.5 2.3 .8 2.8 1.6 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 127.5 127.7 127.9 127.3 .9 -.6 -4.3 -.6 .2 -2.5 Other prepared food ................ 159.1 159.6 159.4 160.6 5.0 2.3 7.6 3.8 3.7 5.7 Food away from home .................... 154.6 154.9 155.3 155.6 2.7 2.9 4.0 2.6 2.8 3.3 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 160.6 161.1 161.4 161.8 3.4 3.1 3.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 Housing 2/ ................................. 154.4 154.7 155.2 155.6 2.9 2.7 3.2 3.1 2.8 3.2 Shelter .................................. 172.6 172.9 173.4 174.0 2.9 3.1 2.8 3.3 3.0 3.1 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 181.5 181.7 182.8 183.4 3.0 3.9 3.1 4.3 3.4 3.7 Rent, residential .................... 163.6 164.0 164.4 164.6 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.6 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 218.4 218.0 221.1 223.1 3.7 6.7 3.9 8.9 5.2 6.4 Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 178.3 178.6 179.0 179.5 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7 Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 178.6 179.0 179.3 179.9 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 164.5 162.5 162.9 164.3 2.3 4.6 7.1 -.5 3.4 3.2 Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 141.1 141.5 141.5 142.3 5.4 2.6 4.1 3.4 4.0 3.8 Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 147.6 148.0 148.2 148.4 4.8 6.8 1.4 2.2 5.8 1.8 Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 132.3 132.6 132.5 133.9 6.7 -3.9 8.6 4.9 1.2 6.7 Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 129.6 130.3 131.2 131.6 4.9 2.9 5.1 6.3 3.9 5.7 Fuels .................................. 116.7 117.6 118.8 119.4 4.3 2.1 7.2 9.6 3.2 8.4 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 106.4 109.5 108.2 106.1 20.9 -14.5 54.7 -1.1 1.7 23.7 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 123.1 123.6 125.3 126.2 3.0 4.0 3.0 10.5 3.5 6.7 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 159.2 159.6 160.0 160.0 5.0 3.4 3.3 2.0 4.2 2.7 Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 125.0 125.2 124.9 125.1 .6 1.3 1.0 .3 1.0 .6 Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 111.2 111.4 111.0 111.2 -.7 .0 .0 .0 -.4 .0 Housekeeping supplies .................. 141.7 141.7 142.3 142.5 1.4 .9 1.4 2.3 1.1 1.8 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 149.9 150.3 149.6 149.7 3.3 3.9 3.3 -.5 3.6 1.3 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 131.7 131.8 132.3 132.6 .6 -5.3 4.4 2.8 -2.4 3.6 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 128.0 128.0 128.6 128.8 .3 -6.1 4.8 2.5 -2.9 3.7 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 128.8 128.2 129.5 128.3 1.6 -.6 3.5 -1.5 .5 .9 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 124.0 124.9 125.7 126.6 1.0 -10.4 6.7 8.7 -4.9 7.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 126.7 126.9 127.9 127.2 -11.4 -15.3 5.2 1.6 -13.4 3.4 Footwear ............................... 127.0 127.4 126.4 126.7 1.0 .0 1.6 -.9 .5 .3 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 149.5 146.7 146.8 147.9 1.3 -6.5 2.2 -4.2 -2.6 -1.1 Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 160.9 161.5 161.7 162.2 2.3 2.3 1.5 3.3 2.3 2.4 Transportation ............................. 144.8 145.7 145.4 145.3 7.9 -1.4 4.8 1.4 3.1 3.1 Private transportation ................... 141.5 142.3 142.4 142.7 8.0 -2.0 3.8 3.4 2.9 3.6 New vehicles ........................... 144.6 144.7 144.4 144.4 2.0 2.5 1.4 -.6 2.3 .4 New cars ............................. 142.1 142.2 141.9 141.9 1.7 3.2 .3 -.6 2.4 -.1 Used cars .............................. 155.6 155.0 155.1 155.8 -3.7 -3.3 -1.3 .5 -3.5 -.4 Motor fuel ............................. 108.4 111.1 111.8 111.8 38.4 -17.6 13.6 13.1 6.8 13.4 Gasoline ............................. 107.8 110.5 111.3 111.3 37.0 -17.3 12.8 13.6 6.4 13.2 Maintenance and repairs ................ 160.3 160.7 161.3 161.2 2.6 3.1 4.1 2.3 2.8 3.2 Other private transportation 4/......... 175.3 175.3 175.2 176.1 1.6 4.0 1.4 1.8 2.8 1.6 Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 105.1 105.0 104.8 105.1 -.4 .0 .4 .0 -.2 .2 Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 192.1 192.1 192.0 193.1 1.9 4.5 1.7 2.1 3.2 1.9 Public transportation .................... 188.5 191.2 185.6 181.9 8.4 4.5 13.8 -13.3 6.4 -.7 Medical care ............................... 