FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-254
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:  			    Wednesday, September 15, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                      
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 1999
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 167.1 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U
 increased 2.3 percent.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.3 in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The August
 level of 163.8 was 2.4 percent higher than the index in August 1998.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.3 percent in
 August, the same as in July.  Energy costs increased sharply for the
 second consecutive month--up 2.7 percent in August--accounting for about
 two-thirds of the August advance in the overall CPI.  The index for
 petroleum-based energy rose 5.4 percent in August, and the index for
 energy services increased 0.3 percent.  For the second consecutive month
 in August, the food index increased 0.2 percent and the index for food at
 home, 0.1 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent,
 following an increase of 0.2 percent in July. Downturns in the indexes for
 airline fares and cigarettes accounted for the smaller advance in the
 August all items less food and energy index.
 
 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                      1999               3-mos. ended   ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.  Aug. `99   Aug. `99
 All Items            .1    .2   .7   .0   .0   .3   .3    2.4       2.3
  Food and beverages  .2   -.2   .1   .4   .0   .2   .2    1.5       2.0
  Housing             .1    .2   .4   .1   .2   .1   .2    2.0       2.2
  Apparel            -.2   -.3  1.5  -.2  -.4  -.9  -.3   -6.2      -3.1
  Transportation     -.1    .7  2.4  -.5  -.6  1.2   .9    6.0       3.2
  Medical care        .2    .2   .4   .2   .4   .3   .4    4.1       3.4
  Recreation         -.1    .0   .3   .2   .0   .0   .0     .0        .9
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .1    .0   .1  -.1   .0   .2   .2    1.6       1.1
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         -.1   -.6  1.0  -.2   .2   .9  -.2    3.5       8.2
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy             .0   1.6  6.1 -1.3 -1.2  2.1  2.7   15.3       7.2
   Food               .1   -.2   .1   .4   .0   .2   .2    1.5       2.0
   All Items less                                                       
     Food and energy  .1    .1   .4   .1   .1   .2   .1    1.4       1.9
 
     
      During the first eight months of 1999, the CPI-U rose at a 2.6
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 1.6 percent for all of 1998.  The acceleration thus far in1999
 has been due to energy costs, which increased at a 15.4 percent annual
 rate in the first eight months of 1999 after declining 8.8 percent in all
 of 1998.  Food costs, which rose 2.3 percent in 1998, have risen at a 1.9
 percent SAAR in the first eight months of 1999.  Excluding food and
 energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 1.6 percent rate compared with a 2.4
 percent rise for all of 1998.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in August. The index
 for food at home increased 0.1 percent, the same as in July.  The index
 for fruits and vegetables, which had declined in each of the preceding two
 months, rose 0.6 percent in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the
 index for fruits and vegetables was virtually unchanged.)  The index for
 fresh fruits decreased 0.4 percent, despite another increase in citrus
 fruit prices.  In the first eight months of 1999, prices for citrus fruits
 have risen 60.8 percent.  The index for fresh vegetables rose 2.2 percent
 and the index for processed fruits and vegetables increased 0.1 percent.
 The index for dairy products rose 0.5 percent in August.  The index for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which declined 0.1 percent in July,
 increased 0.3 percent in August.  Increases in the indexes for eggs and
 poultry--up 4.0 and 0.8 percent, respectively--more than offset declines
 in the indexes for beef and veal and for pork.  Among the other major
 grocery store food groups, the index for other food at home rose 0.3
 percent, while the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for
 nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.9 and 0.1 percent, respectively.  The
 other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home
 and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.3 percent.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.2 percent in August, following an
 increase of 0.1 percent in July.  Shelter costs also rose 0.2 percent in
 August.  Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent
 rent each increased 0.2 percent, while the index for lodging away from
 home declined 0.3 percent.  The index for fuels and utilities increased
 0.4 percent in August.  The index for household fuels rose 0.4 percent.
 The indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas increased 2.9 and 1.9
 percent, respectively, while the index for electricity declined 0.3
 percent.  The index for household furnishings and operations, which was
 unchanged in July, rose 0.1 percent in August.
      
      The transportation component, which rose 1.2 percent in July,
 advanced 0.9 percent in August.  The gasoline index increased sharply for
 the second consecutive month--up 5.6 percent in August after rising 4.3
 percent in July.  Gasoline prices have risen 25.1 percent thus far in
 1999, but as of August are 9.8 percent lower than their peak level in
 November 1990.  Airline fares, which increased 6.5 percent in July, turned
 down in August, declining 2.7 percent.  The index for new and used
 vehicles rose 0.1 percent in August; a 1.0 percent increase in the index
 for used cars and trucks more than offset a 0.1 percent decline in the
 index for new vehicles.
      
      The index for apparel declined for the fourth consecutive month, down
 0.3 percent in August.  Discounting on men's and boys' wear more than
 offset price increases on women's and girls' clothing.
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in August to a level 3.4 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.6 percent,
 with the index for prescription drugs up 0.7 percent.  The index for
 medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for physicians' services
 and for hospital services increased 0.1 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
      
      In August, for the third consecutive month, the index for recreation
 costs was unchanged.  Increases in the indexes for cable television, for
 fees for lessons, and for club memberships were offset by declines in the
 indexes for toys, for pets and pet services, for sporting goods, for
 photography, and for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and
 sporting events.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.2 percent in
 August.  Educational costs rose 0.3 percent, and the index for
 communication increased 0.1 percent.  Within the latter group, the index
 for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 3.8 percent,
 while the index for telephone services increased 0.3 percent.
      
      The index for other goods and services declined 0.2 percent in
 August, following a 0.9 percent increase in July.  The index for tobacco
 and smoking products, which rose 3.3 percent in July, fell 1.3 percent in
 August, reflecting a 1.8 percent drop in cigarette prices.
      
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers rose 0.2 percent in August.
 
