FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000 USDL-96-473 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 Thursday, November 14, 1996 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: OCTOBER 1996 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent before seasonal adjustment in October to a level of 158.3 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in October, the CPI- U increased 3.0 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.3 percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment. The October 1996 CPI-W level of 155.5 was 3.0 percent higher than the index in October 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 October, the same as in September. The food index rose 0.6 percent in September, reflecting sharp increases in prices for dairy products and for fresh fruits and vegetables. The energy index registered its first increase since May, advancing 0.7 percent in October. The index for petroleum-based energy increased 1.4 percent, while the index for energy services was unchanged. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent, following a 0.3 percent increase in September. Declines in vehicle purchase costs and in the index for household furnishings and operation and a smaller increase in the index for airline fares more than offset a larger increase in shelter costs. 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 Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct.'96 Oct.'96 All Items .4 .3 .1 .3 .1 .3 .3 2.8 3.0 Food and beverages .3 .1 .7 .5 .3 .5 .6 5.8 4.0 Housing .3 .2 .1 .4 .2 .2 .3 2.9 2.9 Apparel and upkeep -.4 .1 -.4 -.1 -1.4 .5 .5 -1.8 -.8 Transportation 1.1 .7 -.4 -.2 -.2 .5 .1 1.7 3.2 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.5 3.2 Entertainment -.1 .4 .3 .1 .2 .1 .1 1.3 3.0 Other goods and services .3 .4 .2 .4 .3 .0 .4 3.2 3.8 Special Indexes: Energy 3.2 1.1 -2.2 -.4 -.6 .0 .7 .4 5.7 Food .3 .1 .7 .5 .4 .5 .6 6.1 4.0 All items less food and energy .1 .2 .2 .3 .1 .3 .2 2.4 2.6 During the first 10 months of 1996, the CPI-U rose at a 3.3 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 2.5 percent for all of 1995. Increases in the food and energy components, which acted as moderating influences on overall consumer price movements throughout most of the past 5 years, have been responsible for the acceleration thus far in 1996. Energy costs, which declined last year, have increased at a 6.7 percent rate, with petroleum- based energy advancing at a 10.5 percent SAAR. The food index has risen at a 4.7 percent annual rate in the first 10 months after increasing 2.1 percent in all of 1995. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.8 percent rate in the first 10 months of 1996. This compares with a 3.0 percent increase for all of 1995. The food and beverage index rose 0.6 percent in October. The recent surge in grocery store food prices continued in October with an advance of 0.7 percent, bringing the increase over the past 5 months to 3.4 percent. Increases in the indexes for dairy products and for fresh fruits and vegetables--up 1.7 and 2.4 percent, respectively--accounted for over three-fourths of the October advance. The index for dairy products has risen 8.6 percent in the past 5 months and 12.1 percent since October 1995. Prior to the October advance, the index for fresh fruits and vegetables had declined 0.5 percent in each of the 2 preceding months. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.5 percent in October, following advances totaling 4.1 percent in the 4 months ended in September. The index for pork, which had increased 9.6 percent in the previous 5-month period, rose 0.1 percent in October. The indexes for beef and for poultry increased 0.6 and 0.8 percent, respectively. The index for cereal and bakery products rose 0.2 percent, the same as in September. The index for other food at home increased 0.1 percent in October. The other two components of the food and beverage index-- restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.5 and 0.4 percent, respectively. The housing component rose 0.3 percent in October. Shelter costs increased 0.3 percent, following a rise of 0.2 percent in September. Within shelter, renters' costs and homeowners' costs each rose 0.3 percent, and maintenance and repair costs increased 0.2 percent. The index for fuel and other utilities rose 0.5 percent. Household fuels increased 0.7 percent, reflecting a 7.0 percent rise in the index for fuel oil. A 0.7 percent increase in charges for natural gas was offset by a 0.2 percent decline in the index for electricity. Among other utilities and public services, the index for cable television rose 0.5 percent in October to a level 7.7 percent higher than a year ago. The index for household furnishings and operation declined 0.1 percent in October, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding 2 months. The transportation index increased 0.1 percent in October, following a rise of 0.5 percent in September. The index for gasoline registered its first increase since May, advancing 0.7 percent in October after declining 8.0 percent in the preceding 4-month period. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices continued to fall--down 0.5 percent.) As of October, the gasoline index was 11.4 percent below its peak level of December 1990. Automobile purchase costs, which had risen substantially in September, declined in October. The index for new vehicles, which increased 0.6 percent in September, fell 0.2 percent in October. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 0.4 percent. As of October, nearly 30 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. For a report on quality changes for the 1997 vehicles, see news release USDL-96-472, dated November 13, 1996.) The index for automobile finance charges declined 0.3 percent in October, its first decrease since February. The index for used cars also turned down in October, declining 0.3 percent after increasing 0.3 percent in September. The index for airline fares, which increased 2.9 percent in September, rose 1.9 percent in October. The index for apparel and upkeep rose 0.5 percent in October, the same as in September after declining 1.4 percent in August. The proportion of higher priced fall-winter wear in the sample in September and October was about normal in contrast to August, which was characterized by the slower than usual introduction of the seasonal clothing. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices rose 1.7 percent in October.) Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in October to a level 3.2 percent above a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.5 percent in October. The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent. Charges for professional services and hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. Entertainment costs rose 0.1 percent in October, the same as in September. Declines in the index for admissions (to movies, theaters, concerts, etc.), for fees for participant sports, and for sporting goods partially offset small to moderate increases in most other entertainment components. The index for other goods and services, which was virtually unchanged in September, increased 0.4 percent in October. The index for personal and educational expenses, which declined 0.2 percent in September, rose 0.4 percent in October. The index for tobacco products increased 0.7 percent for the second consecutive month in October. 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 October. Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Seasonally adjusted Un- Compound adjusted Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. Category 1996 3-mos. ended ended Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct. '96 Oct. '96 All Items .4 .3 .1 .2 .1 .3 .3 2.6 3.0 Food and beverages .3 .1 .7 .4 .4 .5 .5 5.9 4.0 Housing .3 .2 .1 .4 .2 .1 .2 2.2 2.8 Apparel and upkeep -.2 .2 -.6 .0 -1.5 .5 .4 -2.7 -.7 Transportation 1.1 .6 -.6 -.4 -.1 .4 .2 2.0 3.2 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .3 .1 .2 .2 2.3 3.2 Entertainment -.1 .4 .3 .0 .3 .1 .1 1.5 3.0 Other goods and services .3 .4 .1 .4 .2 .2 .5 3.6 3.6 Special Indexes: Energy 3.3 1.1 -2.0 -.9 -.5 .0 .8 1.1 6.1 Food .3 .1 .8 .5 .3 .5 .6 5.9 4.0 All items less food and energy .1 .2 .1 .2 .1 .3 .2 2.2 2.5 Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on Thursday, December 12, 1996, 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 reselected 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 Sept. Oct. Oct. 1996 from- July to Aug. to Sept. to 1995 1996 1996 Oct. 1995 Sept. 1996 Aug. Sept. Oct. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 157.8 158.3 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 472.7 474.1 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 17.332 155.0 155.8 4.0 .5 .3 .5 .6 Food ................................... 15.766 154.6 155.4 4.0 .5 .4 .5 .6 Food at home ......................... 9.880 155.9 156.8 4.7 .6 .5 .6 .7 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.473 174.7 175.1 3.6 .2 .0 .2 .2 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 2.936 147.2 147.9 5.0 .5 .9 1.1 .5 Dairy products ..................... 1.169 146.7 149.3 12.1 1.8 2.0 1.7 1.7 Fruits and vegetables .............. 1.936 183.6 185.1 4.5 .8 -.3 -.1 1.5 Other food at home ................. 2.365 143.6 143.9 1.9 .2 -.1 .5 .1 Sugar and sweets ................. .327 145.4 145.7 4.7 .2 -.2 1.0 -.1 Fats and oils .................... .248 141.5 141.6 2.4 .1 .8 .6 -.2 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .763 127.9 127.6 -2.5 -.2 .5 -.6 -.5 Other prepared food .............. 1.027 157.5 158.5 4.2 .6 -.5 1.0 .6 Food away from home .................. 5.886 153.5 154.2 2.8 .5 .2 .3 .5 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.566 159.5 160.1 3.4 .4 .3 .5 .4 Housing .................................. 41.346 153.9 154.0 2.9 .1 .2 .2 .3 Shelter ................................ 28.289 172.0 172.5 3.1 .3 .1 .2 .3 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 7.988 180.9 181.3 3.4 .2 .1 .1 .3 + _ Rent, residential .................. 5.762 162.9 163.3 2.8 .2 .1 .2 .2 Other renters' costs ............... 2.227 214.8 214.9 4.8 .0 -.1 -.1 .7 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 20.102 177.5 178.1 2.9 .3 .2 .2 .3 + _ Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 19.716 177.9 178.4 2.9 .3 .1 .2 .3 + _ Household insurance 1/ ............. .386 162.3 163.4 4.0 .7 .1 .3 .8 + _ Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .199 139.9 140.2 2.9 .2 .2 .1 .2 + _ Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .122 147.4 147.3 3.9 -.1 .5 .2 -.1 + _ Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .077 129.5 130.5 1.2 .8 -.4 -.1 .8 + _ Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.014 129.8 128.7 3.9 -.8 .4 .2 .5 Fuels ................................ 3.792 118.4 116.2 4.2 -1.9 .5 .2 .7 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .356 95.6 102.9 18.4 7.6 .5 3.6 6.3 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.436 126.2 122.7 2.8 -2.8 .6 -.1 .0 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.222 158.3 158.6 3.3 .2 .3 .2 .2 + _ Household furnishings and operation .... 6.043 125.1 125.0 .9 -.1 .2 .2 -.1 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.445 111.5 111.1 -.5 -.4 .3 .2 -.3 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.116 141.2 141.6 1.7 .3 .1 .1 .0 Housekeeping services ................ 1.482 149.4 149.9 3.6 .3 .0 .5 .5 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.516 131.5 133.4 -.8 1.4 -1.4 .5 .5 Apparel commodities .................... 4.967 127.8 130.0 -1.1 1.7 -1.5 .5 .5 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.303 127.4 129.2 .6 1.4 .2 -.8 .3 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.195 123.6 127.1 -2.7 2.8 -2.7 1.0 .9 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .195 131.4 128.5 -1.9 -2.2 -.5 5.0 -2.2 + _ Footwear ............................. .732 126.7 128.0 .4 1.0 -.6 -.2 .6 Other apparel commodities ............ .542 151.9 152.0 -.7 .1 -2.3 1.5 .1 Apparel services 2/ .................... .550 160.4 160.6 2.3 .1 .3 .1 .1 + _ Transportation ........................... 16.953 143.2 143.9 3.2 .5 -.2 .5 .1 Private transportation ................. 15.430 140.0 140.5 3.1 .4 -.2 .3 .1 New vehicles ......................... 5.027 143.2 143.8 2.1 .4 .1 .6 -.2 New cars ........................... 4.015 141.0 141.5 2.1 .4 .3 .5 -.2 Used cars ............................ 1.342 157.0 157.0 -.1 .0 .0 .3 -.3 Motor fuel ........................... 2.908 106.2 105.9 7.7 -.3 -2.0 -.3 .8 Gasoline ........................... - 105.7 105.2 7.3 -.5 -2.0 -.4 .7 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.535 160.0 160.5 3.3 .3 .3 .8 .4 Other private transportation ......... 4.618 174.1 175.4 2.0 .7 .5 .3 -.1 Other private transportation commodities .................... .608 105.0 105.0 .0 .0 .1 .2 .0 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.010 190.3 192.0 2.3 .9 .5 .4 -.2 Public transportation .................. 1.523 184.6 187.2 4.8 1.4 -.1 2.0 1.2 Medical care ............................. 