231.0 231.5 231.9 232.3 3.2 2.8 3.0 2.3 3.0 2.6 Medical care commodities ................. 212.1 212.4 212.8 213.5 3.1 2.5 1.9 2.7 2.8 2.3 Medical care services .................... 235.1 235.6 236.0 236.4 3.3 3.0 3.1 2.2 3.2 2.7 Professional medical services .......... 211.2 211.6 212.4 212.7 3.3 3.5 3.9 2.9 3.4 3.4 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 160.6 161.1 161.1 161.4 1.8 2.3 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.3 Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 144.0 144.4 144.0 144.2 .8 2.0 1.7 .6 1.4 1.1 Entertainment services 4/ ................ 180.2 180.8 181.1 181.6 2.3 2.7 3.4 3.1 2.5 3.3 Other goods and services 2/................. 219.2 219.4 220.3 221.3 4.4 3.6 3.4 3.9 4.0 3.6 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 236.0 235.3 236.2 237.6 3.9 1.6 5.1 2.7 2.7 3.9 Personal care 1/ ......................... 151.2 150.5 151.6 151.5 2.7 .5 1.9 .8 1.6 1.3 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 144.7 142.8 143.6 143.3 3.4 -.8 -.8 -3.8 1.3 -2.3 Personal care services 1/ .............. 158.6 159.2 160.7 160.7 1.6 1.8 5.5 5.4 1.7 5.4 Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 251.7 252.7 253.5 255.0 5.0 5.1 3.2 5.3 5.1 4.3 School books and supplies .............. 231.5 232.5 232.2 233.2 5.1 6.0 5.0 3.0 5.6 4.0 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 253.1 254.1 255.0 256.5 5.0 5.1 3.1 5.5 5.0 4.3 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 - Continued (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. May Aug. Nov. Feb. Aug. Feb. 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1997 1996 1997 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 3.7 2.3 3.6 2.5 3.0 3.1 Commodities ................................ 141.5 141.8 141.8 142.1 4.4 .3 4.7 1.7 2.3 3.2 Food and beverages ....................... 156.6 156.6 156.3 156.8 3.2 5.9 5.3 .5 4.5 2.9 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.4 132.8 133.0 133.1 5.3 -3.3 4.3 2.1 .9 3.2 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 134.3 135.2 135.3 135.7 8.8 -5.8 6.8 4.2 1.2 5.5 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 128.0 128.0 128.6 128.8 .3 -6.1 4.8 2.5 -2.9 3.7 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 140.2 141.8 142.2 142.3 13.6 -6.4 6.5 6.1 3.1 6.3 Durables ............................... 129.6 129.7 129.5 129.6 .3 .6 .6 .0 .5 .3 Services ................................... 176.3 176.8 177.2 177.6 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.1 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 179.9 180.3 180.8 181.3 3.0 3.2 2.7 3.1 3.1 2.9 Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 144.0 144.3 145.1 145.7 4.4 3.4 3.4 4.8 3.9 4.1 Transportation services .................. 183.4 184.1 182.9 182.7 3.6 4.1 4.9 -1.5 3.9 1.7 Medical care services .................... 235.1 235.6 236.0 236.4 3.3 3.0 3.1 2.2 3.2 2.7 Other services ........................... 204.7 205.4 206.1 206.9 3.7 3.8 3.4 4.4 3.7 3.9 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 159.1 159.6 159.9 160.2 3.9 1.5 3.3 2.8 2.7 3.1 All items less shelter ....................... 154.7 155.1 155.2 155.5 4.0 1.8 4.0 2.1 2.9 3.0 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 159.9 160.3 160.5 160.8 4.2 2.0 3.8 2.3 3.1 3.1 All items less medical care .................. 154.5 154.9 155.1 155.5 3.8 2.1 3.7 2.6 2.9 3.2 Commodities less food ........................ 133.6 134.1 134.2 134.4 5.0 -2.7 4.0 2.4 1.1 3.2 Nondurables less food ........................ 135.8 136.7 136.8 137.1 8.4 -5.2 6.8 3.9 1.4 5.3 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 141.8 142.8 142.9 143.1 10.6 -2.8 7.1 3.7 3.7 5.4 Nondurables .................................. 145.5 146.0 146.1 146.5 4.9 1.1 5.4 2.8 3.0 4.1 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 185.1 185.7 185.9 186.2 3.8 3.6 3.8 2.4 3.7 3.1 Services less medical care services .......... 170.8 171.3 171.7 172.0 3.4 3.4 3.3 2.8 3.4 3.1 Energy ....................................... 112.0 113.7 114.6 114.9 18.4 -7.3 10.3 10.8 4.7 10.5 All items less energy ........................ 165.2 165.4 165.5 165.9 2.8 2.7 3.5 1.7 2.7 2.6 All items less food and energy ............. 167.4 167.7 167.9 168.3 2.7 2.2 2.9 2.2 2.5 2.5 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.8 141.9 142.0 142.2 1.1 -.3 2.0 1.1 .4 1.6 Energy commodities ..................... 