 
 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      1999                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug.`99   Aug. `99
 All Items            .0    .1   .7   .0   .0   .4   .2    2.5       2.4
  Food and beverages  .1   -.2   .1   .3   .1   .2   .2    1.7       2.0
  Housing             .1    .3   .3   .1   .1   .2   .1    1.8       2.1
  Apparel            -.4   -.4  1.4  -.1  -.5  -.7  -.5   -6.6      -2.7
  Transportation     -.4    .6  2.6  -.4  -.5  1.2  1.0    7.2       3.4
  Medical care        .2    .3   .4   .2   .4   .3   .2    3.6       3.4
  Recreation         -.2   -.1   .2   .2   .1   .0  -.1     .0        .4
  Education and                                                         
   communication      .2    .0  -.1   .0   .1   .2   .1    1.6       1.2
  Other goods and                                                     
   services          -.2  -1.0  1.4  -.4   .3  1.2  -.4    4.4      10.4
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy             -.2   2.0  6.4 -1.4 -1.2  2.3  2.8   16.6       8.0
  Food                .1   -.2   .1   .3   .1   .1   .2    1.7       1.9
  All Items less                                                        
   food and energy    .0    .0   .4   .1   .1   .2   .1    1.6       1.9

 
 Consumer Price Index data for September are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, October 19, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
     
 _______________________________________________________________________

     
       A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

            Because price data are used for different purposes by
       different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
       seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
       month.
       
            For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
       seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they
       eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the
       same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such
       as price movements resulting from changing climatic
       conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays,
       and sales.
       
            The unadjusted data are of primary interest to
       consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
       Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation
       purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
       and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to
       the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
       
            Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally
       adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method.  The updated seasonal data at the end of
       1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.  Subsequent
       annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g.,
       data from 1994 through 1998 were replaced at the end of
       1998.  The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other
       aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement
       of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status of
       every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
       criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
       adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
       adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the
       last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be
       used before that period.
       
            Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index
       levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after
       their original release.  For this reason, BLS advises
       against the use of these data in escalation agreements.
       
            Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors
       for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
       enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention
       Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
       Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
       estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values
       and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal
       pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
       calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
       calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA
       software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment.
       
