News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-06-84 

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED 

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 691-5902 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST) 

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, January 18, 2006 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: DECEMBER 2005 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.4 percent in December, before seasonal 

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The December level of 196.8 

(1982-84=100) was 3.4 percent higher than in December 2004. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.5 percent in 

December, prior to seasonal adjustment. The December level of 192.5 was 3.5 percent higher than in December 2004. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.3 percent in December on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The December level of 114.0 (December 1999=100) was 2.8 percent higher than in 

December 2004. Please note that the indexes for the post-2003 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased for the second consecutive month--down 0.1 percent in 

December--again reflecting a large decline in energy prices. The index for energy declined 2.2 percent in December, its 

third consecutive monthly decrease. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy declined 2.7 percent and the 

index for energy services fell 1.7 percent. The index for food rose 0.2 percent in December, following increases of 0.3 

percent in each of the preceding three months. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December, 

the same as in each of the preceding two months, after registering increases of 0.1 percent in each of the prior five months. 

Shelter costs rose 0.3 percent in December and accounted for about 70 percent of the advance in the index for all items less 

food and energy. 

 Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. ’05 Dec. ’05 

All Items .0 .5 .5 1.2 .2 -.6 -.1 -1.6 3.4

 Food and beverages .0 .2 .1 .2 .3 .3 .1 2.7 2.3 

 Housing .1 .4 .2 .4 .9 .5 .1 6.0 4.0 

 Apparel -.7 -.9 1.0 -.1 -.4 .2 -.3 -2.3 -1.1 

 Transportation -.1 1.5 2.2 5.1 -1.3 -4.8 -.8 -24.6 4.8 

 Medical care .2 .4 .0 .3 .5 .6 .1 5.1 4.3 

 Recreation -.3 .1 .3 .4 .2 .0 .0 0.7 1.1 

 Education and 

 communication .1 .2 -.1 .7 -.1 .4 .3 2.5 2.4 

 Other goods and 

 services .0 .6 .2 .1 .1 .3 .5 4.0 3.1 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy -.5 3.8 5.0 12.0 -.2 -8.0 -2.2 -35.2 17.1 

 Food .1 .2 .0 .3 .3 .3 .2 3.0 2.3 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 2.8 2.2
Consumer prices declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1.6 percent in the fourth 

quarter of 2005. This followed increases in the first three quarters at annual rates of 4.3, 1.9, and 9.4 percent, 

respectively. For the 12 month period ended in December, the CPI rose 3.4 percent. This compares with an 

increase of 3.3 percent in 2004. In 2005, the index for energy rose 17.1 percent, following a 16.6 percent 

increase in 2004, and accounted for about 40 percent of the overall advance in the CPI-U. While the increases 

in the overall energy indexes for 2004 and 2005 were similar, the composition was different. Petroleum based 

energy accounted for nearly 80 percent of the 2004 increase, but just over half of the 2005 increase in the 

energy component. The food index, which rose 2.7 percent in 2004, increased 2.3 percent in 2005. The index 

for food at home rose 1.7 percent in 2005, following a 2.4 percent increase in 2004. Smaller increases in the 

indexes for fruits and vegetables and for dairy products were largely responsible for the moderation. 

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.8 percent SAAR in the fourth quarter, 

following increases at rates of 3.3, 1.2, and 1.4 percent in the first three quarters of 2005. The 2.2 percent 

advance for all of 2005 was the same as in 2004. Even within the index for all items less food and energy, 

price movements of the major groups were similar in the two years. The larger increase in the housing group 

and the smaller advance in the transportation component in 2005 were largely attributable to the relative 

movements of the energy components within the groups during the two years. Household fuels rose 18.0 

percent in 2005 after advancing 8.4 percent in 2004, while motor fuels rose 16.2 percent after increasing 26.1 

percent in 2004. The annual rates for selected groups for the last eight years are shown below. 

 Percentage change 12 months 

 ended in December 

 

 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

All items 1.6 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 1.9 3.3 3.4

 Food and beverages 2.3 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.5 2.6 2.3

 Housing 2.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.0 4.0

 Apparel -.7 -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 -.2 -1.1

 Transportation -1.7 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 .3 6.5 4.8

 Medical care 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.7 4.2 4.3

 Recreation 1.2 .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.1 .7 1.1

 Education and 

 communication .7 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.4

 Other goods and services 8.8 5.1 4.2 4.5 3.3 1.5 2.5 3.1

 

Special indexes 

 Energy -8.8 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 6.9 16.6 17.1

 Energy commodities -15.1 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 6.9 26.7 16.7

 Energy services -3.3 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 6.9 6.8 17.6

 All items less energy 2.4 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.2

 Food 2.3 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.3

 All items less 

 food and energy 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.2
The food and beverages index rose 0.1 percent in December. The index for food at home also 

advanced 0.1 percent after registering increases of 0.3 percent in each of the preceding three months. The 

index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.9 percent in December. Increases in the indexes for fresh 

vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables--up 2.8 and 1.7 percent, respectively--more than offset a 

1.4 percent decrease in the index for fresh fruits. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit prices rose 0.5 

percent.) The index for other food at home increased 0.3 percent, reflecting a 1.0 percent increase in the 

sugar and sweets component. Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the indexes for cereal and 

bakery products, for dairy products, and for nonalcoholic beverages--down 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 percent, 

respectively. The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs was unchanged in December. A 1.2 percent increase 

in beef prices was offset by declines in prices for poultry, for pork, and for other meats. During the 12 month 

period ended in December 2005, prices for beef and poultry increased 2.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively, while 

pork prices declined 0.1 percent. In 2005 each of the six major grocery store food groups registered an 

increase in prices, with the index for nonalcoholic beverages the largest at 3.5 percent and the index for fruits 

and vegetables the smallest at 0.6 percent. The other two components of the food and beverages index--food 

away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and declined 0.4 percent, respectively, in December 

and rose 3.2 and 1.3 percent in 2005. 

The index for housing increased 0.1 percent in December. Increases in the indexes for shelter and for 

household furnishings and operations--up 0.3 and 0.5 percent, respectively--more than offset a 1.4 percent 

drop in the index for fuels and utilities. The index for fuel oil declined for the third consecutive month--down 

2.5 percent in December--but advanced 27.2 percent during the last 12 months. In December, the indexes for 

natural gas and for electricity declined 3.5 and 0.6 percent, respectively. During the 12 month period ended in 

December, however, charges for natural gas and for electricity rose 30.2 and 10.7 percent. Within shelter, the 

indexes for owners' equivalent rent and for rent rose 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively, and the index for 

lodging away from home rose 0.9 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from 

home declined 1.9 percent.) During the 12 month period ended in December, the indexes for lodging away 

from home, for rent, and for owners’ equivalent rent, rose 3.5, 3.1, and 2.5 percent, respectively. The index 

for household furnishings and operations rose 0.7 percent during the last 12 months, following an increase of 

0.6 percent in all of 2004. 

The index for apparel declined 0.3 percent in December. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices 

fell 3.3 percent, largely as a result of pre-holiday discounting.) During the 12 month period ended in 

December, apparel prices declined 1.1 percent, their eighth consecutive annual decline. Prices for men’s, for 

boys’, and for girls’ apparel each were lower than 12 months earlier, but prices for women’s clothing rose 

slightly in 2005. 

The transportation index decreased 0.8 percent in December, largely reflecting a 2.6 percent drop in 

the index for gasoline. Gasoline prices declined for the third consecutive month--down 6.2 percent in 

December 

--and have fallen 25.1 percent from their peak level reached in September. As of December, however, 

gasoline prices were 16.1 percent higher than their level a year ago. The index for new vehicles decreased for 

the second consecutive month--down 0.1 percent in December. (As of December, about 70 percent of the new 

vehicle sample was represented by 2006 models. The 2006 models will continue to be phased in, with 

appropriate adjustments for quality change, over the next several months as they replace old models at 

dealerships.) New vehicle prices were 0.4 percent lower than in December 2004. The index for used cars and 

trucks also decreased 0.1 percent in December, but this index has risen 1.4 percent in the last 12 months. The 

index for public transportation declined 0.9 percent in December, reflecting a 2.9 percent drop in airline fares. 

Despite registering declines in four of the last five months, airline fares increased 6.4 percent in 2005, their 

first annual advance since a 5.9 percent increase in 2000. 