108.3 111.1 111.5 111.3 36.7 -17.4 17.6 11.5 6.2 14.5 Services less energy services ............ 181.7 182.2 182.4 182.9 3.2 3.4 3.1 2.7 3.3 2.9 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 Feb. 1997 from- Jan. 1997 from- schedule Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Dec. Jan. Jan. Nov. Dec. 1/ 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1996 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 158.6 158.6 159.1 159.6 3.0 0.6 0.3 3.0 0.3 0.3 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 165.4 165.7 166.2 166.9 2.9 .7 .4 3.0 .5 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 166.0 166.2 166.8 167.7 2.9 .9 .5 2.8 .5 .4 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 163.1 164.3 164.2 164.2 3.1 -.1 .0 3.5 .7 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 164.3 164.6 164.7 165.3 2.9 .4 .4 3.1 .2 .1 North Central urban .................... M 155.0 155.3 155.5 155.9 3.4 .4 .3 3.5 .3 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 155.3 155.5 156.0 156.5 3.2 .6 .3 3.3 .5 .3 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 154.5 154.5 154.3 154.4 3.3 -.1 .1 3.8 -.1 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 157.1 157.7 157.8 158.3 3.9 .4 .3 3.7 .4 .1 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 151.9 151.9 152.2 152.1 3.5 .1 -.1 3.9 .2 .2 South urban ............................ M 155.1 155.1 155.7 156.1 3.0 .6 .3 3.0 .4 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.8 154.0 154.9 155.2 3.1 .8 .2 3.0 .7 .6 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 158.2 158.2 158.5 158.9 3.1 .4 .3 3.5 .2 .2 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 154.7 154.4 155.0 155.6 2.8 .8 .4 2.6 .2 .4 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 154.6 154.4 154.8 155.5 3.6 .7 .5 3.3 .1 .3 West urban ............................. M 159.2 158.7 159.6 160.1 2.8 .9 .3 2.8 .3 .6 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 159.1 158.7 159.6 160.1 2.7 .9 .3 2.7 .3 .6 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 163.9 163.9 164.9 165.4 2.9 .9 .3 3.2 .6 .6 Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 142.9 142.9 143.6 144.1 2.9 .8 .3 2.9 .5 .5 B 3/ ................................. M 158.9 159.0 159.2 159.5 3.1 .3 .2 3.4 .2 .1 C 3/ ................................. M 158.5 158.6 159.1 159.6 3.1 .6 .3 3.0 .4 .3 D .................................... M 155.8 155.5 155.9 156.2 3.4 .5 .2 3.3 .1 .3 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 159.4 159.7 160.4 161.1 3.8 .9 .4 3.8 .6 .4 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 158.4 158.3 159.1 159.2 1.9 .6 .1 2.2 .4 .5 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 168.4 168.5 169.1 170.1 2.7 .9 .6 2.6 .4 .4 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 164.3 164.3 165.1 165.8 2.9 .9 .4 3.0 .5 .5 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 156.9 156.0 157.0 157.9 3.1 1.2 .6 2.7 .1 .6 Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 154.8 - 155.8 - - - - 2.8 .6 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 166.3 - 167.7 - - - - 3.4 .8 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 153.8 - 153.8 - - - - 3.2 .0 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 156.4 - 158.1 - - - - 4.0 1.1 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 151.4 - 151.5 - - - - 2.9 .1 - Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 161.2 - 161.6 - - - - 3.1 .2 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 150.0 - 150.7 3.1 .5 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 154.3 - 155.4 2.7 .7 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 143.6 - 144.5 2.1 .6 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 - 155.4 - 156.2 3.4 .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 Jan. Feb. Feb. 1997 from- Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to 1996 1997 1997 Feb. 1996 Jan. 1997 Dec. Jan. Feb. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 156.3 156.8 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 465.7 467.0 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.436 156.4 156.4 3.8 .0 .1 -.2 .2 Food ................................... 17.749 156.1 156.0 3.8 -.1 .1 -.3 .3 Food at home ......................... 