FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-97-322 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 Tuesday, September 16, 1997 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: AUGUST 1997 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment in August to a level of 160.8 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U increased 2.2 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment. The August 1997 CPI-W level of 157.8 was 2.1 percent higher than the index in August 1996. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August, the same as in July. The food index increased 0.4 percent in August. Grocery store food prices, which rose 0.3 percent in July, increased 0.6 percent in August, reflecting a larger increase in prices for fresh fruits and vegetables. The energy index, which had exerted a moderating effect on the CPI-U throughout most of 1997, increased 1.7 percent in August. The index for petroleum-based energy rose 4.3 percent, while the index for energy services fell 0.8 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent, following an increase of 0.2 percent in July. The smaller advance in August reflects declines in the indexes for apparel and upkeep and for airline fares. Table A. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1997 3-mos. ended ended Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug.'97 Aug.'97 All Items .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 2.0 2.2 Food and beverages .3 .0 -.2 .4 .2 .3 .4 3.9 2.5 Housing .3 .0 .2 .1 .3 .2 .1 2.1 2.3 Apparel and upkeep .2 -.3 .9 .1 -.2 .2 -1.0 -4.1 1.5 Transportation -.1 .1 -.4 -.8 -.3 .1 .6 1.7 .7 Medical care .2 .4 .3 .3 .2 .0 .2 1.7 2.6 Entertainment .2 .2 .1 .2 .5 .1 .2 3.2 2.4 Other goods and services .5 .5 .8 .2 .2 .3 .6 4.3 4.3 Special Indexes: Energy .3 -1.7 -1.5 -2.4 .0 -.1 1.7 6.4 .8 Food .3 .0 -.2 .4 .2 .3 .4 3.9 2.5 All items less food and energy .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 .1 1.4 2.3 For the first eight months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.6 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.3 percent in all of 1996. The energy and food components have been largely responsible for the moderation thus far in 1997. The energy index has declined at a 4.6 percent SAAR, while food prices have risen at a 1.8 percent annual rate. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has risen at a 2.2 percent SAAR in the first eight months of 1997, following a 2.6 percent increase in all of 1996. The food and beverage index rose 0.4 percent in August. The index for grocery store food prices, which rose 0.3 percent in July, increased 0.6 percent in August. The index for fresh fruits and vegetables rose 4.0 percent in August, following an increase of 0.9 percent in July. The index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 0.3 percent in August. Advances in the indexes for dairy products and for cereal and bakery products also contributed to the larger increase in August. The 0.1 percent rise in the index for dairy products followed a 0.6 percent decrease in July and was the first advance in this component since October 1996. During this nine-month period, dairy product prices fell 4.0 percent. The index for cereal and bakery products, which rose 0.1 percent in July, increased 0.2 percent in August. Acceleration in these grocery store food groups was partially offset by the deceleration in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for other food at home, both of which rose 0.1 percent in August. Within the former group, poultry prices fell 1.5 percent, and the indexes for beef and for pork were virtually unchanged. The moderation in the index for other food at home reflects a decline in prices for sugar and sweets and a notably smaller increase in coffee prices, which rose 0.6 percent in August following increases totaling 23.5 percent in the preceding five months. The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. The housing component rose 0.1 percent in August after increasing 0.2 percent in July. Shelter costs rose 0.2 percent. Within shelter, renters' costs increased 0.2 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.3 percent; and maintenance and repair costs, 0.1 percent. The index for fuel and other utilities, which rose 0.2 percent in July, declined 0.5 percent in August. The index for household fuels declined 0.8 percent, reflecting price decreases for fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity. A 0.2 percent decline in the index for other utilities and public services was attributable to a decline in the index for telephone services; charges for interstate toll calls fell 5.0 percent in August. The index for household furnishings and operation, which declined 0.2 percent in July, fell 0.3 percent in August. The transportation component, which rose 0.1 percent in July, increased 0.6 percent in August. A sharp upturn in gasoline prices more than offset declines in the costs of public transportation and of new vehicle purchase. The index for gasoline, which had declined in each of the preceding five months, rose 5.4 percent in August. New vehicle purchase costs declined in August; the index for new vehicle prices decreased 0.1 percent and automobile finance charges dropped 1.0 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices declined 0.5 percent.) The index for used cars declined 0.8 percent. Public transportation costs turned down in August. The index for airline fares, which rose 2.3 percent in July, declined 4.7 percent in August. The index for apparel and upkeep declined 1.0 percent in August, reflecting the somewhat slower introduction of higher-priced fall-winter wear this August than in recent years. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel commodity prices fell 0.2 percent, reflecting seasonal price declines for spring-summer wear.) Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in August to a level 2.6 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--decreased 0.1 percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent. Charges for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively. Entertainment costs, which increased 0.1 percent in July, rose 0.2 percent in August. Increases in the indexes for reading materials and for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events--up 0.9 and 1.3 percent, respectively--more than offset declines in the indexes for club memberships and for fees for participant sports. The index for other goods and services rose 0.6 percent in August, following an increase of 0.3 percent in July. Advances of 0.7 percent each in the indexes for tuition and other school fees, for school books and supplies, and for tobacco and smoking products, coupled with a 1.6 percent rise in legal fees, accounted for the August rise. 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 August. 