7.362 229.4 230.1 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.282 211.2 212.4 3.3 .6 .2 .1 .5 Medical care services .................. 6.081 233.6 234.2 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .2 Professional medical services ........ 3.465 209.6 210.2 3.6 .3 .3 .3 .3 Entertainment ............................ 4.367 159.8 159.8 3.0 .0 .2 .1 .1 Entertainment commodities .............. 1.975 143.3 143.6 2.9 .2 .1 .0 .3 Entertainment services ................. 2.392 179.1 178.9 3.1 -.1 .1 .1 .0 Other goods and services ................. 7.123 218.3 218.8 3.8 .2 .3 .0 .4 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 1.610 234.1 235.3 3.2 .5 .0 .7 .7 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.170 150.8 150.9 1.6 .1 .3 .2 .1 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .613 145.1 144.6 .1 -.3 .4 .1 -.3 + _ Personal care services 2/ ............ .557 157.2 157.9 3.2 .4 .1 .4 .4 + _ Personal and educational expenses ...... 4.342 252.1 252.5 4.6 .2 .5 -.2 .4 School books and supplies ............ .258 229.9 230.5 5.9 .3 1.2 .0 .7 Personal and educational services .... 4.084 254.0 254.3 4.6 .1 .5 -.3 .4 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 157.8 158.3 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 Commodities .............................. 42.916 140.3 141.0 2.8 .5 -.1 .4 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 17.332 155.0 155.8 4.0 .5 .3 .5 .6 Commodities less food and beverages .... 25.584 131.4 132.1 2.0 .5 -.4 .3 .2 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 15.075 133.0 134.0 2.7 .8 -.8 .2 .5 Apparel commodities ................ 4.967 127.8 130.0 -1.1 1.7 -1.5 .5 .5 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.108 138.7 139.2 4.6 .4 -.4 -.1 .7 Durables ............................. 10.509 129.2 129.3 .9 .1 .1 .3 -.1 Services ................................. 57.084 175.6 175.8 3.2 .1 .2 .2 .3 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 27.671 179.0 179.4 3.0 .2 .3 .1 .2 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.681 144.6 143.2 3.2 -1.0 .3 .3 .1 + _ Transportation services ................ 7.068 181.6 183.2 3.1 .9 .3 .8 .3 Medical care services .................. 6.081 233.6 234.2 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .2 Other services ......................... 7.583 203.9 204.0 3.8 .0 .3 .0 .2 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 84.234 158.4 158.8 2.8 .3 .1 .2 .3 All items less shelter ..................... 71.711 153.8 154.2 2.9 .3 .0 .4 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 79.898 158.9 159.4 3.0 .3 .0 .3 .4 + _ All items less medical care ................ 92.638 153.8 154.2 2.9 .3 .1 .3 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 27.150 132.5 133.2 2.1 .5 -.4 .4 .2 Nondurables less food ...................... 16.641 134.5 135.5 2.7 .7 -.7 .2 .6 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 11.674 139.8 140.3 4.5 .4 -.3 .2 .6 Nondurables ................................ 32.407 144.1 145.1 3.3 .7 -.2 .3 .5 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 29.414 184.6 184.6 3.4 .0 .3 .4 .1 + _ Services less medical care services ........ 51.004 170.2 170.4 3.2 .1 .2 .4 .2 Energy ..................................... 6.700 111.7 110.5 5.7 -1.1 -.6 .0 .7 All items less energy ...................... 93.300 164.0 164.7 2.8 .4 .1 .3 .3 All items less food and energy ........... 77.534 166.4 167.0 2.6 .4 .1 .3 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 23.885 141.4 142.0 1.1 .4 -.1 .4 .1 Energy commodities ................... 3.264 105.2 105.8 8.8 .6 -1.6 .1 1.4 Services less energy services .......... 53.648 180.7 181.2 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .3 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.634 $.632 -2.9 -.3 -.2 -.3 -.3 + _ 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .212 .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 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- July Aug. Sept. Oct. Jan. Apr. July Oct. Apr. Oct. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 2.6 3.9 2.6 2.8 3.3 2.7 Food and beverages ......................... 154.1 154.6 155.3 156.3 1.1 4.0 5.1 5.8 2.5 5.5 Food ..................................... 153.8 154.4 155.1 156.1 .8 4.3 5.1 6.1 2.5 5.6 Food at home ........................... 154.8 155.5 156.5 157.6 .3 5.1 6.4 7.4 2.7 6.9 Cereals and bakery products .......... 174.3 174.3 174.7 175.1 6.5 2.3 3.5 1.8 4.4 2.7 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 144.5 145.8 147.4 148.1 3.5 -1.7 8.8 10.3 .9 9.5 Dairy products ....................... 142.0 144.8 147.2 149.7 5.5 5.1 15.1 23.5 5.3 19.2 Fruits and vegetables ................ 186.9 186.3 186.1 188.9 -12.2 21.1 7.2 4.3 3.1 5.7 Other food at home ................... 143.1 143.0 143.7 143.8 1.1 2.9 1.7 2.0 2.0 1.8 Sugar and sweets ................... 144.5 144.2 145.6 145.4 7.4 1.7 7.2 2.5 4.5 4.8 Fats and oils ...................... 139.9 141.0 141.9 141.6 2.9 .3 1.4 4.9 1.6 3.2 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 128.3 129.0 128.2 127.5 -3.9 .6 -4.2 -2.5 -1.7 -3.4 Other prepared food ................ 156.8 156.0 157.6 158.5 2.7 5.6 4.2 4.4 4.1 4.3 Food away from home .................... 152.8 153.1 153.5 154.2 1.6 2.7 3.2 3.7 2.1 3.5 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 158.5 158.9 159.7 160.3 2.3 4.2 2.6 4.6 3.3 3.6 Housing .................................... 152.9 153.2 153.5 154.0 3.2 2.9 2.7 2.9 3.1 2.8 Shelter .................................. 171.2 171.4 171.7 172.3 3.6 2.6 3.6 2.6 3.1 3.1 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 180.2 180.3 180.5 181.1 3.5 3.2 4.8 2.0 3.3 3.4 + _ Rent, residential .................... 162.3 162.5 162.9 163.3 3.1 2.3 3.5 2.5 2.7 3.0 Other renters' costs ................. 217.1 216.8 216.5 218.0 4.5 5.8 7.3 1.7 5.2 4.5 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 176.7 177.0 177.4 177.9 3.5 2.5 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.9 + _ Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 177.1 177.3 177.7 178.2 3.7 2.5 3.0 2.5 3.1 2.7 + _ Household insurance 1/ ............... 161.4 161.6 162.1 163.4 2.6 4.1 4.3 5.0 3.3 4.7 + _ Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 139.4 139.7 139.9 140.2 .0 5.1 4.1 2.3 2.5 3.2 + _ Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 146.3 147.1 147.4 147.3 .8 4.9 7.1 2.8 2.8 4.9 + _ Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 130.1 129.6 129.5 130.5 -.9 4.4 .3 1.2 1.7 .8 + _ Fuel and other utilities ................. 