FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-97-10 CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 606-6994 TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED INFORMATION: (202) 606-7828 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST) MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 606-5902 Tuesday, January 14, 1996 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: DECEMBER 1996 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged before seasonal adjustment in December to a level of 158.6 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in December, the CPI-U increased 3.3 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also was unchanged in December, prior to seasonal adjustment. The December 1996 CPI-W level of 155.9 was 3.3 percent higher than the index in December 1995. CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3 percent in December, the same as in each of the three preceding months. The food index increased 0.1 percent in December, after advancing at a 0.5 percent average monthly rate in the preceding six-month period. The indexes for dairy products and for fruits and vegetables, which had increased substantially during this period, declined in December. The energy index increased for the third consecutive month, advancing 1.6 percent in December. The index for petroleum-based energy increased 2.9 percent, and the index for energy services rose 0.2 percent. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding two months. Table A. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1996 3-mos. Ended ended June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec.'96 Dec.'96 All Items .1 .3 .1 .3 .3 .3 .3 3.3 3.3 Food and beverages .7 .5 .3 .5 .6 .3 .1 3.9 4.2 Housing .1 .4 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3 3.2 2.9 Apparel and upkeep -.4 -.1 -1.4 .5 .5 .5 .2 4.4 -.2 Transportation -.4 -.2 -.2 .5 .1 .2 .6 3.7 4.4 Medical care .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 2.8 3.0 Entertainment .3 .1 .2 .1 .3 .1 .4 3.3 2.9 Other goods and services .2 .4 .3 .0 .4 .4 .0 3.2 3.6 Special Indexes: Energy -2.2 -.4 -.6 .0 .7 1.2 1.6 15.1 8.6 Food .7 .5 .4 .5 .6 .3 .1 3.9 4.3 All items less food and energy .2 .3 .1 .3 .2 .2 .1 2.2 2.6 For the 12-month period ended in December 1996, the CPI-U advanced 3.3 percent. This compares with an increase of 2.5 percent in 1995. Increases in the food and energy components, which acted as moderating influences throughout most of the past five years, were responsible for the acceleration in 1996. The food index rose 4.3 percent in 1996, following a 2.1 percent increase in 1995. Grocery store food prices rose 4.9 percent. Among the five major grocery store groups, the largest advance was a 10.1 percent increase in prices for dairy products. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 5.6 percent, reflecting double-digit price increases for pork and for eggs. The index for fruits and vegetables increased 5.2 percent as a 12.0 percent increase in fresh fruit prices more than offset a 3.8 percent decline in prices for fresh vegetables. The energy index, which declined 1.3 percent in 1995, increased 8.6 percent in 1996. Petroleum-based energy costs rose 13.8 percent, and charges for energy services increased 3.8 percent. The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced 2.6 percent in 1996, following an increase of 3.0 percent in 1995. The 1996 advance, along with an increase of the same magnitude in 1994, represents the smallest annual increase in this index since a 1.5 percent rise in 1965. The slightly smaller increase in 1996 than in 1995 is broad based in that it reflects somewhat smaller increases in all major expenditure groups (after excluding energy and food) other than transportation. Excluding motor fuel from the transportation group resulted in a 2.6 percent rise in 1995 and 2.7 percent in 1996. The rates for selected groups during the past nine years are shown below. Percent change 12 months ended in December 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 All Items 4.4 4.6 6.1 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.5 3.3 Food and beverages 5.1 5.5 5.3 2.5 1.6 2.7 2.7 2.1 4.2 Housing 4.0 3.9 4.5 3.4 2.6 2.7 2.2 3.0 2.9 Apparel and upkeep 4.7 1.0 5.1 3.4 1.4 .9 -1.6 .1 -.2 Transportation 3.0 4.0 10.4 -1.5 3.0 2.4 3.8 1.5 4.4 Medical care 6.9 8.5 9.6 7.9 6.6 5.4 4.9 3.9 3.0 Entertainment 4.6 5.1 4.3 3.9 2.8 2.8 2.3 3.3 2.9 Other goods and services 7.0 8.2 7.6 8.0 6.5 2.7 4.2 4.3 3.6 Special Indexes Energy .5 5.1 18.1 -7.4 2.0 -1.4 2.2 -1.3 8.6 Food 5.2 5.6 5.3 1.9 1.5 2.9 2.9 2.1 4.3 All items less food and energy 4.7 4.4 5.2 4.4 3.3 3.2 2.6 3.0 2.6 The food and beverage index rose 0.1 percent in December. The index for grocery store food prices, which increased 0.3 percent in November, fell 0.1 percent in December, its first decrease since November 1995. Declines of 0.8 and 1.7 percent, respectively, in the indexes for dairy products and for fruits and vegetables were responsible for the downturn. On the other hand, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.9 percent in December, largely as a result of a sharp increase in egg prices. The 8.9 percent rise in the December index for egg prices brought its increase to 12.0 percent in 1996 after an advance of 25.0 percent in 1995. In December, the indexes for beef and for pork prices rose 0.7 and 0.8 percent, respectively. During the 12-month period ended in December, beef prices increased 2.4 percent and pork prices, 11.3 percent. Poultry prices, which rose 0.3 percent in December, have risen 7.9 percent in the last 12 months. In December, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and other food at home rose 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. Cereal prices rose 0.1 percent in December, but have declined 4.2 percent since December 1995. The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively, in December. During the last 12 months, these groups rose 3.1 and 3.6 percent, respectively. The housing component rose 0.3 percent in December. Shelter costs increased 0.2 percent in December, the same as in November. Within shelter, renters' costs rose 0.1 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.2 percent; and maintenance and repair costs, 0.3 percent. Shelter costs advanced 2.9 percent in the 12 months ended in December 1996, following a 3.5 percent rise in 1995. The index for fuel and other utilities rose 0.3 percent in December. Household fuels increased 0.5 percent, reflecting increases of 0.9 percent in the index for natural gas and 0.7 percent in the index for fuel oil. The index for electricity declined 0.1 percent. For the 12-month period ended in December, charges for natural gas increased 11.0 percent and those for electricity rose 0.7 percent. Fuel oil prices increased 23.3 percent in the last 12 months. In December, the index for other utilities and public services rose 0.1 percent. Within this group, the index for telephone services rose 0.2 percent in December and 2.1 percent in the last 12 months. The index for household furnishings and operation increased 0.4 percent in December, reflecting in part, a 1.4 percent increase in the index for textile housefurnishings. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, prices for textile housefurnishings rose 0.1 percent in December.) The transportation index rose 0.6 percent in December after increasing 0.2 percent in November, reflecting a larger advance in the index for motor fuels and a sharp upturn in the index for airline fares. The index for gasoline, which advanced 1.8 percent in November, increased 3.1 percent in December. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 0.7 percent in December after increasing 1.8 percent in November.) Gasoline prices rose 12.4 percent in the last 12 months and as of December the gasoline index was 7.0 percent below its peak level of December 1990. The index for airline fares, which declined 0.7 percent in November, increased 3.9 percent in December. This brought the annual change to 14.7 percent for 1996. Vehicle purchase costs declined for the third consecutive month in December. The index for new vehicle prices was unchanged in December, following decreases of 0.2 and 0.1 percent in October and November, respectively. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 0.4 percent in December.) As of December, about 65 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 1997 models. The 1997 models will continue to be phased in over the next several months as they replace old models at dealerships. The index for automobile finance charges declined for the third consecutive month--down 1.1 percent in December. The index for used cars also declined for the third consecutive month--down 0.2 percent. In all of 1996, new vehicle prices rose 1.8 percent, while automobile finance charges and used car prices fell 2.0 and 1.6 percent, respectively. The index for apparel and upkeep increased for the fourth consecutive month in December--up 0.2 percent after increasing 0.5 percent in each of the preceding three months. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices fell 2.6 percent in December, reflecting pre- holiday discounting.) Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in December and have risen 3.0 percent in the past 12 months. This compares with a 3.9 percent increase in 1995 and represents the smallest annual advance since a 2.8 percent increase in 1965. In December, the index for medical care commodities-- prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical supplies--was virtually unchanged. The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent. Charges for professional services and hospital and related services increased 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively, in December and 3.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively in 1996. Entertainment costs rose 0.4 percent in December to a level 2.9 percent above a year ago. In 1996, fees for lessons or instructions increased 5.9 percent; admission prices to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events, 4.0 percent; and newspapers, 3.0 percent. The index for other goods and services was unchanged in December. During the last 12 months, this index advanced 3.6 percent, reflecting increases of 5.5 percent for school books and supplies, 5.3 percent for college tuition, and 2.7 percent for tobacco products. CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers rose 0.3 percent in December. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- adjust Compound ed Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual 12- rate mos. Category 1996 3-mos. ended ended June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec.'96 Dec.'96 All Items .1 .2 .1 .3 .3 .3 .3 3.7 3.3 Food and beverages .7 .4 .4 .5 .5 .3 .1 3.7 4.2 Housing .1 .4 .2 .1 .2 .3 .3 3.2 2.9 Apparel and upkeep -.6 .0 -1.5 .5 .4 .5 .0 3.4 -.2 Transportation -.6 -.4 -.1 .4 .2 .3 .7 4.8 4.2 Medical care .3 .3 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 3.0 3.1 Entertainment .3 .0 .3 .1 .3 .3 .3 3.1 3.0 Other goods and services .1 .4 .2 .2 .5 .3 -.1 2.8 3.4 Special Indexes: Energy -2.0 -.9 -.5 .0 .8 1.4 1.7 16.8 9.2 Food .8 .5 .3 .5 .6 .3 .1 3.9 4.3 All items less food and energy .1 .2 .1 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.2 2.5 Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on Wednesday, February 19, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). Changing the Hospital and Related Services Component of the Consumer Price Index Effective with the release of data for January 1997, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce improvements in the way in which the Hospital and related services component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated. Two complementary changes will be made: Items within the hospital and related services component will be reclassified into two main groups, or item strata--Hospital services and Nursing home services, instead of the current three--Hospital rooms, Other inpatient services, and Hospital outpatient services. The definition of the specific items selected for pricing within individual hospitals will be broadened substantially. These newly defined items will be reelected using new procedures in the majority of the hospitals from which price data currently are collected for the CPI. Additional information on these changes will be published in the June 1996 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet. (Go to gopher://stats.bls.gov and access /pub/special.requests/cpi/hospital.txt.) This information may also be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260, Washington, DC 20212, or by telephoning Elaine Cardenas at (202) 606-6985 ext. 251 Improving the Procedures for Substitute Items Effective for the CPI to replace an item it has been pricing, the CPI field agent finds a replacement item. The object of the substitution process is to find the item in the outlet that is most similar to the one the CPI had been following. About 3.5 percent of all pricing result in substitutions. Whenever there is a substitution, a CPI analyst determines if the new item is comparable to, that is, not significantly different from, the item it replaces. If the item is judged comparable, there is no break in the series or change in the item's weight. About 55 percent of substitutions are comparable. If the substitute is not comparable to the previous item, the analyst may be able to determine the value of the difference and make a quality adjustment to keep the series continuous. CPI analysts adjust for quality in about 15 percent of the substitutions. However, about 30 percent of the substitutes are neither comparable nor adjustable. In this case, the CPI had started the item's series anew and recalculated its base period price, and hence the implicit quantity weight, using the price of the substitute item. This created a situation in which the item's weight was not independent of its probability of price change. Effective with the CPI for July 1996, the CPI will--except in rare and extreme cases--no longer recalculate the base period price of a noncomparable substitute item. Instead, the CPI will use the originally calculated weight for the item throughout the life of that item series. For more details, see "Improving CPI Item Substitution Procedures" in the July 1996 issue of the CPI Detailed Report. New Seasonal Adjustment Method to be Implemented Effective with the release of revised seasonally adjusted data for 1992- 1996 on February 14, 1997, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will begin using X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment software (developed by the Bureau of the Census) for performing Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment (IASA) for selected CPI series. The X-12 ARIMA methodology incorporates a number of technical enhancements that improve the estimation of seasonal factors. This change will affect 20 CPI series. In addition, all remaining Consumer Price Index series requiring seasonal adjustment will be processed using X-12-ARIMA software beginning in February 1998. Seasonal adjustment methods in the Producer Price Index will change in similar fashion. For more information, please contact Claire Gallagher on (202) 606-6968. Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 14, 1997 Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price movements from the just- completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years. BLS will make available recalculated seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 1992 through December 1996, at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 1997. Seasonal factors for 1997 for directly adjusted series will also be available. This date is two working days before the scheduled release of the January 1997 CPI on Wednesday, February 19, 1997. The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the internet at gopher://stats.bls.gov. Choose the "special requests" directory, and then the "cpi" directory. The revised seasonal data will be in the file revseas.cpi. For further information please contact Claire McAnaw Gallagher or Richard Kerr on (202) 606-6968. Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December Nov. Dec. Dec. 1996 from- Sept. to Oct. to Nov. to 1995 1996 1996 Dec. 1995 Nov. 1996 Oct. Nov. Dec. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 158.6 158.6 3.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 475.0 475.0 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.332 156.2 156.6 4.2 .3 .6 .3 .1 Food ................................... 15.766 155.9 156.3 4.3 .3 .6 .3 .1 Food at home ......................... 9.880 157.2 157.7 4.9 .3 .7 .3 -.1 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.473 175.4 175.7 3.7 .2 .2 .6 .2 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 2.936 148.9 150.0 5.6 .7 .5 .3 .9 Dairy products ..................... 1.169 149.3 148.6 10.1 -.5 1.7 .1 -.8 Fruits and vegetables .............. 1.936 186.3 187.2 5.2 .5 1.5 .2 -1.7 Other food at home ................. 2.365 143.4 143.6 2.2 .1 .1 .1 .3 Sugar and sweets ................. .327 144.2 144.7 4.5 .3 -.1 -.3 .6 Fats and oils .................... .248 140.8 140.7 2.3 -.1 -.2 .2 .1 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .763 127.2 126.9 -2.0 -.2 -.5 .0 .2 Other prepared food .............. 1.027 158.3 158.9 4.5 .4 .6 .4 .3 Food away from home .................. 5.886 154.7 155.0 3.1 .2 .5 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.566 160.2 160.5 3.6 .2 .4 -.1 .4 Housing .................................. 41.346 153.9 154.0 2.9 .1 .3 .2 .3 Shelter ................................ 28.289 172.4 172.3 2.9 -.1 .3 .2 .2 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 7.988 179.9 179.1 3.4 -.4 .3 .2 .1 Rent, residential .................. 5.762 163.7 164.0 2.8 .2 .2 .2 .2 Other renters' costs ............... 2.227 207.9 203.8 4.9 -2.0 .7 .1 -.5 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 20.102 178.6 178.8 2.8 .1 .3 .3 .2 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 19.716 178.9 179.1 2.8 .1 .3 .3 .2 Household insurance 1/ ............. .386 164.6 162.4 2.6 -1.3 .8 .9 -1.3 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .199 141.1 141.5 3.6 .3 .2 .6 .3 Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .122 147.6 148.0 4.2 .3 -.1 .2 .3 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .077 132.3 132.6 2.7 .2 .8 1.4 .2 Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.014 128.4 129.4 4.6 .8 .5 .5 .3 Fuels ................................ 3.792 115.7 117.1 5.6 1.2 .7 .9 .5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .356 105.9 110.3 23.1 4.2 6.3 2.0 3.1 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.436 121.7 122.8 3.8 .9 .0 .7 .2 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.222 158.9 159.1 3.4 .1 .2 .2 .1 Household furnishings and operation .... 