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Economic News Release
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CPI CPI Program Links

Consumer Price Index News Release

 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
 Stephen B. Reed        (202) 691-7000      USDL-08-1308
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 691-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 691-5200      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://www.bls.gov/cpi/      Tuesday, September 16,
 2008
 
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 2008
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased
 0.4 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The August
 level of 219.086 (1982-84=100) was 5.4 percent higher than in August 2007.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) decreased 0.5 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The August level of 215.247 (1982-84=100) was 5.9 percent higher than in
 August 2007.
      
      The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 decreased 0.2 percent in August on a not seasonally adjusted basis.  The
 August level of 125.843 (December 1999=100) was 4.7 percent higher than in
 August 2007.  Please note that the indexes for the post-2006 period are
 subject to revision.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 0.1 percent in
 August, following a 0.8 percent increase in July.  The index for energy
 fell 3.1 percent in August after three consecutive sharp increases.  The
 gasoline index declined by 4.2 percent in August but is 35.6 percent
 higher than in August 2007.  The index for household energy, which was up
 3.8 percent in July, declined 1.6 percent in August.  The food index
 advanced 0.6 percent in August after rising 0.9 percent in July.  The
 index for food at home rose 0.8 percent in August after a 1.2 percent
 increase in July and is up 7.5 percent over the past year.  The index for
 all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in August after
 increasing 0.3 percent in July.  A downturn in the index for lodging away
 from home was responsible for almost half of the smaller increase.
 Deceleration in the indexes for new vehicles, apparel, and telephone
 services also contributed.  Partly offsetting these were larger increases
 in the indexes for medical care and recreation.

Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                  Seasonally adjusted                      
                                                                           
                                                                           
     Expenditure                                         Compound          
      Category          Changes from preceding month      annual     Un-   
                                                           rate    adjusted
                                                          3-mos.   12-mos. 
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   ended     ended  
                     2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Aug. 2008 Aug. 2008
                                                                                
 All items..........   .0   .3   .2   .6  1.1   .8  -.1       7.2       5.4
  Food and beverages   .4   .2   .9   .3   .7   .9   .6       9.1       5.9
  Housing...........   .2   .4   .3   .5   .5   .6  -.1       4.2       3.8
  Apparel...........  -.3 -1.3   .5  -.3   .1  1.2   .5       7.4       1.7
  Transportation....  -.7   .7  -.7  2.0  3.8  1.7 -1.5      16.8      12.1
  Medical care......   .1   .1   .2   .2   .2   .1   .2       2.1       3.3
  Recreation........   .1   .3  -.1   .1   .1   .4   .5       4.4       2.4
  Education and                                                            
     communication..   .1   .3   .4   .4   .5   .5   .2       5.0       3.6
  Other goods and                                                          
     services.......   .2   .4   .5   .4   .4   .4   .2       4.0       4.1
 Special indexes:                                                          
  Energy............  -.5  1.9   .0  4.4  6.6  4.0 -3.1      32.9      27.2
  Food..............   .4   .2   .9   .3   .8   .9   .6       9.6       6.1
  All items less                                                           
     food and energy   .0   .2   .1   .2   .3   .3   .2       3.4       2.5     
     
      During the first eight months of 2008, the CPI-U rose at a 5.1
 percent seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR).  This compares with a
 4.1 percent increase for the 12 months ending December 2007.  The energy
 index rose at a 22.4 percent SAAR in the first eight months of 2008 after
 increasing 17.4 percent in 2007.  Gasoline prices increased at a 22.1
 percent SAAR in 2008 after a 29.6 percent increase in 2007, while natural
 gas prices rose at a 46.3 percent SAAR after decreasing 0.4 percent in
 2007.  The food index increased at a 7.5 SAAR for the first eight months
 of 2008 after increasing 4.9 percent in 2007.  Excluding food and energy,
 the CPI-U has advanced at a 2.5 percent SAAR in 2008 following a 2.4
 percent increase in 2007.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.6 percent in August following a
 0.9 percent increase in July.  The index for food at home increased 0.8
 percent, following a 1.2 percent rise in July.  Four of the six grocery
 store food groups increased less in August than in July.  Most notable
 were a downturn in the index for cereals and bakery products, which
 declined 0.1 percent in August after a 1.8 percent increase in July, and a
 smaller increase in the index for dairy and related products, up 0.4
 percent in August after a 1.6 percent increase in July.  The index for
 meats, poultry, fish and eggs increased 1.0 percent for the second
 consecutive month.  The fruits and vegetables index increased more rapidly
 in August, up 2.1 percent following a 1.2 percent increase in July.  The
 food away from home index decelerated in August, up 0.3 percent after a
 0.6 percent increase in July, while the index for alcoholic beverages
 increased 0.4 percent for the second straight month.
      
      The index for housing declined 0.1 percent in August after a 0.6
 percent increase in July.  The shelter index increased 0.1 percent in
 August after a 0.2 percent increase in July.  The smaller increase was due
 to a downturn in the lodging away from home index, which fell 1.1 percent
 in August after a 0.7 percent increase in July.  The indexes for rent and
 for owners' equivalent rent duplicated their July increases of 0.3 percent
 and 0.1 percent, respectively.   The index for household energy declined
 1.6 percent in August, but is still 17.3 percent above its August 2007
 level.  Within household energy, the indexes for fuel oil and for natural
 gas fell substantially, declining 9.6 percent and 5.8 percent
 respectively.  The index for electricity increased 1.2 percent in August
 following a 2.5 percent increase in July.   The index for household
 furnishings and operations, which rose 0.4 percent in July, increased 0.2
 percent in August.
      
      The transportation index turned down in August, declining 1.5 percent
 following three straight substantial increases.  The index for gasoline
 decreased 4.2 percent following a 4.1 percent increase in July.    (Prior
 to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 7.4 percent in August but are
 35.6 percent above their August 2007 level.)   The index for new vehicles
 declined 0.6 percent in August after a 0.2 percent increase in July, with
 the index for new cars virtually unchanged and the index for new trucks
 declining 1.2 percent.  The index for used cars and trucks fell 0.3
 percent in August following a 0.1 percent decline in July.  The indexes
 for new vehicles and for used cars and trucks each declined 1.3 percent
 since August 2007.   The index for public transportation increased 1.1
 percent in August, the same increase as in July, mostly due to a 1.6
 percent increase in the index for airline fare.   (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, the index for airline fare decreased 0.9 percent in August and
 is 20.9 percent higher than in August 2007.)
      
      The index for apparel rose 0.5 percent in August following a 1.2
 percent increase in July.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices
 rose 1.8 percent in August and are 1.7 percent higher than in August
 2007.)  The index for women's and girls' apparel increased 2.0 percent in
 August, while the index for men's and boys' apparel rose 0.3 percent.
      
      The medical care index rose 0.2 percent in August after rising 0.1
 percent in July, and is 3.3 percent higher than a year ago.  The index for
 medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and
 medical supplies-increased 0.1 percent in August after a 0.2 percent
 decrease in July.  The index for medical care services increased 0.3
 percent in August.  The indexes for professional services and for hospital
 and related services increased 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation increased 0.5 percent in August, following a
 0.4 percent increase in July.  The index for video and audio rose 0.5
 percent in August after being virtually unchanged in July.  The indexes
 for pets, pet products and services and for admissions both rose 1.3
 percent in August, while the index for sporting goods declined 0.7
 percent.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.2 percent in
 August after a 0.5 percent increase in July.  The index for education rose
 0.6 percent, reflecting increases of 3.4 percent for college textbooks and
 0.3 percent for college tuition and fees.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 charges for college tuition rose 2.6 percent in August and were 6.3
 percent higher than a year ago.)  The communication index, which increased
 0.5 percent in July, declined 0.2 percent in August.  Within
 communication, the telephone services index was virtually unchanged in
 August after a 0.7 percent increase in July, and the information
 technology hardware and services index declined 0.7 percent after a 0.2
 percent increase in July.
      
      The index for other goods and services increased 0.2 percent in
 August after three consecutive increases of 0.4 percent.  The deceleration
 was caused by the index for tobacco and smoking products, which rose 0.1
 percent in August after a 1.2 percent increase in July.
      
      
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers decreased 0.2 percent in August.     
     
Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
          Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                  Seasonally adjusted                      
                                                                           
                                                                           
     Expenditure                                         Compound          
      Category          Changes from preceding month      annual     Un-   
                                                           rate    adjusted
                                                          3-mos.   12-mos. 
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   ended     ended  
                     2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Aug. 2008 Aug. 2008
                                                                                                                              
 All items..........   .0   .4   .2   .7  1.2   .9  -.2       8.0       5.9
  Food and beverages   .3   .2   .9   .3   .8   .9   .6       9.6       6.0
  Housing...........   .2   .5   .4   .5   .5   .7   .0       4.6       4.2
  Apparel...........  -.3 -1.2   .2  -.2   .0   .8  1.0       7.6       1.8
  Transportation....  -.7   .7  -.7  2.1  4.0  1.8 -1.7      17.4      12.8
  Medical care......   .1   .1   .2   .1   .2   .1   .3       2.3       3.4
  Recreation........   .1   .3  -.2   .0   .2   .4   .5       4.4       2.3
  Education and                                                            
     communication..   .1   .2   .4   .3   .5   .5   .2       5.2       3.3
  Other goods and                                                          
     services.......   .3   .4   .4   .5   .6   .5   .2       5.1       4.6
 Special indexes:                                                          
  Energy............  -.7  1.9  -.2  4.5  6.8  4.0 -3.2      33.8      27.8
  Food..............   .3   .2  1.0   .3   .8   .9   .6       9.9       6.2
  All items less                                                           
     food and energy   .0   .1   .1   .2   .3   .3   .2       3.5       2.5

     Consumer Price Index data for September are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, October 16, 2008, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
     
     























 Facilities for Sensory Impaired
 
      Information from this release will be made available to sensory
 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
 Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.
 
 Brief Explanation of the CPI
      
      The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups
 such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
      
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
      
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
      
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
      
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.
      
 
 
 
 
 Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index
                                     
      The CPI is a statistical estimate that is subject to sampling error
 because it is based upon a sample of retail prices and not the complete
 universe of all prices.  BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-
 month, 2-month, 6-month and 12-month percent change standard errors
 annually, for the CPI-U.  These standard error estimates can be used to
 construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing.  For example, the
 estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for
 the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index.  This means that if we repeatedly
 sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology,
 and estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these
 estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 1 month percentage change
 based on all retail prices.  For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the
 All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that
 the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between
 0.08 and 0.32 percent.  For the latest data, including information on how
 to use the estimates of standard error, see "Variance Estimates for
 Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January 2005- December 2005" in the
 CPI Detailed Report, February 2006.  These data are available on the CPI
 home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), using the following link
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2006.pdf
      
 
 Calculating Index Changes
 
       Movements of the indexes from one month to another are usually
 expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index points, because
 index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to
 its
 base period while percent changes are not.  The example below illustrates
 the computation of index point and percent changes.
      
       Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed as
 annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula for
 compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent change would
 be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month period.
 
 Index Point Change
 
 CPI
 202.416
 Less previous index
 201.800
 Equals index point change
 .616
 
 Percent Change
 
 Index point difference
 .616
 Divided by the previous index
 201.800
 Equals
 0.003
 Results multiplied by one hundred
 0.003x100
 Equals percent change
 0.3
 
 
 








Regions Defined

The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.

The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.




 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 before adjustment for seasonal variation.
      
      Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes
 are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.  Seasonally
 adjusted indexes and seasonal factors are computed annually.  Each year,
 the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised.  Data from
 January 2003 through December 2007 were replaced in January 2008.
 Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data
 at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
      
      The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is
 derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.
 Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon
 certain statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their
 seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
 adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of
 the dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted
 indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 48 of the 73 components
 are seasonally adjusted for 2008.
      
      
      
      
      Seasonally adjusted data, including 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.
      
      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 seasonal factors introduced in January 2008, BLS adjusted 20
 series using Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, including selected
 food and beverage items, motor fuels, electricity and vehicles.  For
 example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the
 effects of events such as damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina.
      
      For a complete list of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment
 series and explanations, please refer to the article "Intervention
 Analysis Seasonal Adjustment," located on our website at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm.
      
      For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI, please
 write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and
 Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Jeff Wilson at (202) 691-
 6968, or by e-mail at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov.  If you have general questions
 about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-7000.
     
  
  






.


       
       
       