Medical care costs rose 0.1 percent in December. The index for medical care commodities--

prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.2 percent. The index for 

medical care services rose 0.1 percent in December. The index for professional services rose 0.1 percent 

while the index for hospital and related services decreased 0.1 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the 

index for hospital and related services increased less than 0.1 percent.) In the 12 months ended in December 

2005, the index for medical care rose 4.3 percent after increasing 4.2 percent in 2004. The index for 

prescription drugs rose 4.4 percent during the 12 months ended in December, following increases of 3.5 
percent in 2004 and 2.5 percent in 2003. Charges for hospital and related services increased 5.1 percent in the 

12 month period ended in December 2005, following a 5.2 percent rise in 2004. 

The index for recreation was unchanged in December. Price increases for cable and satellite television 

and radio service, for pets, pet products and services, and for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and 

sporting events were largely offset by decreases in the indexes for toys, for sporting goods, for photography, 

and for recreational books. During the 12 months ended in December, the indexes for cable and satellite 

services and for admissions increased 3.3 and 3.5 percent, respectively, accounting for over 95 percent of the 

advance in the recreation index in 2005. 

The index for education and communication rose 0.3 percent in December. Educational costs 

increased 0.5 percent, while communication costs declined 0.1 percent. During the 12 months ended in 

December, educational costs rose 6.1 percent, largely as a result of a 6.6 percent rise in the index for college 

tuition and fees. The index for communication declined 1.3 percent during the last 12 months, reflecting 

declines in prices for land-line long distance telephone services, for wireless telephone services, and for 

personal computers and peripheral equipment--down 1.7, 1.5, and 15.8 percent, respectively. Partially 

offsetting these declines was a 3.3 percent increase in land-line local telephone service charges. 

The index for other goods and services increased 0.5 percent in December to a level 3.1 percent higher 

than in December 2004. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.4 percent in December and 5.8 

percent during the last 12 months. 

CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers decreased 0.1 

percent in December. 

 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 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. ’05 Dec. ’05 

All Items .0 .6 .6 1.4 .1 -.8 -.1 -3.0 3.5

 Food and beverages .0 .2 .1 .2 .3 .3 .1 2.7 2.2 

 Housing .2 .4 .2 .5 .9 .5 .1 6.2 4.2 

 Apparel -.8 -.6 .8 -.3 -.4 .1 -.2 -2.0 -1.2 

 Transportation -.1 1.6 2.4 5.4 -1.4 -5.1 -.9 -26.0 5.0 

 Medical care .2 .4 .0 .2 .6 .7 .1 5.7 4.4 

 Recreation -.4 .0 .3 .4 .3 -.1 .0 .7 .9 

 Education and 

 communication -.1 .2 -.2 .7 -.1 .4 .1 1.8 1.9 

 Other goods and 

 services .0 .7 .3 .2 .0 .3 .5 3.4 3.4 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy -.6 4.1 5.1 12.3 -.5 -8.5 -2.2 -37.2 17.0 

 Food -.1 .2 .1 .2 .3 .3 .1 3.0 2.3 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 2.3 2.0 

Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at 

8:30 A.M. (EST). 
Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 17, 2006 

Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price 

movements from the just-completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions 

to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years. BLS will make available recalculated seasonally 

adjusted indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 2001 through 

December 2005, on Friday, February 17, 2006. This date is two working days before the scheduled release of 

the January 2006 CPI on Wednesday, February 22, 2006. 

The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the internet. The address is 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi. Look under Tables Created by BLS and select Revised Seasonally Adjusted Data, 

2005. 

For further information please contact Dan Chow or Jeff Wilson on (202) 691-6968. 

Planned Changes in the Consumer Price Index in 2006 

Expenditure Weight Update 

Effective with release of data for January 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will update the 

consumption expenditure weights in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and 

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to the 2003-04 period. The 

updated expenditure weights for these indexes will replace the 2001-2002 weights that were introduced 

effective with the January 2004 CPI release. As originally announced by BLS in December 1998, CPI 

expenditure weights will continue to be updated at two-year intervals subsequent to the 2006 updating. 

For the first six months of 2006, BLS will continue to calculate and publish selected CPI-U and CPI-W 

“overlap” indexes using the 2001-2002 expenditure pattern that was introduced into the CPI in 2004. These 

indexes will be compiled on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Comparison of these index series to the 

corresponding updated series will enable users of the CPI to observe the effects of the expenditure weight 

change. The subsequent expenditure updates scheduled in 2008 and every two years thereafter also will be 

accompanied by the publication of overlap indexes for a six-month period using the previous expenditure 

pattern. 

C-CPI-U Index Revisions 

As scheduled, effective with release of data for January 2006, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All 

Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) will undergo its fourth annual index revision. C-CPI-U indexes for the 12 

months of 2004 will be issued in final form and values for the 12 months of 2005 will be revised and issued as 

interim. Calculation of the preliminary versions of the C-CPI-U--the initial version for January and the 

subsequent months of 2006 and the interim (revised initial) indexes for 2005--will employ the 2003-04 

expenditure weights also used in the CPI-U and CPI-W. Note that the final values of the C-CPI-U employ 

monthly expenditure weights corresponding to the price collection period in their calculation. Thus, in 

calculation of the final (revised interim) C-CPI-U values for the months of 2004, the biennial 2001-2002 

expenditure weights will be replaced with separate monthly expenditure weights. 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired 

 Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339. For a recorded message of Summary CPI 

data, call (202) 691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

 The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time of goods and 

services purchased by households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: 

(1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households of wage earners 

and clerical workers that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which cover 

approximately 87 percent of the total population and include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker 

households, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term 

workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor force. 

 The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors’ 

and dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are 

collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail 

establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service 

establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index. 

Prices of fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations. Prices of most other 

commodities and services are collected every month in the three largest geographic areas and every other month 

in other areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls of the 

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

 In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with 

weights, which represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are 

then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. For the CPI-U and CPI-W separate indexes are also published by 

size of city, by region of the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size classes, and for 27 

local areas. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the 

average change in prices for each area since the base period. For the C-CPI-U data are issued only at the 

national level. It is important to note that the CPI-U and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the CCPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions. 

 The index measures price change from a designed reference date. For the CPI-U and the CPI-W the 

reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100. 

An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown as 116.5. This change can also be 

expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has 

risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

 For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI 

Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000. 
Calculating Index Changes 

 Movements of the indexes from one month to another are usually expressed as percent 

changes rather than changes in index points, because index point changes are affected by 

the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The 

example below illustrates the computation of index point and percent changes. 

 Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed as annual rates and 

are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data 

indicate what the percent change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12- 

month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7 

Less previous index 111.2 

Equals index point change 4.5 

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5 

Divided by the previous index 111.2 

Equals 0.040 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100 

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined 

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

The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

Vermont. 

The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

Wisconsin. 

The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma,

South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. 

The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since 

they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude 

every year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model 

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. 

Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract 

agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted 

for seasonal variation. 

Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA 

Seasonal Adjustment Method. Seasonally adjusted indexes and seasonal factors are computed annually. Each 

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2000 through December 2004 

were replaced in January 2005. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted 

series were revised for January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for 

dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see “Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted 

Seasonally Adjusted Series,” in the October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.

The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal 

movement of 73 selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon 

certain statistical criteria. If any of the 73 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally 

adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the 

seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 43 of the 73 components are seasonally 

adjusted for 2005. 

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, utility (piped) gas, motor fuels, and educational books and supplies 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 the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to 

offset the effects of labor and supply problems for coffee. The procedure was used to account for unusual 

butter fat supply reductions, changes in milk supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the 

Fats and oils series. For Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk, butter and 

cheese production levels. For Fresh vegetable series, the method was used to account for the effects of 

hurricane-related disruptions. For Electricity, it was used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than 
expected weather, increased rates to conserve supplies, and declining natural gas inventories. For new vehicle 

series, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with financing incentives. 

 For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI, please write to the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on 

(202) 691-6968 by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call 

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Nov.