6.043 124.8 125.0 1.0 .2 -.1 -.1 .4 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.445 110.8 111.0 -.1 .2 -.3 -.2 .5 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.116 141.8 141.4 1.1 -.3 .0 .1 .0 Housekeeping services ................ 1.482 149.6 150.1 3.3 .3 .5 -.1 .3 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.516 133.4 130.3 -.2 -2.3 .5 .5 .2 Apparel commodities .................... 4.967 129.9 126.5 -.5 -2.6 .5 .5 .1 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.303 131.2 127.8 1.4 -2.6 .3 1.3 -.7 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.195 126.7 123.3 -1.1 -2.7 .9 .6 1.0 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .195 126.7 126.9 -1.4 .2 -2.2 -1.4 .2 Footwear ............................. .732 127.7 125.9 1.5 -1.4 .6 .2 .2 Other apparel commodities ............ .542 149.0 141.6 -4.7 -5.0 .1 -.8 -1.8 Apparel services 2/ .................... .550 160.9 161.5 2.4 .4 .1 .2 .4 Transportation ........................... 16.953 144.8 145.2 4.4 .3 .1 .2 .6 Private transportation ................. 15.430 141.5 141.7 3.7 .1 .1 .3 .5 New vehicles ......................... 5.027 144.8 145.4 1.8 .4 -.2 -.1 .0 New cars ........................... 4.015 142.3 143.0 1.6 .5 -.2 -.4 .1 Used cars ............................ 1.342 156.5 155.6 -1.6 -.6 -.3 -.4 -.2 Motor fuel ........................... 2.908 107.8 108.6 12.7 .7 .8 1.7 2.8 Gasoline ........................... - 107.1 107.9 12.4 .7 .7 1.8 3.1 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.535 160.5 160.6 3.1 .1 .4 .1 .1 Other private transportation ......... 4.618 176.2 176.0 2.1 -.1 -.1 .1 -.2 Other private transportation commodities .................... .608 105.1 105.2 .0 .1 .0 -.2 .0 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.010 193.0 192.7 2.3 -.2 -.2 .1 -.2 Public transportation .................. 1.523 187.3 189.9 11.2 1.4 1.2 -.9 1.1 Medical care ............................. 7.362 230.5 230.6 3.0 .0 .2 .3 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.282 211.9 212.0 2.6 .0 .5 -.2 .0 Medical care services .................. 6.081 234.9 235.0 3.2 .0 .2 .4 .3 Professional medical services ........ 3.465 210.9 211.0 3.5 .0 .3 .5 .2 Entertainment ............................ 4.367 160.7 160.8 2.9 .1 .3 .1 .4 Entertainment commodities .............. 1.975 144.0 144.1 2.4 .1 .3 .0 .3 Entertainment services ................. 2.392 180.3 180.5 3.4 .1 .3 .3 .4 Other goods and services ................. 7.123 219.2 218.7 3.6 -.2 .4 .4 .0 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.610 236.2 234.3 2.7 -.8 .7 .4 -.8 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.170 151.2 150.5 1.1 -.5 .1 .2 -.5 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .613 144.7 142.8 -.9 -1.3 -.3 .1 -1.3 Personal care services 2/ ............ .557 158.6 159.2 3.2 .4 .4 .4 .4 Personal and educational expenses ...... 4.342 252.8 252.9 4.6 .0 .4 .4 .4 School books and supplies ............ .258 230.7 231.1 5.5 .2 .7 .3 .4 Personal and educational services .... 4.084 254.7 254.8 4.6 .0 .4 .4 .5 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 158.6 158.6 3.3 .0 .3 .3 .3 Commodities .............................. 42.916 141.5 141.4 3.2 -.1 .4 .3 .3 Food and beverages ..................... 17.332 156.2 156.6 4.2 .3 .6 .3 .1 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.584 132.6 132.1 2.5 -.4 .2 .3 .5 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.075 134.7 133.7 3.8 -.7 .5 .9 .7 Apparel commodities ................ 4.967 129.9 126.5 -.5 -2.6 .5 .5 .1 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.108 140.3 140.5 5.9 .1 .7 .7 .9 Durables ............................. 10.509 129.6 129.9 .7 .2 -.1 -.2 .2 Services ................................. 57.084 175.9 176.1 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 27.671 179.4 179.3 2.9 -.1 .2 .3 .2 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.681 142.9 143.4 3.5 .3 .1 .4 .3 Transportation services ................ 7.068 183.7 184.1 4.4 .2 .3 -.1 .2 Medical care services .................. 6.081 234.9 235.0 3.2 .0 .2 .4 .3 Other services ......................... 7.583 204.8 205.0 3.9 .1 .3 .3 .4 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.234 159.0 159.0 3.1 .0 .3 .3 .3 All items less shelter ..................... 71.711 154.6 154.7 3.4 .1 .3 .3 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 79.898 159.6 159.6 3.4 .0 .4 .3 .3 All items less medical care ................ 92.638 154.5 154.5 3.3 .0 .3 .3 .2 Commodities less food ...................... 27.150 133.7 133.3 2.6 -.3 .2 .3 .5 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.641 136.1 135.3 3.8 -.6 .6 .6 .7 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.674 141.2 141.5 5.6 .2 .6 .8 .9 Nondurables ................................ 32.407 145.6 145.3 4.0 -.2 .5 .6 .3 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 29.414 184.8 185.2 3.8 .2 .1 .3 .3 Services less medical care services ........ 51.004 170.4 170.6 3.4 .1 .2 .2 .2 Energy ..................................... 6.700 111.1 112.2 8.6 1.0 .7 1.2 1.6 All items less energy ...................... 93.300 164.9 164.8 2.9 -.1 .3 .2 .1 All items less food and energy ........... 77.534 167.2 167.0 2.6 -.1 .2 .2 .1 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.885 142.2 141.5 1.1 -.5 .1 .1 .1 Energy commodities ................... 3.264 107.9 109.1 13.8 1.1 1.4 1.7 2.9 Services less energy services .......... 53.648 181.4 181.5 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.631 $.631 -3.1 .0 -.3 -.2 .0 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .211 .211 - - - - - 1/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Annual Annual Percent change average average from 1995 1995 1996 to 1996 Expenditure category All items ............................................... 152.4 156.9 3.0 All items (1967=100) .................................... 456.5 469.9 - Food and beverages .................................... 148.9 153.7 3.2 Food ................................................ 148.4 153.3 3.3 Food at home ...................................... 148.8 154.3 3.7 Cereals and bakery products ..................... 167.5 174.0 3.9 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................. 138.8 144.8 4.3 Dairy products .................................. 132.8 142.1 7.0 Fruits and vegetables ........................... 177.7 183.9 3.5 Other food at home .............................. 140.8 142.9 1.5 Sugar and sweets .............................. 137.5 143.7 4.5 Fats and oils ................................. 137.3 140.5 2.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ........................ 131.7 128.6 -2.4 Other prepared food ........................... 151.1 156.2 3.4 Food away from home ............................... 149.0 152.7 2.5 Alcoholic beverages ................................. 153.9 158.5 3.0 Housing ............................................... 148.5 152.8 2.9 Shelter ............................................. 165.7 171.0 3.2 Renters' costs 1/ ................................. 174.3 180.2 3.4 Rent, residential ............................... 157.8 162.0 2.7 Other renters' costs ............................ 204.3 214.7 5.1 Homeowners' costs 1/ .............................. 171.0 176.5 3.2 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...................... 171.3 176.8 3.2 Household insurance 1/ .......................... 157.4 161.0 2.3 Maintenance and repairs ........................... 135.0 139.0 3.0 Maintenance and repair services ................. 139.8 145.5 4.1 Maintenance and repair commodities .............. 128.5 130.2 1.3 Fuel and other utilities ............................ 123.7 127.5 3.1 Fuels ............................................. 111.5 115.2 3.3 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ................................. 88.1 99.2 12.6 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services) ... 119.2 122.1 2.4 Other utilities and public services ............... 152.8 157.2 2.9 Household furnishings and operation ................. 123.0 124.7 1.4 Housefurnishings .................................. 111.2 111.3 .1 Housekeeping supplies ............................. 137.1 141.1 2.9 Housekeeping services ............................. 143.7 148.0 3.0 Apparel and upkeep .................................... 132.0 131.7 -.2 Apparel commodities ................................. 128.7 128.2 -.4 Men's and boys' apparel ........................... 126.2 127.7 1.2 Women's and girls' apparel......................... 126.9 124.7 -1.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel .................... 127.2 129.7 2.0 Footwear .......................................... 125.4 126.6 1.0 Other apparel commodities ......................... 152.4 150.6 -1.2 Apparel services .................................... 157.3 159.8 1.6 Transportation ........................................ 139.1 143.0 2.8 Private transportation .............................. 136.3 140.0 2.7 New vehicles ...................................... 141.0 143.7 1.9 New cars ........................................ 139.0 141.4 1.7 Used cars ......................................... 156.5 157.0 .3 Motor fuel ........................................ 100.0 106.3 6.3 Gasoline ........................................ 