 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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    Unadjusted                          
                                                             Unadjusted indexes   percent change   Seasonally adjusted  
                                                 Relative                          to Aug. 2008    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                     importance,                            from-                             
                                                 December                                                               
                                                   2007       July       Aug.                      May     June    July 
                                                              2008       2008      Aug.    July     to      to      to  
                                                                                   2007    2008    June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000    219.964    219.086     5.4    -0.4     1.1     0.8    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -    658.915    656.284       -       -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     14.914    215.326    216.419     5.9     0.5     0.7     0.9     0.6 
   Food.......................................     13.833    215.299    216.422     6.1     0.5     0.8     0.9     0.6 
    Food at home..............................      7.660    215.785    217.259     7.5     0.7     1.0     1.2     0.8 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.030    250.321    250.080    11.7    -0.1     0.5     1.8    -0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      1.807    205.075    207.488     5.2     1.2     0.8     1.0     1.0 
     Dairy and related products...............       .887    213.981    214.748     6.4     0.4     1.6     1.6     0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.156    280.209    283.296    12.0     1.1     2.8     1.2     2.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................       .928    159.346    160.055     3.4     0.4     0.2     0.7     0.4 
     Other food at home.......................      1.852    185.725    186.991     7.0     0.7     0.4     1.0     0.7 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .277    187.067    187.813     5.4     0.4     0.0     0.4     0.6 
      Fats and oils...........................       .205    201.205    203.059    16.5     0.9     1.9     2.4     1.1 
      Other foods.............................      1.369    199.566    200.961     5.9     0.7     0.2     0.9     0.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .404    120.510    121.033     4.3     0.4    -0.2     1.7     0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.173    216.376    217.063     4.5     0.3     0.5     0.6     0.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .297    151.120    151.133     4.0     0.0     0.1     0.8     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.080    214.394    215.094     3.3     0.3     0.1     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     42.427    219.610    219.148     3.8    -0.2     0.5     0.6    -0.1 
   Shelter....................................     32.596    248.075    247.985     2.4     0.0     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      5.765    243.367    244.181     3.8     0.3     0.4     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.564    153.032    149.146    -0.7    -2.5     0.7     0.7    -1.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     23.942    252.504    252.957     2.5     0.2     0.3     0.1     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .325    118.764    118.562     1.4    -0.2     0.6    -0.3    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.128    239.039    235.650    15.3    -1.4     1.8     3.3    -1.1 
    Household energy..........................      4.215    221.742    217.455    17.3    -1.9     2.1     3.8    -1.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .351    395.706    367.794    49.2    -7.1     8.5     1.3    -6.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.864    221.805    218.656    14.7    -1.4     1.5     4.0    -1.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .913    152.063    154.134     6.3     1.4     0.4     0.7     1.3 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.702    127.884    128.013     1.2     0.1     0.0     0.4     0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .737    148.290    149.169     5.8     0.6     0.7     0.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.731    114.357    116.376     1.7     1.8     0.1     1.2     0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................       .935    109.669    110.180     1.1     0.5    -0.9     0.0     0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.600    100.049    104.211     0.9     4.2     0.5     2.0     2.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .185    109.218    109.558    -0.6     0.3    -0.4    -0.3    -0.8 
   Footwear...................................       .679    122.421    121.982     1.4    -0.4     0.2     1.3    -1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     17.688    212.806    206.739    12.1    -2.9     3.8     1.7    -1.5 
   Private transportation.....................     16.583    208.038    201.779    11.8    -3.0     3.8     1.7    -1.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.191     93.650     93.260    -0.9    -0.4     0.1     0.2    -0.4 
     New vehicles.............................      4.632    134.397    133.404    -1.3    -0.7     0.2     0.2    -0.6 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.773    135.840    135.405    -1.3    -0.3    -0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Motor fuel................................      5.482    349.731    323.822    35.9    -7.4    10.1     4.1    -4.2 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      5.215    347.357    321.511    35.6    -7.4    10.1     4.1    -4.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .356    129.118    130.327     7.1     0.9     0.8     1.0     0.9 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.123    234.788    236.125     5.4     0.6     0.6     0.6     0.6 
   Public transportation......................      1.106    270.002    268.487    15.2    -0.6     3.4     1.1     1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      6.231    363.963    364.477     3.3     0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.601    294.777    295.003     1.3     0.1     0.1    -0.2     0.1 
   Medical care services......................      4.630    385.361    385.990     3.9     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Professional services.....................      2.626    311.926    312.396     3.4     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.467    533.558    535.501     6.9     0.4     0.4     0.3     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.647    113.277    113.786     2.4     0.4     0.1     0.4     0.5 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.843    102.203    102.546     0.2     0.3    -0.3     0.0     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      6.086    123.445    124.653     3.6     1.0     0.5     0.5     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.944    179.229    183.184     6.0     2.2     0.4     0.5     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies............       .207    444.382    458.989     7.4     3.3     0.2     0.8     2.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.736    516.264    527.230     5.9     2.1     0.5     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.142     84.840     84.701     1.3    -0.2     0.6     0.5    -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.975     81.965     81.815     1.1    -0.2     0.5     0.6    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.342    101.339    101.301     2.5     0.0     0.8     0.7     0.0 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .634     10.087     10.012    -4.5    -0.7    -0.5     0.2    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (6)...................       .242     94.711     92.921   -12.8    -1.9    -1.4    -1.0    -1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.277    346.810    346.990     4.1     0.1     0.4     0.4     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .731    596.782    597.361     7.6     0.1     1.5     1.2     0.1 
   Personal care..............................      2.546    201.545    201.623     3.1     0.0     0.1     0.1     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .639    158.989    159.252     0.9     0.2     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .629    223.719    224.151     3.3     0.2    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.044    340.077    341.053     4.8     0.3     0.3     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     41.269    181.087    179.148     7.3    -1.1     1.9     1.2    -0.5 
  Food and beverages..........................     14.914    215.326    216.419     5.9     0.5     0.7     0.9     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     26.356    161.301    158.179     8.1    -1.9     2.5     1.3    -1.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     15.519    213.363    207.284    14.9    -2.8     4.1     1.2    -1.8 
    Apparel...................................      3.731    114.357    116.376     1.7     1.8     0.1     1.2     0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     11.787    280.062    268.740    19.1    -4.0     5.7     2.2    -2.0 
   Durables...................................     10.837    111.275    110.779    -1.1    -0.4     0.0     0.2    -0.3 
 Services.....................................     58.731    258.422    258.638     4.1     0.1     0.5     0.5     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     32.271    258.637    258.547     2.4     0.0     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .325    118.764    118.562     1.4    -0.2     0.6    -0.3    -0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.864    221.805    218.656    14.7    -1.4     1.5     4.0    -1.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .913    152.063    154.134     6.3     1.4     0.4     0.7     1.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .737    148.290    149.169     5.8     0.6     0.7     0.2     0.6 
  Transportation services.....................      5.350    247.869    248.806     6.1     0.4     1.1     0.5     0.8 
  Medical care services.......................      4.630    385.361    385.990     3.9     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
  Other services..............................     10.641    295.677    297.923     4.0     0.8     0.4     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     86.167    220.758    219.552     5.2    -0.5     1.1     0.8    -0.3 
 All items less shelter.......................     67.404    211.468    210.264     6.8    -0.6     1.4     1.1    -0.2 
 All items less medical care..................     93.769    212.576    211.653     5.5    -0.4     1.1     0.9    -0.2 
 Commodities less food........................     27.436    163.364    160.341     7.9    -1.9     2.4     1.3    -1.1 
 Nondurables less food........................     16.599    213.447    207.769    14.1    -2.7     3.7     1.3    -2.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     12.868    272.612    262.470    17.7    -3.7     5.1     2.1    -2.2 
 Nondurables..................................     30.432    215.628    212.882    10.4    -1.3     2.3     1.1    -0.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.460    277.982    278.606     6.1     0.2     0.8     1.0     0.2 
 Services less medical care services..........     54.101    248.007    248.198     4.1     0.1     0.6     0.6     0.2 
 Energy.......................................      9.698    280.833    266.283    27.2    -5.2     6.6     4.0    -3.1 
 All items less energy........................     90.302    215.335    215.873     3.1     0.2     0.4     0.4     0.3 
  All items less food and energy..............     76.469    216.045    216.476     2.5     0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     21.602    139.535    139.785     0.6     0.2     0.1     0.5     0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      5.834    354.423    328.240    36.8    -7.4    10.0     3.9    -4.4 
   Services less energy services..............     54.867    262.323    262.867     3.3     0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -     $ .455     $ .456       -       -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -     $ .152     $ .152       -       -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
   - 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                      
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                   CPI-U                                                                    3 months ended--            6 months   
                                                                                                                        ended--    
                                               May       June      July      Aug.                                                  
                                               2008      2008      2008      2008                                                  
                                                                                      Nov.    Feb.    May     Aug.    Feb.    Aug. 
                                                                                      2007    2008    2008    2008    2008    2008 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   
            Expenditure category                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
 All items.................................  215.132   217.403   219.181   218.880     6.3     3.1     4.9     7.2     4.7     6.0 
                                                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages.......................  212.091   213.612   215.539   216.778     4.2     4.6     5.9     9.1     4.4     7.5 
   Food....................................  211.918   213.542   215.545   216.807     4.3     4.7     6.2     9.6     4.5     7.8 
    Food at home...........................  211.620   213.706   216.227   217.949     4.4     5.3     7.9    12.5     4.9    10.2 
     Cereals and bakery products...........  243.503   244.840   249.210   249.024     6.5    12.4    18.7     9.4     9.4    13.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs........  201.610   203.295   205.361   207.479     2.5     2.3     4.3    12.2     2.4     8.2 
     Dairy and related products............  207.808   211.086   214.537   215.356     6.7     3.4     0.9    15.3     5.0     7.9 
     Fruits and vegetables.................  274.113   281.911   285.411   291.493    10.9     2.2     8.4    27.9     6.5    17.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                           
         materials.........................  158.445   158.735   159.796   160.411    -0.5     4.8     4.4     5.1     2.1     4.7 
     Other food at home....................  182.434   183.140   184.951   186.154     2.7     6.8    10.4     8.4     4.7     9.4 
      Sugar and sweets.....................  185.210   185.209   185.865   186.956     4.2     2.6    11.0     3.8     3.4     7.4 
      Fats and oils........................  192.640   196.211   200.870   202.996     5.9    16.1    21.7    23.3    10.8    22.5 
      Other foods..........................  196.520   196.980   198.743   199.930     1.7     6.2     8.7     7.1     3.9     7.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...  118.744   118.453   120.510   121.033    -2.3    10.0     1.9     7.9     3.7     4.9 
    Food away from home (1)................  213.967   215.015   216.376   217.063     4.1     3.9     4.0     5.9     4.0     5.0 
     Other food away from home (1) (2).....  149.666   149.873   151.120   151.133     3.5     4.9     3.5     4.0     4.2     3.7 
   Alcoholic beverages.....................  213.067   213.246   214.173   215.105     2.8     4.1     2.3     3.9     3.5     3.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Housing..................................  215.876   216.918   218.267   218.101     3.5     2.8     4.9     4.2     3.1     4.5 
   Shelter.................................  245.822   246.612   247.090   247.258     3.1     2.6     1.6     2.4     2.8     2.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3)..........  241.919   242.837   243.535   244.296     4.5     3.6     2.9     4.0     4.1     3.4 
    Lodging away from home (2).............  143.357   144.426   145.394   143.846    -0.9     1.0    -4.3     1.4     0.1    -1.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                             
        residence (3) (4)..................  251.656   252.299   252.610   252.970     3.2     2.6     2.0     2.1     2.9     2.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)                                                                                           
        (2)................................  118.411   119.092   118.764   118.562     0.2     2.2     2.7     0.5     1.2     1.6 
   Fuels and utilities.....................  222.094   226.160   233.540   230.876    10.2     6.5    29.5    16.8     8.3    23.0 
    Household energy.......................  203.609   207.912   215.751   212.286    11.2     6.7    35.5    18.2     8.9    26.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels..............  364.824   396.000   401.283   375.211    72.4    21.3   111.7    11.9    44.6    53.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......  203.584   206.565   214.896   212.549     6.7     5.3    29.9    18.8     6.0    24.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                           
        services (2).......................  150.203   150.831   151.857   153.832     5.4     5.7     4.3    10.0     5.6     7.1 
   Household furnishings and operations....  127.352   127.369   127.919   128.222    -1.0     0.3     2.7     2.8    -0.3     2.7 
    Household operations (1) (2)...........  146.957   148.006   148.290   149.169     1.8     5.4    10.0     6.2     3.6     8.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Apparel..................................  118.043   118.107   119.574   120.157     3.4     0.8    -4.3     7.4     2.1     1.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel.................  114.153   113.139   113.090   113.420     0.4     6.8    -0.2    -2.5     3.6    -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel..............  105.181   105.698   107.860   110.057     2.1    -4.2   -11.3    19.9    -1.1     3.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel..........  113.408   112.922   112.638   111.741    12.2    -0.3    -7.5    -5.8     5.8    -6.6 
   Footwear................................  124.290   124.489   126.047   124.023     3.9    -0.7     3.2    -0.9     1.6     1.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Transportation...........................  198.465   205.915   209.358   206.303    19.5     3.5     8.7    16.8    11.2    12.6 
   Private transportation..................  194.122   201.450   204.899   201.552    20.0     3.4     8.0    16.2    11.4    12.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)........   93.798    93.909    94.052    93.702    -0.9    -0.9    -1.5    -0.4    -0.9    -1.0 
     New vehicles..........................  134.693   134.990   135.300   134.548    -0.9    -2.5    -1.5    -0.4    -1.7    -1.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1)..............  136.325   135.980   135.840   135.405    -1.5     1.9    -2.7    -2.7     0.2    -2.7 
    Motor fuel.............................  292.243   321.618   334.732   320.647    77.6     7.8    23.1    44.9    38.4    33.6 
     Gasoline (all types)..................  289.943   319.107   332.237   318.255    77.9     7.7    21.6    45.2    38.4    32.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1)..  126.824   127.824   129.118   130.327     5.9     5.7     5.2    11.5     5.8     8.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair...  231.822   233.321   234.818   236.340     2.2     5.4     6.1     8.0     3.8     7.1 
   Public transportation...................  249.869   258.462   261.275   264.183    12.8     4.7    19.3    25.0     8.6    22.1 
                                                                                                                                   