127.5 128.0 128.3 128.9 2.9 5.9 2.2 4.5 4.4 3.3 Fuels .................................. 114.2 114.8 115.0 115.8 3.3 8.5 -.3 5.7 5.8 2.6 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 93.8 94.3 97.7 103.9 40.0 26.1 -26.2 50.5 32.9 5.4 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 121.7 122.4 122.3 122.3 .0 6.9 2.7 2.0 3.4 2.3 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 157.5 158.0 158.3 158.6 2.4 2.6 5.5 2.8 2.5 4.2 + _ Household furnishings and operation ...... 124.5 124.7 125.0 124.9 2.0 .3 .0 1.3 1.1 .6 Housefurnishings ....................... 110.9 111.2 111.4 111.1 .7 -.7 -2.8 .7 .0 -1.1 Housekeeping supplies .................. 141.1 141.3 141.4 141.4 4.1 2.6 -.8 .9 3.3 .0 Housekeeping services .................. 148.6 148.6 149.3 150.1 2.5 2.2 5.9 4.1 2.4 5.0 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 131.7 129.9 130.5 131.1 3.1 -2.7 -1.5 -1.8 .2 -1.7 Apparel commodities ...................... 128.0 126.1 126.7 127.3 2.8 -3.0 -2.2 -2.2 -.2 -2.2 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 127.4 127.6 126.6 127.0 3.5 2.5 -2.2 -1.2 3.0 -1.7 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 124.5 121.1 122.3 123.4 5.8 -9.9 -2.2 -3.5 -2.4 -2.9 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 125.7 125.1 131.4 128.5 1.5 6.9 -21.9 9.2 4.2 -7.6 + _ Footwear ............................... 127.2 126.4 126.1 126.8 -5.0 6.2 2.2 -1.3 .5 .5 Other apparel commodities .............. 151.8 148.3 150.5 150.6 3.2 -3.1 .0 -3.1 .0 -1.6 Apparel services 2/....................... 159.9 160.3 160.4 160.6 3.1 1.5 2.8 1.8 2.3 2.3 + _ Transportation ............................. 143.4 143.1 143.8 144.0 1.4 9.8 .3 1.7 5.5 1.0 Private transportation ................... 140.4 140.1 140.5 140.7 3.9 9.0 -1.1 .9 6.4 -.1 New vehicles ........................... 144.0 144.2 145.0 144.7 .8 2.3 3.1 2.0 1.6 2.5 New cars ............................. 141.7 142.1 142.8 142.5 1.2 2.0 2.9 2.3 1.6 2.6 Used cars .............................. 155.7 155.7 156.2 155.8 7.1 .8 -8.0 .3 3.9 -4.0 Motor fuel ............................. 106.6 104.5 104.2 105.0 16.5 41.1 -12.8 -5.9 28.2 -9.4 Gasoline ............................. 106.0 103.9 103.5 104.2 16.6 40.2 -13.1 -6.6 27.9 -9.9 Maintenance and repairs ................ 158.2 158.6 159.8 160.4 3.4 1.5 2.8 5.7 2.5 4.2 Other private transportation ........... 174.1 174.9 175.5 175.3 -.5 2.1 3.8 2.8 .8 3.3 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 104.9 105.0 105.2 105.2 -.8 .4 -.8 1.1 -.2 .2 Other private transportation services ......................... 190.6 191.5 192.3 192.0 -.6 2.6 4.3 3.0 1.0 3.6 Public transportation .................... 183.5 183.4 187.1 189.3 -22.4 19.4 14.7 13.3 -3.7 14.0 Medical care ............................... 228.9 229.4 229.8 230.3 4.2 2.9 3.4 2.5 3.5 2.9 Medical care commodities ................. 210.7 211.1 211.4 212.4 3.9 3.3 2.5 3.3 3.6 2.9 Medical care services .................... 232.9 233.4 233.8 234.2 4.3 2.6 3.7 2.3 3.5 3.0 Professional medical services .......... 208.5 209.2 209.8 210.4 4.2 3.2 3.3 3.7 3.7 3.5 Entertainment .............................. 159.3 159.6 159.7 159.8 4.2 3.4 2.8 1.3 3.8 2.0 Entertainment commodities ................ 143.1 143.3 143.3 143.7 4.7 3.4 1.7 1.7 4.0 1.7 Entertainment services ................... 178.5 178.7 178.9 178.9 3.7 3.0 4.4 .9 3.4 2.6 Other goods and services ................... 216.8 217.5 217.6 218.5 3.5 4.6 4.2 3.2 4.0 3.7 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 233.1 233.0 234.6 236.2 -.9 4.1 4.2 5.4 1.6 4.8 Personal care 2/ ......................... 150.0 150.5 150.8 150.9 1.6 1.6 .8 2.4 1.6 1.6 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 144.4 145.0 145.1 144.6 -1.9 1.4 .6 .6 -.3 .6 + _ Personal care services 2/ .............. 156.3 156.5 157.2 157.9 5.3 1.8 1.6 4.2 3.6 2.8 + _ Personal and educational expenses ........ 248.8 250.1 249.5 250.4 5.6 5.6 5.0 2.6 5.6 3.8 School books and supplies .............. 226.2 229.0 229.0 230.5 8.5 5.7 1.8 7.8 7.1 4.8 Personal and educational services ...... 250.4 251.6 250.9 251.8 5.4 5.7 5.1 2.3 5.6 3.7 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 2.6 3.9 2.6 2.8 3.3 2.7 Commodities ................................ 140.0 139.8 140.4 140.9 2.9 5.0 .6 2.6 4.0 1.6 Food and beverages ....................... 154.1 154.6 155.3 156.3 1.1 4.0 5.1 5.8 2.5 5.5 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 131.4 130.9 131.3 131.6 4.1 5.6 -2.4 .6 4.9 -.9 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 132.8 131.8 132.0 132.7 7.3 7.8 -3.8 -.3 7.6 -2.1 Apparel commodities .................. 128.0 126.1 126.7 127.3 2.8 -3.0 -2.2 -2.2 -.2 -2.2 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 138.4 137.8 137.7 138.7 8.4 15.3 -5.0 .9 11.8 -2.1 Durables ............................... 129.2 129.3 129.7 129.6 1.9 1.2 -.6 1.2 1.6 .3 Services ................................... 174.7 175.0 175.4 175.9 2.4 3.5 4.2 2.8 3.0 3.5 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 178.3 178.8 179.0 179.4 3.5 2.8 3.4 2.5 3.1 3.0 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 142.4 142.8 143.2 143.4 1.2 4.1 4.6 2.8 2.6 3.7 + _ Transportation services .................. 181.0 181.6 183.0 183.5 -5.3 6.1 6.2 5.6 .2 5.9 Medical care services .................... 232.9 233.4 233.8 234.2 4.3 2.6 3.7 2.3 3.5 3.0 Other services ........................... 202.5 203.2 203.1 203.5 4.8 4.3 4.3 2.0 4.5 3.1 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 157.7 157.8 158.1 158.6 2.9 4.2 2.1 2.3 3.5 2.2 All items less shelter ....................... 153.1 153.1 153.7 154.2 2.2 4.6 2.4 2.9 3.4 2.6 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 158.3 158.3 158.8 159.4 2.3 4.4 2.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 + _ All items less medical care .................. 153.0 153.1 153.5 154.0 2.7 4.0 2.7 2.6 3.4 2.6 Commodities less food ........................ 132.6 132.1 132.6 132.9 4.1 5.3 -2.1 .9 4.7 -.6 Nondurables less food ........................ 134.3 133.4 133.7 134.5 6.9 7.4 -3.2 .6 7.2 -1.3 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 139.2 138.8 139.1 140.0 8.0 12.2 -3.9 2.3 10.1 -.9 Nondurables .................................. 143.7 143.4 143.8 144.5 4.4 5.8 1.1 2.2 5.1 1.7 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 182.9 183.5 184.2 184.4 1.6 4.1 4.3 3.3 2.8 3.8 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 169.1 169.4 170.0 170.4 2.0 3.9 3.9 3.1 2.9 3.5 Energy ....................................... 109.8 109.1 109.1 109.9 8.7 22.0 -6.0 .4 15.2 -2.8 All items less energy ........................ 