99.8 105.9 6.1 Maintenance and repairs ........................... 154.0 158.4 2.9 Other private transportation ...................... 170.6 173.9 1.9 Other private transportation commodities ........ 104.8 105.1 .3 Other private transportation services ........... 186.0 190.1 2.2 Public transportation ............................... 175.9 181.9 3.4 Medical care .......................................... 220.5 228.2 3.5 Medical care commodities ............................ 204.5 210.4 2.9 Medical care services ............................... 224.2 232.4 3.7 Professional medical services ..................... 201.0 208.3 3.6 Entertainment ......................................... 153.9 159.1 3.4 Entertainment commodities ........................... 138.7 143.0 3.1 Entertainment services .............................. 172.0 178.1 3.5 Other goods and services .............................. 206.9 215.4 4.1 Tobacco and smoking products ........................ 225.7 232.8 3.1 Personal care ....................................... 147.1 150.1 2.0 Toilet goods and personal care appliances ......... 143.1 144.3 .8 Personal care services ............................ 151.5 156.6 3.4 Personal and educational expenses ................... 235.5 247.5 5.1 School books and supplies ......................... 214.4 226.9 5.8 Personal and educational services ................. 237.3 249.3 5.1 Commodity and service group All items ............................................... 152.4 156.9 3.0 Commodities ........................................... 136.4 139.9 2.6 Food and beverages .................................. 148.9 153.7 3.2 Commodities less food and beverages ................. 128.9 131.5 2.0 Nondurables less food and beverages ............... 129.5 133.0 2.7 Apparel commodities ............................. 128.7 128.2 -.4 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................................. 132.9 138.6 4.3 Durables .......................................... 128.0 129.4 1.1 Services .............................................. 168.7 174.1 3.2 Rent of shelter 1/ .................................. 172.4 178.0 3.2 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ .......... 138.3 142.0 2.7 Transportation services ............................. 175.9 180.5 2.6 Medical care services ............................... 224.2 232.4 3.7 Other services ...................................... 193.3 201.4 4.2 Special indexes All items less food ..................................... 153.1 157.5 2.9 All items less shelter .................................. 148.6 152.8 2.8 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..................... 153.5 157.9 2.9 All items less medical care ............................. 148.6 152.8 2.8 Commodities less food ................................... 129.8 132.6 2.2 Nondurables less food ................................... 130.9 134.5 2.8 Nondurables less food and apparel ....................... 134.1 139.5 4.0 Nondurables ............................................. 139.3 143.5 3.0 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 176.8 182.5 3.2 Services less medical care services ..................... 163.5 168.7 3.2 Energy .................................................. 105.2 110.1 4.7 All items less energy ................................... 158.7 163.1 2.8 All items less food and energy ........................ 161.2 165.6 2.7 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........ 139.3 141.3 1.4 Energy commodities ................................ 98.8 105.7 7.0 Services less energy services ....................... 173.7 179.4 3.3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 ......................................... $.656 $.638 -2.7 1967=$1.00 ............................................ .219 .213 - 1/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. - Data not available. Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. June Dec. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 4.0 3.1 2.6 3.3 3.5 3.0 Food and beverages ......................... 155.3 156.3 156.7 156.8 3.2 4.6 5.0 3.9 3.9 4.5 Food ..................................... 155.1 156.1 156.5 156.6 3.2 4.6 5.3 3.9 3.9 4.6 Food at home ........................... 156.5 157.6 158.0 157.9 3.8 5.6 6.7 3.6 4.7 5.1 Cereals and bakery products .......... 174.7 175.1 176.2 176.5 5.5 3.3 1.9 4.2 4.4 3.0 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 147.4 148.1 148.6 150.0 -.6 5.5 10.7 7.2 2.4 9.0 Dairy products ....................... 147.2 149.7 149.8 148.6 4.2 10.3 22.6 3.9 7.2 12.8 Fruits and vegetables ................ 186.1 188.9 189.2 185.9 12.0 9.1 .4 -.4 10.6 .0 Other food at home ................... 143.7 143.8 144.0 144.4 1.4 2.6 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.3 Sugar and sweets ................... 145.6 145.4 144.9 145.7 7.7 4.9 5.1 .3 6.3 2.7 Fats and oils ...................... 141.9 141.6 141.9 142.1 2.3 3.2 3.2 .6 2.8 1.9 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 128.2 127.5 127.5 127.8 -4.5 -1.8 -.6 -1.2 -3.2 -.9 Other prepared food ................ 157.6 158.5 159.2 159.6 4.0 5.3 3.6 5.2 4.6 4.4 Food away from home .................... 153.5 154.2 154.7 155.0 2.1 2.9 3.2 4.0 2.5 3.6 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 159.7 160.3 160.2 160.9 4.7 3.1 3.6 3.0 3.9 3.3 Housing .................................... 153.5 154.0 154.3 154.7 3.2 2.1 3.2 3.2 2.7 3.2 Shelter .................................. 171.7 172.3 172.7 173.0 3.4 2.6 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.1 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 180.5 181.1 181.4 181.5 5.1 2.3 4.1 2.2 3.7 3.2 Rent, residential .................... 162.9 163.3 163.6 164.0 2.5 3.0 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7 Other renters' costs ................. 216.5 218.0 218.2 217.1 11.3 .2 7.5 1.1 5.6 4.3 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 177.4 177.9 178.4 178.8 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.2 2.7 3.0 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 177.7 178.2 178.7 179.1 2.5 2.8 2.7 3.2 2.7 3.0 Household insurance 1/ ............... 162.1 163.4 164.8 162.6 2.0 3.3 3.8 1.2 2.7 2.5 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 139.9 140.2 141.1 141.5 2.7 3.8 3.2 4.7 3.2 3.9 Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 147.4 147.3 147.6 148.0 4.9 2.2 8.0 1.6 3.5 4.8 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 129.5 130.5 132.3 132.6 -.3 6.0 -4.2 9.9 2.8 2.6 Fuel and other utilities ................. 128.3 128.9 129.6 130.0 5.2 2.9 4.5 5.4 4.1 4.9 Fuels .................................. 115.0 115.8 116.8 117.4 4.4 2.5 6.5 8.6 3.4 7.6 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 97.7 103.9 106.0 109.3 47.1 -9.8 10.5 56.6 15.2 31.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 122.3 122.3 123.2 123.5 .3 4.1 6.5 4.0 2.2 5.2 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 158.3 158.6 158.9 159.1 6.7 3.1 1.8 2.0 4.9 1.9 Household furnishings and operation ...... 125.0 124.9 124.8 125.3 1.0 .0 1.9 1.0 .5 1.5 Housefurnishings ....................... 111.4 111.1 110.9 111.5 -.7 -.7 .7 .4 -.7 .5 Housekeeping supplies .................. 141.4 141.4 141.6 141.6 4.1 -2.5 2.6 .6 .7 1.6 Housekeeping services .................. 149.3 150.1 150.0 150.5 1.7 4.2 4.1 3.3 2.9 3.7 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 130.5 131.1 131.7 131.9 1.5 -2.7 -3.9 4.4 -.6 .2 Apparel commodities ...................... 126.7 127.3 128.0 128.1 1.2 -3.4 -4.3 4.5 -1.1 .0 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 126.6 127.0 128.7 127.8 8.9 -2.8 -3.4 3.8 2.9 .2 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 122.3 123.4 124.2 125.5 -4.0 -3.5 -6.9 10.9 -3.7 1.6 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 131.4 128.5 126.7 126.9 15.1 -12.0 7.3 -13.0 .6 -3.4 Footwear ............................... 126.1 126.8 127.0 127.3 6.5 -.3 -3.7 3.9 3.1 .0 Other apparel commodities .............. 150.5 150.6 149.4 146.7 -2.6 -5.9 -.5 -9.7 -4.2 -5.2 Apparel services 2/....................... 160.4 160.6 160.9 161.5 3.1 2.0 1.8 2.8 2.6 2.3 Transportation ............................. 143.8 144.0 144.3 145.1 8.0 5.8 .3 3.7 6.9 2.0 Private transportation ................... 140.5 140.7 141.1 141.8 7.5 4.4 -.6 3.8 5.9 1.6 New vehicles ........................... 145.0 144.7 144.5 144.5 2.0 2.8 3.7 -1.4 2.4 1.1 New cars ............................. 142.8 142.5 142.0 142.2 2.3 2.3 4.0 -1.7 2.3 1.1 Used cars .............................. 156.2 155.8 155.1 154.8 9.7 -12.3 .8 -3.5 -1.9 -1.4 Motor fuel ............................. 104.2 105.0 106.8 109.8 32.5 16.6 -15.6 23.3 24.3 2.0 Gasoline ............................. 103.5 104.2 106.1 109.4 32.0 18.8 -18.4 24.8 25.3 .9 Maintenance and repairs ................ 159.8 160.4 160.5 160.7 2.9 2.3 5.2 2.3 2.6 3.7 Other private transportation ........... 175.5 175.3 175.4 175.1 .0 4.5 4.5 -.9 2.2 1.7 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 105.2 105.2 105.0 105.0 .8 .8 -.8 -.8 .8 -.8 Other private transportation services ......................... 192.3 192.0 192.2 191.9 .0 5.0 5.2 -.8 2.5 2.1 Public transportation .................... 187.1 189.3 187.6 189.7 12.5 21.6 6.0 5.7 17.0 5.8 Medical care ............................... 229.8 230.3 230.9 231.4 3.2 3.4 2.7 2.8 3.3 2.7 Medical care commodities ................. 