  Medical care.............................  362.801   363.618   363.852   364.710     5.2     3.9     1.8     2.1     4.6     2.0 
   Medical care commodities................  294.687   295.102   294.438   294.694     3.5     3.9    -2.0     0.0     3.7    -1.0 
   Medical care services...................  383.752   384.727   385.353   386.458     5.8     3.9     3.2     2.9     4.8     3.0 
    Professional services..................  310.154   311.068   311.739   312.575     3.3     3.0     4.0     3.2     3.2     3.6 
    Hospital and related services (3)......  530.603   532.592   534.172   537.549     9.7     7.9     4.6     5.3     8.8     5.0 
                                                                                                                                   
  Recreation (2)...........................  112.663   112.831   113.264   113.876     2.7     1.4     1.0     4.4     2.1     2.7 
   Video and audio (2).....................  102.443   102.181   102.195   102.658     2.2     0.7    -2.7     0.8     1.4    -0.9 
                                                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (2)..........  123.004   123.613   124.226   124.505     2.1     3.2     4.2     5.0     2.7     4.6 
   Education (2)...........................  179.968   180.749   181.582   182.734     6.0     5.6     5.9     6.3     5.8     6.1 
    Educational books and supplies.........  443.715   444.469   447.821   459.494     4.6     3.4     6.9    15.0     4.0    10.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and                                                                                                
        childcare..........................  518.616   520.969   523.254   525.789     6.1     5.8     5.8     5.6     6.0     5.7 
   Communication (2).......................   83.929    84.393    84.840    84.702    -1.9     0.6     2.6     3.7    -0.6     3.2 
    Information and information processing                                                                                         
        (1) (2)............................   81.080    81.513    81.965    81.815    -2.1     0.6     2.2     3.7    -0.8     2.9 
     Telephone services (1) (2)............   99.879   100.677   101.339   101.301    -0.2     0.3     4.3     5.8     0.0     5.0 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                                          
         services (1) (5)..................   10.118    10.071    10.087    10.012   -10.4     1.9    -5.2    -4.1    -4.4    -4.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                            
          equipment (1) (6)................   97.028    95.663    94.711    92.921   -22.2     1.8   -13.3   -15.9   -11.0   -14.6 
                                                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services.................  344.305   345.693   346.962   347.715     3.2     3.9     5.3     4.0     3.5     4.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)........  581.185   589.904   596.782   597.361     5.0     9.8     4.2    11.6     7.3     7.8 
   Personal care...........................  201.219   201.392   201.660   202.169     2.7     2.2     5.7     1.9     2.5     3.8 
    Personal care products (1).............  158.790   158.868   158.989   159.252     2.0    -2.2     2.9     1.2    -0.1     2.0 
    Personal care services (1).............  223.649   223.520   223.719   224.151     2.9     4.2     5.2     0.9     3.6     3.0 
    Miscellaneous personal services........  339.034   340.085   340.264   341.606     3.7     5.7     6.5     3.1     4.7     4.8 
                                                                                                                                   
        Commodity and service group                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                   
 Commodities...............................  175.279   178.550   180.657   179.687    10.3     3.1     5.3    10.4     6.6     7.9 
  Food and beverages.......................  212.091   213.612   215.539   216.778     4.2     4.6     5.9     9.1     4.4     7.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages......  154.620   158.506   160.622   158.775    14.0     2.2     5.1    11.2     8.0     8.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages.....  200.497   208.661   211.267   207.465    31.2     4.4    10.8    14.6    17.0    12.7 
    Apparel................................  118.043   118.107   119.574   120.157     3.4     0.8    -4.3     7.4     2.1     1.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                                          
        apparel............................  255.265   269.755   275.611   270.166    24.5    12.2    14.7    25.5    18.2    20.0 
   Durables................................  111.227   111.258   111.425   111.140    -0.9    -1.4    -1.9    -0.3    -1.1    -1.1 
 Services..................................  254.643   255.872   257.269   257.642     3.6     3.2     4.6     4.8     3.4     4.7 
  Rent of shelter (4)......................  256.268   257.040   257.575   257.717     3.0     2.7     1.6     2.3     2.8     1.9 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)   118.411   119.092   118.764   118.562     0.2     2.2     2.7     0.5     1.2     1.6 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  203.584   206.565   214.896   212.549     6.7     5.3    29.9    18.8     6.0    24.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                             
      services (2).........................  150.203   150.831   151.857   153.832     5.4     5.7     4.3    10.0     5.6     7.1 
  Household operations (1) (2).............  146.957   148.006   148.290   149.169     1.8     5.4    10.0     6.2     3.6     8.1 
  Transportation services..................  242.389   245.102   246.409   248.277     3.1     4.0     6.9    10.1     3.6     8.5 
  Medical care services....................  383.752   384.727   385.353   386.458     5.8     3.9     3.2     2.9     4.8     3.0 
  Other services...........................  294.450   295.504   296.752   297.887     3.5     3.4     4.3     4.8     3.5     4.5 
                                                                                                                                   