11.387 157.1 156.8 4.2 -.2 -.1 -.6 .3 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.688 176.2 176.4 2.7 .1 .2 -.1 -.1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.535 149.3 148.4 4.4 -.6 .7 -.5 -.3 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.387 147.6 146.0 6.6 -1.1 -.5 -.6 -1.1 Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 2.086 186.1 186.1 5.4 .0 -1.6 -1.7 2.7 Other food at home ................. 2.691 144.4 145.0 2.5 .4 .3 .0 .2 Sugar and sweets ................. .373 146.8 147.2 4.0 .3 .6 .5 .2 Fats and oils .................... .282 141.9 142.3 1.9 .3 .2 -.3 .1 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .841 127.9 128.0 -1.1 .1 .2 .0 -.4 Other prepared food .............. 1.194 159.3 160.4 4.7 .7 .3 -.1 .7 Food away from home .................. 6.362 155.4 155.7 3.2 .2 .2 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.687 160.4 161.1 3.2 .4 .4 .1 .1 Housing 2/ ............................... 38.747 151.8 152.4 3.0 .4 .2 .3 .2 Shelter ................................ 25.867 168.6 169.4 2.9 .5 .2 .2 .3 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 8.079 159.4 160.9 3.1 .9 .1 .4 .3 Rent, residential .................. 6.580 164.1 164.4 2.7 .2 .2 .2 .1 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 1.499 216.3 224.9 5.1 4.0 -.1 1.3 .6 Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 17.599 163.3 163.7 2.8 .2 .2 .2 .3 Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 17.277 163.7 164.0 2.8 .2 .2 .2 .3 Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .322 147.4 148.5 2.0 .7 -1.7 .4 .7 Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .189 140.1 140.7 3.7 .4 .1 .0 .4 Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .105 150.0 150.3 3.7 .2 .1 -.1 .2 Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .084 127.3 128.3 3.6 .8 .0 .2 .8 Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.344 130.5 130.7 4.9 .2 .4 .8 .3 Fuels ................................ 3.979 118.5 118.5 6.0 .0 .6 1.1 .5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .391 111.6 109.4 12.1 -2.0 3.1 -1.2 -2.0 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.588 124.5 124.8 5.4 .2 .3 1.4 .7 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.365 160.3 160.9 3.5 .4 .1 .3 .1 Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.536 123.4 123.7 .7 .2 .2 -.2 .1 Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.261 109.5 109.8 -.2 .3 .4 -.5 .1 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.129 142.8 143.1 1.7 .2 .0 .4 .1 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.145 152.6 152.9 2.3 .2 .3 -.3 .1 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.348 128.7 131.1 .7 1.9 .1 .4 .4 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.838 125.1 127.6 .5 2.0 .0 .5 .4 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.286 127.0 127.2 .7 .2 -.4 .9 -.9 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.053 119.9 124.8 1.2 4.1 .8 .6 1.1 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .240 128.5 128.1 -5.3 -.3 .3 .3 -.3 Footwear ............................. .799 126.0 127.2 .7 1.0 .2 -.7 .1 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .461 144.6 145.7 -.8 .8 -2.6 .4 1.0 Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .510 160.8 161.3 2.2 .3 .3 .2 .3 Transportation ........................... 19.190 144.6 144.4 3.1 -.1 .6 .0 .0 Private transportation ................. 17.934 142.4 142.4 3.2 .0 .6 .1 .1 New vehicles ......................... 4.893 146.6 146.7 1.5 .1 .0 -.1 -.1 New cars ........................... 3.533 142.7 142.5 1.1 -.1 .1 -.2 -.1 Used cars ............................ 2.320 155.9 155.7 -1.8 -.1 -.3 .1 .4 Motor fuel ........................... 3.921 108.8 108.2 10.3 -.6 2.6 .6 -.1 Gasoline ........................... - 108.2 107.5 9.9 -.6 2.8 .5 -.2 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.616 162.0 162.1 2.9 .1 .1 .4 -.2 Other private transportation 4/....... 5.185 171.9 172.6 2.3 .4 -.2 .1 .4 Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .742 104.2 104.3 -.3 .1 -.1 -.2 .1 Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 4.442 189.0 190.0 2.7 .5 -.2 .2 .5 Public transportation .................. 1.256 183.6 180.3 3.3 -1.8 1.8 -2.7 -2.2 Medical care ............................. 6.251 231.1 232.1 2.9 .4 .2 .2 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.047 210.1 211.4 2.6 .6 .2 .1 .4 Medical care services .................. 5.204 235.9 236.8 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .0 Professional medical services ........ 