211.4 212.4 211.9 212.0 3.5 4.3 1.3 1.1 3.9 1.2 Medical care services .................... 233.8 234.2 235.1 235.7 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.2 3.1 Professional medical services .......... 209.8 210.4 211.4 211.9 3.0 3.1 4.1 4.1 3.1 4.1 Entertainment .............................. 159.7 160.2 160.4 161.0 4.7 2.3 1.3 3.3 3.5 2.3 Entertainment commodities ................ 143.3 143.7 143.7 144.2 5.2 1.1 .6 2.5 3.1 1.5 Entertainment services ................... 178.9 179.5 180.1 180.8 3.9 3.7 1.6 4.3 3.8 2.9 Other goods and services ................... 217.6 218.5 219.3 219.3 4.4 3.6 3.2 3.2 4.0 3.2 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 234.6 236.2 237.2 235.2 3.7 1.9 4.2 1.0 2.8 2.6 Personal care 2/ ......................... 150.8 150.9 151.2 150.5 1.3 .5 3.2 -.8 .9 1.2 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 145.1 144.6 144.7 142.8 -.3 -.3 3.4 -6.2 -.3 -1.5 Personal care services 2/ .............. 157.2 157.9 158.6 159.2 2.6 1.6 3.4 5.2 2.1 4.3 Personal and educational expenses ........ 249.5 250.4 251.5 252.6 5.8 5.0 2.8 5.1 5.4 3.9 School books and supplies .............. 229.0 230.5 231.1 232.0 8.4 2.3 6.2 5.3 5.3 5.8 Personal and educational services ...... 250.9 251.8 252.9 254.1 5.5 5.1 2.6 5.2 5.3 3.9 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 4.0 3.1 2.6 3.3 3.5 3.0 Commodities ................................ 140.4 140.9 141.3 141.7 5.0 2.3 1.4 3.8 3.7 2.6 Food and beverages ....................... 155.3 156.3 156.7 156.8 3.2 4.6 5.0 3.9 3.9 4.5 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 131.3 131.6 132.0 132.6 6.0 1.2 -1.2 4.0 3.6 1.4 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 132.0 132.7 133.9 134.8 9.9 1.2 -3.8 8.8 5.5 2.3 Apparel commodities .................. 126.7 127.3 128.0 128.1 1.2 -3.4 -4.3 4.5 -1.1 .0 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 137.7 138.7 139.7 140.9 15.6 3.8 -4.5 9.6 9.5 2.3 Durables ............................... 129.7 129.6 129.3 129.6 2.5 -.6 1.2 -.3 .9 .5 Services ................................... 175.4 175.9 176.3 176.7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.5 3.2 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 179.0 179.4 179.9 180.2 3.5 2.5 3.2 2.7 3.0 2.9 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 143.2 143.4 144.0 144.4 2.3 4.1 4.3 3.4 3.2 3.8 Transportation services .................. 183.0 183.5 183.3 183.7 3.2 7.9 5.2 1.5 5.5 3.3 Medical care services .................... 233.8 234.2 235.1 235.7 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.2 3.1 Other services ........................... 203.1 203.8 204.5 205.4 4.7 4.1 2.4 4.6 4.4 3.5 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 158.1 158.6 159.0 159.5 4.5 2.8 1.8 3.6 3.7 2.7 All items less shelter ....................... 153.7 154.2 154.6 155.0 4.3 3.5 2.4 3.4 3.9 2.9 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 158.8 159.4 159.8 160.2 4.5 3.4 2.3 3.6 3.9 2.9 All items less medical care .................. 153.5 154.0 154.5 154.8 4.1 3.2 2.4 3.4 3.6 2.9 Commodities less food ........................ 132.6 132.9 133.3 133.9 6.3 1.2 -.9 4.0 3.7 1.5 Nondurables less food ........................ 133.7 134.5 135.3 136.2 8.8 1.8 -3.2 7.7 5.2 2.1 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 139.1 140.0 141.1 142.3 11.8 4.4 -2.8 9.5 8.0 3.2 Nondurables .................................. 143.8 144.5 145.3 145.8 6.7 3.1 .6 5.7 4.9 3.1 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 184.2 184.4 185.0 185.6 3.6 4.1 4.5 3.1 3.8 3.8 Services less medical care services .......... 170.0 170.4 170.8 171.1 3.7 3.2 4.1 2.6 3.4 3.4 Energy ....................................... 109.1 109.9 111.2 113.0 15.8 8.4 -3.9 15.1 12.1 5.1 All items less energy ........................ 164.3 164.8 165.2 165.4 3.3 2.7 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.8 All items less food and energy ............. 166.7 167.1 167.4 167.6 3.5 2.2 2.7 2.2 2.8 2.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.5 141.6 141.7 141.8 2.6 -.3 .9 .9 1.1 .9 Energy commodities ..................... 103.6 105.0 106.8 109.9 34.3 13.3 -13.1 26.6 23.4 4.9 Services less energy services ............ 180.8 181.3 181.7 182.1 3.4 3.9 3.2 2.9 3.7 3.0 1/ Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change to Percent change to Area Pricing Dec. 1996 from- Nov. 1996 from- schedule Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Oct. Nov. Nov. Sept. Oct. 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 157.8 158.3 158.6 158.6 3.3 0.2 0.0 3.3 0.5 0.2 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 164.6 165.1 165.4 165.7 3.2 .4 .2 3.1 .5 .2 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 165.4 165.7 166.0 166.2 3.2 .3 .1 2.9 .4 .2 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 162.2 162.4 163.1 164.3 3.6 1.2 .7 3.0 .6 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 162.2 163.8 164.3 164.6 3.8 .5 .2 3.7 1.3 .3 North Central urban .................... M 154.0 154.4 155.0 155.3 3.9 .6 .2 3.7 .6 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 154.5 154.8 155.3 155.5 3.5 .5 .1 3.4 .5 .3 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 153.3 154.0 154.5 154.5 4.4 .3 .0 4.3 .8 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 155.4 156.5 157.1 157.7 4.1 .8 .4 3.7 1.1 .4 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 151.0 151.1 151.9 151.9 4.2 .5 .0 4.0 .6 .5 South urban ............................ M 154.5 154.9 155.1 155.1 3.2 .1 .0 3.1 .4 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.5 153.7 153.8 154.0 3.0 .2 .1 2.7 .2 .1 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 157.3 157.7 158.2 158.2 3.8 .3 .0 3.7 .6 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 154.4 154.8 154.7 154.4 2.7 -.3 -.2 2.9 .2 -.1 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 153.2 154.3 154.6 154.4 3.6 .1 -.1 3.8 .9 .2 West urban ............................. M 158.6 159.1 159.2 158.7 2.9 -.3 -.3 3.1 .4 .1 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 158.7 159.2 159.1 158.7 2.8 -.3 -.3 3.0 .3 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 163.0 163.2 163.9 163.9 3.3 .4 .0 3.5 .6 .4 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 142.4 142.7 142.9 142.9 3.1 .1 .0 3.0 .4 .1 B .................................... M 157.9 158.4 158.9 159.0 3.7 .4 .1 3.5 .6 .3 C .................................... M 157.4 158.2 158.5 158.6 3.3 .3 .1 3.3 .7 .2 D .................................... M 154.7 155.5 155.8 155.5 3.6 .0 -.2 3.9 .7 .2 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 158.3 158.8 159.4 159.7 3.8 .6 .2 3.5 .7 .4 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 158.2 158.8 158.4 158.3 2.4 -.3 -.1 2.6 .1 -.3 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 168.2 168.2 168.4 168.5 2.9 .2 .1 2.8 .1 .1 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 164.5 164.9 164.3 164.3 3.3 -.4 .0 2.9 -.1 -.4 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 156.3 156.9 156.9 156.0 2.6 -.6 -.6 3.0 .4 .0 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 155.4 - 154.8 - - - - 2.4 -.4 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 163.5 - 166.3 - - - - 3.7 1.7 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 153.5 - 153.8 - - - - 3.8 .2 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 154.6 - 156.4 - - - - 4.1 1.2 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 151.0 - 151.4 - - - - 3.9 .3 - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 160.8 - 161.2 - - - - 3.9 .2 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 150.7 - 150.0 3.1 -.5 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 153.8 - 154.3 2.7 .3 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 143.2 - 143.6 1.9 .3 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 - 154.5 - 155.4 3.6 .6 - - - - 1/ Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2/ Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3/ Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Relative Unadjusted indexes Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted importance, percent change to percent change from- December Nov. Dec. Dec. 1996 from- Sept. to Oct. to Nov. to 1995 1996 1996 Dec. 1995 Nov. 1996 Oct. Nov. Dec. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 155.9 155.9 3.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 464.2 464.3 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.262 155.7 156.1 4.2 .3 .5 .3 .1 Food ................................... 17.581 155.4 155.8 4.3 .3 .6 .3 .1 Food at home ......................... 11.206 156.4 156.9 4.9 .3 .6 .4 -.1 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.682 175.1 175.4 3.7 .2 .2 .7 .1 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.453 148.6 149.8 5.7 .8 .5 .4 1.0 Dairy products ..................... 1.300 149.2 148.5 10.2 -.5 1.6 .2 -.8 Fruits and vegetables .............. 2.052 185.2 186.0 5.1 .4 1.3 .3 -1.9 Other food at home ................. 2.719 143.0 143.2 2.2 .1 -.1 .2 .3 Sugar and sweets ................. .369 144.0 144.5 4.4 .3 -.1 -.4 .6 Fats and oils .................... .285 140.5 140.4 2.3 -.1 -.1 .2 .1 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .885 126.7 126.5 -1.8 -.2 -.6 .2 .3 Other prepared food .............. 1.180 158.2 158.8 4.5 .4 .4 .5 .3 Food away from home .................. 6.374 154.7 155.0 3.1 .2 .5 .3 .2 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.681 159.6 159.9 3.6 .2 .4 .1 .3 Housing .................................. 