              Special indexes                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
 All items less food.......................  215.688   218.065   219.806   219.250     6.6     2.9     4.7     6.8     4.7     5.7 
 All items less shelter....................  205.548   208.438   210.755   210.264     7.9     3.4     6.5     9.5     5.6     8.0 
 All items less medical care...............  207.649   209.955   211.774   211.433     6.3     3.1     5.1     7.5     4.7     6.3 
 Commodities less food.....................  156.814   160.607   162.695   160.922    13.5     2.3     4.9    10.9     7.8     7.9 
 Nondurables less food.....................  202.150   209.702   212.335   208.004    27.7     3.0    14.8    12.1    14.7    13.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel.........  250.889   263.688   269.125   263.228    23.8     9.2    17.0    21.2    16.3    19.1 
 Nondurables...............................  207.834   212.718   215.067   213.122    15.8     4.2    11.2    10.6     9.9    10.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4).........  272.112   274.317   276.996   277.598     3.6     3.7     8.9     8.3     3.7     8.6 
 Services less medical care services.......  244.156   245.531   246.945   247.327     2.9     3.1     4.9     5.3     3.0     5.1 
 Energy....................................  244.107   260.316   270.602   262.107    43.6     7.6    28.2    32.9    24.3    30.6 
 All items less energy.....................  213.786   214.624   215.529   216.080     2.9     2.7     2.5     4.4     2.8     3.4 
  All items less food and energy...........  214.832   215.526   216.230   216.650     2.6     2.3     1.8     3.4     2.5     2.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                                
       commodities.........................  140.010   140.156   140.792   140.885     0.5     0.4    -0.9     2.5     0.5     0.8 
    Energy commodities.....................  297.965   327.625   340.411   325.603    77.3     8.9    27.2    42.6    39.0    34.7 
   Services less energy services...........  259.944   261.005   261.729   262.367     3.4     3.1     2.9     3.8     3.2     3.4 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated using a
 geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   All items                                      
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                       Indexes                 Percent change to Percent change to
                    CPI-U                      Pricing                                          Aug. 2008 from--   July 2008 from-- 
                                              schedule                                                                            
                                                 (1)      May       June      July      Aug.                                      
                                                          2008      2008      2008      2008    Aug.  June  July  July  May   June
                                                                                                2007  2008  2008  2007  2008  2008
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                  
 U.S. city average...........................    M      216.632   218.815   219.964   219.086   5.4   0.1  -0.4   5.6   1.5   0.5 
                                                                                                                                  
           Region and area size(2)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Northeast urban.............................    M      230.089   232.649   234.545   233.788   5.5   0.5  -0.3   5.7   1.9   0.8 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      232.005   234.518   236.460   236.107   5.3   0.7  -0.1   5.5   1.9   0.8 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      136.913   138.542   139.623   138.537   6.1   0.0  -0.8   6.3   2.0   0.8 
                                                                                                                                  
 Midwest urban...............................    M      207.168   208.968   210.071   209.351   5.4   0.2  -0.3   5.6   1.4   0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      208.291   209.813   211.003   210.341   5.3   0.3  -0.3   5.3   1.3   0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      132.682   134.018   134.595   133.969   5.6   0.0  -0.5   5.9   1.4   0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      202.720   205.122   206.435   206.251   5.9   0.6  -0.1   6.0   1.8   0.6 
                                                                                                                                  
 South urban.................................    M      210.006   212.324   213.304   212.387   5.6   0.0  -0.4   5.8   1.6   0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      211.846   214.359   215.373   214.496   5.4   0.1  -0.4   5.6   1.7   0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      133.714   134.980   135.643   135.004   5.6   0.0  -0.5   5.8   1.4   0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      211.225   214.739   215.274   214.655   6.9   0.0  -0.3   6.8   1.9   0.2 
                                                                                                                                  
 West urban..................................    M      221.009   223.040   223.867   222.823   4.9  -0.1  -0.5   5.3   1.3   0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      224.704   226.767   227.562   226.541   5.0  -0.1  -0.4   5.4   1.3   0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.023   135.283   136.021   135.207   4.9  -0.1  -0.6   5.4   1.5   0.5 
                                                                                                                                  
                 Size classes                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                  
   A (4).....................................    M      197.898   199.840   200.941   200.278   5.2   0.2  -0.3   5.4   1.5   0.6 
   B/C (3)...................................    M      133.997   135.330   136.055   135.315   5.5   0.0  -0.5   5.8   1.5   0.5 
   D.........................................    M      209.308   211.989   212.555   212.138   5.9   0.1  -0.2   5.8   1.6   0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
           Selected local areas(5)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI..............    M      214.932   215.738   217.459   215.971   4.9   0.1  -0.7   5.8   1.2   0.8 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA.....    M      226.651   229.033   229.886   228.484   5.1  -0.2  -0.6   5.7   1.4   0.4 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                              
     NY-NJ-CT-PA.............................    M      236.151   238.580   240.273   240.550   5.4   0.8   0.1   5.1   1.7   0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT.........    1      235.344         -   241.258         -     -     -     -   6.3   2.5     - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH.........................    1      204.882         -   206.941         -     -     -     -   5.0   1.0     - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.......................    1      202.357         -   206.413         -     -     -     -   6.2   2.0     - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6).......    1      139.649         -   142.065         -     -     -     -   5.7   1.7     - 
                                                                                                                                  