2.973 213.3 214.3 3.4 .5 .3 .2 .2 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.015 158.8 159.2 2.1 .3 .3 .0 .1 Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 2.036 142.9 143.1 1.2 .1 .3 -.3 .1 Entertainment services 4/ .............. 1.979 181.4 182.2 3.0 .4 .3 .2 .1 Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.012 216.7 217.4 3.7 .3 .0 .6 .4 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.117 236.1 237.0 3.1 .4 -.3 .6 .5 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.107 151.6 151.4 1.5 -.1 -.6 .8 -.1 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .610 144.4 144.2 -.3 -.1 -1.3 .6 -.1 Personal care services 1/ ............ .497 160.8 160.8 3.7 .0 .4 .9 .0 Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 3.788 249.7 250.8 4.8 .4 .4 .5 .6 School books and supplies ............ .232 236.2 236.9 4.9 .3 .5 -.1 .3 Personal and educational services 4/ . 3.556 251.1 252.3 4.8 .5 .4 .6 .6 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 - Continued (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December Jan. Feb. Feb. 1997 from- Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to 1996 1997 1997 Feb. 1996 Jan. 1997 Dec. Jan. Feb. Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 156.3 156.8 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .2 Commodities .............................. 47.057 141.5 141.8 2.8 .2 .3 .0 .2 Food and beverages ..................... 19.436 156.4 156.4 3.8 .0 .1 -.2 .2 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.621 132.4 132.9 2.2 .4 .5 .2 .2 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.215 133.7 134.5 3.7 .6 .7 .1 .2 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.838 125.1 127.6 .5 2.0 .0 .5 .4 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.377 140.9 140.8 5.1 -.1 1.2 .3 .1 Durables ............................. 11.407 129.5 129.5 .2 .0 .0 -.1 .1 Services ................................. 52.943 174.2 174.9 3.2 .4 .3 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 25.329 162.3 163.0 2.9 .4 .2 .4 .2 Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.553 132.9 133.3 4.1 .3 .2 .7 .4 Transportation services ................ 7.314 181.3 181.3 2.8 .0 .3 -.3 -.1 Medical care services .................. 5.204 235.9 236.8 2.9 .4 .3 .2 .0 Other services ......................... 6.542 202.7 203.5 3.9 .4 .4 .4 .3 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.251 156.3 156.8 2.9 .3 .3 .2 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 74.133 153.2 153.5 3.1 .2 .3 .1 .1 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 82.401 146.8 147.3 3.2 .3 .3 .1 .2 All items less medical care ................ 93.749 152.8 153.2 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .2 Commodities less food ...................... 29.308 133.5 134.0 2.3 .4 .4 .1 .1 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.901 135.3 136.0 3.6 .5 .7 .1 .3 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 13.064 141.8 141.8 4.8 .0 .8 .1 .2 Nondurables ................................ 35.651 145.4 145.7 3.7 .2 .3 .1 .2 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 27.613 165.7 166.2 3.6 .3 .2 .2 .3 Services less medical care services ........ 47.738 169.0 169.6 3.3 .4 .2 .3 .2 Energy ..................................... 7.901 113.0 112.7 8.2 -.3 1.5 .9 .3 All items less energy ...................... 92.099 162.5 163.0 2.6 .3 .1 .1 .2 All items less food and energy ........... 74.350 164.1 164.8 2.4 .4 .2 .2 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 24.996 141.0 141.7 .9 .5 .0 .1 .2 Energy commodities ................... 4.312 109.4 108.6 10.4 -.7 2.7 .4 -.3 Services less energy services .......... 49.354 179.8 180.4 3.1 .3 .2 .2 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.640 $.638 -2.9 -.3 -.2 -.2 -.3 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .215 .214 - - - - - 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- Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. May Aug. Nov. Feb. Aug. Feb. 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1997 1996 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 4.0 1.8 3.9 2.3 2.9 3.1 Food and beverages ......................... 156.2 156.3 156.0 156.3 3.5 5.9 5.3 .3 4.7 2.7 Food ..................................... 155.8 155.9 155.5 155.9 3.2 6.2 5.3 .3 4.7 2.7 Food at home ........................... 