            For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this
       procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price
       volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
       seasonally adjusted data for those series.  For some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects wholesale
       tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers.  For
       some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis
       Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise
       tax increases.  For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the
       procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase
       in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was
       used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions
       affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to
       Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1998     1999     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     166.7     167.1      2.3      0.2     0.0     0.3     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     499.2     500.7        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     164.2     164.7      2.0      0.3     0.0     0.2     0.2 
   Food ......................................     15.422     163.8     164.2      2.0      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.691     163.7     164.1      1.7      0.2     0.0     0.1     0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.544     186.3     184.9      1.2     -0.8     0.1     0.3    -0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.569     147.3     148.5      0.2      0.8     0.3    -0.1     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.088     155.7     156.5      4.0      0.5    -0.1    -0.3     0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.440     202.0     202.1      3.2      0.0    -0.5    -0.2     0.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.049     134.3     134.5      1.9      0.1     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.002     153.7     154.2      1.4      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     152.4     152.7      1.7      0.2    -0.4     0.0     0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .309     148.1     148.6     -0.7      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.5 
      Other foods ............................      1.316     169.3     169.9      1.8      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .320     104.2     104.8      1.3      0.6    -0.1    -0.7     0.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.730     165.1     165.6      2.5      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .175     105.5     105.8      3.4      0.3     0.1     1.1     0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .986     169.9     170.2      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.828     164.7     165.0      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     30.283     188.0     188.3      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.007     177.5     177.9      3.0      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.376     117.1     117.1      3.7      0.0     0.6     0.2    -0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.529     193.0     193.4      2.6      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .371     102.1     102.2      3.0      0.1     1.7    -0.1     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.735     131.1     131.4      0.6      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.4 
    Fuels ....................................      3.801     116.0     116.2      0.3      0.2     0.1     0.7     0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .227      87.5      89.2      2.9      1.9     1.0     1.9     2.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.574     124.0     124.1      0.1      0.1     0.1     0.6     0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .934     104.1     104.4      2.2      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.810     126.8     126.8      0.0      0.0     0.2     0.0     0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .908     104.3     105.0      2.9      0.7     0.2     0.0     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     127.3     127.5     -3.1      0.2    -0.4    -0.9    -0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.358     128.3     127.1     -2.7     -0.9     0.2    -1.1    -1.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.939     116.1     117.9     -4.8      1.6    -0.3    -2.0     0.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     127.4     128.3      3.1      0.7    -0.6     0.5     0.7 
   Footwear ..................................       .876     125.2     123.8     -3.1     -1.1    -0.6     1.0    -1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     16.999     144.7     145.7      3.2      0.7    -0.6     1.2     0.9 
   Private transportation ....................     15.653     140.6     141.9      3.3      0.9    -0.4     0.9     1.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.843      99.8      99.7     -0.2     -0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      4.983     142.0     141.4     -1.0     -0.4    -0.1     0.1    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.914     152.3     153.8      1.8      1.0     0.9     0.9     1.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.493     102.5     107.8     17.7      5.2    -3.0     4.1     5.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.476     101.9     107.2     17.7      5.2    -3.2     4.3     5.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .549     100.0     100.1     -1.1      0.1    -0.3    -0.2     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.624     172.1     172.1      2.9      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.346     200.8     197.1      2.5     -1.8    -2.9     4.3    -1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.713     251.1     251.9      3.4      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.252     231.7     232.5      4.2      0.3     0.4     0.6     0.6 
   Medical care services .....................      4.461     255.5     256.2      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Professional services (3).................      2.854     229.8     230.1      3.0      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.354     299.3     301.3      4.1      0.7     0.4     0.2     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.120     102.2     102.2      0.9      0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.748     100.6     100.9     -0.3      0.3    -0.2    -0.1     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.478     100.4     101.2      1.1      0.8     0.0     0.2     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.694     106.0     107.5      4.8      1.4     0.3     0.5     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     262.3     264.5      6.2      0.8     0.4     0.3     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.492     305.4     309.9      4.8      1.5     0.3     0.4     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.783      95.5      95.6     -2.3      0.1    -0.2     0.0     0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.580      94.9      95.0     -2.8      0.1    -0.3     0.0     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.327      99.5      99.8     -0.6      0.3     0.1    -0.2     0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .253      30.0      29.8    -20.7     -0.7    -3.6     0.7    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .148      52.9      50.9    -28.4     -3.8    -2.2    -2.9    -3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.624     258.3     257.6      8.2     -0.3     0.2     0.9    -0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.159     356.0     350.1     27.9     -1.7     0.2     3.3    -1.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.465     161.1     161.4      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .742     152.0     152.3      2.6      0.2     1.1    -0.4     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .973     171.4     171.9      3.2      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.491     242.9     243.9      3.5      0.4     0.1     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.109     143.9     144.5      2.0      0.4    -0.2     0.4     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     164.2     164.7      2.0      0.3     0.0     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.702     131.9     132.5      1.9      0.5    -0.4     0.5     0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.345     136.7     138.0      4.6      1.0    -0.5     1.0     0.8 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     127.3     127.5     -3.1      0.2    -0.4    -0.9    -0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.514     146.8     148.8      8.5      1.4    -0.5     1.5     1.8 
   Durables ..................................     11.356     125.6     125.4     -1.4     -0.2     0.0     0.2     0.0 
 Services ....................................     57.891     189.5     189.9      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.912     195.7     196.1      2.8      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .371     102.1     102.2      3.0      0.1     1.7    -0.1     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.574     124.0     124.1      0.1      0.1     0.1     0.6     0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .934     104.1     104.4      2.2      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .908     104.3     105.0      2.9      0.7     0.2     0.0     0.7 
  Transportation services ....................      6.963     191.0     190.2      1.3     -0.4    -0.5     1.0    -0.4 
  Medical care services ......................      4.461     255.5     256.2      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.768     222.6     223.9      2.9      0.6     0.1     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.578     167.2     167.7      2.3      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.717     160.1     160.6      2.0      0.3    -0.1     0.4     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     94.287     162.0     162.5      2.2      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.688     133.4     134.0      2.0      0.4    -0.3     0.4     0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.331     138.7     139.9      4.5      0.9    -0.4     0.9     0.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.500     148.2     150.0      8.0      1.2    -0.3     1.4     1.6 
 Nondurables .................................     30.753     150.6     151.5      3.2      0.6    -0.1     0.5     0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.979     196.5     196.9      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.429     183.4     183.8      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      6.294     108.7     111.3      7.2      2.4    -1.2     2.1     2.7 
 All items less energy .......................     93.706     174.3     174.5      1.9      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.284     176.9     177.1      1.9      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.967     143.2     143.0      0.2     -0.1     0.0     0.1    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.720     101.3     106.3     16.4      4.9    -2.7     4.0     5.4 
   Services less energy services .............     54.316     196.1     196.5      2.6      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .600    $ .598        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .200    $ .200        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1998   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  166.2   166.2   166.7   167.2    1.7    1.2    3.7    2.4    1.5    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  164.2   164.2   164.5   164.8    2.8    2.7    1.0    1.5    2.7    1.2 