 Atlanta, GA.................................    2            -   212.032         -   211.404   5.0  -0.3     -     -     -     - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI.................    2            -   207.593         -   209.484   4.9   0.9     -     -     -     - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX..............    2            -   193.567         -   192.723   4.9  -0.4     -     -     -     - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL...................    2            -   225.079         -   225.473   5.8   0.2     -     -     -     - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                           
     PA-NJ-DE-MD.............................    2            -   228.408         -   228.337   4.4   0.0     -     -     -     - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA..........    2            -   225.181         -   225.411   4.2   0.1     -     -     -     - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA................    2            -   228.068         -   227.745   5.4  -0.1     -     -     -     - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the January and
 July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI;
 Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA;
 St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    Unadjusted                          
                                                             Unadjusted indexes   percent change   Seasonally adjusted  
                                                 Relative                          to Aug. 2008    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                     importance,                            from-                             
                                                 December                                                               
                                                   2007       July       Aug.                      May     June    July 
                                                              2008       2008      Aug.    July     to      to      to  
                                                                                   2007    2008    June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000    216.304    215.247     5.9    -0.5     1.2     0.9    -0.2 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -    644.303    641.155       -       -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     15.926    214.662    215.850     6.0     0.6     0.8     0.9     0.6 
   Food.......................................     14.901    214.577    215.812     6.2     0.6     0.8     0.9     0.6 
    Food at home..............................      8.595    214.679    216.214     7.4     0.7     1.0     1.2     0.8 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.110    250.972    250.842    11.9    -0.1     0.6     1.8     0.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.192    204.557    207.211     5.3     1.3     0.8     1.0     1.2 
     Dairy and related products...............       .965    213.582    214.139     6.2     0.3     1.6     1.7     0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.218    278.885    282.171    12.2     1.2     3.2     1.2     1.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................      1.094    158.527    159.024     3.2     0.3     0.1     0.8     0.2 
     Other food at home.......................      2.016    185.174    186.458     7.2     0.7     0.4     0.9     0.7 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .279    186.054    186.860     5.8     0.4     0.0     0.4     0.7 
      Fats and oils...........................       .232    201.821    203.721    16.5     0.9     2.0     2.1     1.1 
      Other foods.............................      1.504    199.722    201.119     5.9     0.7     0.2     0.8     0.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .438    121.015    121.443     4.4     0.4    -0.3     1.8     0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.305    216.177    217.002     4.6     0.4     0.5     0.6     0.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .218    150.232    150.301     3.7     0.0     0.5     0.6     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.025    214.440    214.931     3.2     0.2     0.1     0.5     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     39.994    215.026    214.743     4.2    -0.1     0.5     0.7     0.0 
   Shelter....................................     30.397    239.845    240.038     2.5     0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.979    242.276    243.010     3.6     0.3     0.4     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.233    152.248    148.368    -1.0    -2.5     1.1    -0.1    -1.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.888    228.824    229.219     2.5     0.2     0.2     0.1     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .297    119.006    118.894     1.4    -0.1     0.6    -0.2    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.637    236.381    233.373    15.3    -1.3     1.7     3.3    -1.0 
    Household energy..........................      4.670    217.640    213.807    17.1    -1.8     2.0     3.8    -1.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .323    388.208    363.535    47.5    -6.4     7.9     1.4    -5.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      4.347    219.612    216.557    14.9    -1.4     1.5     4.0    -1.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .966    152.220    154.475     6.3     1.5     0.4     0.7     1.4 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      3.960    123.798    123.944     1.4     0.1     0.1     0.5     0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .339    151.290    152.083     6.0     0.5     0.7     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.998    113.978    116.214     1.8     2.0     0.0     0.8     1.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.031    109.969    110.513     1.8     0.5    -0.7    -0.6     1.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.619     99.772    104.584     0.6     4.8     0.5     1.5     2.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .251    111.502    111.593    -1.1     0.1    -0.5    -0.5    -1.3 
   Footwear...................................       .821    122.380    122.026     1.8    -0.3     0.2     1.4    -1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     20.054    214.533    207.796    12.8    -3.1     4.0     1.8    -1.7 
   Private transportation.....................     19.287    211.201    204.348    12.8    -3.2     4.0     1.8    -1.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.952     92.686     92.287    -1.0    -0.4     0.0     0.1    -0.4 
     New vehicles.............................      4.172    135.556    134.540    -1.4    -0.7     0.2     0.2    -0.5 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.103    136.639    136.186    -1.3    -0.3    -0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Motor fuel................................      6.940    351.124    325.116    36.0    -7.4    10.0     4.1    -4.2 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      6.597    348.888    322.930    35.6    -7.4    10.0     4.1    -4.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .446    128.997    130.228     7.1     1.0     0.8     1.0     1.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.169    237.324    238.583     5.3     0.5     0.6     0.7     0.6 
   Public transportation......................       .767    266.259    264.755    14.6    -0.6     3.5     1.0     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      5.192    363.942    364.652     3.4     0.2     0.2     0.1     0.3 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.295    286.562    286.880     1.2     0.1     0.1    -0.2     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      3.897    386.560    387.420     4.1     0.2     0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Professional services.....................      2.159    314.235    314.893     3.4     0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.260    529.798    532.065     7.4     0.4     0.4     0.3     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.341    110.198    110.698     2.3     0.5     0.2     0.4     0.5 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.987    102.267    102.643     0.7     0.4    -0.3     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.987    119.852    120.809     3.3     0.8     0.5     0.5     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.377    176.879    180.819     6.0     2.2     0.3     0.5     0.8 
    Educational books and supplies............       .204    446.741    461.104     7.0     3.2     0.1     0.8     2.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.174    498.598    509.241     5.9     2.1     0.4     0.5     0.7 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.609     87.490     87.369     1.4    -0.1     0.6     0.5    -0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.488     85.484     85.355     1.3    -0.2     0.6     0.6    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.869    101.375    101.339     2.4     0.0     0.8     0.6     0.0 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .619     10.600     10.525    -4.0    -0.7    -0.3     0.1    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (6)...................       .228     94.691     92.931   -12.8    -1.9    -1.3    -1.1    -1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.508    359.961    360.102     4.6     0.0     0.6     0.5     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.183    599.180    599.823     7.8     0.1     1.5     1.2     0.1 
   Personal care..............................      2.325    199.495    199.501     3.0     0.0     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .647    159.237    159.345     1.0     0.1     0.0     0.1     0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .560    223.994    224.464     3.3     0.2     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........       .910    341.763    342.974     4.8     0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     44.745    185.105    182.846     8.1    -1.2     2.1     1.3    -0.6 
  Food and beverages..........................     15.926    214.662    215.850     6.0     0.6     0.8     0.9     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     28.819    167.376    163.761     9.3    -2.2     2.8     1.4    -1.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     17.315    225.595    218.454    16.5    -3.2     4.5     1.3    -1.9 
    Apparel...................................      3.998    113.978    116.214     1.8     2.0     0.0     0.8     1.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     13.318    300.341    287.124    21.0    -4.4     6.1     2.5    -2.6 
   Durables...................................     11.504    111.820    111.357    -0.9    -0.4     0.0     0.1    -0.3 
 Services.....................................     55.255    252.991    253.304     4.2     0.1     0.5     0.6     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     30.100    231.255    231.445     2.5     0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .297    119.006    118.894     1.4    -0.1     0.6    -0.2    -0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      4.347    219.612    216.557    14.9    -1.4     1.5     4.0    -1.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .966    152.220    154.475     6.3     1.5     0.4     0.7     1.4 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .339    151.290    152.083     6.0     0.5     0.7     0.3     0.5 
  Transportation services.....................      5.266    245.005    246.041     5.2     0.4     1.0     0.5     0.7 
  Medical care services.......................      3.897    386.560    387.420     4.1     0.2     0.2     0.1     0.4 
  Other services..............................     10.042    284.449    286.389     3.8     0.7     0.3     0.5     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     85.099    216.407    214.950     5.9    -0.7     1.3     0.9    -0.3 
 All items less shelter.......................     69.603    210.069    208.544     7.4    -0.7     1.6     1.2    -0.3 
 All items less medical care..................     94.808    210.002    208.900     6.1    -0.5     1.3     0.9    -0.2 
 Commodities less food........................     29.844    169.213    165.689     9.1    -2.1     2.8     1.4    -1.2 
 Nondurables less food........................     18.341    225.309    218.562    15.7    -3.0     4.3     1.3    -1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     14.343    291.760    279.753    19.6    -4.1     5.7     2.3    -2.4 
 Nondurables..................................     33.241    221.740    218.473    11.3    -1.5     2.7     1.1    -0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.155    246.411    246.834     6.2     0.2     0.8     1.1     0.2 
 Services less medical care services..........     51.358    243.071    243.354     4.2     0.1     0.6     0.6     0.2 
 Energy.......................................     11.610    282.579    267.624    27.8    -5.3     6.8     4.0    -3.2 
 All items less energy........................     88.390    209.062    209.718     3.1     0.3     0.4     0.4     0.3 
  All items less food and energy..............     73.489    208.317    208.857     2.5     0.3     0.3     0.3     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     22.581    140.492    140.802     0.9     0.2     0.2     0.4     0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      7.264    354.402    328.310    36.7    -7.4     9.9     4.0    -4.3 
   Services less energy services..............     50.908    256.365    257.072     3.3     0.3     0.4     0.3     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -     $ .462     $ .465       -       -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -     $ .155     $ .156       -       -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
   - 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): 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                      
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                   CPI-W                                                                    3 months ended--            6 months   
                                                                                                                        ended--    
                                               May       June      July      Aug.                                                  
                                               2008      2008      2008      2008                                                  
                                                                                      Nov.    Feb.    May     Aug.    Feb.    Aug. 
                                                                                      2007    2008    2008    2008    2008    2008 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                   
            Expenditure category                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
 All items.................................  211.044   213.601   215.507   215.130     6.9     3.4     5.4     8.0     5.1     6.7 
                                                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages.......................  211.319   212.937   214.883   216.195     4.0     4.6     6.0     9.6     4.3     7.8 
   Food....................................  211.101   212.814   214.813   216.160     4.1     4.5     6.3     9.9     4.3     8.1 
    Food at home...........................  210.454   212.594   215.085   216.812     4.3     5.0     7.8    12.6     4.7    10.2 
     Cereals and bakery products...........  243.972   245.533   249.875   249.930     6.4    12.6    18.7    10.1     9.5    14.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs........  201.242   202.831   204.852   207.265     2.5     1.9     4.7    12.5     2.2     8.6 
     Dairy and related products............  207.156   210.453   214.042   214.768     6.8     2.6     0.5    15.5     4.7     7.8 
     Fruits and vegetables.................  271.784   280.522   283.919   289.447    10.7     0.7    10.1    28.6     5.6    19.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                           
         materials.........................  157.428   157.651   158.971   159.322    -0.3     5.6     2.6     4.9     2.6     3.7 
     Other food at home....................  182.005   182.718   184.409   185.692     2.7     7.2    10.5     8.4     4.9     9.4 
      Sugar and sweets.....................  184.122   184.097   184.838   186.049     4.2     4.2    10.6     4.3     4.2     7.4 
      Fats and oils........................  193.415   197.297   201.406   203.666     6.3    15.7    21.8    22.9    10.9    22.4 
      Other foods..........................  196.873   197.277   198.916   200.172     1.6     6.4     8.8     6.9     4.0     7.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)...  119.248   118.879   121.015   121.443    -1.9    10.9     1.4     7.6     4.3     4.4 
    Food away from home (1)................  213.723   214.851   216.177   217.002     3.9     3.9     4.2     6.3     3.9     5.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2).....  148.517   149.306   150.232   150.301     0.8     4.7     4.4     4.9     2.8     4.6 
   Alcoholic beverages.....................  213.079   213.293   214.434   215.219     1.9     5.0     1.9     4.1     3.4     3.0 
                                                                                                                                   