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 1997 3-mos. ended ended Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. '97 Aug. '97 All Items .2 .1 .0 .0 .1 .2 .2 2.1 2.1 Food and beverages .2 .1 -.2 .4 .2 .3 .4 3.6 2.5 Housing .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 .0 1.8 2.3 Apparel and upkeep .4 -.3 1.0 .2 -.3 .2 -1.0 -4.1 1.5 Transportation .0 -.1 -.6 -1.0 -.4 .1 .7 1.7 .5 Medical care .2 .3 .3 .3 .2 .1 .2 1.7 2.7 Entertainment .1 .1 .1 .1 .5 .1 .4 4.1 2.3 Other goods and services .4 .5 1.0 .1 .0 .3 .5 2.9 4.3 Special Indexes: Energy .3 -1.8 -1.9 -2.4 0 -.2 2.0 7.6 1.0 Food .3 .1 -.2 .3 .3 .3 .3 3.6 2.4 All items less food and energy .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 .0 1.0 2.2 After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items was 160.9 in August; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 157.8. 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 September are scheduled for release on Thursday, October 16, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT). Effective with the release of data for January 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an improved quality adjustment technique in the new stratum of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) called Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment. Currently, personal computers are part of the Information Processing Equipment stratum. As previously announced, beginning with the CPI for January 1998, Information Processing Equipment will become an expenditure class entitled Information and Information Processing Other Than Telephone Services. Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment will be one of four strata in that expenditure class. Analysts in the Producer Price Index (PPI) program have developed and implemented a regression procedure, called a hedonic model, that decomposes the price of personal computers into implicit prices for each important feature and component of the computer. This model, which has been used in the PPI since 1991, provides a way to estimate the value of changes or improvements. The CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for many years. Starting with the CPI for January 1998, when a personal computer or selected item of peripheral equipment, such as a modem, in the CPI sample improves in some way, a regression-based quality adjustment will be made. The value of the improvement, as derived from the PPI regression estimates, will be deducted from the observed price change for the product. (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value of the difference will be added to the price.) Additional information on these changes will be published in the June 1997 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (at http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm). This information can also be obtained by writing to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Room 3260, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20212 or by telephoning Joseph Chelena at (202) 606-6982 ext. 255. Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December July Aug. Aug. 1997 from- May to June to July to 1996 1997 1997 Aug. 1996 July 1997 June July Aug. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 160.5 160.8 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 480.7 481.6 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.484 157.5 158.1 2.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 Food ................................... 15.913 157.0 157.6 2.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 Food at home ......................... 10.040 157.7 158.5 2.4 .5 .2 .3 .6 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.479 178.3 178.6 2.1 .2 .4 .1 .2 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.002 148.2 149.1 2.4 .6 .1 .5 .1 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.245 143.3 143.4 -.8 .1 -.9 -.6 .1 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 1.974 184.6 187.3 2.9 1.5 .3 .5 2.8 + _ Other food at home ................. 2.340 148.6 148.7 3.8 .1 .7 .6 .1 Sugar and sweets ................. .331 149.2 147.8 2.2 -.9 .5 .5 -.8 Fats and oils .................... .246 141.4 141.4 .4 .0 -.3 -.3 .4 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .724 136.3 136.7 6.4 .3 1.2 1.6 .0 Other prepared food .............. 1.039 161.3 161.8 3.5 .3 .6 .1 .2 Food away from home .................. 5.873 157.1 157.4 2.8 .2 .2 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.571 162.9 163.2 2.7 .2 .1 .3 .3 Housing 2/ ............................... 41.203 157.5 157.6 2.3 .1 .3 .2 .1 + _ Shelter ................................ 28.194 177.0 177.5 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .2 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 7.994 188.4 189.1 3.1 .4 .3 -.1 .2 + _ _ Rent, residential .................. 5.731 166.8 167.3 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .3 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 2.263 232.6 233.9 3.5 .6 .5 -.7 .0 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 20.000 181.7 182.2 2.9 .3 .2 .4 .3 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 19.616 182.1 182.6 3.0 .3 .2 .4 .3 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .383 165.7 166.3 2.5 .4 .1 .0 .4 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .200 145.4 145.5 4.2 .1 .1 1.5 .1 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .123 153.8 154.4 5.0 .4 .1 2.5 .4 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .077 133.7 133.1 2.7 -.4 .0 -.3 -.4 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.102 132.1 131.4 1.5 -.5 .6 .2 -.5 + _ Fuels ................................ 3.878 119.6 118.6 .6 -.8 .8 .0 -.8 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .424 94.7 93.5 1.4 -1.3 -.7 -1.9 -.7 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.453 127.8 126.7 .5 -.9 1.0 .2 -.8 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.224 162.4 162.1 2.6 -.2 .4 .5 -.2 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.908 125.6 125.2 .3 -.3 .0 -.2 -.3 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.332 110.7 110.2 -1.0 -.5 -.2 -.6 -.5 + _ Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.093 144.0 142.9 1.3 -.8 .1 .7 -.6 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.482 152.1 152.6 2.7 .3 .3 .2 .4 + _ Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.330 130.2 130.0 1.5 -.2 -.2 .2 -1.0 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.786 126.2 125.9 1.4 -.2 -.3 .1 -1.0 + _ Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.280 128.0 128.9 2.1 .7 -.6 .5 .1 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.102 121.1 120.3 1.9 -.7 -.1 -.5 -2.0 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .186 131.3 127.3 1.8 -3.0 -.7 -1.2 -3.0 + _ Footwear ............................. .718 125.9 126.3 1.3 .3 -1.0 1.0 .6 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .500 146.9 145.8 -2.3 -.7 .5 .4 -1.2 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .545 163.5 163.6 2.1 .1 .2 .2 .1 + _ _ Transportation ........................... 