2005

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 197.6 196.8 3.4 -0.4 0.2 -0.6 -0.1 

All items (1967=100) .................................................................. -

 592.0 589.4 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 192.8 193.2 2.3 .2 .3 .3 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.295 192.4 192.9 2.3 .3 .3 .3 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.183 191.0 191.7 1.7 .4 .3 .3 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.185 209.1 208.4 1.0 -.3 .6 .2 -.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.272 185.8 185.7 1.4 -.1 -.2 .7 .0 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .849 183.5 183.2 1.7 -.2 .0 .9 -.3 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.276 246.4 252.3 .6 2.4 1.3 -.2 .9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .884 145.5 145.5 3.5 .0 -.1 .8 -.5 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.716 167.3 167.6 2.4 .2 .4 -.3 .3 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .296 166.5 167.8 4.0 .8 .5 .7 1.0 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .258 166.2 165.2 -1.3 -.6 -.9 .1 -.4 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.163 183.0 183.3 2.8 .2 .5 -.5 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .301 112.7 112.4 1.4 -.3 .5 .5 -.3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.113 195.6 196.0 3.2 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 133.7 133.7 5.3 .0 .1 .2 .1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ .996 197.1 196.4 1.3 -.4 .1 .2 -.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.993 198.5 198.3 4.0 -.1 .9 .5 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.686 225.4 225.6 2.6 .1 .5 .3 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.133 220.0 220.5 3.1 .2 .4 .2 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 3.008 125.2 122.8 3.5 -1.9 3.5 1.3 .9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.158 232.2 232.8 2.5 .3 .1 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .387 115.9 116.1 -2.2 .2 -.7 .1 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.951 194.6 191.6 15.6 -1.5 4.4 1.4 -1.4

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.021 178.0 174.7 18.0 -1.9 5.2 1.6 -1.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .300 231.5 227.8 24.0 -1.6 .9 -4.3 -2.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.722 183.4 180.0 17.6 -1.9 5.6 2.1 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .930 132.5 132.9 5.2 .3 .4 .5 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.355 126.1 126.4 .7 .2 .2 .2 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .707 132.5 133.3 5.0 .6 .5 .7 .6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.841 121.5 117.5 -1.1 -3.3 -.4 .2 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .977 117.4 114.1 -1.9 -2.8 .3 -.3 -.3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.638 113.9 108.9 -1.0 -4.4 -.4 1.5 -.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .188 115.3 115.0 -3.0 -.3 -.6 -.7 1.4 

Footwear ................................................................................ .765 124.3 121.4 .9 -2.3 -.7 -1.7 -.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.414 175.6 172.7 4.8 -1.7 -1.3 -4.8 -.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.385 171.8 168.9 4.7 -1.7 -1.5 -5.1 -.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.744 95.8 95.8 .4 .0 .0 -.3 -.2 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.692 138.0 138.3 -.4 .2 .5 -.1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.037 139.4 139.2 1.4 -.1 -.6 -.9 -.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.969 199.7 187.3 16.2 -6.2 -4.4 -16.0 -2.7 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.934 198.6 186.2 16.1 -6.2 -4.5 -16.0 -2.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .364 113.6 114.0 3.7 .4 .3 .5 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.341 210.5 210.7 3.6 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.029 220.8 217.6 5.9 -1.4 1.4 .0 -.9 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.132 328.1 328.4 4.3 .1 .5 .6 .1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.484 280.3 280.8 3.7 .2 .5 .6 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.649 341.7 342.0 4.5 .1 .5 .6 .1 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.767 284.5 284.9 3.8 .1 .5 .3 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.516 449.6 449.7 5.1 .0 .8 1.1 -.1 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Nov.

2005

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.733 109.8 109.7 1.1 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.691 104.2 103.9 .0 -.3 -.1 -.2 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.846 115.3 115.3 2.4 .0 -.1 .4 .3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.931 157.5 157.6 6.1 .1 .3 .6 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .220 373.6 374.3 5.2 .2 .5 .6 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.712 455.1 455.3 6.2 .0 .2 .6 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 2.914 84.4 84.3 -1.3 -.1 -.5 .2 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.737 82.2 82.2 -1.3 .0 -.5 .2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.187 95.2 95.2 .4 .0 -.5 .6 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .550 13.1 13.1 -7.7 .0 .0 -1.5 .0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .192 12.0 11.7 -15.8 -2.5 -.8 -1.6 -2.5 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.750 316.2 317.3 3.1 .3 .1 .3 .5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .804 511.2 513.1 5.8 .4 -.1 .4 .4 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.946 186.9 187.6 2.3 .4 .2 .4 .6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .658 155.0 155.4 1.3 .3 .1 .0 .3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .652 205.2 206.6 2.7 .7 .1 .2 .7 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.454 305.9 306.6 3.0 .2 .2 .3 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.239 161.5 160.0 2.7 -.9 -.5 -2.2 -.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 192.8 193.2 2.3 .2 .3 .3 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.948 143.6 141.3 3.0 -1.6 -1.0 -3.5 -.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.980 171.1 166.3 5.7 -2.8 -1.2 -4.9 -.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.841 121.5 117.5 -1.1 -3.3 -.4 .2 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.139 205.9 200.4 8.2 -2.7 -1.9 -7.6 -1.3 

Durables ................................................................................. 10.967 114.9 114.9 -.5 .0 .1 -.3 -.2 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.761 233.5 233.2 3.8 -.1 .7 .5 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.300 234.9 235.0 2.7 .0 .6 .3 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .387 115.9 116.1 -2.2 .2 -.7 .1 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.722 183.4 180.0 17.6 -1.9 5.6 2.1 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .930 132.5 132.9 5.2 .3 .4 .5 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .707 132.5 133.3 5.0 .6 .5 .7 .6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.235 228.4 227.8 2.7 -.3 .0 .2 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.649 341.7 342.0 4.5 .1 .5 .6 .1 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.833 272.1 272.3 3.0 .1 .1 .4 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.705 198.5 197.4 3.6 -.6 .2 -.7 -.1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.314 189.0 187.7 3.8 -.7 .1 -1.0 -.2

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.868 190.9 190.0 3.3 -.5 .2 -.7 -.1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.943 145.6 143.3 2.9 -1.6 -1.0 -3.4 -.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.976 172.7 168.1 5.4 -2.7 -1.4 -4.5 -.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.135 204.2 199.2 7.6 -2.4 -1.8 -7.0 -1.3 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.271 182.4 180.1 3.9 -1.3 -.5 -2.4 -.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.462 249.5 248.8 5.2 -.3 .9 .7 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.113 224.4 224.2 3.8 -.1 .9 .4 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.991 187.6 180.0 17.1 -4.1 -.2 -8.0 -2.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.009 200.2 200.1 2.2 .0 .3 .3 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.714 202.3 202.1 2.2 -.1 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 21.674 140.8 140.1 .2 -.5 .0 -.1 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.269 202.7 190.7 16.7 -5.9 -4.1 -15.2 -2.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.040 238.6 238.7 2.9 .0 .3 .4 .3 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ...... -

 $ .506 $ .508 - - - - -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ........... -

 $ .169 $ .170 - - - - -

1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - 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)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

June

2005

Dec.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 198.5 198.9 197.8 197.7 4.3 1.9 9.4 -1.6 3.1 3.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 191.9 192.5 193.0 193.2 1.5 3.0 1.9 2.7 2.2 2.3 

Food ....................................................................................... 191.5 192.1 192.6 192.9 1.3 3.4 1.9 3.0 2.3 2.4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 190.2 190.8 191.4 191.6 -.8 3.4 1.3 3.0 1.3 2.1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 208.5 209.8 210.3 209.9 1.7 -.2 -.2 2.7 .8 1.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 184.8 184.4 185.7 185.7 2.6 1.7 -.9 2.0 2.2 .5 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 181.1 181.1 182.8 182.3 6.2 1.3 -3.0 2.7 3.7 -.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 244.1 247.2 246.7 249.0 -21.1 11.8 7.5 8.3 -6.1 7.9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 145.7 145.6 146.8 146.0 4.9 3.4 4.5 .8 4.1 2.7 

Other food at home ............................................................ 167.6 168.2 167.7 168.2 3.2 3.4 1.7 1.4 3.3 1.6 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 165.8 166.6 167.8 169.5 -2.4 9.2 .7 9.2 3.2 4.9 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 168.9 167.4 167.6 167.0 -6.2 -3.8 9.8 -4.4 -5.0 2.4 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 183.1 184.0 183.0 183.3 6.9 3.6 .4 .4 5.2 .4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.5 112.1 112.7 112.4 4.0 -5.9 4.8 3.3 -1.1 4.0 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 194.6 195.2 195.6 196.0 3.8 3.2 2.9 2.9 3.5 2.9 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 133.1 133.2 133.4 133.6 8.1 7.6 4.0 1.5 7.9 2.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 196.6 196.8 197.1 196.4 3.8 .4 1.4 -.4 2.1 .5 