38.888 150.7 151.0 2.9 .2 .2 .3 .3 Shelter ................................ 25.976 167.7 167.7 2.8 .0 .2 .4 .2 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 8.091 157.6 157.3 3.1 -.2 .2 .2 .2 Rent, residential .................. 6.616 163.4 163.7 2.8 .2 .1 .2 .3 Other renters' costs ............... 1.475 207.4 203.7 4.9 -1.8 .4 .0 -.3 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 17.695 162.8 163.0 2.7 .1 .2 .4 .2 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 17.366 163.1 163.4 2.8 .2 .2 .4 .3 Household insurance 1/ ............. .329 150.0 147.2 1.1 -1.9 .5 .9 -1.9 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .189 139.9 140.1 3.2 .1 .4 1.0 .1 Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .105 149.9 150.1 3.7 .1 .1 .3 .1 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .085 127.1 127.1 2.3 .0 1.0 1.8 .0 Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.247 128.1 129.0 4.6 .7 .5 .5 .4 Fuels ................................ 3.887 115.1 116.5 5.7 1.2 .7 .9 .5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .327 105.7 110.6 23.6 4.6 6.5 2.0 3.6 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.560 121.2 122.3 4.1 .9 .2 .7 .2 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.360 159.5 159.6 3.4 .1 .3 .2 .1 Household furnishings and operation .... 5.666 123.3 123.5 .9 .2 -.2 .1 .4 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.367 109.5 109.8 .1 .3 -.5 .0 .5 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.149 142.4 142.0 1.5 -.3 -.1 .3 .0 Housekeeping services ................ 1.150 152.4 152.9 2.9 .3 .3 .1 .4 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.533 132.4 129.3 -.2 -2.3 .4 .5 .0 Apparel commodities .................... 5.017 129.1 125.7 -.4 -2.6 .5 .6 -.1 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.310 130.9 127.5 1.4 -2.6 .6 1.4 -.9 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.148 125.0 121.7 -1.3 -2.6 .5 .7 1.0 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .251 127.7 128.1 -1.3 .3 -2.6 -.9 .3 Footwear ............................. .812 128.9 127.0 1.6 -1.5 .5 .2 .2 Other apparel commodities ............ .495 148.7 139.7 -3.9 -6.1 1.4 -.9 -2.9 Apparel services 2/ .................... .516 160.0 160.5 2.2 .3 .0 .2 .3 Transportation ........................... 19.020 144.5 144.8 4.2 .2 .2 .3 .7 Private transportation ................. 17.847 142.2 142.4 3.8 .1 .2 .3 .6 New vehicles ......................... 4.958 146.0 146.5 1.9 .3 -.1 -.1 -.1 New cars ........................... 3.591 141.9 142.7 1.6 .6 -.2 -.3 .1 Used cars ............................ 2.432 157.7 156.8 -1.4 -.6 -.3 -.5 -.1 Motor fuel ........................... 3.584 108.1 108.9 13.0 .7 1.0 1.9 2.8 Gasoline ........................... - 107.4 108.3 12.9 .8 .9 2.0 3.0 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.619 161.4 161.4 3.1 .0 .3 .1 .1 Other private transportation ......... 5.255 171.9 171.6 1.9 -.2 -.1 -.1 -.2 Other private transportation commodities .................... .767 104.2 104.3 -.1 .1 -.1 -.1 -.1 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.488 189.1 188.6 2.2 -.3 .0 -.1 -.2 Public transportation .................. 1.173 184.5 186.9 10.6 1.3 1.0 -.2 2.0 Medical care ............................. 6.262 229.9 230.1 3.1 .1 .2 .3 .3 Medical care commodities ............... 1.055 209.1 209.4 2.5 .1 .5 -.4 .2 Medical care services .................. 5.208 234.6 234.7 3.2 .0 .1 .4 .3 Professional medical services ........ 2.965 212.1 212.3 3.6 .1 .3 .5 .2 Entertainment ............................ 4.029 158.3 158.4 3.0 .1 .3 .3 .3 Entertainment commodities .............. 2.053 142.8 142.9 2.5 .1 .1 .2 .2 Entertainment services ................. 1.976 180.4 180.7 3.5 .2 .3 .3 .3 Other goods and services ................. 7.006 215.8 215.2 3.4 -.3 .5 .3 -.1 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.135 235.8 233.9 2.4 -.8 .7 .3 -.7 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.132 151.3 150.4 1.0 -.6 .1 .3 -.6 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .635 145.4 143.5 -.8 -1.3 -.2 .0 -1.3 Personal care services 2/ ............ .497 158.7 159.4 3.4 .4 .5 .4 .4 Personal and educational expenses ...... 3.739 248.1 248.3 4.6 .1 .4 .4 .5 School books and supplies ............ .227 232.6 232.9 5.7 .1 .7 .3 .4 Personal and educational services .... 3.512 249.7 249.8 4.6 .0 .4 .4 .5 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 155.9 155.9 3.3 .0 .3 .3 .3 Commodities .............................. 47.052 141.6 141.4 3.3 -.1 .4 .4 .3 Food and beverages ..................... 19.262 155.7 156.1 4.2 .3 .5 .3 .1 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.790 132.9 132.4 2.6 -.4 .3 .3 .5 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.074 134.6 133.6 4.1 -.7 .5 .9 .8 Apparel commodities ................ 5.017 129.1 125.7 -.4 -2.6 .5 .6 -.1 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.057 140.2 140.4 6.3 .1 .8 .9 .9 Durables ............................. 11.716 129.5 129.6 .5 .1 -.2 -.2 .2 Services ................................. 52.948 173.2 173.4 3.3 .1 .2 .3 .2 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 25.430 161.3 161.4 2.9 .1 .2 .2 .1 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.531 131.2 131.7 3.5 .4 .3 .4 .3 Transportation services ................ 7.279 181.3 181.5 3.8 .1 .2 .0 .2 Medical care services .................. 5.208 234.6 234.7 3.2 .0 .1 .4 .3 Other services ......................... 6.501 201.5 201.7 4.0 .1 .3 .3 .4 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.419 155.8 155.8 3.1 .0 .2 .3 .3 All items less shelter ..................... 74.024 152.8 152.8 3.4 .0 .3 .3 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 82.305 146.4 146.4 3.5 .0 .3 .3 .3 All items less medical care ................ 93.738 152.3 152.4 3.3 .1 .3 .3 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 29.471 134.0 133.5 2.7 -.4 .3 .3 .4 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.756 136.0 135.2 4.2 -.6 .6 .7 .8 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 12.739 141.1 141.3 5.9 .1 .7 .9 1.0 Nondurables ................................ 35.336 145.4 145.2 4.2 -.1 .6 .6 .3 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 27.518 164.7 165.0 3.6 .2 .1 .4 .2 Services less medical care services ........ 47.740 167.9 168.1 3.3 .1 .3 .2 .2 Energy ..................................... 7.470 110.9 112.0 9.2 1.0 .8 1.4 1.7 All items less energy ...................... 92.530 162.2 162.1 2.9 -.1 .2 .2 .1 All items less food and energy ........... 74.949 163.9 163.7 2.5 -.1 .2 .2 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 25.560 141.8 141.0 1.0 -.6 .1 .1 .0 Energy commodities ................... 3.911 108.2 109.4 14.0 1.1 1.4 1.9 2.9 Services less energy services .......... 49.388 178.9 179.0 3.2 .1 .2 .3 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.642 $.641 -3.3 -.2 -.3 -.2 -.2 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .215 .215 - - - - - 1/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Annual Annual Percent change average average from 1995 1995 1996 to 1996 Expenditure category All items ............................................... 149.8 154.1 2.9 All items (1967=100) .................................... 446.1 459.1 - Food and beverages .................................... 148.3 153.2 3.3 Food ................................................ 147.9 152.8 3.3 Food at home ...................................... 147.9 153.5 3.8 Cereals and bakery products ..................... 167.2 173.6 3.8 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................. 138.5 144.5 4.3 Dairy products .................................. 132.5 141.9 7.1 Fruits and vegetables ........................... 176.7 183.1 3.6 Other food at home .............................. 140.3 142.6 1.6 Sugar and sweets .............................. 137.5 143.6 4.4 Fats and oils ................................. 137.1 140.3 2.3 Nonalcoholic beverages ........................ 131.0 128.1 -2.2 Other prepared food ........................... 150.8 156.0 3.4 Food away from home ............................... 148.8 152.6 2.6 Alcoholic beverages ................................. 153.3 157.9 3.0 Housing ............................................... 145.4 149.6 2.9 Shelter ............................................. 161.2 166.2 3.1 Renters' costs 1/ ................................. 152.5 157.3 3.1 Rent, residential ............................... 157.4 161.6 2.7 Other renters' costs ............................ 204.4 214.6 5.0 Homeowners' costs 1/ .............................. 156.0 160.9 3.1 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...................... 156.2 161.2 3.2 Household insurance 1/ .......................... 144.6 147.1 1.7 Maintenance and repairs ........................... 134.5 137.6 2.3 Maintenance and repair services ................. 142.7 147.6 3.4 Maintenance and repair commodities .............. 123.6 124.9 1.1 Fuel and other utilities ............................ 123.2 127.2 3.2 Fuels ............................................. 110.8 114.7 3.5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ................................. 88.0 99.0 12.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services) ... 118.4 121.6 2.7 Other utilities and public services ............... 153.2 157.7 2.9 Household furnishings and operation ................. 