17.140 143.7 143.8 .7 .1 -.3 .1 .6 Private transportation ................. 15.499 140.1 140.8 .6 .5 -.3 .1 .9 New vehicles ......................... 4.955 143.7 143.0 .1 -.5 .0 .1 -.1 New cars ........................... 3.952 141.1 140.4 -.2 -.5 -.1 .1 -.1 Used cars ............................ 1.278 149.9 148.5 -5.2 -.9 -1.8 -1.1 -.8 Motor fuel ........................... 3.171 103.9 107.6 1.1 3.6 -1.1 -.2 4.9 Gasoline ........................... - 103.5 107.4 1.2 3.8 -.9 -.4 5.4 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.533 162.9 163.3 3.0 .2 .4 .2 .1 Other private transportation 4/....... 4.562 177.5 177.4 1.9 -.1 .1 .5 -.1 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .589 105.3 104.8 .0 -.5 .1 .7 -.6 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 3.973 194.5 194.5 2.2 .0 .1 .5 .0 + _ Public transportation .................. 1.642 189.4 183.4 1.1 -3.2 -.6 .5 -1.9 Medical care ............................. 7.346 234.8 235.2 2.6 .2 .2 .0 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.273 216.0 215.5 2.1 -.2 .1 -.1 -.1 Medical care services .................. 6.073 239.2 239.8 2.7 .3 .2 .1 .3 Professional medical services ........ 3.472 215.9 216.3 3.4 .2 .2 .1 .3 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.352 162.6 163.0 2.4 .2 .5 .1 .2 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 1.957 143.8 144.6 1.0 .6 .2 -.1 .6 + _ Entertainment services 4/ .............. 2.395 184.5 184.3 3.5 -.1 .8 .2 .1 + _ Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.145 223.5 225.7 4.3 1.0 .2 .3 .6 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.601 242.0 243.4 4.3 .6 -.9 .4 .7 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.145 152.6 152.5 1.3 -.1 .1 -.1 -.1 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .588 143.7 143.5 -1.0 -.1 .1 -.3 -.1 + _ Personal care services 1/ ............ .557 162.5 162.7 4.0 .1 .2 -.1 .1 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 4.398 258.0 261.6 5.2 1.4 .6 .3 .7 + _ School books and supplies ............ .264 237.7 240.0 5.4 1.0 .9 .4 .7 Personal and educational services 4/ . 4.134 259.8 263.5 5.2 1.4 .6 .4 .7 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 160.5 160.8 2.2 .2 .1 .2 .2 Commodities .............................. 42.873 141.0 141.4 1.4 .3 -.1 .1 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 17.484 157.5 158.1 2.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.389 131.0 131.3 .6 .2 -.3 -.2 .3 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.147 132.9 133.8 1.7 .7 -.3 .0 .6 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.786 126.2 125.9 1.4 -.2 -.3 .1 -1.0 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.362 139.3 140.8 1.7 1.1 -.6 -.1 1.5 Durables ............................. 10.242 128.3 127.7 -.9 -.5 -.2 -.3 -.3 Services ................................. 57.127 180.1 180.3 2.9 .1 .3 .3 .1 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 27.577 184.1 184.7 3.0 .3 .3 .2 .3 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.698 147.5 146.9 1.7 -.4 .6 .3 -.5 + _ _ Transportation services ................ 7.148 185.6 184.3 2.0 -.7 .0 .4 -.4 Medical care services .................. 6.073 239.2 239.8 2.7 .3 .2 .1 .3 Other services ......................... 7.631 209.1 210.7 4.4 .8 .6 .3 .4 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.087 161.1 161.3 2.2 .1 .1 .2 .1 All items less shelter ..................... 71.806 155.6 155.9 2.0 .2 .1 .1 .2 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 80.000 161.3 161.6 2.1 .2 .1 .1 .2 + _ _ All items less medical care ................ 92.654 156.3 156.6 2.2 .2 .1 .2 .2 Commodities less food ...................... 26.960 132.3 132.6 .7 .2 -.3 -.1 .3 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.718 134.7 135.5 1.7 .6 -.4 .0 .5 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.932 140.8 142.1 1.9 .9 -.3 .1 1.6 Nondurables ................................ 32.631 145.4 146.1 2.1 .5 .1 .2 .5 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 29.550 188.8 188.7 2.7 -.1 .4 .3 -.2 + _ _ Services less medical care services ........ 51.054 174.6 174.8 2.9 .1 .3 .3 .1 Energy ..................................... 7.049 111.4 112.5 .8 1.0 .0 -.1 1.7 All items less energy ...................... 92.951 167.0 167.3 2.4 .2 .1 .2 .1 All items less food and energy ........... 77.038 169.5 169.6 2.3 .1 .1 .2 .1 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.364 141.5 141.2 .6 -.2 -.2 -.1 -.3 Energy commodities ................... 3.596 103.1 106.2 1.1 3.0 -1.1 -.4 4.3 Services less energy services .......... 53.674 185.4 185.8 3.0 .2 .3 .3 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.623 $.622 -2.2 -.2 -.2 -.2 -.2 + _ 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .208 .208 - - - - - + _ + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- May June July Aug. Nov. Feb. May Aug. Feb. Aug. 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 3.6 2.5 0.8 2.0 3.1 1.4 Food and beverages ......................... 157.1 157.4 157.9 158.6 5.3 .5 .8 3.9 2.9 2.3 Food ..................................... 156.8 157.1 157.6 158.3 5.3 .3 .8 3.9 2.7 2.3 Food at home ........................... 157.4 157.7 158.2 159.2 6.0 -.8 -.3 4.7 2.6 2.2 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.9 177.6 177.7 178.0 4.4 .2 1.1 2.5 2.3 1.8 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 148.5 148.6 149.3 149.4 7.0 .0 .3 2.4 3.5 1.4 Dairy products 1/ .................... 145.4 144.1 143.3 143.4 13.6 -8.1 -2.2 -5.4 2.2 -3.8 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 184.7 185.3 186.2 191.4 6.4 -2.1 -6.2 15.3 2.1 4.0 + _ Other food at home ................... 146.7 147.7 148.6 148.7 2.5 2.2 5.4 5.6 2.4 5.5 Sugar and sweets ................... 147.4 148.1 148.8 147.6 2.2 4.8 1.4 .5 3.5 1.0 Fats and oils ...................... 141.8 141.4 141.0 141.5 2.3 .8 -.8 -.8 1.6 -.8 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 133.3 134.9 137.1 137.1 -4.3 -.6 20.2 11.9 -2.5 16.0 Other prepared food ................ 160.1 161.0 161.2 161.5 7.6 3.8 -1.2 3.5 5.7 1.1 Food away from home .................... 156.3 156.6 157.1 157.4 4.0 2.6 1.8 2.8 3.3 2.3 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 162.3 162.4 162.9 163.4 3.8 3.0 1.2 2.7 3.4 2.0 Housing 2/ ................................. 156.1 156.5 156.8 156.9 3.2 3.1 1.3 2.1 3.2 1.7 + _ Shelter .................................. 175.4 175.8 176.2 176.6 2.8 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.1 3.0 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 184.8 185.4 185.3 185.7 3.1 4.3 3.1 2.0 3.7 2.5 + _ _ Rent, residential .................... 