Housing .................................................................................... 196.7 198.5 199.5 199.6 3.8 1.9 4.0 6.0 2.8 5.0 

Shelter .................................................................................... 224.6 225.7 226.4 227.1 4.4 .7 .9 4.5 2.5 2.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 218.6 219.5 220.0 220.3 3.0 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 125.7 130.1 131.8 133.0 18.6 -13.5 -11.2 25.3 1.2 5.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 231.2 231.5 232.0 232.6 3.0 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.7 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.6 115.8 115.9 116.1 1.0 -3.3 -4.7 -1.7 -1.2 -3.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 185.5 193.6 196.4 193.7 3.1 11.6 30.1 18.9 7.3 24.4 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 168.4 177.2 180.0 176.9 2.4 13.0 36.8 21.8 7.6 29.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 242.7 245.0 234.5 229.6 3.7 27.5 123.0 -19.9 15.0 33.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 172.0 181.6 185.4 182.3 2.3 12.0 31.2 26.2 7.1 28.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 131.3 131.8 132.5 133.1 7.1 4.7 3.4 5.6 5.9 4.5 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 125.8 126.0 126.3 126.9 -.3 .0 -.3 3.5 -.2 1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 131.0 131.6 132.5 133.3 4.2 5.7 2.8 7.2 4.9 5.0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.3 118.8 119.0 118.6 3.4 -5.2 .0 -2.3 -1.0 -1.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 114.6 114.9 114.6 114.2 5.3 -6.3 -4.7 -1.4 -.7 -3.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 109.8 109.4 111.0 110.7 4.0 -7.9 -3.2 3.3 -2.1 .0

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 114.4 113.7 112.9 114.5 -3.3 4.2 -12.5 .4 .3 -6.3 

Footwear ................................................................................ 125.2 124.3 122.2 121.4 5.4 1.3 9.8 -11.6 3.4 -1.5 

Transportation .......................................................................... 186.4 183.9 175.1 173.7 10.3 2.9 41.5 -24.6 6.5 3.3 

Private transportation ............................................................. 183.0 180.3 171.1 169.8 10.8 2.2 43.8 -25.9 6.4 3.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.9 95.9 95.6 95.4 1.7 1.7 .4 -2.1 1.7 -.8 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.0 137.7 137.5 137.3 2.0 .0 -4.3 .9 1.0 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 141.5 140.6 139.4 139.2 1.2 6.5 4.7 -6.3 3.8 -1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 246.3 235.5 197.9 192.5 42.4 2.5 234.7 -62.7 20.8 11.7 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 245.3 234.3 196.8 191.6 41.6 2.2 237.3 -62.8 20.3 12.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 112.7 113.0 113.6 114.0 3.7 1.1 5.5 4.7 2.4 5.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 208.9 209.8 210.3 210.5 3.4 3.2 5.1 3.1 3.3 4.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 220.9 224.0 224.0 222.0 2.5 14.8 5.0 2.0 8.5 3.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 325.0 326.7 328.7 329.1 6.0 3.3 2.8 5.1 4.6 3.9 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 277.4 278.9 280.6 281.3 3.0 3.1 3.1 5.7 3.0 4.4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 338.6 340.4 342.4 342.7 6.9 3.3 2.8 4.9 5.1 3.8 

Professional services ........................................................... 283.3 284.6 285.4 285.7 5.5 3.5 2.4 3.4 4.5 2.9

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 441.1 444.5 449.6 449.2 7.5 3.4 1.7 7.6 5.4 4.6 

See footnotes at end of table.
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-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

June

2005

Dec.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 109.8 110.0 110.0 110.0 -0.4 0.7 3.0 0.7 0.2 1.8 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.8 104.7 104.5 104.5 -.8 -5.3 7.6 -1.1 -3.0 3.1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 114.4 114.3 114.8 115.1 2.2 2.1 3.2 2.5 2.1 2.8 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 154.8 155.2 156.1 156.9 5.2 7.1 6.4 5.5 6.2 6.0 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 371.7 373.6 375.8 377.3 -.4 5.6 9.5 6.2 2.5 7.8 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 447.0 448.0 450.6 453.0 5.7 7.1 6.4 5.5 6.4 5.9 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 84.6 84.2 84.4 84.3 -.9 -2.8 .0 -1.4 -1.9 -.7 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 82.4 82.0 82.2 82.2 -1.0 -3.3 .0 -1.0 -2.1 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.1 94.6 95.2 95.2 .8 -1.7 2.1 .4 -.4 1.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 13.3 13.3 13.1 13.1 -5.5 -10.9 -8.5 -5.9 -8.3 -7.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 12.3 12.2 12.0 11.7 -13.6 -11.4 -19.9 -18.1 -12.5 -19.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 315.0 315.3 316.4 318.1 3.3 1.7 3.5 4.0 2.5 3.7

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 510.1 509.4 511.2 513.1 10.1 1.0 10.3 2.4 5.4 6.2 

Personal care ......................................................................... 186.1 186.4 187.1 188.2 1.5 2.0 1.5 4.6 1.7 3.0 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.8 155.0 155.0 155.4 -1.0 3.4 1.3 1.6 1.2 1.4 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 204.6 204.8 205.2 206.6 4.2 -.6 3.2 4.0 1.8 3.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 305.0 305.6 306.5 307.8 1.5 3.7 3.2 3.7 2.6 3.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 165.4 164.6 161.0 160.5 5.2 1.5 17.7 -11.3 3.4 2.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 191.9 192.5 193.0 193.2 1.5 3.0 1.9 2.7 2.2 2.3 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 149.6 148.1 142.9 142.1 7.5 .6 28.2 -18.6 4.0 2.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 182.5 180.3 171.5 170.5 3.0 .5 57.9 -23.8 1.7 9.7 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.3 118.8 119.0 118.6 3.4 -5.2 .0 -2.3 -1.0 -1.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 226.9 222.6 205.7 203.1 15.8 3.1 79.2 -35.8 9.3 7.3 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.1 115.2 114.9 114.7 .7 -.3 -1.0 -1.4 .2 -1.2 

Services ...................................................................................... 231.4 233.0 234.2 234.4 4.0 2.3 3.9 5.3 3.1 4.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 233.8 235.1 235.8 236.4 4.6 1.0 .3 4.5 2.8 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.6 115.8 115.9 116.1 1.0 -3.3 -4.7 -1.7 -1.2 -3.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 172.0 181.6 185.4 182.3 2.3 12.0 31.2 26.2 7.1 28.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 131.3 131.8 132.5 133.1 7.1 4.7 3.4 5.6 5.9 4.5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 131.0 131.6 132.5 133.3 4.2 5.7 2.8 7.2 4.9 5.0 

Transportation services ............................................................ 227.9 228.0 228.4 228.3 1.6 4.4 4.3 .7 3.0 2.5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 338.6 340.4 342.4 342.7 6.9 3.3 2.8 4.9 5.1 3.8 

Other services .......................................................................... 270.3 270.7 271.7 272.5 2.3 2.3 4.3 3.3 2.3 3.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 199.7 200.1 198.6 198.5 4.9 1.7 10.7 -2.4 3.3 3.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 190.5 190.7 188.8 188.4 4.3 2.6 13.4 -4.3 3.4 4.2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 192.0 192.4 191.1 190.9 4.2 1.9 9.7 -2.3 3.1 3.5 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 151.5 150.0 144.9 144.1 7.3 .6 27.0 -18.2 3.9 2.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 183.8 181.3 173.1 172.1 3.2 .5 54.7 -23.1 1.8 9.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 223.4 219.4 204.0 201.4 15.1 2.9 71.2 -33.9 8.8 6.3 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 188.0 187.1 182.6 182.3 2.3 3.0 25.6 -11.6 2.6 5.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 245.9 248.2 250.0 250.1 2.2 4.4 7.5 7.0 3.3 7.2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 222.4 224.3 225.1 225.5 3.4 2.4 3.9 5.7 2.9 4.8 

Energy ........................................................................................ 204.6 204.1 187.8 183.6 21.1 7.5 122.1 -35.2 14.1 20.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 199.3 199.8 200.3 200.7 2.9 1.4 1.6 2.8 2.1 2.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 201.4 201.9 202.4 202.8 3.3 1.2 1.4 2.8 2.2 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.3 140.3 140.2 140.2 1.1 -.3 .0 -.3 .4 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 247.3 237.2 201.2 195.7 39.6 3.8 226.3 -60.8 20.4 13.1 

Services less energy services ................................................ 237.5 238.3 239.2 239.8 4.0 1.7 2.2 3.9 2.9 3.1 

1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.