   Food ......................................  163.9   163.9   164.2   164.5    2.8    2.7    1.0    1.5    2.7    1.2 
    Food at home .............................  163.9   163.9   164.0   164.2    2.8    2.5    0.5    0.7    2.6    0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  185.1   185.2   185.8   184.2    1.5    2.0    3.3   -1.9    1.8    0.7 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.3   147.7   147.6   148.1   -1.9   -0.8    1.4    2.2   -1.3    1.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  156.2   156.1   155.7   156.5   15.1   17.5  -14.2    0.8   16.3   -7.0 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  206.2   205.1   204.7   206.0    1.2    4.5    7.3   -0.4    2.8    3.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  134.0   134.4   134.9   134.8    2.4    1.8    0.9    2.4    2.1    1.7 
     Other food at home ......................  153.4   153.5   153.7   154.1    4.8   -1.8    0.8    1.8    1.5    1.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  152.7   152.1   152.1   152.8    1.9    0.0    4.6    0.3    0.9    2.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.2   147.2   147.7   148.5   18.5  -13.6   -8.5    3.6    1.2   -2.6 
      Other foods ............................  168.7   169.1   169.3   169.6    2.7    0.5    1.9    2.2    1.6    2.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  105.0   104.9   104.2   104.8    5.1    4.3   -3.4   -0.8    4.7   -2.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................  164.6   164.6   165.1   165.6    2.8    3.0    2.0    2.5    2.9    2.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  104.3   104.4   105.5   105.8    4.0    1.6    2.3    5.9    2.8    4.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  169.0   169.3   170.1   170.6    2.7    2.9    1.7    3.8    2.8    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  163.3   163.6   163.8   164.1    2.8    0.7    3.0    2.0    1.7    2.5 
   Shelter ...................................  186.6   187.0   187.1   187.5    4.0    1.3    3.7    1.9    2.6    2.8 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  176.9   177.1   177.5   177.9    3.8    2.8    3.0    2.3    3.3    2.6 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  105.0   105.6   105.8   105.5   12.8  -12.4   15.0    1.9   -0.6    8.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  192.6   192.8   193.0   193.4    3.0    2.8    2.7    1.7    2.9    2.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.5   102.2   102.1   102.2    2.9    0.8    1.6    6.9    1.8    4.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.3   127.5   128.2   128.7   -2.2   -0.3    0.6    4.5   -1.2    2.5 
    Fuels ....................................  111.2   111.3   112.1   112.6   -3.2   -1.1    0.4    5.1   -2.1    2.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   87.4    88.3    90.0    92.2  -12.7  -13.2   19.5   23.8  -12.9   21.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.9   119.0   119.7   120.1   -2.3   -0.3   -0.7    4.1   -1.3    1.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.7   103.8   103.8   103.9    2.4    2.4    2.7    0.8    2.4    1.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.5   126.7   126.7   126.8    0.3   -0.6   -0.6    1.0   -0.2    0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  104.1   104.3   104.3   105.0    3.2    2.0    3.1    3.5    2.6    3.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.9   131.4   130.2   129.8   -2.7   -7.3    4.0   -6.2   -5.0   -1.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.9   132.2   130.8   128.6   -1.8   -1.5    2.5   -9.6   -1.7   -3.8 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  123.9   123.5   121.0   122.0   -8.7  -11.0    7.4   -6.0   -9.9    0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.6   126.8   127.4   128.3   24.1  -14.1    3.9    2.2    3.2    3.0 
   Footwear ..................................  126.1   125.4   126.6   125.2   -0.3  -10.4    1.9   -2.8   -5.5   -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  143.9   143.0   144.7   146.0   -1.4   -2.5   11.0    6.0   -2.0    8.4 
   Private transportation ....................  140.0   139.4   140.7   142.3   -0.6   -3.7   11.0    6.7   -2.2    8.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.0   100.1   100.4   100.5    0.8   -4.7    0.8    2.0   -2.0    1.4 
     New vehicles ............................  142.7   142.6   142.7   142.6   -1.9   -0.8   -0.8   -0.3   -1.4   -0.6 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.6   150.9   152.3   153.8    7.9  -14.0    3.6   11.7   -3.7    7.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................   99.9    96.9   100.9   106.6   -8.5  -10.8   81.2   29.6   -9.7   53.3 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   99.3    96.1   100.2   105.8   -7.4  -11.3   81.1   28.9   -9.3   52.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.3   100.1   100.1    0.0   -2.4    0.0   -2.0   -1.2   -1.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  171.5   171.8   172.2   172.3    4.4    2.1    3.1    1.9    3.2    2.5 
   Public transportation (1)..................  198.4   192.6   200.8   197.1   -9.6   12.7   11.4   -2.6    0.9    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  249.6   250.5   251.2   252.1    2.8    3.5    3.4    4.1    3.1    3.8 
   Medical care commodities ..................  229.0   229.9   231.2   232.5    4.0    2.3    4.3    6.3    3.2    5.3 
   Medical care services .....................  254.0   254.9   255.5   256.2    2.6    3.9    3.0    3.5    3.3    3.3 
    Professional services (3).................  228.2   229.0   229.5   230.1    2.9    2.7    3.2    3.4    2.8    3.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  297.6   298.8   299.3   301.3    2.2    5.6    3.6    5.1    3.9    4.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  102.0   102.0   102.0   102.0    0.0    1.6    2.0    0.0    0.8    1.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.8   100.6   100.5   100.8    0.0    0.4   -1.6    0.0    0.2   -0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.1   101.1   101.3   101.5    2.0    0.8    0.0    1.6    1.4    0.8 
   Education (2)..............................  107.1   107.4   107.9   108.2    4.7    5.9    5.0    4.2    5.3    4.6 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  262.4   263.4   264.2   265.8   11.5    3.5    4.7    5.3    7.4    5.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   307.2   308.1   309.4   310.2    3.8    6.2    5.2    4.0    5.0    4.6 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   95.7    95.5    95.5    95.6   -0.4   -3.6   -4.9   -0.4   -2.0   -2.7 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   95.2    94.9    94.9    95.0   -0.4   -4.4   -5.3   -0.8   -2.4   -3.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   99.6    99.7    99.5    99.8    2.8   -2.7   -3.1    0.8    0.0   -1.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   30.9    29.8    30.0    29.8  -22.3  -20.8  -25.9  -13.5  -21.6  -19.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   55.7    54.5    52.9    50.9  -27.5  -31.4  -24.2  -30.3  -29.5  -27.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  256.2   256.8   259.0   258.4    3.6   26.7    0.9    3.5   14.6    2.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  344.1   344.9   356.3   351.5    8.1  140.7   -5.5    8.9   61.3    1.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................  160.7   161.1   161.1   161.4    2.3    3.6    3.3    1.8    2.9    2.5 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.9   152.6   152.0   152.3    0.8    2.7    3.0    3.8    1.8    3.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  171.0   170.9   171.4   171.9    2.4    4.1    4.1    2.1    3.3    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  241.6   241.9   242.9   243.9    3.6    4.4    2.0    3.9    4.0    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  144.1   143.8   144.4   145.0    0.0    0.8    4.6    2.5    0.4    3.5 
  Food and beverages .........................  164.2   164.2   164.5   164.8    2.8    2.7    1.0    1.5    2.7    1.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.3   131.8   132.5   133.2   -1.5   -0.3    6.9    2.7   -0.9    4.8 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  136.9   136.2   137.6   138.7   -0.9    1.2   13.3    5.4    0.2    9.2 
    Apparel ..................................  131.9   131.4   130.2   129.8   -2.7   -7.3    4.0   -6.2   -5.0   -1.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  144.6   143.9   146.1   148.8   -0.6    5.4   18.1   12.1    2.3   15.1 
   Durables ..................................  125.7   125.7   125.9   125.9   -0.9   -4.3   -0.9    0.6   -2.6   -0.2 
 Services ....................................  188.3   188.5   189.0   189.3    2.6    1.9    3.0    2.1    2.3    2.6 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  194.4   194.9   195.1   195.5    4.1    1.3    3.6    2.3    2.6    2.9 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  100.5   102.2   102.1   102.2    2.9    0.8    1.6    6.9    1.8    4.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  118.9   119.0   119.7   120.1   -2.3   -0.3   -0.7    4.1   -1.3    1.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.7   103.8   103.8   103.9    2.4    2.4    2.7    0.8    2.4    1.8 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  104.1   104.3   104.3   105.0    3.2    2.0    3.1    3.5    2.6    3.3 
  Transportation services ....................  190.4   189.5   191.4   190.7   -1.1    2.8    2.8    0.6    0.9    1.7 
  Medical care services ......................  254.0   254.9   255.5   256.2    2.6    3.9    3.0    3.5    3.3    3.3 
  Other services .............................  222.7   223.0   223.6   224.2    3.0    3.1    2.6    2.7    3.1    2.6 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  166.5   166.5   167.0   167.5    1.5    1.2    4.2    2.4    1.3    3.3 
 All items less shelter ......................  159.8   159.6   160.3   160.7    0.8    1.5    3.6    2.3    1.1    2.9 
 All items less medical care .................  161.4   161.3   161.8   162.3    1.5    1.3    3.8    2.2    1.4    3.0 
 Commodities less food .......................  133.9   133.5   134.1   134.8   -1.5   -0.3    6.9    2.7   -0.9    4.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  138.9   138.3   139.5   140.6   -0.3    0.6   13.1    5.0    0.1    9.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  146.0   145.6   147.6   150.0    0.0    4.7   16.6   11.4    2.3   14.0 
 Nondurables .................................  150.6   150.5   151.3   152.1    0.5    1.9    6.6    4.0    1.2    5.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  195.1   195.4   196.1   196.5    1.0    2.1    2.7    2.9    1.6    2.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  182.2   182.4   183.0   183.2    2.3    2.0    2.9    2.2    2.1    2.6 
 Energy ......................................  105.1   103.8   106.0   108.9   -5.4   -5.1   28.1   15.3   -5.2   21.5 
 All items less energy .......................  174.3   174.4   174.7   174.9    2.1    1.9    2.3    1.4    2.0    1.9 
  All items less food and energy .............  176.9   177.0   177.3   177.5    1.8    1.8    2.5    1.4    1.8    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.0   144.0   144.1   143.9   -0.3    0.8    0.6   -0.3    0.3    0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................   98.8    96.1    99.9   105.3   -9.0  -11.3   75.8   29.0  -10.1   50.6 
   Services less energy services .............  195.4   195.6   196.1   196.4    3.0    2.1    3.3    2.1    2.5    2.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