163.6 163.8 164.3 164.8 2.3 2.8 3.2 3.0 2.5 3.1 All items less food and energy ............. 166.1 166.2 166.7 167.1 2.2 2.7 2.9 2.4 2.5 2.7 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 141.2 141.0 141.5 141.6 2.3 .9 .0 1.1 1.6 .6 Energy commodities ..................... 105.2 103.5 103.6 105.0 19.1 39.3 -14.5 -.8 28.8 -7.9 Services less energy services ............ 180.0 180.4 180.8 181.3 2.5 3.4 4.1 2.9 3.0 3.5 + 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 Oct. 1996 from- Sept. 1996 from- schedule July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. Aug. Sept. Sept. July Aug. 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 157.0 157.3 157.8 158.3 3.0 0.6 0.3 3.0 0.5 0.3 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 163.4 164.0 164.6 165.1 3.0 .7 .3 2.9 .7 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 164.1 164.7 165.4 165.7 2.9 .6 .2 2.9 .8 .4 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 161.8 162.2 162.2 162.4 2.5 .1 .1 2.7 .2 .0 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 161.5 161.8 162.2 163.8 3.5 1.2 1.0 2.3 .4 .2 North Central urban .................... M 153.2 153.4 154.0 154.4 3.2 .7 .3 3.1 .5 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.7 154.0 154.5 154.8 3.0 .5 .2 2.8 .5 .3 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 152.4 152.8 153.3 154.0 3.8 .8 .5 3.7 .6 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 154.6 154.7 155.4 156.5 3.3 1.2 .7 3.2 .5 .5 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 150.4 150.4 151.0 151.1 3.5 .5 .1 3.2 .4 .4 South urban ............................ M 154.0 154.1 154.5 154.9 2.9 .5 .3 3.1 .3 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 153.2 153.1 153.5 153.7 2.5 .4 .1 2.9 .2 .3 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 156.7 156.9 157.3 157.7 3.3 .5 .3 3.3 .4 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 153.7 154.0 154.4 154.8 2.9 .5 .3 3.3 .5 .3 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 152.5 152.6 153.2 154.3 3.6 1.1 .7 3.2 .5 .4 West urban ............................. M 157.9 158.0 158.6 159.1 2.9 .7 .3 2.9 .4 .4 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 158.0 158.1 158.7 159.2 2.8 .7 .3 2.7 .4 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 162.4 162.6 163.0 163.2 3.4 .4 .1 3.4 .4 .2 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 141.7 141.9 142.4 142.7 2.8 .6 .2 2.8 .5 .4 + _ B .................................... M 157.4 157.6 157.9 158.4 3.2 .5 .3 3.1 .3 .2 C .................................... M 156.8 157.0 157.4 158.2 3.2 .8 .5 3.1 .4 .3 D .................................... M 153.7 154.0 154.7 155.5 3.7 1.0 .5 3.4 .7 .5 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 157.7 158.1 158.3 158.8 2.9 .4 .3 2.8 .4 .1 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 157.6 157.3 158.2 158.8 2.3 1.0 .4 2.3 .4 .6 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 166.7 167.2 168.2 168.2 2.8 .6 .0 3.1 .9 .6 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 162.8 163.6 164.5 164.9 2.8 .8 .2 2.6 1.0 .6 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 155.9 155.6 156.3 156.6 2.6 .6 .2 2.6 .3 .4 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 155.7 - 155.4 - - - - 2.4 -.2 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 162.0 - 163.5 - - - - 3.1 .9 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 152.1 - 153.5 - - - - 3.0 .9 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 152.4 - 154.6 - - - - 3.8 1.4 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 149.9 - 151.0 - - - - 2.7 .7 - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 160.1 - 160.8 - - - - 2.9 .4 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 149.5 - 150.7 2.7 .8 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 152.7 - 153.8 2.7 .7 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 142.8 - 143.2 1.1 .3 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 - 153.6 - 154.5 2.7 .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 Sept. Oct. Oct. 1996 from- July to Aug. to Sept. to 1995 1996 1996 Oct. 1995 Sept. 1996 Aug. Sept. Oct. Expenditure category All items .................................. 100.000 155.1 155.5 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 All items (1967=100) ....................... - 461.9 463.2 - - - - - Food and beverages ....................... 19.262 154.5 155.2 4.0 .5 .4 .5 .5 Food ................................... 17.581 154.1 154.9 4.0 .5 .3 .5 .6 Food at home ......................... 11.206 155.1 155.9 4.7 .5 .5 .6 .6 Cereals and bakery products ........ 1.682 174.3 174.7 3.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..... 3.453 146.8 147.5 5.0 .5 .9 1.0 .5 Dairy products ..................... 1.300 146.4 148.9 12.1 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.6 Fruits and vegetables .............. 2.052 183.2 184.1 4.4 .5 -.2 -.2 1.3 Other food at home ................. 2.719 143.2 143.5 1.9 .2 .0 .5 -.1 Sugar and sweets ................. .369 145.3 145.6 4.7 .2 -.1 .9 -.1 Fats and oils .................... .285 141.2 141.3 2.4 .1 .8 .6 -.1 Nonalcoholic beverages ........... .885 127.4 127.1 -2.4 -.2 .5 -.5 -.6 Other prepared food .............. 1.180 157.2 158.2 4.2 .6 -.4 1.0 .4 Food away from home .................. 6.374 153.4 154.2 2.9 .5 .3 .2 .5 Alcoholic beverages .................... 1.681 158.9 159.5 3.4 .4 .3 .6 .4 Housing .................................. 38.888 150.8 150.7 2.8 -.1 .2 .1 .2 Shelter ................................ 25.976 167.2 167.6 2.9 .2 .1 .2 .2 Renters' costs 1/ .................... 8.091 158.1 158.3 3.1 .1 .1 .1 .2 + _ Rent, residential .................. 6.616 162.6 162.9 2.7 .2 .1 .2 .1 Other renters' costs ............... 1.475 215.0 214.6 4.5 -.2 -.1 -.2 .4 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................. 17.695 161.9 162.4 2.9 .3 .1 .2 .2 + _ Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......... 17.366 162.2 162.7 2.9 .3 .2 .2 .2 + _ Household insurance 1/ ............. .329 148.0 148.7 3.0 .5 .0 .3 .5 + _ Maintenance and repairs 2/ ........... .189 138.0 138.5 2.1 .4 .1 .0 .4 + _ Maintenance and repair services 2/ . .105 149.4 149.5 3.5 .1 .5 .3 .1 + _ Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ ................. .085 123.6 124.8 .4 1.0 -.6 -.4 1.0 + _ Fuel and other utilities ............... 7.247 129.5 128.3 3.9 -.9 .5 .2 .5 Fuels ................................ 3.887 117.9 115.6 4.3 -2.0 .5 .2 .7 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities .................... .327 95.4 102.6 18.2 7.5 .5 3.5 6.5 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)....................... 