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)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2005 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2005 from—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Nov.

2004

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

U.S. city average ............................................ M 198.8 199.2 197.6 196.8 3.4 -1.2 -0.4 3.5 -0.6 -0.8 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 210.8 211.5 210.0 209.0 3.5 -1.2 -.5 3.7 -.4 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.2 213.8 212.2 211.3 3.5 -1.2 -.4 3.7 -.5 -.7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 124.5 125.2 124.3 123.6 3.7 -1.3 -.6 3.5 -.2 -.7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 192.5 192.1 190.3 189.7 3.2 -1.2 -.3 3.0 -1.1 -.9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.8 193.7 192.1 191.6 3.2 -1.1 -.3 2.8 -.9 -.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.1 122.6 121.3 120.9 3.1 -1.4 -.3 3.1 -1.5 -1.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 187.2 186.8 185.0 184.4 4.1 -1.3 -.3 4.1 -1.2 -1.0 

South urban .................................................... M 192.0 192.5 190.7 190.1 3.7 -1.2 -.3 3.8 -.7 -.9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.9 194.5 192.9 191.9 3.8 -1.3 -.5 4.3 -.5 -.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 122.3 122.5 121.4 121.2 3.5 -1.1 -.2 3.4 -.7 -.9 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 191.9 193.6 190.7 189.7 4.3 -2.0 -.5 4.5 -.6 -1.5 

West urban ..................................................... M 201.7 202.6 201.4 200.0 3.0 -1.3 -.7 3.2 -.1 -.6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.5 205.4 204.2 203.0 3.3 -1.2 -.6 3.3 -.1 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.1 123.6 122.8 121.8 2.4 -1.5 -.8 2.9 -.2 -.6 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 181.7 182.1 180.8 180.0 3.4 -1.2 -.4 3.6 -.5 -.7 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 122.9 123.1 122.0 121.6 3.3 -1.2 -.3 3.2 -.7 -.9 

D ................................................................. M 191.5 192.2 190.2 189.3 3.8 -1.5 -.5 3.9 -.7 -1.0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 198.3 197.9 197.3 196.4 3.6 -.8 -.5 3.5 -.5 -.3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 205.8 206.9 205.6 203.9 4.5 -1.4 -.8 4.4 -.1 -.6 

New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 215.8 216.6 215.3 214.2 3.6 -1.1 -.5 3.9 -.2 -.6 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 220.1 -

 218.6 - - - - 3.3 -.7 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 191.6 - 189.9 - - - - 3.7 -.9 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 188.9 -

 187.8 - - - - 4.4 -.6 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 126.7 - 125.4 - - - - 3.7 -1.0 -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 -

 193.9 - 188.7 3.0 -2.7 - - - -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 -

 195.1 - 192.4 3.8 -1.4 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 179.2 - 177.2 4.2 -1.1 - - - -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 -

 198.8 - 197.4 4.7 -.7 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 -

 207.5 - 204.9 3.6 -1.3 - - - -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 -

 205.9 - 203.4 2.0 -1.2 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 203.3 - 200.9 3.0 -1.2 - - - -

1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; 

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually

and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the January and July issues of the CPI

Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN;

Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS;

Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ;

Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA;

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available.

 

NOTE: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. 

Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is,

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national

index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Nov.

2005

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 193.4 192.5 3.5 -0.5 0.1 -0.8 -0.1 

All items (1967=100) .................................................................. -

 576.1 573.3 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 192.1 192.5 2.2 .2 .3 .3 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 15.940 191.7 192.2 2.3 .3 .3 .3 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.540 190.1 190.7 1.7 .3 .3 .4 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.342 208.9 208.4 1.0 -.2 .7 .2 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.845 185.8 185.6 1.3 -.1 -.2 .8 .0 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .962 183.3 183.0 1.7 -.2 .0 .8 -.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.407 243.4 249.6 .4 2.5 1.4 .0 .9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.051 144.8 144.9 3.5 .1 -.2 .9 -.4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.934 166.9 167.1 2.4 .1 .4 -.2 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .311 165.7 166.9 3.9 .7 .7 .6 .8 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .311 166.3 165.6 -1.0 -.4 -.8 .1 -.2 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.312 183.4 183.7 2.9 .2 .5 -.4 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .341 113.2 112.9 1.4 -.3 .5 .6 -.3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.400 195.5 195.8 3.2 .2 .4 .2 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .251 133.5 133.6 5.2 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.084 197.0 196.3 1.1 -.4 .3 .3 -.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 38.973 194.4 194.2 4.2 -.1 .9 .5 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 29.902 218.9 219.2 2.7 .1 .4 .3 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.025 219.1 219.7 3.1 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.742 124.5 122.4 3.2 -1.7 3.4 .9 1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 19.795 210.7 211.2 2.5 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .339 116.2 116.4 -2.1 .2 -.8 .2 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.288 193.0 190.2 15.5 -1.5 4.2 1.5 -1.3

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.336 175.5 172.4 17.8 -1.8 5.0 1.7 -1.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .281 231.3 227.4 24.0 -1.7 1.3 -4.3 -1.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.055 181.6 178.3 17.3 -1.8 5.3 2.2 -1.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .952 132.7 133.2 5.3 .4 .5 .4 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.783 121.8 121.9 .5 .1 .2 .0 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .321 135.3 136.0 5.2 .5 .7 .6 .5 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.208 121.0 117.2 -1.2 -3.1 -.4 .1 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.063 116.9 113.5 -1.9 -2.9 .4 -.4 -.3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.664 113.4 108.3 -1.7 -4.5 -.4 1.4 .0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .242 117.8 117.6 -3.1 -.2 -.2 -.6 1.5 

Footwear ................................................................................ .991 123.2 120.9 1.3 -1.9 -.9 -1.7 -.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.845 174.7 171.6 5.0 -1.8 -1.4 -5.1 -.9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 19.072 171.9 168.8 4.9 -1.8 -1.5 -5.3 -.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.146 94.9 94.8 .5 -.1 -.1 -.4 -.2 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.725 139.1 139.3 -.4 .1 .5 -.1 -.3 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.536 140.2 140.0 1.4 -.1 -.7 -.8 -.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 4.843 200.5 188.0 16.3 -6.2 -4.3 -15.9 -2.8 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 4.803 199.4 187.0 16.2 -6.2 -4.2 -15.9 -2.8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .449 113.2 113.6 3.9 .4 .3 .5 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.357 213.1 213.2 3.8 .0 .5 .2 .0 

Public transportation ............................................................... .773 219.4 216.6 6.1 -1.3 1.7 -.1 -.8 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.014 327.9 328.2 4.4 .1 .6 .7 .1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.126 273.4 273.9 3.6 .2 .7 .8 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.888 342.6 342.8 4.6 .1 .6 .6 .1 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.270 287.1 287.4 3.7 .1 .4 .4 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.276 446.4 446.4 5.2 .0 .9 1.3 -.1 

See footnotes at end of table.
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-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Nov.

2005

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.546 107.2 107.1 0.9 -0.1 0.3 -0.1 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.878 103.5 103.2 .0 -.3 .0 -.2 -.1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.498 112.7 112.6 1.9 -.1 -.1 .4 .1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.361 155.5 155.6 5.9 .1 .3 .7 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .217 374.8 375.5 5.0 .2 .5 .5 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.145 440.3 440.5 5.9 .0 .3 .6 .4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.137 86.2 86.2 -.9 .0 -.6 .3 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.990 84.7 84.6 -1.1 -.1 -.5 .4 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.473 95.3 95.3 .3 .0 -.5 .5 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .517 13.7 13.6 -8.1 -.7 -.7 -.7 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .171 11.8 11.6 -15.3 -1.7 -.8 -1.7 -1.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.891 325.4 326.6 3.4 .4 .0 .3 .5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.244 513.2 515.0 6.0 .4 -.2 .4 .4 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.648 185.1 185.8 2.1 .4 .1 .3 .6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .712 154.9 155.4 1.0 .3 .0 -.1 .3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .611 205.5 206.9 2.5 .7 .1 .2 .7 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.160 306.2 307.0 2.9 .3 .2 .2 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.809 162.8 161.2 2.9 -1.0 -.5 -2.4 -.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 192.1 192.5 2.2 .2 .3 .3 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.786 145.9 143.4 3.3 -1.7 -1.0 -3.8 -.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 15.322 176.1 170.8 6.2 -3.0 -1.3 -5.5 -.5 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.208 121.0 117.2 -1.2 -3.1 -.4 .1 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 11.113 214.2 207.8 8.9 -3.0 -2.0 -8.3 -1.4 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.464 114.9 114.9 -.2 .0 .2 -.3 -.2 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.191 229.3 229.2 3.9 .0 .7 .5 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.562 210.9 211.2 2.7 .1 .4 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .339 116.2 116.4 -2.1 .2 -.8 .2 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.055 181.6 178.3 17.3 -1.8 5.3 2.2 -1.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .952 132.7 133.2 5.3 .4 .5 .4 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .321 135.3 136.0 5.2 .5 .7 .6 .5 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.166 228.5 228.3 2.5 -.1 .0 .2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.888 342.6 342.8 4.6 .1 .6 .6 .1 