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

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Aug.1999 from--      July1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    166.2  166.2  166.7  167.1    2.3    0.5    0.2    2.1    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    172.8  173.1  173.4  174.1    2.1    0.6    0.4    2.1    0.3    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    173.6  174.1  174.5  175.1    2.2    0.6    0.3    2.2    0.5    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    103.9  103.8  103.9  104.3    2.1    0.5    0.4    1.9    0.0    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    162.2  162.5  162.9  163.2    2.3    0.4    0.2    1.9    0.4    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    163.6  164.1  164.6  164.8    2.4    0.4    0.1    2.1    0.6    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.7  103.7  103.9  104.2    2.2    0.5    0.3    1.7    0.2    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    156.5  156.9  157.2  157.7    2.9    0.5    0.3    2.4    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    161.6  161.7  162.2  162.6    1.9    0.6    0.2    1.8    0.4    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    160.5  160.9  161.4  161.9    1.9    0.6    0.3    1.8    0.6    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    104.1  104.1  104.3  104.4    1.9    0.3    0.1    1.9    0.2    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    162.1  162.0  162.6  163.7    2.2    1.0    0.7    1.6    0.3    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    168.7  168.3  168.9  169.5    2.9    0.7    0.4    2.8    0.1    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    169.8  169.3  169.9  170.5    3.0    0.7    0.4    2.9    0.1    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    104.8  104.5  104.9  105.2    2.6    0.7    0.3    2.5    0.1    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    150.5  150.7  151.1  151.6    2.4    0.6    0.3    2.3    0.4    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    104.1  104.0  104.2  104.5    2.1    0.5    0.3    1.9    0.1    0.2 
   D .........................................   M    161.9  162.0  162.4  163.1    2.3    0.7    0.4    1.9    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    168.2  168.9  169.4  169.3    2.4    0.2   -0.1    1.7    0.7    0.3 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    166.2  165.4  165.8  166.3    2.3    0.5    0.3    2.3   -0.2    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    176.1  176.8  177.2  177.6    2.0    0.5    0.2    2.1    0.6    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    174.2      -  175.3      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.6      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    161.5      -  162.8      -      -      -      -    1.8    0.8      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    157.2      -  158.3      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.7      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    103.6      -  104.6      -      -      -      -    1.8    1.0      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  164.8      -  165.9    2.5    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  163.8      -  164.2    2.3    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  148.3      -  148.9    1.0    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  161.3      -  162.3    0.9    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  172.1      -  173.1    2.7    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  171.8      -  173.5    4.1    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  172.7      -  173.4    2.9    0.4      -      -      -      - 