  Housing..................................  211.451   212.511   213.943   213.851     3.9     2.8     5.7     4.6     3.3     5.2 
   Shelter.................................  238.312   239.047   239.431   239.715     3.3     2.5     2.1     2.4     2.9     2.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3)..........  240.917   241.841   242.535   243.215     4.4     3.4     2.9     3.9     3.9     3.4 
    Lodging away from home (2).............  142.993   144.505   144.351   142.928     0.6    -1.7    -2.3    -0.2    -0.5    -1.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                             
        residence (3) (4)..................  228.112   228.635   228.943   229.239     3.1     2.7     2.0     2.0     2.9     2.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)                                                                                           
        (2)................................  118.615   119.293   119.006   118.894     0.3     1.9     2.4     0.9     1.1     1.7 
   Fuels and utilities.....................  219.616   223.395   230.774   228.472    10.1     6.0    29.4    17.1     8.0    23.1 
    Household energy.......................  199.931   203.870   211.612   208.571    11.0     6.2    35.0    18.4     8.6    26.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels..............  359.850   388.227   393.808   371.762    70.7    20.8   101.8    13.9    43.6    51.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3).......  201.596   204.597   212.785   210.473     7.0     4.8    30.9    18.8     5.9    24.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                           
        services (2).......................  150.387   151.009   152.020   154.174     5.4     5.5     4.1    10.5     5.5     7.2 
   Household furnishings and operations....  123.075   123.200   123.832   124.141    -0.8     0.6     2.5     3.5    -0.1     3.0 
    Household operations (1) (2)...........  149.816   150.867   151.290   152.083     2.1     4.4    11.4     6.2     3.2     8.8 
                                                                                                                                   
  Apparel..................................  117.867   117.920   118.892   120.050     2.2     2.5    -4.8     7.6     2.3     1.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel.................  114.340   113.486   112.842   113.971     1.5     8.7    -1.5    -1.3     5.1    -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel..............  105.056   105.595   107.177   110.267    -0.7    -3.0   -12.3    21.4    -1.9     3.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel..........  116.416   115.785   115.245   113.771    10.6     1.7    -6.9    -8.8     6.0    -7.8 
   Footwear................................  124.059   124.267   126.005   124.021     4.1     0.9     2.5    -0.1     2.5     1.2 
                                                                                                                                   
  Transportation...........................  199.181   207.141   210.841   207.328    21.0     4.2     8.9    17.4    12.3    13.1 
   Private transportation..................  196.071   203.949   207.657   203.988    21.4     4.2     8.5    17.2    12.4    12.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)........   92.890    92.928    93.007    92.659    -1.2    -0.4    -1.8    -1.0    -0.8    -1.4 
     New vehicles..........................  135.905   136.143   136.460   135.721    -1.3    -2.4    -1.3    -0.5    -1.8    -0.9 
     Used cars and trucks (1)..............  137.145   136.790   136.639   136.186    -1.6     1.9    -2.7    -2.8     0.1    -2.7 
    Motor fuel.............................  293.566   322.859   336.117   321.941    77.3     8.2    23.2    44.6    38.5    33.5 
     Gasoline (all types)..................  291.449   320.576   333.854   319.790    77.3     8.0    21.9    44.9    38.4    32.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1)..  126.742   127.750   128.997   130.228     5.8     6.4     4.9    11.5     6.1     8.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair...  234.314   235.703   237.365   238.826     2.0     5.5     5.8     7.9     3.7     6.8 
   Public transportation...................  247.717   256.314   258.873   261.046    11.8     4.5    19.7    23.3     8.1    21.5 
                                                                                                                                   
  Medical care.............................  362.884   363.629   363.864   364.964     5.5     4.0     1.7     2.3     4.8     2.0 
   Medical care commodities................  286.461   286.749   286.207   286.645     3.7     3.6    -2.5     0.3     3.7    -1.1 
   Medical care services...................  385.115   386.038   386.607   387.963     6.0     4.2     3.2     3.0     5.1     3.1 
    Professional services..................  312.553   313.396   314.053   315.066     3.3     3.0     3.8     3.3     3.2     3.5 
    Hospital and related services (3)......  527.119   529.160   530.663   534.373    10.1     9.0     5.1     5.6     9.6     5.4 
                                                                                                                                   
  Recreation (2)...........................  109.561   109.737   110.173   110.748     2.6     1.5     0.8     4.4     2.1     2.6 
   Video and audio (2).....................  102.431   102.166   102.269   102.685     2.8     1.7    -2.5     1.0     2.2    -0.8 
                                                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (2)..........  119.217   119.805   120.439   120.740     1.3     2.6     4.0     5.2     1.9     4.6 
   Education (2)...........................  177.579   178.167   179.067   180.563     5.2     5.7     6.0     6.9     5.5     6.5 
    Educational books and supplies.........  446.426   446.991   450.380   461.173     4.6     3.0     6.6    13.9     3.8    10.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and                                                                                                
        childcare..........................  500.792   502.545   504.965   508.443     5.3     6.0     6.0     6.3     5.6     6.1 
   Communication (2).......................   86.495    87.016    87.490    87.369    -1.6     0.5     2.7     4.1    -0.5     3.4 
    Information and information processing                                                                                         
        (1) (2)............................   84.511    85.007    85.484    85.355    -1.7     0.5     2.5     4.1    -0.6     3.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)............   99.939   100.723   101.375   101.339    -0.4     0.2     4.1     5.7    -0.1     4.9 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                                          
         services (1) (5)..................   10.621    10.585    10.600    10.525    -9.0     1.7    -4.9    -3.6    -3.8    -4.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                            
          equipment (1) (6)................   97.010    95.766    94.691    92.931   -21.6     1.3   -13.5   -15.8   -10.9   -14.6 
                                                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services.................  356.181   358.283   360.084   360.634     3.4     4.7     5.2     5.1     4.1     5.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)........  583.296   592.248   599.180   599.823     5.1    10.3     4.2    11.8     7.6     7.9 
   Personal care...........................  199.078   199.288   199.599   199.951     2.6     2.1     5.7     1.8     2.4     3.7 
    Personal care products (1).............  158.993   159.052   159.237   159.345     2.0    -1.8     2.9     0.9     0.1     1.9 
    Personal care services (1).............  223.922   223.838   223.994   224.464     2.9     4.5     4.8     1.0     3.7     2.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services........  340.592   341.405   341.783   343.214     4.0     5.2     7.0     3.1     4.6     5.0 
                                                                                                                                   
        Commodity and service group                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                   
 Commodities...............................  178.328   182.091   184.380   183.312    11.1     3.8     5.7    11.7     7.4     8.6 
  Food and beverages.......................  211.319   212.937   214.883   216.195     4.0     4.6     6.0     9.6     4.3     7.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages......  159.383   163.920   166.283   164.264    15.6     3.3     5.6    12.8     9.3     9.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages.....  210.341   219.911   222.730   218.408    34.1     5.5    12.0    16.2    19.0    14.1 
    Apparel................................  117.867   117.920   118.892   120.050     2.2     2.5    -4.8     7.6     2.3     1.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                                          
        apparel............................  271.995   288.571   295.649   287.973    29.1    10.8    19.2    25.7    19.6    22.4 
   Durables................................  111.755   111.778   111.904   111.513    -0.2    -0.4    -2.1    -0.9    -0.3    -1.5 
 Services..................................  249.457   250.646   252.098   252.502     3.7     3.0     5.1     5.0     3.3     5.0 
  Rent of shelter (4)......................  229.711   230.376   230.750   231.020     3.4     2.4     1.9     2.3     2.9     2.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)   118.615   119.293   119.006   118.894     0.3     1.9     2.4     0.9     1.1     1.7 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  201.596   204.597   212.785   210.473     7.0     4.8    30.9    18.8     5.9    24.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                             
      services (2).........................  150.387   151.009   152.020   154.174     5.4     5.5     4.1    10.5     5.5     7.2 
  Household operations (1) (2).............  149.816   150.867   151.290   152.083     2.1     4.4    11.4     6.2     3.2     8.8 
  Transportation services..................  240.862   243.223   244.333   246.033     2.2     3.8     5.8     8.9     3.0     7.3 
  Medical care services....................  385.115   386.038   386.607   387.963     6.0     4.2     3.2     3.0     5.1     3.1 
  Other services...........................  283.039   283.979   285.261   286.423     3.0     2.9     4.2     4.9     3.0     4.5 
                                                                                                                                   