166.1 166.5 166.8 167.3 2.7 2.5 3.7 2.9 2.6 3.3 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 224.0 225.2 223.7 223.8 3.9 8.9 1.6 -.4 6.4 .6 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 180.9 181.2 181.9 182.4 2.7 2.7 3.2 3.4 2.7 3.3 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 181.3 181.6 182.3 182.8 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.4 2.8 3.2 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 165.0 165.1 165.1 165.7 7.1 -.5 1.7 1.7 3.2 1.7 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 143.2 143.3 145.4 145.5 4.1 3.4 2.6 6.6 3.8 4.5 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 149.9 150.0 153.8 154.4 1.4 2.2 4.1 12.6 1.8 8.2 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 134.1 134.1 133.7 133.1 8.6 4.9 .6 -2.9 6.7 -1.2 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 129.4 130.2 130.5 129.9 5.1 6.3 -6.5 1.6 5.7 -2.6 + _ Fuels .................................. 115.4 116.3 116.3 115.4 7.2 9.6 -12.7 .0 8.4 -6.6 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 100.0 99.3 97.4 96.7 54.7 -1.1 -21.1 -12.6 23.7 -16.9 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 122.3 123.5 123.8 122.8 3.0 10.5 -11.8 1.6 6.7 -5.3 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 160.8 161.5 162.3 162.0 3.3 2.0 2.0 3.0 2.7 2.5 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 125.7 125.7 125.5 125.1 1.0 .3 1.9 -1.9 .6 .0 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 111.5 111.3 110.6 110.1 .0 .0 1.1 -4.9 .0 -2.0 + _ Housekeeping supplies .................. 142.9 143.0 144.0 143.1 1.4 2.3 1.1 .6 1.8 .8 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 151.3 151.8 152.1 152.7 3.3 -.5 4.3 3.8 1.3 4.0 + _ Apparel and upkeep ......................... 133.6 133.3 133.5 132.2 4.4 2.8 3.1 -4.1 3.6 -.6 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 129.9 129.5 129.6 128.3 4.8 2.5 3.5 -4.8 3.7 -.8 + _ Men's and boys' apparel ................ 130.5 129.7 130.4 130.5 3.5 -1.5 7.0 .0 .9 3.5 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 127.5 127.4 126.8 124.3 6.7 8.7 2.9 -9.7 7.7 -3.6 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 133.8 132.9 131.3 127.3 5.2 1.6 22.4 -18.1 3.4 .2 + _ Footwear ............................... 127.3 126.0 127.3 128.1 1.6 -.9 1.9 2.5 .3 2.2 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 145.6 146.3 146.9 145.2 2.2 -4.2 -6.1 -1.1 -1.1 -3.6 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 162.9 163.2 163.5 163.6 1.5 3.3 1.7 1.7 2.4 1.7 + _ _ Transportation ............................. 143.6 143.2 143.3 144.2 4.8 1.4 -4.6 1.7 3.1 -1.5 Private transportation ................... 140.3 139.9 140.0 141.2 3.8 3.4 -6.6 2.6 3.6 -2.1 New vehicles ........................... 144.3 144.3 144.4 144.3 1.4 -.6 -.3 .0 .4 -.1 New cars ............................. 141.8 141.7 141.8 141.7 .3 -.6 -.3 -.3 -.1 -.3 Used cars .............................. 153.7 150.9 149.2 148.0 -1.3 .5 -5.3 -14.0 -.4 -9.8 Motor fuel ............................. 102.5 101.4 101.2 106.2 13.6 13.1 -29.3 15.2 13.4 -9.8 Gasoline ............................. 101.8 100.9 100.5 105.9 12.8 13.6 -30.0 17.1 13.2 -9.5 Maintenance and repairs ................ 162.2 162.8 163.2 163.4 4.1 2.3 2.5 3.0 3.2 2.7 Other private transportation 4/......... 177.0 177.2 178.1 178.0 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.3 1.6 2.2 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 104.8 104.9 105.6 105.0 .4 .0 -1.1 .8 .2 -.2 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 194.4 194.5 195.5 195.5 1.7 2.1 2.7 2.3 1.9 2.5 + _ Public transportation .................... 188.4 187.2 188.1 184.5 13.8 -13.3 15.1 -8.0 -.7 2.9 Medical care ............................... 234.5 234.9 235.0 235.5 3.0 2.3 3.8 1.7 2.6 2.8 Medical care commodities ................. 215.8 216.0 215.8 215.5 1.9 2.7 4.4 -.6 2.3 1.9 Medical care services .................... 238.5 239.0 239.2 239.8 3.1 2.2 3.6 2.2 2.7 2.9 Professional medical services .......... 215.0 215.5 215.7 216.3 3.9 2.9 4.4 2.4 3.4 3.4 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 162.1 162.9 163.0 163.4 2.5 2.0 1.7 3.2 2.3 2.5 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 143.8 144.1 143.9 144.7 1.7 .6 -1.1 2.5 1.1 .7 + _ Entertainment services 4/ ................ 183.3 184.7 185.0 185.1 3.4 3.1 3.8 4.0 3.3 3.9 + _ Other goods and services 2/................. 224.5 224.9 225.6 226.9 3.4 3.9 5.9 4.3 3.6 5.1 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ............. 242.9 240.6 241.5 243.2 5.1 2.7 9.2 .5 3.9 4.8 Personal care 1/ ......................... 152.6 152.8 152.6 152.5 1.9 .8 2.9 -.3 1.3 1.3 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 144.1 144.2 143.7 143.5 -.8 -3.8 2.3 -1.7 -2.3 .3 + _ Personal care services 1/ .............. 162.3 162.6 162.5 162.7 5.5 5.4 4.0 1.0 5.4 2.5 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 258.4 260.0 260.9 262.8 3.2 5.3 5.4 7.0 4.3 6.2 + _ School books and supplies .............. 236.6 238.7 239.6 241.2 5.0 3.0 6.0 8.0 4.0 7.0 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 259.9 261.4 262.4 264.3 3.1 5.5 5.4 6.9 4.3 6.2 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 3.6 2.5 .8 2.0 3.1 1.4 Commodities ................................ 141.5 141.3 141.4 141.9 4.7 1.7 -1.7 1.1 3.2 -.3 Food and beverages ....................... 157.1 157.4 157.9 158.6 5.3 .5 .8 3.9 2.9 2.3 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.0 131.6 131.4 131.8 4.3 2.1 -3.3 -.6 3.2 -1.9 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 133.9 133.5 133.5 134.3 6.8 4.2 -5.2 1.2 5.5 -2.1 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 129.9 129.5 129.6 128.3 4.8 2.5 3.5 -4.8 3.7 -.8 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 139.3 138.4 138.2 140.3 6.5 6.1 -8.2 2.9 6.3 -2.8 Durables ............................... 129.3 129.0 128.6 128.2 .6 .0 -.9 -3.4 .3 -2.1 Services ................................... 178.8 179.3 179.8 180.0 3.2 3.0 2.7 2.7 3.1 2.7 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 182.8 183.3 183.6 184.1 2.7 3.1 3.4 2.9 2.9 3.1 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 144.6 145.5 145.9 145.2 3.4 4.8 -3.0 1.7 4.1 -.7 + _ _ Transportation services .................. 185.0 185.0 185.8 185.1 4.9 -1.5 5.1 .2 1.7 2.6 Medical care services .................... 238.5 239.0 239.2 239.8 3.1 2.2 3.6 2.2 2.7 2.9 Other services ........................... 209.3 210.5 211.1 211.9 3.4 4.4 4.7 5.1 3.9 4.9 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 160.5 160.7 161.0 161.2 3.3 2.8 .8 1.8 3.1 1.3 All items less shelter ....................... 155.5 155.6 155.8 156.1 4.0 2.1 .0 1.6 3.0 .8 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 160.9 161.1 161.3 161.6 3.8 2.3 .2 1.8 3.1 1.0 + _ _ All items less medical care .................. 155.7 155.9 156.2 156.5 3.7 2.6 .5 2.1 3.2 1.3 Commodities less food ........................ 