3.560 125.7 122.2 3.1 -2.8 .6 -.2 .2 Other utilities and public services 2/ ...................... 3.360 158.8 159.2 3.4 .3 .3 .2 .3 + _ Household furnishings and operation .... 5.666 123.6 123.4 .6 -.2 .2 .2 -.2 Housefurnishings ..................... 3.367 110.1 109.7 -.6 -.4 .2 .2 -.5 Housekeeping supplies ................ 1.149 141.8 142.1 1.9 .2 .2 .1 -.1 Housekeeping services ................ 1.150 152.2 152.5 3.0 .2 .1 .4 .3 Apparel and upkeep ....................... 5.533 130.6 132.4 -.7 1.4 -1.5 .5 .4 Apparel commodities .................... 5.017 127.2 129.2 -1.0 1.6 -1.6 .4 .5 Men's and boys' apparel .............. 1.310 127.0 129.0 .9 1.6 .1 -.8 .6 Women's and girls' apparel............ 2.148 122.2 125.4 -2.9 2.6 -2.9 .7 .5 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ .... .251 132.4 128.9 -2.9 -2.6 -.1 4.5 -2.6 + _ Footwear ............................. .812 127.8 129.2 .6 1.1 -.4 -.5 .5 Other apparel commodities ............ .495 151.4 151.9 .7 .3 -3.7 2.3 1.4 Apparel services 2/ .................... .516 159.7 159.7 2.2 .0 .2 .1 .0 + _ Transportation ........................... 19.020 142.9 143.5 3.2 .4 -.1 .4 .2 Private transportation ................. 17.847 140.7 141.2 3.1 .4 -.1 .3 .2 New vehicles ......................... 4.958 144.3 145.0 2.2 .5 .2 .4 -.1 New cars ........................... 3.591 140.6 141.1 2.0 .4 .3 .5 -.2 Used cars ............................ 2.432 158.2 158.3 .1 .1 -.1 .4 -.3 Motor fuel ........................... 3.584 106.2 106.0 7.9 -.2 -1.7 -.1 1.0 Gasoline ........................... - 105.8 105.3 7.6 -.5 -1.9 -.3 .9 Maintenance and repairs .............. 1.619 160.8 161.4 3.3 .4 .4 .6 .3 Other private transportation ......... 5.255 169.8 171.2 2.1 .8 .5 .4 -.1 Other private transportation commodities .................... .767 104.1 104.1 -.1 .0 .2 .2 -.1 Other private transportation services ....................... 4.488 186.4 188.2 2.4 1.0 .5 .4 .0 Public transportation .................. 1.173 181.8 184.3 5.4 1.4 .0 1.6 1.0 Medical care ............................. 6.262 228.8 229.4 3.2 .3 .1 .2 .2 Medical care commodities ............... 1.055 208.5 209.8 3.2 .6 -.1 .3 .5 Medical care services .................. 5.208 233.3 233.9 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .1 Professional medical services ........ 2.965 210.8 211.4 3.6 .3 .2 .4 .3 Entertainment ............................ 4.029 157.4 157.5 3.0 .1 .3 .1 .1 Entertainment commodities .............. 2.053 142.2 142.5 2.7 .2 .3 .1 .1 Entertainment services ................. 1.976 179.3 179.1 3.2 -.1 .2 .1 .0 Other goods and services ................. 7.006 214.7 215.3 3.6 .3 .2 .2 .5 Tobacco and smoking products ........... 2.135 233.7 234.8 2.9 .5 -.2 .7 .7 Personal care 2/ ....................... 1.132 150.8 150.9 1.5 .1 .3 .3 .1 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ .................... .635 145.7 145.4 .2 -.2 .4 .1 -.2 + _ Personal care services 2/ ............ .497 157.2 158.0 3.1 .5 .2 .4 .5 + _ Personal and educational expenses ...... 3.739 247.3 247.7 4.6 .2 .5 -.1 .4 School books and supplies ............ .227 231.5 232.4 6.1 .4 1.5 .2 .7 Personal and educational services .... 3.512 248.8 249.2 4.5 .2 .4 -.1 .4 Commodity and service group All items .................................. 100.000 155.1 155.5 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 Commodities .............................. 47.052 140.4 141.0 2.8 .4 -.1 .4 .4 Food and beverages ..................... 19.262 154.5 155.2 4.0 .5 .4 .5 .5 Commodities less food and beverages .... 27.790 131.7 132.3 2.0 .5 -.5 .3 .3 Nondurables less food and beverages .. 16.074 132.8 133.8 2.9 .8 -.8 .1 .5 Apparel commodities ................ 5.017 127.2 129.2 -1.0 1.6 -1.6 .4 .5 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.057 138.4 139.0 4.7 .4 -.5 -.1 .8 Durables ............................. 11.716 129.2 129.2 .8 .0 .0 .5 -.2 Services ................................. 52.948 172.8 173.0 3.2 .1 .2 .2 .2 Rent of shelter 1/ ..................... 25.430 160.9 161.3 3.0 .2 .2 .1 .2 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ......................... 8.531 133.0 131.5 3.2 -1.1 .4 .1 .3 + _ Transportation services ................ 7.279 179.2 180.8 3.1 .9 .4 .7 .2 Medical care services .................. 5.208 233.3 233.9 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .1 Other services ......................... 6.501 200.5 200.7 3.8 .1 .3 .0 .2 Special indexes All items less food ........................ 82.419 155.2 155.5 2.8 .2 .0 .3 .2 All items less shelter ..................... 74.024 151.9 152.4 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........ 82.305 145.7 146.1 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 + _ All items less medical care ................ 93.738 151.6 152.0 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 Commodities less food ...................... 29.471 132.8 133.4 2.1 .5 -.5 .4 .3 Nondurables less food ...................... 17.756 134.3 135.3 3.0 .7 -.6 .1 .6 Nondurables less food and apparel .......... 12.739 139.5 140.0 4.6 .4 -.3 .1 .7 Nondurables ................................ 35.336 143.9 144.8 3.5 .6 -.1 .2 .6 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........... 27.518 164.5 164.4 3.3 -.1 .2 .4 .1 + _ Services less medical care services ........ 47.740 167.6 167.8 3.2 .1 .2 .2 .3 Energy ..................................... 7.470 111.3 110.1 6.1 -1.1 -.5 .0 .8 All items less energy ...................... 92.530 161.2 161.9 2.8 .4 .1 .4 .2 All items less food and energy ........... 74.949 163.1 163.7 2.5 .4 .1 .3 .2 Commodities less food and energy commodities ................. 25.560 141.0 141.6 1.1 .4 -.2 .4 .1 Energy commodities ................... 3.911 105.5 106.0 8.7 .5 -1.5 .2 1.4 Services less energy services .......... 49.388 178.0 178.6 3.2 .3 .2 .2 .2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar: 1982-84=$1.00 2/ ......................... - $.645 $.643 -2.9 -.3 -.2 -.3 -.3 + _ 1967=$1.00 2/ ............................ - .216 .216 - - - - - + _ + 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 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- July Aug. Sept. Oct. Jan. Apr. July Oct. Apr. Oct. 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 Expenditure category All items .................................... - - - - 2.7 4.3 2.4 2.6 3.5 2.5 Food and beverages ......................... 153.6 154.2 155.0 155.8 1.3 4.1 4.8 5.9 2.7 5.3 Food ..................................... 