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

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1998     1999     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.3     163.8      2.4      0.3     0.0     0.4     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     486.3     487.8        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.4     163.9      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.966     163.0     163.5      1.9      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Food at home .............................     10.832     162.5     162.9      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.689     186.1     184.8      1.3     -0.7     0.1     0.3    -0.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.055     146.8     148.2      0.2      1.0     0.5    -0.2     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.193     155.3     156.0      3.9      0.5    -0.1    -0.3     0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.492     201.0     201.2      3.2      0.1    -0.4     0.0     0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.184     133.1     133.2      1.9      0.1     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.220     153.0     153.5      1.3      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     152.0     152.6      1.5      0.4    -0.5     0.0     0.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .354     147.8     148.3     -0.7      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.446     169.2     169.7      1.7      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .355     103.9     104.4      0.9      0.5    -0.3    -0.5     0.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.133     164.9     165.5      2.5      0.4    -0.1     0.3     0.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .216     105.3     105.8      3.5      0.5     0.3     0.8     0.5 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.045     169.1     169.2      2.8      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.685     160.7     161.0      2.1      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.496     182.0     182.4      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.500     177.1     177.5      3.0      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.379     116.7     116.8      3.5      0.1     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.296     175.7     176.1      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .320     102.2     102.3      2.9      0.1     1.4    -0.1     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.850     131.1     131.4      0.6      0.2     0.1     0.6     0.4 
    Fuels ....................................      3.928     115.7     115.9      0.3      0.2     0.1     0.6     0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .201      87.6      89.3      2.6      1.9     1.1     1.5     2.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.727     123.6     123.7      0.1      0.1     0.1     0.6     0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .922     104.2     104.4      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.339     124.9     124.7     -0.4     -0.2     0.1     0.1     0.0 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .402     104.8     105.4      3.1      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.199     126.4     126.4     -2.7      0.0    -0.5    -0.7    -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.474     128.6     127.2     -2.1     -1.1     0.2    -1.0    -1.8 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.948     114.4     116.0     -4.4      1.4    -0.5    -2.1     0.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .344     128.4     129.6      3.7      0.9    -0.7     0.3     0.9 
   Footwear ..................................      1.057     125.8     124.4     -3.1     -1.1    -0.7     1.2    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.166     143.7     145.0      3.4      0.9    -0.5     1.2     1.0 
   Private transportation ....................     18.109     140.9     142.4      3.5      1.1    -0.4     1.0     1.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.250     100.1     100.2      0.0      0.1     0.3     0.4     0.3 
     New vehicles ............................      5.224     143.2     142.6     -1.0     -0.4     0.1    -0.1     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.216     153.7     155.2      1.8      1.0     0.9     1.0     1.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.066     102.6     107.8     17.6      5.1    -2.8     4.2     5.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.045     102.1     107.3     17.7      5.1    -2.8     4.2     5.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .682      99.5      99.6     -0.9      0.1    -0.3    -0.3     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.690     173.5     173.5      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.0 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.056     195.7     192.5      1.9     -1.6    -2.5     3.5    -1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.672     250.3     251.0      3.4      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .926     227.8     228.4      3.9      0.3     0.3     0.6     0.5 
   Medical care services .....................      3.746     255.3     256.0      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services (3).................      2.415     231.4     231.7      3.1      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.114     295.3     297.3      4.1      0.7     0.3     0.3     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.925     101.6     101.5      0.4     -0.1     0.1     0.0    -0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.951     100.4     100.7     -0.4      0.3    -0.1    -0.1     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.361     100.8     101.5      1.2      0.7     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.478     106.3     107.7      5.0      1.3     0.4     0.5     0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .200     265.0     267.2      6.3      0.8     0.4     0.3     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.278     300.2     304.1      4.9      1.3     0.4     0.4     0.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.883      96.3      96.5     -1.9      0.2    -0.1    -0.1     0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.733      96.0      96.1     -2.2      0.1    -0.2     0.0     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.519      99.7      99.9     -0.6      0.2     0.1    -0.2     0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .213      31.1      30.8    -20.8     -1.0    -3.1     1.0    -1.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .120      52.5      50.6    -28.9     -3.6    -2.0    -2.8    -3.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.981     262.0     260.7     10.4     -0.5     0.3     1.2    -0.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.694     356.6     350.6     28.1     -1.7     0.3     3.4    -1.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.287     161.3     161.6      2.8      0.2     0.3     0.0     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .838     152.7     153.1      2.3      0.3     1.1    -0.4     0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .975     171.8     172.2      3.1      0.2    -0.1     0.4     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.253     243.2     243.8      3.8      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.764     144.2     144.8      2.3      0.4    -0.2     0.5     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.4     163.9      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.753     132.7     133.4      2.6      0.5    -0.3     0.7     0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.564     137.5     138.8      5.7      0.9    -0.6     1.3     0.9 
    Apparel ..................................      5.199     126.4     126.4     -2.7      0.0    -0.5    -0.7    -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.365     148.1     150.2     10.0      1.4    -0.3     1.7     2.0 
   Durables ..................................     13.189     125.7     125.7     -1.0      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 Services ....................................     53.236     185.9     186.3      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.175     175.3     175.6      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .320     102.2     102.3      2.9      0.1     1.4    -0.1     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.727     123.6     123.7      0.1      0.1     0.1     0.6     0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .922     104.2     104.4      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .402     104.8     105.4      3.1      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.6 