157.0 156.9 156.0 156.5 3.8 7.9 6.4 -1.3 5.8 2.5 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.0 176.3 176.2 176.0 4.3 2.3 4.2 .0 3.3 2.1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 148.0 149.1 148.3 147.9 .0 11.8 6.8 -.3 5.7 3.2 Dairy products 1/ .................... 149.2 148.5 147.6 146.0 1.5 21.7 14.3 -8.3 11.1 2.4 Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 188.0 185.0 181.8 186.7 12.0 6.7 6.0 -2.7 9.4 1.5 Other food at home ................... 143.6 144.1 144.1 144.4 3.2 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.3 Sugar and sweets ................... 145.0 145.9 146.6 146.9 4.9 3.7 2.0 5.3 4.3 3.6 Fats and oils ...................... 141.5 141.8 141.4 141.6 1.4 3.5 2.3 .3 2.5 1.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 127.1 127.4 127.4 126.9 .9 -.6 -4.0 -.6 .2 -2.3 Other prepared food ................ 159.0 159.5 159.3 160.4 5.1 2.6 7.6 3.6 3.8 5.6 Food away from home .................... 154.6 154.9 155.4 155.7 2.9 3.2 3.7 2.9 3.1 3.3 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 160.0 160.6 160.8 160.9 3.1 3.1 4.1 2.3 3.1 3.2 Housing 2/ ................................. 151.1 151.4 151.9 152.2 3.3 2.7 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0 Shelter .................................. 167.8 168.2 168.6 169.1 3.2 2.9 2.7 3.1 3.1 2.9 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 158.7 158.9 159.6 160.0 2.9 3.6 2.8 3.3 3.2 3.1 Rent, residential .................... 163.3 163.7 164.1 164.3 2.5 3.0 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.6 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 217.9 217.6 220.5 221.8 4.4 6.5 2.4 7.4 5.5 4.9 Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 162.5 162.9 163.2 163.7 3.3 2.8 2.5 3.0 3.0 2.7 Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 162.8 163.2 163.5 164.0 3.3 2.8 2.5 3.0 3.0 2.7 Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 149.8 147.3 147.9 148.9 1.4 2.5 6.7 -2.4 1.9 2.0 Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 139.9 140.1 140.1 140.7 5.4 1.5 5.6 2.3 3.4 4.0 Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 149.9 150.1 150.0 150.3 5.1 6.1 2.4 1.1 5.6 1.8 Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 127.1 127.1 127.3 128.3 5.6 -4.4 10.0 3.8 .5 6.9 Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 129.3 129.8 130.8 131.2 4.5 3.2 5.4 6.0 3.9 5.7 Fuels .................................. 116.1 116.8 118.1 118.7 4.7 2.9 7.2 9.3 3.8 8.2 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 106.2 109.5 108.2 106.0 19.0 -13.1 54.2 -.8 1.7 23.7 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 122.7 123.1 124.8 125.7 3.4 4.7 3.3 10.1 4.1 6.7 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 159.9 160.1 160.6 160.7 5.0 3.1 3.8 2.0 4.0 2.9 Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 123.5 123.8 123.5 123.6 .7 1.3 .7 .3 1.0 .5 Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 109.8 110.2 109.7 109.8 -.7 .4 -.4 .0 -.2 -.2 Housekeeping supplies .................. 142.3 142.3 142.9 143.1 1.4 2.0 1.1 2.3 1.7 1.7 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 152.6 153.0 152.5 152.6 3.0 3.8 2.9 .0 3.4 1.5 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 130.7 130.8 131.3 131.8 1.2 -6.0 4.1 3.4 -2.4 3.7 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 127.4 127.4 128.0 128.5 1.3 -6.7 4.2 3.5 -2.8 3.8 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 128.5 128.0 129.2 128.1 1.3 -1.2 4.2 -1.2 .0 1.4 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 122.7 123.7 124.5 125.9 1.6 -11.0 4.7 10.8 -4.9 7.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 127.7 128.1 128.5 128.1 -10.8 -13.8 3.2 1.3 -12.3 2.2 Footwear ............................... 128.2 128.5 127.6 127.7 1.9 .9 1.3 -1.6 1.4 -.2 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 149.6 145.7 146.3 147.7 4.1 -9.5 8.1 -5.0 -2.9 1.4 Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 160.0 160.5 160.8 161.3 2.3 2.0 1.0 3.3 2.2 2.1 Transportation ............................. 144.3 145.2 145.2 145.2 8.2 -1.9 4.6 2.5 3.0 3.5 Private transportation ................... 142.0 142.8 143.0 143.2 8.0 -2.5 4.0 3.4 2.6 3.7 New vehicles ........................... 145.8 145.8 145.7 145.6 2.0 2.5 1.7 -.5 2.2 .6 New cars ............................. 141.7 141.9 141.6 141.5 1.4 3.2 .3 -.6 2.3 -.1 Used cars .............................. 156.7 156.3 156.4 157.1 -3.7 -3.0 -1.5 1.0 -3.3 -.3 Motor fuel ............................. 