133.4 133.0 132.9 133.3 4.0 2.4 -2.9 -.3 3.2 -1.6 Nondurables less food ........................ 135.7 135.2 135.2 135.9 6.8 3.9 -4.0 .6 5.3 -1.7 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 140.1 139.7 139.8 142.0 7.1 3.7 -8.1 5.5 5.4 -1.5 Nondurables .................................. 145.4 145.5 145.8 146.5 5.4 2.8 -3.0 3.1 4.1 .0 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 187.3 188.0 188.6 188.3 3.8 2.4 2.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 173.1 173.6 174.2 174.3 3.3 2.8 2.6 2.8 3.1 2.7 Energy ....................................... 108.5 108.5 108.4 110.2 10.3 10.8 -20.5 6.4 10.5 -8.0 All items less energy ........................ 167.0 167.2 167.5 167.7 3.5 1.7 2.7 1.7 2.6 2.2 All items less food and energy ............. 169.5 169.7 170.0 170.1 2.9 2.2 2.9 1.4 2.5 2.2 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 142.8 142.5 142.4 142.0 2.0 1.1 1.7 -2.2 1.6 -.3 Energy commodities ..................... 102.4 101.3 100.9 105.2 17.6 11.5 -28.3 11.4 14.5 -10.7 Services less energy services ............ 184.5 185.0 185.5 185.8 3.1 2.7 3.5 2.8 2.9 3.2 + 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 Aug. 1997 from- July 1997 from- schedule May June July Aug. Aug. June July July May June 1/ 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 160.1 160.3 160.5 160.8 2.2 0.3 0.2 2.2 0.2 0.1 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 166.8 167.0 167.6 167.8 2.3 .5 .1 2.6 .5 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 167.5 167.7 168.2 168.4 2.2 .4 .1 2.5 .4 .3 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 164.7 165.2 165.9 166.2 2.5 .6 .2 2.5 .7 .4 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 165.2 165.6 166.4 166.8 3.1 .7 .2 3.0 .7 .5 + _ North Central urban .................... M 156.3 156.7 156.6 157.2 2.5 .3 .4 2.2 .2 -.1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 157.0 157.3 157.3 158.0 2.6 .4 .4 2.3 .2 .0 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 155.4 155.7 155.8 156.3 2.3 .4 .3 2.2 .3 .1 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 158.3 158.7 158.5 158.8 2.7 .1 .2 2.5 .1 -.1 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 152.2 152.6 152.6 152.6 1.5 .0 .0 1.5 .3 .0 South urban ............................ M 156.6 157.0 157.0 157.1 1.9 .1 .1 1.9 .3 .0 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 155.5 155.8 155.8 155.9 1.8 .1 .1 1.7 .2 .0 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 159.7 160.4 160.5 160.8 2.5 .2 .2 2.4 .5 .1 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 156.1 156.4 156.0 156.1 1.4 -.2 .1 1.5 -.1 -.3 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 156.0 156.3 156.4 156.4 2.5 .1 .0 2.6 .3 .1 West urban ............................. M 161.1 161.0 161.1 161.5 2.2 .3 .2 2.0 .0 .1 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 161.1 161.1 161.3 161.7 2.3 .4 .2 2.1 .1 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 166.5 166.0 166.1 166.8 2.6 .5 .4 2.3 -.2 .1 + _ Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 144.5 144.6 144.8 145.1 2.3 .3 .2 2.2 .2 .1 + _ B 3/ ................................. M 160.4 160.7 160.9 161.2 2.3 .3 .2 2.2 .3 .1 + _ C 3/ ................................. M 160.0 160.2 160.1 160.5 2.2 .2 .2 2.1 .1 -.1 + _ D .................................... M 156.4 156.6 156.7 156.8 1.8 .1 .1 2.0 .2 .1 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 161.1 161.7 161.7 162.5 2.8 .5 .5 2.5 .4 .0 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 159.5 159.4 159.5 159.7 1.5 .2 .1 1.2 .0 .1 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 169.9 170.3 170.8 170.8 2.2 .3 .0 2.5 .5 .3 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 166.0 166.1 166.4 166.8 2.0 .4 .2 2.2 .2 .2 + _ San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 159.8 160.0 160.6 161.2 3.6 .8 .4 3.0 .5 .4 + _ Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 155.5 - 156.9 - - - - .8 .9 - + _ Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 166.7 - 167.1 - - - - 3.1 .2 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 155.6 - 156.3 - - - - 2.8 .4 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 157.9 - 157.9 - - - - 3.6 .0 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 152.1 - 153.3 - - - - 2.3 .8 - + _ Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 162.1 - 162.9 - - - - 1.7 .5 - + _ Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 151.4 - 151.2 1.1 -.1 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 155.0 - 156.9 2.8 1.2 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 144.8 - 145.4 1.8 .4 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 - 157.4 - 157.5 2.5 .1 - - - - + _ + 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 July Aug. Aug. 1997 from- May to June to July to 1996 1997 1997 Aug. 1996 July 1997 June July Aug. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 157.5 157.8 2.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 469.0 470.0 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.436 157.0 157.6 2.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 Food ................................... 17.749 156.6 157.1 2.4 .3 .3 .3 .3 Food at home ......................... 11.387 156.9 157.6 2.3 .4 .3 .3 .4 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.688 177.9 178.2 1.9 .2 .4 .0 .1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.535 148.0 148.8 2.4 .5 .1 .5 .0 Dairy products 1/ .................. 1.387 143.0 143.0 -.9 .0 -.9 -.6 .0 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/ ........... 2.086 184.0 186.9 2.8 1.6 .5 .5 2.6 + _ Other food at home ................. 2.691 147.9 148.0 3.6 .1 .5 .6 .0 Sugar and sweets ................. .373 149.2 147.8 2.3 -.9 .3 .5 -.8 Fats and oils .................... .282 141.1 141.2 .4 .1 -.2 -.6 .6 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .841 134.9 135.2 5.6 .2 1.1 1.5 -.1 Other prepared food .............. 1.194 161.2 161.6 3.4 .2 .4 .2 .2 Food away from home .................. 6.362 157.1 157.4 2.8 .2 .3 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.687 162.2 162.5 2.7 .2 .1 .2 .4 Housing 2/ ............................... 38.747 154.1 154.2 2.3 .1 .3 .2 .0 + _ Shelter ................................ 25.867 171.7 172.3 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .2 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................. 8.079 163.7 164.3 3.1 .4 .3 -.1 .3 + _ _ Rent, residential .................. 6.580 166.5 167.0 3.0 .3 .3 .2 .3 Other renters' costs 4/ ............ 1.499 232.9 234.2 3.4 .6 .6 -1.1 .3 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/............... 17.599 165.7 166.2 3.0 .3 .2 .4 .1 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ......... 17.277 166.0 166.5 3.0 .3 .2 .4 .2 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ .......... .322 150.3 150.9 2.0 .4 .1 .1 .4 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........ .189 143.6 143.8 4.2 .1 .0 1.3 .1 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ ................. .105 155.9 156.5 5.0 .4 .1 2.6 .4 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ .............. .084 128.3 128.0 3.1 -.2 .0 -.2 -.2 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............ 7.344 131.9 131.2 1.5 -.5 .6 .2 -.5 + _ Fuels ................................ 3.979 119.1 118.1 .5 -.8 .9 .0 -.8 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .391 94.5 93.2 1.2 -1.4 -.7 -1.8 -.6 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.588 127.3 126.2 .4 -.9 1.0 .2 -.7 Other utilities and public services 4/ ...................... 3.365 163.2 162.9 2.8 -.2 .4 .6 -.1 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ . 5.536 124.1 123.7 .3 -.3 -.1 -.1 -.3 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................. 3.261 109.5 109.1 -.8 -.4 -.2 -.5 -.5 + _ Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.129 144.4 143.4 1.1 -.7 -.1 .6 -.7 Housekeeping services 4/ ............. 1.145 154.7 155.2 2.6 .3 .5 .2 .4 + _ Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.348 129.8 129.4 1.5 -.3 -.3 .2 -1.0 Apparel commodities 4/ ................. 4.838 126.1 125.7 1.5 -.3 -.3 .2 -1.1 + _ Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.286 128.0 128.8 2.5 .6 -.5 .8 .0 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.053 120.6 119.6 1.9 -.8 .0 -.4 -2.1 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ .... .240 132.0 128.4 1.3 -2.7 -.8 -1.3 -2.7 + _ Footwear ............................. .799 126.8 127.3 1.0 .4 -.9 .9 .7 Other apparel commodities 4/.......... .461 146.8 145.7 -1.4 -.7 .3 .6 -1.7 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................. .510 162.6 162.7 1.9 .1 .2 .2 .1 + _ _ Transportation ........................... 19.190 142.9 143.3 .5 .3 -.4 .1 .7 Private transportation ................. 17.934 140.4 141.1 .4 .5 -.3 -.1 .9 New vehicles ......................... 4.893 144.9 144.3 .2 -.4 .0 .1 -.2 New cars ........................... 3.533 140.7 140.0 -.2 -.5 -.1 .1 -.1 Used cars ............................ 2.320 151.4 149.9 -5.0 -1.0 -1.7 -1.2 -.7 Motor fuel ........................... 3.921 104.0 107.7 1.3 3.6 -.9 -.4 5.0 Gasoline ........................... - 103.6 107.6 1.5 3.9 -.8 -.4 5.5 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.616 164.0 164.2 2.9 .1 .4 .3 .1 Other private transportation 4/....... 5.185 172.8 172.7 1.8 -.1 .2 .5 .0 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................. .742 104.4 104.0 .0 -.4 .1 .6 -.5 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ .................... 4.442 190.2 190.1 2.0 -.1 .2 .5 .1 + _ Public transportation .................. 1.256 186.2 181.6 1.2 -2.5 -.7 .9 -1.6 Medical care ............................. 6.251 234.2 234.6 2.7 .2 .2 .1 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.047 213.3 212.5 1.9 -.4 .0 .0 -.2 Medical care services .................. 5.204 238.9 239.5 2.7 .3 .2 .1 .3 Professional medical services ........ 2.973 217.2 217.7 3.5 .2 .2 .1 .3 Entertainment 4/ ......................... 4.015 160.1 160.6 2.3 .3 .5 .1 .4 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ........... 2.036 142.7 143.5 .9 .6 .1 .0 .6 + _ Entertainment services 4/ .............. 1.979 184.8 184.9 3.7 .1 .8 .2 .1 + _ Other goods and services 2/ .............. 7.012 220.3 222.1 4.3 .8 .0 .3 .5 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.117 241.7 243.0 4.3 .5 -.9 .5 .6 Personal care 1/ ....................... 1.107 152.4 152.4 1.3 .0 .1 -.2 .0 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ .................... .610 144.6 144.4 -.8 -.1 .0 -.3 -.1 + _ Personal care services 1/ ............ .497 162.6 162.8 4.0 .1 .2 -.1 .1 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ... 3.788 253.6 256.8 5.2 1.3 .4 .3 .6 + _ School books and supplies ............ .232 240.1 241.9 5.7 .7 1.1 .4 .4 Personal and educational services 4/ . 3.556 255.0 258.3 5.1 1.3 .4 .3 .6 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 157.5 157.8 2.1 .2 .1 .2 .2 Commodities .............................. 47.057 141.0 141.4 1.3 .3 -.1 .1 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 19.436 157.0 157.6 2.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.621 131.3 131.6 .5 .2 -.4 -.2 .4 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.215 132.9 133.9 1.7 .8 -.4 .1 .8 Apparel commodities 4/ ............. 4.838 126.1 125.7 1.5 -.3 -.3 .2 -1.1 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.377 139.1 140.8 1.9 1.2 -.6 -.2 1.8 Durables ............................. 11.407 128.0 127.4 -1.2 -.5 -.5 -.3 -.3 Services ................................. 52.943 177.1 177.4 2.8 .2 .3 .3 .1 Rent of shelter 3/ ..................... 25.329 165.3 165.8 3.0 .3 .3 .2 .2 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/....................... 8.553 135.5 135.0 1.7 -.4 .6 .3 -.4 + _ _ Transportation services ................ 7.314 182.9 182.1 2.1 -.4 .1 .5 -.2 Medical care services .................. 5.204 238.9 239.5 2.7 .3 .2 .1 .3 Other services ......................... 6.542 205.9 207.4 4.4 .7 .5 .2 .4 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.251 157.5 157.8 2.1 .2 .1 .1 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 74.133 153.6 153.9 1.8 .2 .1 .1 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...... 82.401 147.6 147.9 1.9 .2 .1 .1 .2 + _ _ All items less medical care ................ 93.749 153.8 154.2 2.1 .3 .1 .1 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 29.308 132.5 132.9 .7 .3 -.4 -.1 .4 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.901 134.7 135.6 1.9 .7 -.3 .1 .7 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 13.064 140.4 141.9 1.9 1.1 -.3 .1 1.8 Nondurables ................................ 35.651 145.3 146.0 2.1 .5 .0 .3 .6 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........ 27.613 168.2 168.2 2.7 .0 .3 .3 .0 + _ _ Services less medical care services ........ 47.738 171.8 172.0 2.8 .1 .4 .4 -.1 Energy ..................................... 7.901 110.8 112.2 1.0 1.3 .0 -.2 2.0 All items less energy ...................... 92.099 164.0 164.2 2.2 .1 .1 .2 .1 All items less food and energy ........... 74.350 165.9 166.0 2.2 .1 .1 .2 .0 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 24.996 141.1 140.8 .6 -.2 -.3 .0 -.4 Energy commodities ................... 4.312 103.4 106.7 1.3 3.2 -.9 -.5 4.5 Services less energy services .......... 49.354 182.6 183.0 3.0 .2 .3 .3 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 1/ ......................... - $.635 $.634 -2.0 -.2 -.2 .0 -.2 + _ 1967=$1.00 1/ ............................ - .213 .213 - - - - - + _ + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- May June July Aug. Nov. Feb. May Aug. Feb. Aug. 