121.8 123.2 1.1 Housefurnishings .................................. 109.9 109.9 .0 Housekeeping supplies ............................. 137.3 141.5 3.1 Housekeeping services ............................. 146.8 150.9 2.8 Apparel and upkeep .................................... 130.9 130.9 .0 Apparel commodities ................................. 127.7 127.6 -.1 Men's and boys' apparel ........................... 125.9 127.4 1.2 Women's and girls' apparel......................... 125.4 123.6 -1.4 Infants' and toddlers' apparel .................... 128.1 130.8 2.1 Footwear .......................................... 126.2 127.6 1.1 Other apparel commodities ......................... 150.6 149.6 -.7 Apparel services .................................... 156.8 159.0 1.4 Transportation ........................................ 138.8 142.8 2.9 Private transportation .............................. 136.9 140.7 2.8 New vehicles ...................................... 141.8 144.7 2.0 New cars ........................................ 138.7 141.1 1.7 Used cars ......................................... 157.3 158.2 .6 Motor fuel ........................................ 99.9 106.3 6.4 Gasoline ........................................ 99.7 105.9 6.2 Maintenance and repairs ........................... 154.8 159.3 2.9 Other private transportation ...................... 166.5 169.6 1.9 Other private transportation commodities ........ 104.0 104.2 .2 Other private transportation services ........... 182.2 186.1 2.1 Public transportation ............................... 171.9 179.6 4.5 Medical care .......................................... 219.8 227.6 3.5 Medical care commodities ............................ 202.2 207.8 2.8 Medical care services ............................... 223.8 232.1 3.7 Professional medical services ..................... 202.0 209.5 3.7 Entertainment ......................................... 151.8 156.8 3.3 Entertainment commodities ........................... 137.9 142.0 3.0 Entertainment services .............................. 171.9 178.2 3.7 Other goods and services .............................. 204.2 212.2 3.9 Tobacco and smoking products ........................ 225.9 232.5 2.9 Personal care ....................................... 147.3 150.1 1.9 Toilet goods and personal care appliances ......... 143.8 145.0 .8 Personal care services ............................ 151.5 156.6 3.4 Personal and educational expenses ................... 231.2 242.9 5.1 School books and supplies ......................... 215.5 228.2 5.9 Personal and educational services ................. 232.6 244.4 5.1 Commodity and service group All items ............................................... 149.8 154.1 2.9 Commodities ........................................... 136.4 139.9 2.6 Food and beverages .................................. 148.3 153.2 3.3 Commodities less food and beverages ................. 129.0 131.8 2.2 Nondurables less food and beverages ............... 129.0 132.8 2.9 Apparel commodities ............................. 127.7 127.6 -.1 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................................. 132.6 138.3 4.3 Durables .......................................... 127.9 129.2 1.0 Services .............................................. 166.0 171.4 3.3 Rent of shelter 1/ .................................. 155.0 159.9 3.2 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ .......... 127.0 130.5 2.8 Transportation services ............................. 173.6 178.3 2.7 Medical care services ............................... 223.8 232.1 3.7 Other services ...................................... 190.1 198.1 4.2 Special indexes All items less food ..................................... 150.0 154.3 2.9 All items less shelter .................................. 146.8 151.0 2.9 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..................... 140.7 144.8 2.9 All items less medical care ............................. 146.4 150.7 2.9 Commodities less food ................................... 130.0 132.8 2.2 Nondurables less food ................................... 130.4 134.3 3.0 Nondurables less food and apparel ....................... 133.7 139.3 4.2 Nondurables ............................................. 139.0 143.3 3.1 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 157.6 162.7 3.2 Services less medical care services ..................... 161.1 166.2 3.2 Energy .................................................. 104.7 109.8 4.9 All items less energy ................................... 156.1 160.4 2.8 All items less food and energy ........................ 158.2 162.3 2.6 Commodities less food and energy commodities ........ 138.9 140.9 1.4 Energy commodities ................................ 99.1 105.9 6.9 Services less energy services ....................... 171.3 176.8 3.2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 ......................................... $.668 $.649 -2.8 1967=$1.00 ............................................ .224 .218 - 1/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. - Data not available. Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for 3 months ended- 6 months ended- Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. June Dec. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 4.3 3.2 2.1 3.7 3.7 2.9 Food and beverages ......................... 155.0 155.8 156.3 156.4 3.2 4.6 5.3 3.7 3.9 4.5 Food ..................................... 154.6 155.5 156.0 156.1 3.2 4.6 5.3 3.9 3.9 4.6 Food at home ........................... 155.7 156.6 157.2 157.1 3.5 5.4 7.0 3.6 4.5 5.3 Cereals and bakery products .......... 174.3 174.7 175.9 176.1 5.3 3.8 1.4 4.2 4.5 2.8 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 147.0 147.7 148.3 149.8 -.8 5.2 11.0 7.8 2.1 9.4 Dairy products ....................... 147.0 149.4 149.7 148.5 4.8 10.7 22.2 4.1 7.7 12.8 Fruits and vegetables ................ 185.7 188.1 188.6 185.1 13.3 7.0 1.1 -1.3 10.1 -.1 Other food at home ................... 143.4 143.3 143.6 144.1 1.4 2.6 2.8 2.0 2.0 2.4 Sugar and sweets ................... 145.5 145.3 144.7 145.5 8.3 4.3 5.1 .0 6.3 2.5 Fats and oils ...................... 141.5 141.4 141.7 141.8 2.3 3.5 2.3 .9 2.9 1.6 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 127.8 127.0 127.2 127.6 -4.5 -1.5 -.3 -.6 -3.1 -.5 Other prepared food ................ 157.5 158.2 159.0 159.4 3.7 5.3 4.2 4.9 4.5 4.5 Food away from home .................... 153.4 154.2 154.7 155.0 2.1 3.2 2.9 4.2 2.7 3.6 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 159.1 159.7 159.9 160.4 4.7 2.8 3.9 3.3 3.8 3.6 Housing .................................... 150.2 150.5 151.0 151.4 3.3 2.2 3.0 3.2 2.7 3.1 Shelter .................................. 167.0 167.3 167.9 168.2 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.9 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 157.9 158.2 158.5 158.8 4.5 2.6 3.4 2.3 3.5 2.8 Rent, residential .................... 162.6 162.8 163.2 163.7 2.5 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7 Other renters' costs ................. 216.6 217.4 217.4 216.7 12.8 1.5 5.7 .2 7.0 2.9 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 161.7 162.1 162.7 163.0 2.3 2.8 2.5 3.3 2.5 2.9 Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 162.0 162.3 162.9 163.4 2.0 2.8 2.8 3.5 2.4 3.1 Household insurance 1/ ............... 147.9 148.7 150.0 147.2 1.1 1.9 3.3 -1.9 1.5 .7 Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 138.0 138.5 139.9 140.1 1.5 3.6 1.5 6.2 2.5 3.8 Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 149.4 149.5 149.9 150.1 3.1 2.5 7.6 1.9 2.8 4.7 Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 123.6 124.8 127.1 127.1 -.3 4.9 -6.2 11.8 2.3 2.4 Fuel and other utilities ................. 127.8 128.5 129.1 129.6 5.9 2.6 4.2 5.8 4.2 5.0 Fuels .................................. 114.3 115.1 116.1 116.7 5.5 1.8 6.6 8.7 3.7 7.6 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 97.4 103.7 105.8 109.6 46.6 -10.2 10.5 60.3 14.7 33.1 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 121.6 121.8 122.7 123.0 2.4 3.1 6.1 4.7 2.7 5.4 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 158.8 159.2 159.5 159.6 7.2 3.1 1.5 2.0 5.1 1.8 Household furnishings and operation ...... 123.6 123.3 123.4 123.9 1.0 .0 2.0 1.0 .5 1.5 Housefurnishings ....................... 110.1 109.6 109.6 110.2 .0 -.7 .7 .4 -.4 .5 Housekeeping supplies .................. 142.0 141.8 142.2 142.2 4.6 -2.2 3.2 .6 1.1 1.9 Housekeeping services .................. 152.1 152.6 152.7 153.3 .3 4.1 4.0 3.2 2.2 3.6 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 129.6 130.1 130.7 130.7 2.5 -2.4 -4.2 3.4 .0 -.5 Apparel commodities ...................... 126.2 126.8 127.5 127.4 2.5 -2.8 -4.9 3.9 -.2 -.6 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 126.1 126.8 128.6 127.5 8.9 -4.0 -3.4 4.5 2.2 .5 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 121.3 121.9 122.7 123.9 -2.8 -2.2 -8.4 8.9 -2.5 -.2 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 132.4 128.9 127.7 128.1 16.0 -13.0 7.3 -12.4 .5 -3.1 Footwear ............................... 127.3 127.9 128.1 128.4 5.8 -.3 -2.5 3.5 2.7 .5 Other apparel commodities .............. 149.2 151.3 149.9 145.6 -.8 -2.4 -2.6 -9.3 -1.6 -6.0 Apparel services 2/....................... 159.7 159.7 160.0 160.5 2.8 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.4 1.9 Transportation ............................. 