Other services .......................................................................... 9.907 263.2 263.5 2.7 .1 .2 .4 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 84.060 193.5 192.3 3.7 -.6 .1 -1.0 -.2

All items less shelter ................................................................... 70.098 186.2 184.8 3.8 -.8 .1 -1.3 -.3

All items less medical care ......................................................... 94.986 187.7 186.7 3.4 -.5 .1 -.8 -.1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.870 147.8 145.3 3.3 -1.7 -1.0 -3.7 -.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 16.406 177.4 172.4 5.8 -2.8 -1.2 -5.1 -.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 12.197 211.8 205.9 8.2 -2.8 -1.9 -7.6 -1.3 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 32.346 184.7 182.2 4.1 -1.4 -.5 -2.7 -.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.628 221.7 221.1 5.3 -.3 1.1 .7 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.303 220.7 220.6 3.9 .0 .7 .5 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.179 187.1 179.3 17.0 -4.2 -.5 -8.5 -2.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 90.821 195.0 194.9 2.0 -.1 .3 .2 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 74.881 196.1 195.9 2.0 -.1 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 23.745 141.2 140.4 .4 -.6 .0 -.1 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 5.124 202.8 190.7 16.7 -6.0 -4.0 -15.3 -2.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.136 234.4 234.6 2.8 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ...... -

 $ .517 $ .520 - - - - -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ........... -

 $ .174 $ .174 - - - - -

1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - 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)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

June

2005

Dec.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 194.7 194.9 193.4 193.2 4.4 2.1 11.0 -3.0 3.2 3.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 191.2 191.8 192.4 192.5 1.3 3.0 1.7 2.7 2.1 2.2 

Food ....................................................................................... 190.8 191.4 192.0 192.2 1.3 3.0 1.9 3.0 2.1 2.4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 189.3 189.8 190.5 190.7 -.6 3.2 1.1 3.0 1.3 2.0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 208.3 209.7 210.2 209.9 1.9 .0 -.8 3.1 1.0 1.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 184.7 184.3 185.7 185.7 2.6 1.7 -1.1 2.2 2.2 .5 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 181.0 181.0 182.4 182.1 6.2 1.5 -3.0 2.5 3.8 -.3 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 241.3 244.6 244.5 246.7 -21.9 11.0 7.5 9.3 -6.9 8.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 145.1 144.8 146.1 145.5 4.6 3.4 4.8 1.1 4.0 3.0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 167.0 167.6 167.3 167.6 3.5 2.9 1.7 1.4 3.2 1.6 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 164.9 166.0 167.0 168.4 -1.7 8.7 .5 8.8 3.4 4.5 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 168.9 167.6 167.7 167.4 -5.6 -4.0 9.8 -3.5 -4.8 2.9 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 183.2 184.1 183.4 183.7 7.1 3.1 .2 1.1 5.1 .7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.9 112.5 113.2 112.9 4.4 -6.9 5.2 3.6 -1.4 4.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 194.4 195.1 195.5 195.8 4.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.5 2.9 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 132.7 132.9 133.3 133.5 7.4 8.0 3.1 2.4 7.7 2.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 196.0 196.5 197.0 196.3 3.8 -.6 .6 .6 1.6 .6 

Housing .................................................................................... 192.4 194.2 195.1 195.3 3.5 2.8 4.5 6.2 3.1 5.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 217.9 218.7 219.4 220.1 3.8 1.5 1.3 4.1 2.6 2.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 217.7 218.4 219.1 219.7 3.2 2.8 3.0 3.7 3.0 3.4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 125.1 129.4 130.6 132.7 15.8 -9.8 -14.0 26.6 2.2 4.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 209.7 210.0 210.5 211.0 2.9 2.3 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.9 116.0 116.2 116.4 1.7 -3.6 -4.7 -1.7 -1.0 -3.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 184.2 192.0 194.9 192.4 3.2 12.2 28.5 19.0 7.6 23.7 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 166.2 174.5 177.5 174.7 2.2 13.8 34.6 22.1 7.8 28.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 242.1 245.3 234.8 230.8 -.2 29.7 121.3 -17.4 13.8 35.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 170.7 179.7 183.6 180.7 2.4 13.0 29.6 25.6 7.5 27.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 131.6 132.2 132.7 133.4 7.1 4.4 3.7 5.6 5.8 4.7 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.6 121.9 121.9 122.4 -.7 .3 -.3 2.7 -.2 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 133.5 134.5 135.3 136.0 2.8 8.2 2.1 7.7 5.5 4.9 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 118.7 118.2 118.3 118.1 3.7 -5.5 -.7 -2.0 -1.0 -1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 114.1 114.6 114.1 113.8 6.4 -8.5 -3.8 -1.0 -1.4 -2.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 109.0 108.6 110.1 110.1 3.3 -9.6 -3.6 4.1 -3.4 .2

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 116.4 116.2 115.5 117.2 -2.9 2.4 -13.5 2.8 -.3 -5.7 

Footwear ................................................................................ 124.2 123.1 121.0 120.6 6.9 2.7 7.4 -11.1 4.8 -2.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 186.2 183.6 174.2 172.7 10.6 2.6 44.9 -26.0 6.6 3.6 

Private transportation ............................................................. 183.7 180.9 171.3 169.9 11.1 2.2 46.8 -26.8 6.5 3.6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.2 95.1 94.7 94.5 1.3 2.6 1.3 -2.9 1.9 -.8 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.1 138.8 138.7 138.3 1.7 .3 -4.0 .6 1.0 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 142.4 141.4 140.2 140.0 1.2 6.5 4.9 -6.6 3.8 -1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 247.1 236.5 198.9 193.4 41.9 2.0 236.1 -62.5 20.3 12.3 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 245.8 235.4 197.9 192.4 41.8 2.2 234.9 -62.5 20.4 12.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 112.3 112.6 113.2 113.6 4.5 1.1 5.5 4.7 2.8 5.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 211.3 212.4 212.9 213.0 3.8 3.3 5.3 3.3 3.5 4.3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 218.8 222.5 222.3 220.6 3.3 13.0 5.1 3.3 8.0 4.2 

Medical care ............................................................................. 324.4 326.3 328.6 328.9 5.7 3.7 2.5 5.7 4.7 4.1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 270.0 271.8 273.9 274.4 2.6 2.4 2.7 6.7 2.5 4.7 

Medical care services ............................................................. 339.1 341.0 343.2 343.5 6.7 3.9 2.5 5.3 5.3 3.9 

Professional services ........................................................... 286.1 287.2 288.3 288.5 4.7 3.6 3.0 3.4 4.1 3.2

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 436.8 440.6 446.4 445.9 8.1 3.5 1.1 8.6 5.7 4.8 

See footnotes at end of table.
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-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

June

2005

Dec.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 107.2 107.5 107.4 107.4 0.0 0.4 2.7 0.7 0.2 1.7 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.0 104.0 103.8 103.7 -.4 -4.9 6.8 -1.1 -2.7 2.8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.9 111.8 112.3 112.4 1.8 1.1 2.9 1.8 1.5 2.4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 152.8 153.3 154.3 155.0 5.3 6.3 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.9 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 372.9 374.7 376.7 378.2 -.1 5.6 8.8 5.8 2.7 7.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 432.2 433.6 436.4 438.3 5.8 6.4 5.7 5.8 6.1 5.7 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 86.4 85.9 86.2 86.2 -.9 -2.3 .5 -.9 -1.6 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 84.8 84.4 84.7 84.6 -.9 -2.3 .0 -.9 -1.6 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.3 94.8 95.3 95.3 .4 -1.3 2.1 .0 -.4 1.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 13.9 13.8 13.7 13.6 -7.9 -8.0 -8.2 -8.4 -7.9 -8.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 12.1 12.0 11.8 11.6 -13.8 -14.3 -17.6 -15.5 -14.1 -16.6 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 324.6 324.5 325.6 327.3 3.7 1.6 5.0 3.4 2.7 4.2