  Transportation services ....................      6.800     188.0     187.4      1.2     -0.3    -0.2     0.7    -0.3 
  Medical care services ......................      3.746     255.3     256.0      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.144     219.2     220.3      2.8      0.5     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.034     163.2     163.7      2.4      0.3     0.0     0.4     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.504     158.0     158.6      2.3      0.4    -0.1     0.4     0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     95.328     159.2     159.7      2.3      0.3     0.0     0.4     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.798     134.2     134.8      2.6      0.4    -0.2     0.6     0.6 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.609     139.4     140.7      5.6      0.9    -0.5     1.2     0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.410     149.3     151.2      9.3      1.3    -0.3     1.6     1.7 
 Nondurables .................................     33.575     150.8     151.7      3.7      0.6     0.0     0.6     0.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.061     174.7     175.0      2.0      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.490     180.1     180.4      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.994     108.4     111.1      8.0      2.5    -1.2     2.3     2.8 
 All items less energy .......................     93.006     170.9     171.1      2.0      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.040     172.9     173.1      1.9      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.531     143.5     143.3      0.8     -0.1     0.1     0.1    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.267     101.8     106.8     16.7      4.9    -2.6     4.1     5.3 
   Services less energy services .............     49.509     192.8     193.2      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .613    $ .611        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .206    $ .205        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1998   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  162.7   162.7   163.3   163.7    1.8    1.5    3.5    2.5    1.6    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  163.4   163.5   163.8   164.1    2.8    2.5    0.7    1.7    2.6    1.2 
   Food ......................................  163.0   163.1   163.3   163.7    2.8    2.5    0.7    1.7    2.6    1.2 
    Food at home .............................  162.6   162.8   162.8   163.1    2.8    2.5    0.0    1.2    2.6    0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  184.8   185.0   185.5   184.0    1.5    1.8    3.3   -1.7    1.7    0.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.8   147.5   147.2   147.6   -1.6   -0.5    0.8    2.2   -1.1    1.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  155.8   155.7   155.3   156.0   15.2   18.4  -14.9    0.5   16.8   -7.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  204.9   204.1   204.0   205.4    2.0    4.1    5.7    1.0    3.0    3.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.9   133.3   133.8   133.6    2.8    1.8    1.2    2.1    2.3    1.7 
     Other food at home ......................  152.6   152.6   152.8   153.3    4.8   -1.8    0.5    1.8    1.5    1.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  152.4   151.7   151.7   152.6    1.6    0.0    4.0    0.5    0.8    2.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.0   147.1   147.2   148.1   18.0  -13.2   -8.0    3.0    1.2   -2.6 
      Other foods ............................  168.5   168.8   169.0   169.4    2.7    0.5    1.7    2.2    1.6    1.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  104.7   104.4   103.9   104.4    5.5    3.9   -4.5   -1.1    4.7   -2.8 
    Food away from home (1)...................  164.5   164.4   164.9   165.5    3.0    3.0    1.7    2.5    3.0    2.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  104.2   104.5   105.3   105.8    4.8    1.2    1.9    6.3    3.0    4.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  168.1   168.7   169.3   169.6    2.7    3.7    1.4    3.6    3.2    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  159.4   159.6   159.9   160.1    2.6    1.3    2.5    1.8    1.9    2.2 
   Shelter ...................................  181.2   181.5   181.8   181.9    4.1    1.8    3.4    1.6    3.0    2.5 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  176.6   176.9   177.3   177.5    3.8    3.0    3.0    2.1    3.4    2.5 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  104.7   105.0   104.9   104.6   15.9  -12.4   13.7   -0.4    0.8    6.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  175.4   175.6   175.9   176.1    3.1    2.6    2.8    1.6    2.8    2.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.9   102.3   102.2   102.3    3.7    0.4    2.0    5.7    2.0    3.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.0   127.1   127.8   128.3   -1.6   -0.9    1.0    4.2   -1.3    2.5 
    Fuels ....................................  110.6   110.7   111.4   111.9   -2.8   -1.4    0.7    4.8   -2.1    2.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   87.8    88.8    90.1    92.3  -12.3  -13.1   18.8   22.1  -12.7   20.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.2   118.3   119.0   119.4   -2.0   -1.0   -0.3    4.1   -1.5    1.9 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.7   103.9   103.9   104.0    2.8    2.4    2.3    1.2    2.6    1.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  124.5   124.6   124.7   124.7    0.0   -1.3   -1.0    0.6   -0.6   -0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  104.5   104.8   104.8   105.4    3.6    2.7    2.7    3.5    3.2    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  130.6   130.0   129.1   128.4    0.0   -7.6    3.8   -6.6   -3.9   -1.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  132.1   132.4   131.1   128.8    0.0   -1.2    3.1   -9.6   -0.6   -3.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  122.0   121.4   118.9   119.7   -3.5  -12.3    6.8   -7.3   -8.0   -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  128.9   128.0   128.4   129.6   27.0  -15.6    5.5    2.2    3.6    3.8 
   Footwear ..................................  126.7   125.8   127.3   125.6   -0.6   -9.8    1.6   -3.4   -5.3   -0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  142.6   141.9   143.6   145.1   -0.9   -3.9   11.7    7.2   -2.4    9.4 
   Private transportation ....................  139.9   139.4   140.8   142.6   -0.3   -4.8   12.0    7.9   -2.6    9.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   99.9   100.2   100.6   100.9    2.0   -6.2    0.8    4.1   -2.2    2.4 
     New vehicles ............................  143.7   143.8   143.7   143.8   -1.4   -1.4   -1.1    0.3   -1.4   -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  150.9   152.2   153.7   155.2    7.6  -13.7    3.5   11.9   -3.6    7.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................   99.7    96.9   101.0   106.5   -8.1  -11.6   80.6   30.2   -9.9   53.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   99.1    96.3   100.3   105.9   -7.8  -11.3   79.6   30.4   -9.5   53.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.1    99.8    99.5    99.7    0.0   -1.6   -0.4   -1.6   -0.8   -1.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  172.9   173.3   173.7   173.7    4.8    2.4    3.1    1.9    3.6    2.5 
   Public transportation (1)..................  193.9   189.0   195.7   192.5   -9.6   11.1   10.5   -2.9    0.2    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  248.7   249.6   250.3   250.9    2.8    3.0    3.8    3.6    2.9    3.7 
   Medical care commodities ..................  225.3   226.0   227.3   228.4    3.3    2.2    4.2    5.6    2.7    4.9 
   Medical care services .....................  253.8   254.7   255.3   255.8    2.6    3.2    3.7    3.2    2.9    3.4 
    Professional services (3).................  229.8   230.7   231.2   231.5    3.1    2.9    3.2    3.0    3.0    3.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  293.6   294.5   295.3   297.3    2.3    5.8    3.3    5.1    4.0    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.3   101.4   101.4   101.3   -0.4    1.2    1.2    0.0    0.4    0.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.5   100.4   100.3   100.6    0.4   -0.4   -2.0    0.4    0.0   -0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.3   101.4   101.6   101.7    2.4    1.2   -0.4    1.6    1.8    0.6 