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 3.9 2.3 0.3 2.1 3.1 1.2 Food and beverages ......................... 156.7 157.0 157.5 158.1 5.3 .3 1.0 3.6 2.7 2.3 Food ..................................... 156.2 156.6 157.1 157.6 5.3 .3 .8 3.6 2.7 2.2 Food at home ........................... 156.6 157.0 157.5 158.2 6.4 -1.3 .3 4.1 2.5 2.2 Cereals and bakery products .......... 176.7 177.4 177.4 177.5 4.2 .0 1.6 1.8 2.1 1.7 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 148.2 148.3 149.1 149.1 6.8 -.3 .8 2.5 3.2 1.6 Dairy products 1/ .................... 145.1 143.8 143.0 143.0 14.3 -8.3 -2.4 -5.7 2.4 -4.1 + _ Fruits and vegetables 2/.............. 184.1 185.0 186.0 190.9 6.0 -2.7 -5.5 15.6 1.5 4.5 + _ Other food at home ................... 146.2 147.0 147.9 147.9 2.3 2.2 5.1 4.7 2.3 4.9 Sugar and sweets ................... 147.5 147.9 148.7 147.5 2.0 5.3 1.6 .0 3.6 .8 Fats and oils ...................... 141.6 141.3 140.5 141.3 2.3 .3 .0 -.8 1.3 -.4 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 132.2 133.7 135.7 135.6 -4.0 -.6 17.8 10.7 -2.3 14.2 Other prepared food ................ 160.0 160.7 161.0 161.4 7.6 3.6 -1.0 3.5 5.6 1.3 Food away from home .................... 156.2 156.6 157.1 157.4 3.7 2.9 1.3 3.1 3.3 2.2 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 161.7 161.8 162.2 162.8 4.1 2.3 2.0 2.7 3.2 2.4 Housing 2/ ................................. 152.7 153.1 153.4 153.4 3.0 2.9 1.3 1.8 3.0 1.6 + _ Shelter .................................. 170.5 170.9 171.3 171.6 2.7 3.1 3.4 2.6 2.9 3.0 Renters' costs 3/ 4/.................... 161.5 162.0 161.9 162.4 2.8 3.3 3.8 2.2 3.1 3.0 + _ _ Rent, residential .................... 165.7 166.2 166.5 167.0 2.7 2.5 3.5 3.2 2.6 3.3 Other renters' costs 4/ .............. 224.3 225.7 223.3 223.9 2.4 7.4 4.6 -.7 4.9 1.9 + _ Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................ 164.9 165.3 165.9 166.1 2.5 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.7 3.0 + _ _ Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ........... 165.3 165.6 166.2 166.5 2.5 3.0 3.2 2.9 2.7 3.1 + _ Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............ 149.4 149.6 149.7 150.3 6.7 -2.4 1.3 2.4 2.0 1.9 + _ _ Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ .......... 141.7 141.7 143.6 143.8 5.6 2.3 2.9 6.1 4.0 4.5 + _ _ Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/ 151.9 152.0 155.9 156.5 2.4 1.1 4.3 12.7 1.8 8.4 + _ _ Maintenance and repair commodities 1/ 4/ ................ 128.6 128.6 128.3 128.0 10.0 3.8 .9 -1.9 6.9 -.5 + _ _ Fuel and other utilities 2/............... 129.0 129.8 130.1 129.5 5.4 6.0 -6.5 1.6 5.7 -2.6 + _ Fuels .................................. 114.6 115.6 115.6 114.7 7.2 9.3 -13.1 .3 8.2 -6.6 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 99.6 98.9 97.1 96.5 54.2 -.8 -22.1 -11.9 23.7 -17.1 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 121.7 122.9 123.1 122.2 3.3 10.1 -12.1 1.7 6.7 -5.5 Other utilities and public services 4/ . 161.5 162.1 163.0 162.8 3.8 2.0 2.0 3.3 2.9 2.6 + _ Household furnishings and operation 2/ ... 124.2 124.1 124.0 123.6 .7 .3 2.0 -1.9 .5 .0 + _ Housefurnishings 4/ .................... 110.2 110.0 109.5 109.0 -.4 .0 1.5 -4.3 -.2 -1.5 + _ Housekeeping supplies .................. 143.7 143.6 144.4 143.4 1.1 2.3 1.7 -.8 1.7 .4 Housekeeping services 4/ ............... 153.9 154.6 154.9 155.5 2.9 .0 3.5 4.2 1.5 3.8 + _ Apparel and upkeep ......................... 132.9 132.5 132.8 131.5 4.1 3.4 3.4 -4.1 3.7 -.5 Apparel commodities 4/ ................... 129.6 129.2 129.4 128.0 4.2 3.5 3.5 -4.8 3.8 -.8 + _ Men's and boys' apparel ................ 130.1 129.4 130.4 130.4 4.2 -1.2 6.4 .9 1.4 3.6 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 126.7 126.7 126.2 123.6 4.7 10.8 2.6 -9.4 7.7 -3.6 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ...... 134.9 133.8 132.0 128.4 3.2 1.3 23.0 -17.9 2.2 .5 + _ Footwear ............................... 128.2 127.0 128.1 129.0 1.3 -1.6 1.6 2.5 -.2 2.0 Other apparel commodities 4/............ 145.8 146.2 147.1 144.6 8.1 -5.0 -5.0 -3.3 1.4 -4.2 + _ Apparel services 1/ 4/ ................... 161.9 162.2 162.6 162.7 1.0 3.3 1.5 2.0 2.1 1.7 + _ _ Transportation ............................. 142.8 142.3 142.4 143.4 4.6 2.5 -6.4 1.7 3.5 -2.5 Private transportation ................... 140.5 140.1 140.0 141.3 4.0 3.4 -7.3 2.3 3.7 -2.6 New vehicles ........................... 145.6 145.6 145.7 145.4 1.7 -.5 .0 -.5 .6 -.3 New cars ............................. 141.5 141.3 141.4 141.3 .3 -.6 .0 -.6 -.1 -.3 Used cars .............................. 155.1 152.5 150.6 149.5 -1.5 1.0 -5.0 -13.7 -.3 -9.4 Motor fuel ............................. 102.5 101.6 101.2 106.3 14.9 13.1 -29.9 15.7 14.0 -9.9 Gasoline ............................. 101.8 101.0 100.6 106.1 14.1 13.2 -30.3 18.0 13.6 -9.3 Maintenance and repairs ................ 163.2 163.8 164.3 164.4 4.1 1.5 3.3 3.0 2.8 3.1 Other private transportation 4/......... 172.5 172.8 173.6 173.6 1.4 1.4 1.6 2.6 1.4 2.1 + _ Other private transportation commodities 4/.................... 103.9 104.0 104.6 104.1 .0 -.8 -.4 .8 -.4 .2 + _ Other private transportation services 4/ ...................... 189.9 190.2 191.1 191.2 1.5 1.9 1.9 2.8 1.7 2.3 + _ Public transportation .................... 184.9 183.6 185.3 182.3 13.0 -12.1 11.6 -5.5 -.3 2.7 Medical care ............................... 233.7 234.1 234.3 234.7 3.0 2.3 3.7 1.7 2.6 2.7 Medical care commodities ................. 213.1 213.1 213.0 212.5 2.1 2.9 4.0 -1.1 2.5 1.4 Medical care services .................... 238.2 238.7 238.9 239.5 3.1 2.1 3.8 2.2 2.6 3.0 Professional medical services .......... 216.3 216.8 217.0 217.7 4.1 2.9 4.6 2.6 3.5 3.6 Entertainment 4/ ........................... 159.4 160.2 160.3 161.0 2.3 1.8 1.0 4.1 2.0 2.5 + _ Entertainment commodities 4/ ............. 142.5 142.7 142.7 143.6 1.7 .6 -1.7 3.1 1.1 .7 + _ Entertainment services 4/ ................ 183.6 185.1 185.4 185.6 3.2 2.7 4.5 4.4 2.9 4.5 + _ Other goods and services 2/................. 221.1 221.0 221.6 222.7 3.6 4.1 6.4 2.9 3.9 4.6 + _ Tobacco and smoking products ............. 242.4 240.1 241.2 242.7 4.9 2.9 9.1 .5 3.9 4.7 Personal care 1/ ......................... 152.6 152.7 152.4 152.4 2.4 .3 3.2 -.5 1.3 1.3 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 1/ ...................... 145.0 145.0 144.6 144.4 -.5 -3.3 2.2 -1.6 -1.9 .3 + _ Personal care services 1/ .............. 162.4 162.7 162.6 162.8 5.7 5.4 4.0 1.0 5.6 2.5 + _ Personal and educational expenses 4/ ..... 254.1 255.2 256.0 257.5 3.5 6.1 5.7 5.5 4.8 5.6 + _ School books and supplies .............. 238.5 241.1 242.1 243.1 5.7 2.9 6.5 7.9 4.3 7.2 Personal and educational services 4/ ... 255.5 256.6 257.3 258.8 3.3 6.3 5.7 5.3 4.8 5.5 + _ Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 3.9 2.3 .3 2.1 3.1 1.2 Commodities ................................ 