              Special indexes                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
 All items less food.......................  210.840   213.542   215.430   214.752     7.5     3.1     5.2     7.6     5.3     6.4 
 All items less shelter....................  203.388   206.640   209.123   208.500     8.6     3.8     6.8    10.4     6.1     8.6 
 All items less medical care...............  204.658   207.249   209.190   208.771     7.0     3.3     5.6     8.3     5.2     6.9 
 Commodities less food.....................  161.360   165.803   168.143   166.189    15.1     3.3     5.4    12.5     9.0     8.9 
 Nondurables less food.....................  210.849   219.878   222.640   218.543    31.9     5.6    11.6    15.4    18.0    13.5 
 Nondurables less food and apparel.........  265.929   281.115   287.558   280.555    26.7    10.4    18.3    23.9    18.3    21.1 
 Nondurables...............................  212.335   218.042   220.363   218.559    18.4     4.8    10.3    12.3    11.4    11.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4).........  240.775   242.816   245.434   245.949     3.2     3.5     9.3     8.9     3.4     9.1 
 Services less medical care services.......  239.416   240.801   242.231   242.706     3.0     2.8     5.4     5.6     2.9     5.5 
 Energy....................................  244.995   261.655   272.093   263.479    45.4     7.7    27.7    33.8    25.1    30.7 
 All items less energy.....................  207.772   208.598   209.458   210.097     2.7     2.8     2.5     4.6     2.8     3.5 
  All items less food and energy...........  207.468   208.116   208.747   209.244     2.4     2.4     1.8     3.5     2.4     2.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                                
       commodities.........................  140.914   141.128   141.700   141.896     0.3     1.4    -1.0     2.8     0.8     0.9 
    Energy commodities.....................  297.683   327.093   340.121   325.564    77.0     9.2    25.9    43.1    39.0    34.2 
   Services less energy services...........  254.534   255.507   256.168   256.890     3.4     2.9     3.1     3.8     3.1     3.4 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated using a
 geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.
 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 (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   All items                                      
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                       Indexes                 Percent change to Percent change to
                    CPI-W                      Pricing                                          Aug. 2008 from--   July 2008 from-- 
                                              schedule                                                                            
                                                 (1)      May       June      July      Aug.                                      
                                                          2008      2008      2008      2008    Aug.  June  July  July  May   June
                                                                                                2007  2008  2008  2007  2008  2008
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                  
 U.S. city average...........................    M      212.788   215.223   216.304   215.247   5.9   0.0  -0.5   6.2   1.7   0.5 
                                                                                                                                  
           Region and area size(2)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Northeast urban.............................    M      227.114   229.829   231.488   230.790   6.2   0.4  -0.3   6.2   1.9   0.7 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      227.412   230.120   231.808   231.465   6.0   0.6  -0.1   6.1   1.9   0.7 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      137.624   139.286   140.253   139.329   6.6   0.0  -0.7   6.6   1.9   0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
 Midwest urban...............................    M      202.912   204.867   206.038   205.121   5.9   0.1  -0.4   6.1   1.5   0.6 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      202.969   204.509   205.761   204.989   5.6   0.2  -0.4   5.7   1.4   0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      132.867   134.409   135.037   134.236   6.2  -0.1  -0.6   6.5   1.6   0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      201.494   204.023   205.452   204.812   6.4   0.4  -0.3   6.6   2.0   0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
 South urban.................................    M      207.912   210.469   211.438   210.362   6.2  -0.1  -0.5   6.4   1.7   0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      210.748   213.549   214.379   213.439   6.0  -0.1  -0.4   6.2   1.7   0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      132.808   134.222   134.952   134.179   6.1   0.0  -0.6   6.4   1.6   0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                          
       50,000)...............................    M      212.533   216.357   216.901   216.031   7.5  -0.2  -0.4   7.5   2.1   0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
 West urban..................................    M      216.029   218.508   219.248   217.854   5.4  -0.3  -0.6   6.0   1.5   0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000..............    M      218.141   220.603   221.232   219.827   5.6  -0.4  -0.6   6.2   1.4   0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........    M      134.133   135.738   136.478   135.464   5.4  -0.2  -0.7   5.9   1.7   0.5 
                                                                                                                                  
                 Size classes                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                  
   A (4).....................................    M      196.844   199.028   200.009   199.187   5.8   0.1  -0.4   6.0   1.6   0.5 
   B/C (3)...................................    M      133.729   135.240   135.986   135.138   6.1  -0.1  -0.6   6.4   1.7   0.6 
   D.........................................    M      208.246   211.236   211.929   211.233   6.4   0.0  -0.3   6.4   1.8   0.3 
                                                                                                                                  
           Selected local areas(5)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI..............    M      208.403   209.021   211.020   209.435   5.4   0.2  -0.8   6.2   1.3   1.0 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA.....    M      219.702   222.435   223.245   221.230   5.7  -0.5  -0.9   6.6   1.6   0.4 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                              
     NY-NJ-CT-PA.............................    M      230.923   233.776   235.446   235.510   6.1   0.7   0.0   5.9   2.0   0.7 
                                                                                                                                  
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT.........    1      235.419         -   240.511         -     -     -     -   6.2   2.2     - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH.........................    1      195.898         -   198.063         -     -     -     -   5.7   1.1     - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.......................    1      206.258         -   210.830         -     -     -     -   7.5   2.2     - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6).......    1      139.332         -   141.622         -     -     -     -   5.9   1.6     - 
                                                                                                                                  
 Atlanta, GA.................................    2            -   212.013         -   211.113   5.5  -0.4     -     -     -     - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI.................    2            -   203.524         -   205.492   5.5   1.0     -     -     -     - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX..............    2            -   193.742         -   193.206   5.9  -0.3     -     -     -     - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL...................    2            -   223.849         -   224.597   6.4   0.3     -     -     -     - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                           
     PA-NJ-DE-MD.............................    2            -   228.429         -   228.212   5.0  -0.1     -     -     -     - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA..........    2            -   221.454         -   221.385   4.6   0.0     -     -     -     - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA................    2            -   223.573         -   223.273   6.2  -0.1     -     -     -     - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the January and
 July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI;
 Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA;
 St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Aug. 2008 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                2005-2006                                         
                                                              July      Aug.      Aug.      July  
                                                              2008      2008      2007      2008  
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items....................................    100.000   126.116   125.843       4.7      -0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Food and beverages..........................     14.726   126.459   127.106       5.7       0.5 
   Food.......................................     13.648   126.641   127.307       5.9       0.5 
    Food at home..............................      7.557   124.391   125.255       7.1       0.7 
    Food away from home.......................      6.091   129.640   130.051       4.4       0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages........................      1.077   124.546   124.950       3.4       0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Housing.....................................     42.421   130.200   130.003       3.5      -0.2 
   Shelter....................................     32.409   130.773   130.741       2.4       0.0 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.004   175.270   173.245      14.6      -1.2 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      5.008    96.105    96.144       0.5       0.0 
                                                                                                  
  Apparel.....................................      3.988    84.768    86.236       1.1       1.7 
                                                                                                  
  Transportation..............................     17.393   138.367   135.388      10.2      -2.2 
   Private transportation.....................     16.285   138.954   135.808       9.9      -2.3 
   Public transportation......................      1.108   132.480   131.800      15.0      -0.5 
                                                                                                  
  Medical care................................      6.085   141.656   141.848       3.0       0.1 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.615   124.847   124.943       1.3       0.1 
   Medical care services......................      4.470   147.959   148.191       3.6       0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Recreation..................................      5.935   105.634   106.026       1.4       0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Education and communication.................      6.196   107.565   108.467       2.9       0.8 
   Education..................................      2.771   166.019   169.625       5.9       2.2 
   Communication..............................      3.425    74.463    74.293       0.5      -0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Other goods and services....................      3.257   128.601   128.634       4.0       0.0 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services.....................................     58.427   133.831   133.970       3.9       0.1 
 Commodities..................................     41.573   116.468   115.695       5.8      -0.7 
  Durables....................................     11.817    83.257    82.845      -1.7      -0.5 
 Nondurables..................................     29.756   134.179   133.199       9.0      -0.7 
  All items less food and energy..............     77.561   117.543   117.757       2.2       0.2 
 Energy.......................................      8.790   237.294   225.983      26.7      -4.8 

 Indexes for 2008 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2007 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Last Modified Date: September 16, 2008