108.6 111.4 112.1 112.0 38.4 -17.6 14.9 13.1 6.8 14.0 Gasoline ............................. 108.0 111.0 111.6 111.4 37.0 -17.4 14.1 13.2 6.4 13.6 Maintenance and repairs ................ 161.3 161.5 162.2 161.9 2.3 3.3 4.1 1.5 2.8 2.8 Other private transportation 4/......... 171.2 170.9 171.1 171.8 1.9 4.1 1.4 1.4 3.0 1.4 Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 104.2 104.1 103.9 104.0 -.8 .4 .0 -.8 -.2 -.4 Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 188.1 187.8 188.1 189.0 2.4 4.8 1.5 1.9 3.6 1.7 Public transportation .................... 185.8 189.1 184.0 179.9 9.5 4.6 13.0 -12.1 7.0 -.3 Medical care ............................... 230.3 230.8 231.2 231.6 3.4 2.8 3.0 2.3 3.1 2.6 Medical care commodities ................. 209.5 209.9 210.1 211.0 2.9 2.3 2.1 2.9 2.6 2.5 Medical care services .................... 234.8 235.4 235.9 236.0 3.5 3.0 3.1 2.1 3.3 2.6 Professional medical services .......... 212.4 213.0 213.5 213.9 3.3 3.5 4.1 2.9 3.4 3.5 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 158.3 158.8 158.8 159.0 2.1 2.6 2.3 1.8 2.3 2.0 Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 142.9 143.3 142.9 143.1 1.1 1.7 1.7 .6 1.4 1.1 Entertainment services 4/ ................ 180.4 181.0 181.4 181.6 3.0 3.2 3.2 2.7 3.1 2.9 Other goods and services 2/................. 215.5 215.6 216.8 217.7 4.3 3.1 3.6 4.1 3.7 3.9 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 235.5 234.8 236.1 237.2 3.9 .9 4.9 2.9 2.4 3.9 Personal care 1/ ......................... 151.3 150.4 151.6 151.4 3.0 .3 2.4 .3 1.6 1.3 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 145.4 143.5 144.4 144.2 3.9 -1.1 -.5 -3.3 1.4 -1.9 Personal care services 1/ .............. 158.7 159.4 160.8 160.8 1.8 1.8 5.7 5.4 1.8 5.6 Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 246.9 247.9 249.2 250.6 4.8 5.1 3.5 6.1 4.9 4.8 School books and supplies .............. 233.1 234.2 234.0 234.8 4.5 6.3 5.7 2.9 5.4 4.3 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 248.2 249.2 250.6 252.0 4.7 5.0 3.3 6.3 4.9 4.8 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 - Continued (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. May Aug. Nov. Feb. Aug. Feb. 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1997 1996 1997 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 4.0 1.8 3.9 2.3 2.9 3.1 Commodities ................................ 141.5 141.9 141.9 142.2 5.0 .3 4.4 2.0 2.6 3.2 Food and beverages ....................... 156.2 156.3 156.0 156.3 3.5 5.9 5.3 .3 4.7 2.7 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.5 133.1 133.3 133.5 6.0 -3.6 4.0 3.1 1.1 3.5 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 134.3 135.2 135.4 135.7 10.1 -6.1 7.2 4.2 1.7 5.7 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 127.4 127.4 128.0 128.5 1.3 -6.7 4.2 3.5 -2.8 3.8 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 140.1 141.8 142.2 142.4 14.6 -7.2 7.5 6.7 3.1 7.1 Durables ............................... 129.4 129.4 129.3 129.4 -.3 .3 .6 .0 .0 .3 Services ................................... 173.4 173.9 174.3 174.7 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.5 3.0 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 161.6 161.9 162.5 162.9 3.1 3.0 2.5 3.3 3.1 2.9 Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 132.3 132.6 133.5 134.0 4.7 3.1 3.4 5.2 3.9 4.3 Transportation services .................. 180.9 181.4 180.8 180.6 3.7 4.4 3.8 -.7 4.0 1.6 Medical care services .................... 234.8 235.4 235.9 236.0 3.5 3.0 3.1 2.1 3.3 2.6 Other services ........................... 201.3 202.1 203.0 203.7 3.7 4.1 3.2 4.9 3.9 4.0 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 155.7 156.2 156.5 156.8 4.3 1.0 3.4 2.9 2.6 3.1 All items less shelter ....................... 152.9 153.3 153.5 153.7 4.4 1.6 4.3 2.1 3.0 3.2 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 146.5 146.9 147.1 147.4 4.3 1.7 3.9 2.5 3.0 3.2 All items less medical care .................. 152.4 152.8 153.0 153.3 4.1 2.1 3.8 2.4 3.1 3.1 Commodities less food ........................ 133.8 134.4 134.6 134.8 5.6 -3.0 4.0 3.0 1.2 3.5 Nondurables less food ........................ 135.8 136.7 136.9 137.3 8.4 -5.2 7.4 4.5 1.4 5.9 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 141.5 142.6 142.8 143.1 11.3 -3.4 7.4 4.6 3.7 6.0 Nondurables .................................. 