143.1 143.4 143.8 144.8 8.3 4.6 -.6 4.8 6.4 2.1 Private transportation ................... 140.9 141.2 141.6 142.4 8.1 4.4 -1.1 4.3 6.2 1.6 New vehicles ........................... 145.9 145.8 145.7 145.6 2.5 2.5 3.4 -.8 2.5 1.2 New cars ............................. 142.4 142.1 141.7 141.8 1.7 2.0 4.3 -1.7 1.9 1.3 Used cars .............................. 157.4 157.0 156.2 156.0 9.4 -11.1 .5 -3.5 -1.4 -1.5 Motor fuel ............................. 104.2 105.2 107.2 110.2 31.9 17.9 -16.5 25.1 24.7 2.2 Gasoline ............................. 103.6 104.5 106.6 109.8 33.6 16.6 -17.2 26.2 24.8 2.2 Maintenance and repairs ................ 160.7 161.2 161.4 161.6 2.8 2.3 4.9 2.3 2.6 3.6 Other private transportation ........... 171.5 171.4 171.3 171.0 -.5 4.4 5.3 -1.2 1.9 2.0 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 104.4 104.3 104.2 104.1 .4 .8 -.4 -1.1 .6 -.8 Other private transportation services ......................... 188.4 188.4 188.3 187.9 -.7 4.9 6.2 -1.1 2.1 2.5 Public transportation .................... 182.9 184.8 184.5 188.2 12.0 14.2 4.3 12.1 13.1 8.1 Medical care ............................... 229.1 229.6 230.2 230.8 3.1 3.6 2.7 3.0 3.3 2.8 Medical care commodities ................. 208.9 210.0 209.1 209.6 3.4 3.9 1.7 1.3 3.7 1.5 Medical care services .................... 233.6 233.9 234.8 235.4 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.0 Professional medical services .......... 211.0 211.6 212.6 213.1 2.9 3.1 4.3 4.0 3.0 4.2 Entertainment .............................. 157.4 157.8 158.2 158.6 4.8 2.6 1.3 3.1 3.7 2.2 Entertainment commodities ................ 142.4 142.5 142.8 143.1 5.6 .9 1.4 2.0 3.2 1.7 Entertainment services ................... 179.1 179.7 180.3 180.8 4.2 4.1 1.6 3.9 4.2 2.7 Other goods and services ................... 214.0 215.0 215.7 215.5 3.7 3.5 3.4 2.8 3.6 3.1 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 234.2 235.8 236.5 234.9 3.0 2.1 3.7 1.2 2.5 2.4 Personal care 2/ ......................... 150.8 150.9 151.3 150.4 1.1 .8 3.2 -1.1 .9 1.1 Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 145.7 145.4 145.4 143.5 -.3 .0 3.1 -5.9 -.1 -1.5 Personal care services 2/ .............. 157.2 158.0 158.7 159.4 2.6 2.1 3.1 5.7 2.3 4.4 Personal and educational expenses ........ 244.8 245.7 246.6 247.8 5.0 5.1 3.3 5.0 5.0 4.2 School books and supplies .............. 230.6 232.2 233.0 233.9 7.8 1.8 7.6 5.8 4.8 6.7 Personal and educational services ...... 246.1 247.0 247.9 249.1 4.8 5.2 3.1 5.0 5.0 4.1 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 4.3 3.2 2.1 3.7 3.7 2.9 Commodities ................................ 140.4 140.9 141.4 141.8 5.3 2.6 1.1 4.0 4.0 2.6 Food and beverages ....................... 155.0 155.8 156.3 156.4 3.2 4.6 5.3 3.7 3.9 4.5 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 131.4 131.8 132.2 132.8 7.0 1.2 -1.8 4.3 4.1 1.2 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 131.8 132.4 133.6 134.7 10.6 2.4 -4.7 9.1 6.4 2.0 Apparel commodities .................. 126.2 126.8 127.5 127.4 2.5 -2.8 -4.9 3.9 -.2 -.6 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 137.3 138.4 139.7 141.0 15.9 4.1 -5.1 11.2 9.9 2.8 Durables ............................... 129.7 129.4 129.2 129.4 2.5 -.9 1.9 -.9 .8 .5 Services ................................... 172.5 172.9 173.4 173.8 3.1 3.6 3.3 3.0 3.4 3.2 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 160.9 161.3 161.7 161.9 3.1 3.1 2.8 2.5 3.1 2.6 Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 131.4 131.8 132.3 132.7 3.5 3.1 3.7 4.0 3.3 3.9 Transportation services .................. 180.5 180.9 180.9 181.3 2.1 5.8 5.5 1.8 3.9 3.6 Medical care services .................... 233.6 233.9 234.8 235.4 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.0 Other services ........................... 199.8 200.4 201.1 201.9 4.4 4.3 2.6 4.3 4.4 3.5 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 154.7 155.0 155.5 156.0 4.3 2.9 1.6 3.4 3.6 2.5 All items less shelter ....................... 151.8 152.3 152.8 153.2 4.7 3.2 2.1 3.7 4.0 2.9 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 145.5 146.0 146.4 146.8 4.6 3.1 2.2 3.6 3.8 2.9 All items less medical care .................. 151.3 151.8 152.3 152.7 4.4 3.0 2.1 3.8 3.7 2.9 Commodities less food ........................ 132.7 133.1 133.5 134.1 7.2 1.2 -1.5 4.3 4.2 1.4 Nondurables less food ........................ 133.4 134.2 135.2 136.3 10.2 2.1 -3.8 9.0 6.1 2.4 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 138.6 139.6 140.8 142.2 13.1 4.4 -3.7 10.8 8.7 3.3 Nondurables .................................. 143.5 144.4 145.3 145.8 7.3 2.8 .6 6.6 5.1 3.5 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 164.2 164.4 165.0 165.3 3.0 4.0 4.8 2.7 3.5 3.7 Services less medical care services .......... 167.3 167.8 168.2 168.5 3.0 3.5 3.7 2.9 3.2 3.3 Energy ....................................... 108.7 109.6 111.1 113.0 17.7 9.6 -5.7 16.8 13.6 5.0 All items less energy ........................ 161.5 161.9 162.3 162.5 3.3 2.5 3.0 2.5 2.9 2.8 All items less food and energy ............. 163.4 163.7 164.0 164.3 3.3 2.0 2.5 2.2 2.6 2.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.1 141.3 141.4 141.4 3.2 -.8 .9 .9 1.1 .9 Energy commodities ..................... 103.8 105.3 107.3 110.4 33.2 15.4 -14.7 28.0 24.0 4.5 Services less energy services ............ 178.3 178.7 179.2 179.6 3.3 3.5 3.2 2.9 3.4 3.1 1/ Indexes on a December 1984=100 base. 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. - Data not available. NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date. Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted) Indexes Percent change to Percent change to Area Pricing Dec. 1996 from- Nov. 1996 from- schedule Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Oct. Nov. Nov. Sept. Oct. 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 U.S. city average ...................... M 155.1 155.5 155.9 155.9 3.3 0.3 0.0 3.3 0.5 0.3 Region and area size 2/ Northeast urban......................... M 162.0 162.4 163.0 163.2 3.3 .5 .1 3.2 .6 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 161.8 162.1 162.6 162.6 3.2 .3 .0 3.1 .5 .3 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 159.8 160.1 160.7 162.0 3.5 1.2 .8 2.9 .6 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 163.7 165.3 166.0 166.3 3.7 .6 .2 3.7 1.4 .4 North Central urban .................... M 150.6 151.0 151.7 151.9 3.8 .6 .1 3.8 .7 .5 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 150.4 150.7 151.3 151.5 3.5 .5 .1 3.5 .6 .4 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 149.5 150.2 150.8 150.7 4.3 .3 -.1 4.4 .9 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 152.6 153.7 154.5 155.1 4.2 .9 .4 3.8 1.2 .5 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 149.1 149.2 150.1 150.3 4.3 .7 .1 4.2 .7 .6 South urban ............................ M 153.1 153.5 153.7 153.7 3.2 .1 .0 3.2 .4 .1 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 151.7 151.9 152.0 152.3 3.0 .3 .2 2.8 .2 .1 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 153.6 153.9 154.5 154.5 3.8 .4 .0 3.7 .6 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 154.4 154.8 154.7 154.5 2.8 -.2 -.1 2.9 .2 -.1 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 153.9 154.8 155.1 155.0 3.7 .1 -.1 4.0 .8 .2 West urban ............................. M 155.5 155.9 155.9 155.4 2.7 -.3 -.3 3.0 .3 .0 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 154.0 154.4 154.3 153.8 2.5 -.4 -.3 2.9 .2 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 159.9 160.2 160.8 160.7 3.3 .3 -.1 3.5 .6 .4 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 141.4 141.7 142.0 141.9 3.1 .1 -.1 3.1 .4 .2 B .................................... M 155.0 155.4 156.0 156.2 3.6 .5 .1 3.5 .6 .4 C .................................... M 156.6 157.4 157.7 157.9 3.4 .3 .1 3.3 .7 .2 D .................................... M 154.0 154.7 155.1 154.9 3.7 .1 -.1 3.9 .7 .3 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 153.2 153.7 154.4 154.6 3.8 .6 .1 3.6 .8 .5 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 152.7 153.2 152.9 152.7 2.2 -.3 -.1 2.5 .1 -.2 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 164.4 164.4 164.7 164.7 3.0 .2 .0 3.0 .2 .2 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 163.7 164.2 164.0 163.6 3.1 -.4 -.2 3.0 .2 -.1 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 153.8 154.3 154.2 153.1 2.3 -.8 -.7 2.9 .3 -.1 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 154.4 - 153.6 - - - - 2.5 -.5 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 162.1 - 165.4 - - - - 3.8 2.0 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 145.8 - 146.2 - - - - 4.0 .3 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 152.6 - 154.6 - - - - 4.3 1.3 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 150.1 - 150.5 - - - - 3.8 .3 - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 158.2 - 158.7 - - - - 4.1 .3 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 150.7 - 150.2 3.3 -.3 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 148.8 - 149.4 2.7 .4 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 142.5 - 143.0 1.8 .4 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 - 148.0 - 148.8 3.5 .5 - - - - 1/ Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2/ Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical notes. 3/ Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. - Data not available. NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator clauses.