153.3 153.8 154.6 155.5 1.1 4.1 5.4 5.9 2.6 5.6 Food at home ........................... 154.0 154.7 155.7 156.6 .5 4.9 6.5 6.9 2.7 6.7 Cereals and bakery products .......... 174.0 174.1 174.3 174.7 6.5 2.1 3.5 1.6 4.3 2.6 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....... 144.2 145.5 147.0 147.7 3.5 -1.7 8.8 10.1 .9 9.4 Dairy products ....................... 141.9 144.3 147.0 149.4 6.1 5.1 15.4 22.9 5.6 19.1 Fruits and vegetables ................ 186.3 186.0 185.7 188.1 -12.3 22.5 6.0 3.9 3.7 5.0 Other food at home ................... 142.7 142.7 143.4 143.3 1.1 3.2 1.7 1.7 2.1 1.7 Sugar and sweets ................... 144.4 144.2 145.5 145.3 7.1 2.6 6.6 2.5 4.8 4.6 Fats and oils ...................... 139.6 140.7 141.5 141.4 3.2 .0 1.2 5.3 1.6 3.2 Nonalcoholic beverages ............. 127.8 128.5 127.8 127.0 -3.3 .6 -4.3 -2.5 -1.4 -3.4 Other prepared food ................ 156.6 155.9 157.5 158.2 2.7 5.6 4.5 4.1 4.1 4.3 Food away from home .................... 152.7 153.1 153.4 154.2 1.9 2.7 2.9 4.0 2.3 3.5 Alcoholic beverages ...................... 157.8 158.2 159.1 159.7 2.6 3.9 2.6 4.9 3.3 3.7 Housing .................................... 149.7 150.0 150.2 150.5 3.0 3.0 2.7 2.2 3.0 2.4 Shelter .................................. 166.5 166.7 167.0 167.3 3.5 2.7 3.4 1.9 3.1 2.7 Renters' costs 1/ ...................... 157.6 157.7 157.9 158.2 2.9 3.4 4.4 1.5 3.2 3.0 + _ Rent, residential .................... 162.0 162.2 162.6 162.8 3.1 2.3 3.5 2.0 2.7 2.8 Other renters' costs ................. 217.3 217.0 216.6 217.4 2.1 7.7 8.1 .2 4.9 4.1 Homeowners' costs 1/ ................... 161.2 161.4 161.7 162.1 3.6 2.5 3.0 2.3 3.1 2.6 + _ Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ........... 161.4 161.7 162.0 162.3 3.6 2.5 2.8 2.2 3.1 2.5 + _ Household insurance 1/ ............... 147.4 147.4 147.9 148.7 2.5 3.1 3.0 3.6 2.8 3.3 + _ Maintenance and repairs 2/ ............. 137.9 138.0 138.0 138.5 -.6 3.9 3.3 1.8 1.6 2.5 + _ Maintenance and repair services 2/ ... 148.2 149.0 149.4 149.5 .6 3.6 6.5 3.6 2.1 5.0 + _ Maintenance and repair commodities 2/ 124.8 124.1 123.6 124.8 -2.2 4.6 -.6 .0 1.1 -.3 + _ Fuel and other utilities ................. 127.0 127.6 127.8 128.5 2.6 6.9 1.6 4.8 4.7 3.2 Fuels .................................. 113.5 114.1 114.3 115.1 3.3 9.3 -.7 5.8 6.3 2.5 Fuel oil and other household fuel commodities ...................... 93.6 94.1 97.4 103.7 39.4 24.7 -25.4 50.7 31.8 6.0 Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services)......................... 121.1 121.8 121.6 121.8 .3 8.4 1.7 2.3 4.3 2.0 Other utilities and public services 2/ . 158.0 158.5 158.8 159.2 2.4 3.4 5.0 3.1 2.9 4.0 + _ Household furnishings and operation ...... 123.1 123.3 123.6 123.3 1.3 .7 .0 .7 1.0 .3 Housefurnishings ....................... 109.7 109.9 110.1 109.6 .0 -.4 -1.8 -.4 -.2 -1.1 Housekeeping supplies .................. 141.6 141.9 142.0 141.8 4.7 2.6 -.3 .6 3.6 .1 Housekeeping services .................. 151.4 151.5 152.1 152.6 1.6 1.9 5.2 3.2 1.8 4.2 Apparel and upkeep ......................... 131.0 129.0 129.6 130.1 2.8 -.9 -1.8 -2.7 .9 -2.3 Apparel commodities ...................... 127.8 125.7 126.2 126.8 2.8 -.9 -2.5 -3.1 .9 -2.8 Men's and boys' apparel ................ 127.0 127.1 126.1 126.8 4.2 2.9 -3.1 -.6 3.5 -1.9 Women's and girls' apparel ............. 124.1 120.5 121.3 121.9 6.5 -7.9 -2.5 -6.9 -1.0 -4.7 Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ...... 126.8 126.7 132.4 128.9 -1.5 7.8 -21.7 6.8 3.0 -8.6 + _ Footwear ............................... 128.4 127.9 127.3 127.9 -5.5 7.2 2.9 -1.5 .6 .6 Other apparel commodities .............. 151.5 145.9 149.2 151.3 .5 1.1 2.1 -.5 .8 .8 Apparel services 2/....................... 159.3 159.6 159.7 159.7 3.4 1.5 2.8 1.0 2.4 1.9 + _ Transportation ............................. 142.7 142.5 143.1 143.4 3.8 9.5 -1.7 2.0 6.6 .1 Private transportation ................... 140.7 140.5 140.9 141.2 4.8 9.0 -2.0 1.4 6.8 -.3 New vehicles ........................... 145.0 145.3 145.9 145.8 1.4 2.0 3.1 2.2 1.7 2.7 New cars ............................. 141.3 141.7 142.4 142.1 1.4 1.7 2.9 2.3 1.6 2.6 Used cars .............................. 156.8 156.7 157.4 157.0 7.6 1.3 -8.5 .5 4.4 -4.1 Motor fuel ............................. 106.1 104.3 104.2 105.2 16.5 39.1 -13.1 -3.4 27.3 -8.4 Gasoline ............................. 105.9 103.9 103.6 104.5 17.0 38.6 -13.2 -5.2 27.4 -9.3 Maintenance and repairs ................ 159.1 159.7 160.7 161.2 3.6 1.5 2.8 5.4 2.6 4.1 Other private transportation ........... 170.0 170.8 171.5 171.4 -.7 2.2 3.6 3.3 .7 3.5 Other private transportation commodities ...................... 104.0 104.2 104.4 104.3 -.8 .0 -.8 1.2 -.4 .2 Other private transportation services ......................... 186.6 187.6 188.4 188.4 -.7 2.6 4.2 3.9 1.0 4.0 Public transportation .................... 180.0 180.0 182.9 184.8 -12.4 16.8 8.7 11.1 1.1 9.9 Medical care ............................... 228.3 228.6 229.1 229.6 4.2 2.9 3.6 2.3 3.5 2.9 Medical care commodities ................. 208.5 208.3 208.9 210.0 4.4 2.4 3.3 2.9 3.4 3.1 Medical care services .................... 232.6 233.1 233.6 233.9 4.1 2.8 3.7 2.3 3.5 3.0 Professional medical services .......... 209.7 210.1 211.0 211.6 4.0 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.6 Entertainment .............................. 156.9 157.3 157.4 157.5 4.5 2.9 2.9 1.5 3.7 2.2 Entertainment commodities ................ 141.8 142.2 142.4 142.5 4.7 3.2 1.1 2.0 3.9 1.6 Entertainment services ................... 178.7 179.0 179.1 179.1 4.5 2.5 4.8 .9 3.5 2.9 Other goods and services ................... 213.1 213.6 214.0 215.0 2.9 4.3 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 Tobacco and smoking products ............. 233.0 232.5 234.2 235.8 -1.0 4.3 3.9 4.9 1.6 4.4 Personal care 2/ ......................... 150.0 150.4 150.8 150.9 1.1 1.3 1.1 2.4 1.2 1.7 + _ Toilet goods and personal care appliances 2/ ...................... 145.0 145.6 145.7 145.4 -1.9 .8 .8 1.1 -.6 1.0 + _ Personal care services 2/ .............. 156.2 156.5 157.2 158.0 4.5 2.1 1.3 4.7 3.3 3.0 + _ Personal and educational expenses ........ 243.9 245.0 244.8 245.7 5.6 5.3 4.7 3.0 5.4 3.9 School books and supplies .............. 226.8 230.2 230.6 232.2 9.1 4.9 .9 9.9 7.0 5.3 Personal and educational services ...... 245.4 246.4 246.1 247.0 5.4 5.5 4.9 2.6 5.4 3.7 Commodity and service group All items .................................... - - - - 2.7 4.3 2.4 2.6 3.5 2.5 Commodities ................................ 140.0 139.8 140.4 140.9 3.3 5.0 .6 2.6 4.1 1.6 Food and beverages ....................... 