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 512.2 511.3 513.2 515.0 10.0 1.2 11.1 2.2 5.5 6.6 

Personal care ......................................................................... 184.6 184.7 185.3 186.4 .9 2.0 2.0 4.0 1.4 3.0 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.0 155.0 154.9 155.4 -1.3 3.2 1.3 1.0 .9 1.2 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 204.8 205.0 205.5 206.9 3.6 -.6 3.0 4.2 1.5 3.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 305.4 306.1 306.8 308.2 .5 4.5 2.9 3.7 2.5 3.3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 167.2 166.3 162.3 161.8 5.5 1.5 19.6 -12.3 3.5 2.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 191.2 191.8 192.4 192.5 1.3 3.0 1.7 2.7 2.1 2.2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 152.6 151.0 145.2 144.2 8.3 .8 31.1 -20.3 4.5 2.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 189.0 186.6 176.4 175.5 3.7 .5 64.1 -25.7 2.1 10.4 

Apparel ................................................................................. 118.7 118.2 118.3 118.1 3.7 -5.5 -.7 -2.0 -1.0 -1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 238.0 233.3 214.0 211.0 18.0 3.0 87.8 -38.2 10.3 7.7 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.1 115.3 115.0 114.8 .3 .7 -.7 -1.0 .5 -.9 

Services ...................................................................................... 227.1 228.7 229.8 230.0 3.3 2.9 4.2 5.2 3.1 4.7 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 209.9 210.8 211.3 212.0 4.1 1.7 1.2 4.1 2.9 2.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.9 116.0 116.2 116.4 1.7 -3.6 -4.7 -1.7 -1.0 -3.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 170.7 179.7 183.6 180.7 2.4 13.0 29.6 25.6 7.5 27.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 131.6 132.2 132.7 133.4 7.1 4.4 3.7 5.6 5.8 4.7 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 133.5 134.5 135.3 136.0 2.8 8.2 2.1 7.7 5.5 4.9 

Transportation services ............................................................ 227.8 227.9 228.3 228.5 1.6 3.4 3.8 1.2 2.5 2.5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 339.1 341.0 343.2 343.5 6.7 3.9 2.5 5.3 5.3 3.9 

Other services .......................................................................... 261.7 262.1 263.1 263.7 2.2 1.6 4.1 3.1 1.9 3.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 195.3 195.4 193.5 193.2 5.0 1.9 12.8 -4.2 3.5 3.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 188.3 188.4 186.0 185.5 4.6 2.5 15.1 -5.8 3.5 4.1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 189.1 189.3 187.7 187.5 4.0 2.2 11.3 -3.3 3.1 3.7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 154.3 152.7 147.0 146.1 8.2 .6 30.0 -19.6 4.3 2.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 189.6 187.4 177.8 176.8 3.9 -.2 59.9 -24.4 1.8 10.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 233.5 229.1 211.6 208.9 16.7 2.2 80.0 -35.9 9.2 7.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 191.0 190.1 184.9 184.4 2.7 2.0 28.5 -13.1 2.4 5.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 218.3 220.6 222.2 222.2 2.1 4.2 7.9 7.3 3.2 7.6 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 218.6 220.1 221.2 221.5 2.7 2.8 4.5 5.4 2.7 5.0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 205.8 204.7 187.3 183.2 22.0 7.0 127.3 -37.2 14.2 19.5 

All items less energy .................................................................. 194.1 194.6 195.0 195.3 2.5 1.7 1.7 2.5 2.1 2.1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 195.2 195.6 196.0 196.3 2.7 1.5 1.7 2.3 2.1 2.0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.7 140.7 140.6 140.5 1.4 .0 .3 -.6 .7 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 247.8 237.9 201.4 196.0 39.3 3.3 229.0 -60.9 20.0 13.5 

Services less energy services ................................................ 233.2 233.9 234.7 235.3 3.5 2.1 2.3 3.7 2.8 3.0 

1 Not seasonally adjusted. 2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.

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)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2005 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2005 from—

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004

Oct.

2005

Nov.

2005

Nov.

2004

Sep.

2005

Oct.

2005

U.S. city average ............................................ M 195.0 195.2 193.4 192.5 3.5 -1.4 -0.5 3.5 -0.8 -0.9 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 207.9 208.1 206.5 205.5 3.4 -1.2 -.5 3.6 -.7 -.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 209.0 208.9 207.3 206.4 3.4 -1.2 -.4 3.5 -.8 -.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 124.8 125.4 124.4 123.7 3.6 -1.4 -.6 3.5 -.3 -.8 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 188.2 187.6 185.6 185.1 3.5 -1.3 -.3 3.2 -1.4 -1.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 188.7 188.5 186.7 186.2 3.4 -1.2 -.3 3.0 -1.1 -1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 122.9 122.2 120.6 120.3 3.4 -1.6 -.2 3.2 -1.9 -1.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 185.6 184.9 183.0 182.4 4.3 -1.4 -.3 4.5 -1.4 -1.0 

South urban .................................................... M 189.8 190.2 188.0 187.2 3.8 -1.6 -.4 4.0 -.9 -1.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 192.6 193.2 191.1 189.7 4.0 -1.8 -.7 4.7 -.8 -1.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.3 121.4 120.0 119.8 3.6 -1.3 -.2 3.4 -1.1 -1.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 192.6 194.4 191.0 189.8 4.6 -2.4 -.6 4.8 -.8 -1.7 

West urban ..................................................... M 197.1 197.8 196.4 194.9 2.9 -1.5 -.8 3.3 -.4 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.4 199.1 197.7 196.2 3.2 -1.5 -.8 3.4 -.4 -.7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 122.8 123.2 122.4 121.3 2.3 -1.5 -.9 2.9 -.3 -.6 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 180.7 180.9 179.3 178.4 3.5 -1.4 -.5 3.6 -.8 -.9 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 122.4 122.4 121.2 120.7 3.3 -1.4 -.4 3.3 -1.0 -1.0 

D ................................................................. M 190.7 191.3 189.0 187.9 4.0 -1.8 -.6 4.4 -.9 -1.2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 192.2 191.9 191.1 190.2 3.9 -.9 -.5 3.7 -.6 -.4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 199.0 200.0 198.4 196.5 4.2 -1.8 -1.0 4.3 -.3 -.8 

New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 211.0 211.0 209.9 208.7 3.4 -1.1 -.6 3.8 -.5 -.5 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 220.2 -

 217.7 - - - - 3.2 -1.1 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 183.1 - 180.8 - - - - 4.0 -1.3 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 190.8 -

 188.9 - - - - 4.7 -1.0 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 127.2 - 125.2 - - - - 4.0 -1.6 -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 -

 193.1 - 187.2 3.1 -3.1 - - - -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 -

 190.5 - 187.9 4.0 -1.4 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 178.4 - 175.1 4.4 -1.8 - - - -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 -

 197.4 - 195.5 4.8 -1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 -

 207.6 - 205.2 3.7 -1.2 - - - -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 -

 202.6 - 199.3 1.7 -1.6 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 198.6 - 196.1 3.0 -1.3 - - - -

1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; 

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

 1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November. 

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See technical notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually

and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the January and July issues of the CPI

Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN;

Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS;

Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ;

Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA;

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base. - Data not available.

 

NOTE: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. 

Each local index has a smaller sample size than the national index and is,

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national

index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Dec. 2005 from—

 Nov.

 2005

 Dec.

 2005

 Dec.

 2004

 Nov.