   Education (2)..............................  107.3   107.7   108.2   108.3    4.3    6.3    5.4    3.8    5.3    4.6 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  265.1   266.1   266.9   268.6   11.4    4.2    4.7    5.4    7.7    5.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   301.5   302.8   304.1   304.4    4.1    6.6    5.1    3.9    5.3    4.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   96.5    96.4    96.3    96.5    0.4   -3.2   -4.8    0.0   -1.4   -2.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   96.2    96.0    96.0    96.1    0.4   -4.0   -4.8   -0.4   -1.8   -2.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   99.8    99.9    99.7    99.9    2.8   -2.7   -2.8    0.4    0.0   -1.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   31.8    30.8    31.1    30.8  -21.6  -22.0  -27.0  -12.0  -21.8  -19.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   55.1    54.0    52.5    50.6  -29.2  -32.0  -25.5  -28.9  -30.6  -27.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  258.6   259.4   262.4   261.4    4.1   36.8   -0.2    4.4   19.4    2.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  344.2   345.2   357.0   352.0    7.9  141.8   -5.7    9.4   61.6    1.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  160.8   161.3   161.3   161.6    2.3    3.8    3.0    2.0    3.1    2.5 
    Personal care products (1)................  151.6   153.3   152.7   153.1    0.5    2.7    2.1    4.0    1.6    3.1 
    Personal care services (1)................  171.4   171.2   171.8   172.2    2.4    3.9    4.3    1.9    3.1    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  241.8   242.4   243.2   243.8    4.5    5.2    2.3    3.3    4.8    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  144.2   143.9   144.6   145.2    0.8    0.8    4.9    2.8    0.8    3.8 
  Food and beverages .........................  163.4   163.5   163.8   164.1    2.8    2.5    0.7    1.7    2.6    1.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.6   132.2   133.1   133.8   -0.6    0.0    7.2    3.7   -0.3    5.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  137.3   136.5   138.3   139.6   -0.6    2.1   14.9    6.9    0.8   10.8 
    Apparel ..................................  130.6   130.0   129.1   128.4    0.0   -7.6    3.8   -6.6   -3.9   -1.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  145.3   144.8   147.3   150.2   -0.9    8.5   19.1   14.2    3.7   16.6 
   Durables ..................................  125.5   125.6   125.8   126.0   -0.3   -4.6   -1.0    1.6   -2.5    0.3 
 Services ....................................  184.8   185.0   185.6   185.7    2.7    2.0    2.9    2.0    2.3    2.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  174.4   174.7   174.9   175.3    4.0    1.9    3.0    2.1    3.0    2.6 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  100.9   102.3   102.2   102.3    3.7    0.4    2.0    5.7    2.0    3.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  118.2   118.3   119.0   119.4   -2.0   -1.0   -0.3    4.1   -1.5    1.9 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.7   103.9   103.9   104.0    2.8    2.4    2.3    1.2    2.6    1.8 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  104.5   104.8   104.8   105.4    3.6    2.7    2.7    3.5    3.2    3.1 
  Transportation services ....................  187.5   187.1   188.5   188.0   -0.6    2.2    2.2    1.1    0.8    1.6 
  Medical care services ......................  253.8   254.7   255.3   255.8    2.6    3.2    3.7    3.2    2.9    3.4 
  Other services .............................  219.1   219.6   220.1   220.5    3.2    2.8    2.4    2.6    3.0    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  162.3   162.3   163.0   163.4    1.5    1.3    4.3    2.7    1.4    3.5 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.5   157.4   158.1   158.6    0.8    1.3    3.9    2.8    1.0    3.4 
 All items less medical care .................  158.6   158.6   159.2   159.6    1.8    1.3    3.6    2.5    1.5    3.1 
 Commodities less food .......................  134.2   133.9   134.7   135.5   -0.6    0.0    7.2    3.9   -0.3    5.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  139.2   138.5   140.1   141.4    0.3    1.8   14.4    6.5    1.0   10.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  146.7   146.3   148.6   151.2   -0.3    7.7   17.8   12.8    3.6   15.3 
 Nondurables .................................  150.5   150.5   151.4   152.3    0.8    2.5    6.9    4.9    1.6    5.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  173.3   173.6   174.2   174.7    0.9    1.6    2.3    3.3    1.3    2.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  179.0   179.2   179.7   180.0    2.5    1.8    2.7    2.3    2.2    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  104.6   103.3   105.7   108.7   -5.1   -6.3   31.4   16.6   -5.7   23.8 
 All items less energy .......................  170.8   171.0   171.3   171.4    2.4    2.1    1.7    1.4    2.3    1.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  172.9   173.1   173.5   173.6    2.4    1.9    1.9    1.6    2.1    1.8 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.0   144.1   144.3   144.1    0.8    1.4    0.3    0.3    1.1    0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................   99.0    96.4   100.4   105.7   -8.5  -11.6   76.4   29.9  -10.1   51.4 
   Services less energy services .............  192.4   192.7   193.2   193.4    3.0    2.1    3.0    2.1    2.6    2.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Aug.1999 from--      July1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    162.8  162.8  163.3  163.8    2.4    0.6    0.3    2.2    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.7  170.0  170.2  170.9    2.3    0.5    0.4    2.2    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    169.4  169.9  170.3  171.0    2.3    0.6    0.4    2.3    0.5    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    103.5  103.4  103.4  103.8    2.1    0.4    0.4    1.9   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    158.3  158.5  159.1  159.4    2.4    0.6    0.2    2.1    0.5    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.9  159.3  159.9  160.2    2.4    0.6    0.2    2.2    0.6    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.4  103.4  103.8  104.0    2.3    0.6    0.2    1.9    0.4    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    154.4  154.9  155.4  156.1    3.1    0.8    0.5    2.4    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.7  159.7  160.1  160.6    2.0    0.6    0.3    1.8    0.3    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.1  158.4  158.9  159.5    2.0    0.7    0.4    1.8    0.5    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    103.7  103.6  103.9  104.0    1.9    0.4    0.1    2.0    0.2    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    162.6  162.3  163.0  164.1    2.2    1.1    0.7    1.6    0.2    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    164.7  164.2  164.7  165.3    2.9    0.7    0.4    2.7    0.0    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    164.0  163.5  164.0  164.7    3.1    0.7    0.4    3.0    0.0    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    104.7  104.3  104.7  105.1    2.7    0.8    0.4    2.5    0.0    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    149.0  149.2  149.6  150.1    2.5    0.6    0.3    2.3    0.4    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    103.8  103.6  103.9  104.1    2.2    0.5    0.2    2.0    0.1    0.3 
   D .........................................   M    160.8  160.9  161.3  162.1    2.4    0.7    0.5    1.9    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    162.3  163.0  163.4  163.5    2.4    0.3    0.1    1.7    0.7    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    159.7  158.9  159.2  159.8    2.4    0.6    0.4    2.1   -0.3    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    171.5  172.1  172.5  173.2    2.1    0.6    0.4    2.0    0.6    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    172.6      -  173.3      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.4      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    153.7      -  154.9      -      -      -      -    1.8    0.8      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    157.0      -  158.0      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.6      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    103.4      -  104.3      -      -      -      -    1.8    0.9      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  161.9      -  163.2    2.6    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  158.3      -  158.7    2.3    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  147.1      -  147.9    1.2    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  158.9      -  160.0    1.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  171.9      -  172.6    2.8    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  168.3      -  170.0    4.5    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  168.0      -  168.8    3.1    0.5      -      -      -      - 

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