145.4 145.9 146.0 146.3 5.8 1.1 5.4 2.5 3.4 3.9 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 165.0 165.4 165.7 166.2 4.1 3.5 4.0 2.9 3.8 3.5 Services less medical care services .......... 168.2 168.6 169.1 169.4 3.5 3.4 3.2 2.9 3.4 3.0 Energy ....................................... 111.9 113.6 114.6 114.9 20.2 -8.0 11.1 11.2 5.1 11.1 All items less energy ........................ 162.3 162.5 162.6 162.9 2.8 2.8 3.3 1.5 2.8 2.4 All items less food and energy ............. 164.0 164.3 164.6 164.9 2.5 2.2 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.3 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.5 141.5 141.6 141.9 1.1 -.3 2.0 1.1 .4 1.6 Energy commodities ..................... 108.6 111.5 112.0 111.7 36.6 -17.1 17.5 11.9 6.4 14.7 Services less energy services ............ 179.2 179.6 180.0 180.3 3.5 3.4 3.0 2.5 3.5 2.7 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 Feb. 1997 from- Jan. 1997 from- schedule Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Dec. Jan. Jan. Nov. Dec. 1/ 1996 1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1996 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 155.9 155.9 156.3 156.8 3.0 0.6 0.3 3.0 0.3 0.3 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 163.0 163.2 163.5 164.2 3.0 .6 .4 3.0 .3 .2 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 162.6 162.6 163.1 163.9 3.0 .8 .5 2.9 .3 .3 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 160.7 162.0 162.0 161.9 3.2 -.1 -.1 3.5 .8 .0 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 166.0 166.3 166.3 166.8 3.0 .3 .3 3.0 .2 .0 North Central urban .................... M 151.7 151.9 152.1 152.4 3.3 .3 .2 3.5 .3 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 151.3 151.5 151.9 152.3 3.1 .5 .3 3.3 .4 .3 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 150.8 150.7 150.5 150.5 3.3 -.1 .0 3.8 -.2 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 154.5 155.1 155.2 155.6 3.9 .3 .3 3.7 .5 .1 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 150.1 150.3 150.5 150.3 3.7 .0 -.1 4.0 .3 .1 South urban ............................ M 153.7 153.7 154.2 154.5 3.0 .5 .2 3.0 .3 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 152.0 152.3 153.1 153.2 3.0 .6 .1 3.0 .7 .5 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 154.5 154.5 154.7 155.0 3.1 .3 .2 3.4 .1 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 154.7 154.5 154.9 155.5 2.8 .6 .4 2.5 .1 .3 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 155.1 155.0 155.3 155.8 3.6 .5 .3 3.3 .1 .2 West urban ............................. M 155.9 155.4 156.3 156.8 2.7 .9 .3 2.7 .3 .6 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 154.3 153.8 154.7 155.2 2.6 .9 .3 2.5 .3 .6 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 160.8 160.7 161.7 162.1 2.9 .9 .2 3.3 .6 .6 Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 142.0 141.9 142.5 143.0 3.0 .8 .4 2.9 .4 .4 B 3/ ................................. M 156.0 156.2 156.3 156.5 3.1 .2 .1 3.4 .2 .1 C 3/ ................................. M 157.7 157.9 158.2 158.7 3.1 .5 .3 3.1 .3 .2 D .................................... M 155.1 154.9 155.3 155.4 3.4 .3 .1 3.4 .1 .3 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 154.4 154.6 155.3 155.9 3.8 .8 .4 3.7 .6 .5 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 152.9 152.7 153.6 153.6 1.8 .6 .0 2.1 .5 .6 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 164.7 164.7 165.1 166.2 2.8 .9 .7 2.6 .2 .2 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 164.0 163.6 164.4 164.9 2.7 .8 .3 2.9 .2 .5 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 154.2 153.1 154.1 155.0 3.0 1.2 .6 2.4 -.1 .7 Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 153.6 - 154.6 - - - - 2.9 .7 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 165.4 - 166.6 - - - - 3.4 .7 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 146.2 - 146.2 - - - - 3.3 .0 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 154.6 - 156.0 - - - - 4.0 .9 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 150.5 - 150.6 - - - - 2.8 .1 - Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 158.7 - 158.9 - - - - 3.2 .1 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 150.2 - 150.8 3.4 .4 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 149.4 - 150.3 2.6 .6 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 143.0 - 143.6 2.0 .4 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 - 148.8 - 149.6 3.4 .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.