141.4 141.2 141.3 141.9 4.4 2.0 -2.2 1.4 3.2 -.4 Food and beverages ....................... 156.7 157.0 157.5 158.1 5.3 .3 1.0 3.6 2.7 2.3 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 132.1 131.6 131.4 131.9 4.0 3.1 -4.1 -.6 3.5 -2.4 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 133.7 133.2 133.3 134.3 7.2 4.2 -5.8 1.8 5.7 -2.1 Apparel commodities 4/ ............... 129.6 129.2 129.4 128.0 4.2 3.5 3.5 -4.8 3.8 -.8 + _ Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 138.9 138.0 137.7 140.2 7.5 6.7 -9.5 3.8 7.1 -3.1 Durables ............................... 129.1 128.5 128.1 127.7 .6 .0 -.9 -4.3 .3 -2.6 Services ................................... 175.8 176.3 176.8 176.9 3.1 3.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 2.5 Rent of shelter 3/ ....................... 164.2 164.7 165.0 165.3 2.5 3.3 3.2 2.7 2.9 3.0 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/...................... 132.8 133.6 134.0 133.4 3.4 5.2 -3.5 1.8 4.3 -.9 + _ _ Transportation services .................. 182.3 182.4 183.4 183.0 3.8 -.7 3.8 1.5 1.6 2.7 Medical care services .................... 238.2 238.7 238.9 239.5 3.1 2.1 3.8 2.2 2.6 3.0 Other services ........................... 206.1 207.2 207.6 208.4 3.2 4.9 4.8 4.5 4.0 4.7 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 156.9 157.0 157.2 157.5 3.4 2.9 .3 1.5 3.1 .9 All items less shelter ....................... 153.4 153.5 153.7 154.1 4.3 2.1 -.8 1.8 3.2 .5 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........ 147.3 147.4 147.6 147.9 3.9 2.5 -.3 1.6 3.2 .7 + _ _ All items less medical care .................. 153.3 153.5 153.7 154.1 3.8 2.4 .0 2.1 3.1 1.0 Commodities less food ........................ 133.5 133.0 132.9 133.4 4.0 3.0 -3.8 -.3 3.5 -2.1 Nondurables less food ........................ 135.1 134.7 134.9 135.9 7.4 4.5 -6.3 2.4 5.9 -2.0 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 139.6 139.2 139.3 141.8 7.4 4.6 -9.4 6.5 6.0 -1.8 Nondurables .................................. 145.2 145.2 145.6 146.5 5.4 2.5 -3.0 3.6 3.9 .3 Services less rent of shelter 3/ ............. 166.8 167.3 167.8 167.8 4.0 2.9 1.5 2.4 3.5 1.9 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 170.4 171.0 171.6 171.5 3.2 2.9 2.4 2.6 3.0 2.5 Energy ....................................... 108.0 108.0 107.8 110.0 11.1 11.2 -21.9 7.6 11.1 -8.3 All items less energy ........................ 163.9 164.1 164.4 164.6 3.3 1.5 2.5 1.7 2.4 2.1 All items less food and energy ............. 166.1 166.2 166.5 166.5 2.5 2.2 2.9 1.0 2.3 1.9 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 142.4 142.0 142.0 141.5 2.0 1.1 1.4 -2.5 1.6 -.6 Energy commodities ..................... 102.5 101.6 101.1 105.7 17.5 11.9 -29.1 13.1 14.7 -10.5 Services less energy services ............ 181.9 182.4 182.9 183.2 3.0 2.5 3.6 2.9 2.7 3.2 + 1/ Not seasonally adjusted. + _ 2/ This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998. + _ 3/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. + _ 4/ This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997. + _ See Table X for a comparable index series. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) + Indexes Percent change to Percent change to Area Pricing Aug. 1997 from- July 1997 from- schedule May June July Aug. Aug. June July July May June 1/ 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 157.2 157.4 157.5 157.8 2.1 0.3 0.2 2.1 0.2 0.1 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 164.1 164.3 164.7 164.9 2.2 .4 .1 2.4 .4 .2 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 163.8 164.0 164.3 164.5 2.2 .3 .1 2.4 .3 .2 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 162.3 162.8 163.5 163.7 2.3 .6 .1 2.4 .7 .4 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 3/........ M 166.9 167.1 167.5 167.8 2.8 .4 .2 2.8 .4 .2 + _ North Central urban .................... M 152.8 153.1 153.1 153.6 2.5 .3 .3 2.2 .2 .0 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 152.7 152.9 152.9 153.6 2.5 .5 .5 2.1 .1 .0 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 151.5 151.7 151.9 152.3 2.4 .4 .3 2.4 .3 .1 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 3/........ M 155.6 156.0 155.7 156.1 2.8 .1 .3 2.5 .1 -.2 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 150.2 150.8 150.7 150.9 1.6 .1 .1 1.5 .3 -.1 South urban ............................ M 155.1 155.4 155.3 155.5 1.8 .1 .1 1.8 .1 -.1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.6 153.9 153.9 154.0 1.7 .1 .1 1.5 .2 .0 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 3/..... M 155.7 156.1 156.2 156.5 2.2 .3 .2 2.2 .3 .1 + _ Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 3/........ M 156.0 156.2 155.7 155.9 1.3 -.2 .1 1.4 -.2 -.3 + _ Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 156.3 156.5 156.6 157.0 2.5 .3 .3 2.5 .2 .1 West urban ............................. M 157.8 157.5 157.6 158.0 2.0 .3 .3 1.7 -.1 .1 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 156.1 156.0 156.2 156.5 2.0 .3 .2 1.8 .1 .1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 3/........ M 163.2 162.7 162.9 163.5 2.5 .5 .4 2.3 -.2 .1 + _ Size classes A 4/ ................................. M 143.3 143.5 143.6 143.9 2.1 .3 .2 2.0 .2 .1 + _ B 3/ ................................. M 157.3 157.6 157.8 158.0 2.2 .3 .1 2.2 .3 .1 + _ C 3/ ................................. M 159.1 159.2 159.1 159.4 2.2 .1 .2 2.1 .0 -.1 + _ D .................................... M 155.6 155.7 155.8 156.0 1.8 .2 .1 1.8 .1 .1 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 155.5 156.0 156.0 156.7 2.5 .4 .4 2.2 .3 .0 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 154.0 153.8 153.8 154.0 1.4 .1 .1 1.0 -.1 .0 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 166.0 166.2 166.6 166.7 2.1 .3 .1 2.3 .4 .2 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ ......................... M 165.2 165.3 165.5 165.9 1.8 .4 .2 2.1 .2 .1 + _ San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ .. M 156.8 157.0 157.5 158.1 3.3 .7 .4 2.7 .4 .3 + _ Baltimore, MD 6/ ....................... 1 154.3 - 155.6 - - - - .6 .8 - + _ Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 165.6 - 165.8 - - - - 3.0 .1 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 147.8 - 148.2 - - - - 2.7 .3 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 155.6 - 155.5 - - - - 3.1 -.1 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ ..... 1 151.2 - 152.5 - - - - 2.3 .9 - + _ Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................ 1 159.7 - 160.2 - - - - 1.6 .3 - + _ Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 151.4 - 151.1 1.1 -.2 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 149.8 - 151.6 2.4 1.2 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 144.1 - 144.9 1.9 .6 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........ 2 - 150.8 - 151.0 2.6 .1 - - - - + _ + 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.