 2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 114.4 114.0 2.8 -0.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 114.5 114.7 2.2 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 114.6 114.8 2.3 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 112.4 112.7 1.6 .3 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 117.4 117.6 3.2 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 113.7 113.3 1.3 -.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 118.8 118.7 3.4 -.1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 118.9 118.9 2.6 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 147.3 145.9 13.9 -1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 96.2 96.3 .1 .1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 91.4 88.4 -1.4 -3.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 115.1 113.7 3.9 -1.2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 115.5 114.2 3.8 -1.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 109.2 107.5 5.9 -1.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 128.2 128.3 4.1 .1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 119.0 119.2 3.6 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 131.4 131.5 4.4 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.8 103.6 .3 -.2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 101.3 101.2 1.0 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 144.9 145.0 6.0 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 76.3 76.0 -2.7 -.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 117.8 118.2 2.9 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 121.3 121.2 3.5 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 105.8 105.0 1.8 -.8 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 87.2 87.2 -1.0 .0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 114.9 113.7 3.1 -1.0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 110.8 110.6 1.7 -.2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 162.0 156.2 16.0 -3.6 

Indexes for 2005 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2004 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1A. 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)

CPI-U Annual

average

2004

Annual

average

2005

Percent

change

from 2004

to 2005

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 188.9 195.3 3.4 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 565.8 585.0 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 186.6 191.2 2.5 

Food ............................................................................................................. 186.2 190.7 2.4 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 186.2 189.8 1.9 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 206.0 209.0 1.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 181.7 184.7 1.7 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 180.2 182.4 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 232.7 241.4 3.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 140.4 144.4 2.8 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 164.9 167.0 1.3 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 163.2 165.2 1.2 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 167.8 167.7 -.1 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 179.7 182.5 1.6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 110.4 111.3 .8 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 187.5 193.4 3.1 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 125.3 131.3 4.8 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 192.1 195.9 2.0 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 189.5 195.7 3.3 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 218.8 224.4 2.6 

Rent of primary residence .......................................................................... 211.0 217.3 3.0 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 125.9 130.3 3.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 ......................................... 224.9 230.2 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 116.2 117.6 1.2 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 161.9 179.0 10.6 

Fuels ........................................................................................................... 144.4 161.6 11.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 160.5 208.6 30.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity ........................................................................ 150.6 166.5 10.6 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 125.5 126.1 .5 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 120.4 119.5 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 117.5 116.1 -1.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 113.0 110.8 -1.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 118.5 116.7 -1.5 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 119.3 122.6 2.8 

Transportation ................................................................................................ 163.1 173.9 6.6 

Private transportation ................................................................................... 159.4 170.2 6.8 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 94.2 95.6 1.5 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 137.1 137.9 .6 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 133.3 139.4 4.6 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 160.4 195.7 22.0 

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 159.7 194.7 21.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 108.7 111.9 2.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 200.2 206.9 3.3 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 209.1 217.3 3.9 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 310.1 323.2 4.2 

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 269.3 276.0 2.5 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 321.3 336.7 4.8 

Professional services .................................................................................. 271.5 281.7 3.8 

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 417.9 439.9 5.3 

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 108.6 109.4 .7 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 104.2 104.2 .0 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure

category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U Annual

average

2004

Annual

average

2005

Percent

change

from 2004

to 2005

Expenditure category

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 111.6 113.7 1.9 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 143.7 152.7 6.3 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 351.0 365.6 4.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 414.3 440.9 6.4 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 86.7 84.7 -2.3 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 84.6 82.6 -2.4 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 95.8 94.9 -.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 3 .................................... 14.8 13.6 -8.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ................................... 15.3 12.8 -16.3 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 304.7 313.4 2.9 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 478.0 502.8 5.2 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 181.7 185.6 2.1 

Personal care products ............................................................................... 153.9 154.4 .3 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 197.6 203.9 3.2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 293.9 303.0 3.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 154.7 160.2 3.6

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 186.6 191.2 2.5 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 136.7 142.5 4.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 157.2 168.4 7.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 120.4 119.5 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 183.9 202.6 10.2 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 114.8 115.3 .4 

Services ............................................................................................................ 222.8 230.1 3.3 

Rent of shelter 2 ............................................................................................. 227.9 233.7 2.5 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 220.6 225.7 2.3 

Other services ................................................................................................ 261.3 268.4 2.7 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 189.4 196.0 3.5

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 179.3 186.1 3.8 

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 182.7 188.7 3.3 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 138.8 144.5 4.1 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 159.3 170.1 6.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 183.8 201.2 9.5 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 172.2 180.2 4.6

Services less rent of shelter 2 ........................................................................... 233.5 243.2 4.2 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 214.5 221.2 3.1 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 151.4 177.1 17.0 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 194.4 198.7 2.2 

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 196.6 200.9 2.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 139.6 140.3 .5 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 161.2 197.4 22.5 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 230.2 236.6 2.8 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .530 $ .512 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .177 $ .171 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.
Table 4A. 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)

CPI-W Annual

average

2004

Annual

average

2005

Percent

change

from 2004

to 2005

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 184.5 191.0 3.5 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 549.5 568.9 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 186.2 190.5 2.3 

Food ............................................................................................................. 185.7 190.1 2.4 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 185.4 188.9 1.9 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 206.0 208.9 1.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 181.8 184.7 1.6 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 180.0 182.2 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 230.4 238.9 3.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 139.7 143.7 2.9 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 164.5 166.5 1.2 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 162.5 164.3 1.1 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 167.8 167.8 .0 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 180.1 182.8 1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 110.9 111.8 .8 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 187.4 193.3 3.1 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 125.1 131.1 4.8 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 192.4 195.8 1.8 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 185.0 191.2 3.4 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 212.2 217.5 2.5 

Rent of primary residence .......................................................................... 210.2 216.5 3.0 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 126.4 130.0 2.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 ......................................... 204.1 208.8 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 116.4 117.9 1.3 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 161.2 177.9 10.4 

Fuels ........................................................................................................... 143.2 159.7 11.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 160.0 208.1 30.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity ........................................................................ 149.8 165.4 10.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ....................................... 124.1 130.6 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 121.1 121.8 .6 

Household operations 1 .............................................................................. 126.8 132.8 4.7 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 120.0 119.1 -.8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 117.3 115.6 -1.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 112.8 110.4 -2.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 121.3 119.3 -1.6 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 118.2 121.8 3.0 

Transportation ................................................................................................ 161.5 173.0 7.1 

Private transportation ................................................................................... 158.8 170.3 7.2 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 92.8 94.7 2.0 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 138.1 138.9 .6 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 134.1 140.3 4.6 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 160.9 196.3 22.0 

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 160.2 195.4 22.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 108.2 111.5 3.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 202.0 209.3 3.6 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 207.1 215.5 4.1 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 309.5 322.8 4.3 

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 263.2 269.2 2.3 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 321.5 337.3 4.9 

Professional services .................................................................................. 274.0 284.3 3.8 

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 414.0 436.1 5.3 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W Annual

average

2004

Annual

average

2005

Percent

change

from 2004

to 2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 106.3 106.8 0.5 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 103.4 103.4 .0 

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 110.0 111.4 1.3 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 142.5 151.0 6.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 352.2 367.1 4.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 402.5 427.1 6.1 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 88.3 86.4 -2.2 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 86.8 84.9 -2.2 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 96.0 95.0 -1.0 

Information technology, hardware and services 3 .................................... 15.3 14.2 -7.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ................................... 15.0 12.6 -16.0 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 312.6 322.2 3.1 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 478.8 504.2 5.3 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 180.4 184.0 2.0 

Personal care products ............................................................................... 154.4 154.5 .1 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 198.2 204.2 3.0 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 294.0 303.4 3.2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 155.4 161.4 3.9

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 186.2 190.5 2.3 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 138.1 144.7 4.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 160.6 173.2 7.8 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 120.0 119.1 -.8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 189.6 210.6 11.1 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 114.0 115.1 1.0 

Services ............................................................................................................ 218.6 225.7 3.2 

Rent of shelter 2 ............................................................................................. 204.3 209.5 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .............................................................. 116.4 117.9 1.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity .............................................................................. 149.8 165.4 10.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ........................................... 124.1 130.6 5.2 

Household operations 1 .................................................................................. 126.8 132.8 4.7 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 220.9 225.9 2.3 

Medical care services ..................................................................................... 321.5 337.3 4.9 

Other services ................................................................................................ 254.1 260.0 2.3 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 184.1 191.0 3.7

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 176.4 183.4 4.0 

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 179.1 185.4 3.5 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 140.0 146.5 4.6 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 162.6 174.6 7.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 189.0 208.4 10.3 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 173.9 182.5 4.9

Services less rent of shelter 2 ........................................................................... 207.4 215.9 4.1 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 210.6 217.2 3.1 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 151.3 177.2 17.1 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 189.5 193.5 2.1 

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 190.6 194.6 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 139.4 140.6 .9 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 161.5 197.7 22.4 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 226.2 232.3 2.7 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .542 $ .524 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .182 $ .176 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.