153.6 154.2 155.0 155.8 1.3 4.1 4.8 5.9 2.7 5.3 Commodities less food and beverages ...... 131.6 131.0 131.4 131.8 4.4 6.0 -2.4 .6 5.2 -.9 Nondurables less food and beverages .... 132.8 131.7 131.8 132.4 7.3 9.5 -3.8 -1.2 8.4 -2.5 Apparel commodities .................. 127.8 125.7 126.2 126.8 2.8 -.9 -2.5 -3.1 .9 -2.8 Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................... 138.1 137.4 137.3 138.4 8.4 16.3 -5.6 .9 12.3 -2.4 Durables ............................... 129.1 129.1 129.7 129.4 2.2 .9 -.6 .9 1.6 .2 Services ................................... 171.8 172.2 172.5 172.9 2.7 3.6 3.8 2.6 3.1 3.2 Rent of shelter 1/ ....................... 160.4 160.7 160.9 161.3 3.6 2.8 3.6 2.3 3.2 2.9 + _ Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................ 130.8 131.3 131.4 131.8 1.3 5.1 3.8 3.1 3.2 3.4 + _ Transportation services .................. 178.6 179.3 180.5 180.9 -1.8 4.4 4.8 5.3 1.3 5.0 Medical care services .................... 232.6 233.1 233.6 233.9 4.1 2.8 3.7 2.3 3.5 3.0 Other services ........................... 199.2 199.8 199.8 200.2 4.9 4.0 4.5 2.0 4.4 3.3 Special indexes All items less food .......................... 154.3 154.3 154.7 155.0 3.2 4.3 1.6 1.8 3.7 1.7 All items less shelter ....................... 151.2 151.3 151.8 152.3 2.5 4.9 1.9 2.9 3.7 2.4 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .......... 145.0 145.1 145.5 146.0 2.6 4.9 2.0 2.8 3.7 2.4 + _ All items less medical care .................. 150.8 150.9 151.3 151.8 2.7 4.4 2.2 2.7 3.6 2.4 Commodities less food ........................ 132.8 132.2 132.7 133.1 4.4 5.9 -2.4 .9 5.1 -.7 Nondurables less food ........................ 134.1 133.3 133.4 134.2 6.9 8.7 -3.5 .3 7.8 -1.6 Nondurables less food and apparel ............ 138.9 138.5 138.6 139.6 7.7 13.2 -4.2 2.0 10.4 -1.1 Nondurables .................................. 143.3 143.2 143.5 144.4 4.4 6.7 .3 3.1 5.5 1.7 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ............. 163.1 163.5 164.2 164.4 1.8 3.8 4.5 3.2 2.8 3.9 + _ Services less medical care services .......... 166.6 167.0 167.3 167.8 2.2 3.5 4.2 2.9 2.8 3.5 Energy ....................................... 109.3 108.7 108.7 109.6 9.6 23.4 -7.3 1.1 16.3 -3.2 All items less energy ........................ 160.7 160.9 161.5 161.9 2.3 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.7 2.9 All items less food and energy ............. 162.8 162.9 163.4 163.7 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.6 2.4 Commodities less food and energy commodities .......................... 140.9 140.6 141.1 141.3 2.3 1.4 -.3 1.1 1.9 .4 Energy commodities ..................... 105.2 103.6 103.8 105.3 18.0 37.7 -14.2 .4 27.5 -7.2 Services less energy services ............ 177.5 177.9 178.3 178.7 2.6 3.2 3.9 2.7 2.9 3.3 + 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 Oct. 1996 from- Sept. 1996 from- schedule July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. Aug. Sept. Sept. July Aug. 1/ 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 1995 1996 1996 + _ U.S. city average ...................... M 154.3 154.5 155.1 155.5 3.0 0.6 0.3 3.0 0.5 0.4 Region and area size 2/ + _ Northeast urban......................... M 160.9 161.4 162.0 162.4 2.9 .6 .2 2.8 .7 .4 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 160.5 161.0 161.8 162.1 2.9 .7 .2 2.9 .8 .5 Size B - 500,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 159.7 160.0 159.8 160.1 2.4 .1 .2 2.5 .1 -.1 Size C - 50,000 to 500,000 .......... M 162.9 163.2 163.7 165.3 3.3 1.3 1.0 2.2 .5 .3 North Central urban .................... M 149.8 149.9 150.6 151.0 3.2 .7 .3 3.1 .5 .5 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 149.7 149.9 150.4 150.7 3.0 .5 .2 2.8 .5 .3 Size B - 360,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 148.3 148.7 149.5 150.2 3.9 1.0 .5 3.7 .8 .5 Size C - 50,000 to 360,000 .......... M 151.9 151.9 152.6 153.7 3.3 1.2 .7 3.2 .5 .5 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 148.5 148.5 149.1 149.2 3.5 .5 .1 3.2 .4 .4 South urban ............................ M 152.6 152.7 153.1 153.5 3.0 .5 .3 3.2 .3 .3 Size A - More than 1,200,000 ........ M 151.6 151.4 151.7 151.9 2.6 .3 .1 3.0 .1 .2 Size B - 450,000 to 1,200,000 ....... M 152.9 153.1 153.6 153.9 3.3 .5 .2 3.3 .5 .3 Size C - 50,000 to 450,000 .......... M 153.6 153.9 154.4 154.8 2.9 .6 .3 3.3 .5 .3 Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000) ......... M 152.8 153.1 153.9 154.8 3.7 1.1 .6 3.4 .7 .5 West urban ............................. M 154.9 154.9 155.5 155.9 2.8 .6 .3 3.0 .4 .4 Size A - More than 1,250,000 ........ M 153.4 153.4 154.0 154.4 2.7 .7 .3 2.7 .4 .4 Size C - 50,000 to 330,000 .......... M 159.3 159.5 159.9 160.2 3.5 .4 .2 3.5 .4 .3 Size classes A 3/ ................................. M 140.8 140.9 141.4 141.7 2.8 .6 .2 2.8 .4 .4 + _ B .................................... M 154.4 154.6 155.0 155.4 3.1 .5 .3 3.1 .4 .3 C .................................... M 155.8 156.0 156.6 157.4 3.2 .9 .5 3.1 .5 .4 D .................................... M 153.0 153.3 154.0 154.7 3.7 .9 .5 3.4 .7 .5 Selected local areas Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI...... M 152.7 152.9 153.2 153.7 3.0 .5 .3 2.8 .3 .2 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...... M 152.3 151.9 152.7 153.2 2.2 .9 .3 2.3 .3 .5 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT M 162.8 163.3 164.4 164.4 2.9 .7 .0 3.1 1.0 .7 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD .. M 162.1 163.0 163.7 164.2 2.8 .7 .3 2.4 1.0 .4 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..... M 153.4 153.0 153.8 154.0 2.5 .7 .1 2.5 .3 .5 Baltimore, MD .......................... 1 154.6 - 154.4 - - - - 2.4 -.1 - Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ........... 1 160.9 - 162.1 - - - - 3.0 .7 - Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ............. 1 144.3 - 145.8 - - - - 3.2 1.0 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL .............. 1 150.8 - 152.6 - - - - 3.9 1.2 - St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........ 1 149.0 - 150.1 - - - - 2.5 .7 - Washington, DC-MD-VA ................... 1 157.6 - 158.2 - - - - 3.1 .4 - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................. 2 - 149.5 - 150.7 2.9 .8 - - - - Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .................. 2 - 148.0 - 148.8 2.6 .5 - - - - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ......... 2 - 142.2 - 142.5 1.1 .2 - - - - Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ........... 2 - 147.2 - 148.0 2.6 .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.