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Department 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: OCTOBER 2008 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 1.0 percent in October, before 

seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The 

October level of 216.573 (1982-84=100) was 3.7 percent higher than in October 2007. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 1.3 

percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment. The October level of 212.182 (1982-84=100) was 3.8 percent 

higher than in October 2007. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.8 percent in 

October on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The October level of 124.784 (December 1999=100) was 3.3 

percent higher than in October 2007. Please note that the indexes for the post-2006 period are subject to 

revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 1.0 percent in October following very little change 

in September and August. The large October decline was the largest one month decrease since publication of 

seasonally adjusted changes began in February 1947. Compared to a year ago, the October index was up 3.7 

percent. The energy index fell 8.6 percent in October following declines of 1.9 percent in September and 3.1 

percent in August. Motor fuel prices continued to decline in October, with the gasoline index falling 14.2 

percent. Despite the decline, gasoline prices remain 12.0 percent above their October 2007 level. The index 

for household energy items declined 0.9 percent following a 3.4 percent decrease in September. Petroleum 

based household fuel prices continued to decline, but the October decreases were moderated by an (cont.) 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Oct. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Oct. 2008 Apr.

2008

May

2008

June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

All items ................................. 0.2 0.6 1.1 0.8 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 -4.4 3.7 

Food and beverages ........... .9 .3 .7 .9 .6 .6 .3 5.7 6.1 

Housing ............................... .3 .5 .5 .6 -.1 -.1 .0 -.9 3.2 

Apparel ................................ .5 -.3 .1 1.2 .5 -.1 -1.0 -2.4 .3 

Transportation ..................... -.7 2.0 3.8 1.7 -1.5 -.6 -5.4 -26.2 4.2 

Medical care ........................ .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 .3 .2 2.9 2.8 

Recreation ........................... -.1 .1 .1 .4 .5 .2 .1 3.4 2.2 

Education and

communication .............. .4 .4 .5 .5 .2 .1 .2 2.1 3.4 

Other goods and services ... .5 .4 .4 .4 .2 .2 .3 2.9 4.1 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. .0 4.4 6.6 4.0 -3.1 -1.9 -8.6 -43.1 11.5 

Food .................................... .9 .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 5.8 6.3 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 1.1 2.2 
increase in the electricity index. The food index increased 0.3 percent in October, a smaller advance than the 

average monthly increase of 0.7 percent during the June through September period. Compared with a year 

earlier, the food index was up 6.3 percent. The index for all items less food and energy turned down in 

October, declining 0.1 percent to a level 2.2 percent above October 2007. Contributing to the decrease in 

October were declines of 1.0 percent in the apparel index, 4.8 percent in the airline fare index, 1.6 percent in the 

index for lodging away from home, and 0.7 percent in the index for new and used motor vehicles.

The food and beverages index rose 0.3 percent in October after a 0.6 percent increase in September. 

The index for food at home increased 0.1 percent in October after increasing at least 0.6 percent in each of the 

preceding four months. Five of the six grocery store food groups decelerated in October. The fruits and 

vegetables index declined 2.2 percent in October after a 0.5 percent decrease in September. The index for dairy 

and related products also registered a larger decline, falling 1.0 percent in October after a 0.6 percent decline in 

September. The indexes for cereals and bakery products, for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, and for other food at 

home all rose more slowly in October than September. All three indexes rose 0.6 percent in October after 

increases in September of 1.1, 1.0, and 1.1 percent, respectively. Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage 

materials was the only major grocery store food group to increase more rapidly in October, increasing 1.2 

percent after a 0.7 percent increase in September. The other indexes in the food and beverages group, food 

away from home and alcoholic beverages, rose 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent in October, respectively. 

The housing index was virtually unchanged in October after declining 0.1 percent in September. The 

shelter index, which rose 0.3 percent in September, was virtually unchanged in October. Within shelter, the 

index for rent of primary residence rose 0.4 percent in October after a 0.3 percent increase in September. The 

index for owners’ equivalent rent, which increased 0.2 percent in September, rose 0.1 percent in October. The 

lodging away from home index turned down sharply in October, falling 1.6 percent after a 0.9 percent increase 

in September. (On a not seasonally adjusted basis, the index for lodging away from home fell 1.7 percent in 

October and was 1.4 percent below its October 2007 level). The household energy index declined 0.9 percent 

in October as declines in the fuel oil and natural gas indexes more than offset an increase in the electricity 

index. The index for household furnishings and operation was virtually unchanged in October after rising 0.5 

percent in September. 

The transportation index declined sharply in October, falling 5.4 percent as several major components of 

the index declined significantly. The motor fuels index fell 13.9 percent in October after declining 0.8 percent 

in September. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, motor fuel prices fell 14.8 percent in October but were 12.3 

percent higher than in October 2007). The index for new and used motor vehicles declined for the third straight 

month, falling 0.7 percent in October. The new vehicles index declined 0.5 percent in October. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices fell 0.1 percent and have declined 2.3 percent since October 2007.) 

The index for used cars and trucks declined 2.4 percent in October after a 1.8 percent decrease in September. 

The index for public transportation declined 3.3 percent in October as the airline fare index fell 4.8 percent. 

(Prior to seasonal adjustment, airline fares fell 4.4 percent but are 10.4 percent higher than in October 2007.) 

 

The index for apparel fell 1.0 percent in October following a 0.1 percent decline in September. (Prior 

to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 0.9 percent in October and were 0.3 percent higher than in October 

2007.) 

The medical care index rose 0.2 percent in October after rising 0.3 percent in September, and was 2.8 

percent higher than a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription 

drugs, and medical supplies—and the index for medical care services each increased 0.2 percent in October. 

Within the latter group, the index for physicians’ services rose 0.1 percent and the index for hospital and related 

services increased 0.4 percent. 

The index for recreation advanced 0.1 percent in October, following a 0.2 percent increase in 

September. The index for video and audio declined 0.6 percent in October, while the index for photography 

declined 0.8 percent and the index for toys fell 0.5 percent. The indexes for pets and pet products and services 

and for sporting goods increased substantially in October, rising 0.9 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. 
The index for education and communication rose 0.2 percent in October after a 0.1 percent increase in 

September. The index for education rose 0.4 percent in October, the same increase as in September. The index 

for communication was virtually unchanged in October after declining 0.2 percent in September. Within 

communication, the index for telephone services rose 0.1 percent while the index for information technology, 

hardware and services declined 0.3 percent. 

The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in October following a 0.2 percent increase in 

September. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.4 percent in October after being virtually 

unchanged in September, while the index for personal care, which rose 0.3 percent in September, advanced 0.2 

percent in October. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers decreased 1.2 

percent in October. 

Table B. Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Oct. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Oct. 2008 Apr.

2008

May

2008

June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

All items ................................. 0.2 0.7 1.2 0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -1.2 -5.7 3.8 

Food and beverages ........... .9 .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 5.9 6.2 

Housing ............................... .4 .5 .5 .7 .0 -.2 .0 -.7 3.5 

Apparel ................................ .2 -.2 .0 .8 1.0 .0 -1.2 -.9 .3 

Transportation ..................... -.7 2.1 4.0 1.8 -1.7 -.7 -6.0 -28.9 4.1 

Medical care ........................ .2 .1 .2 .1 .3 .3 .1 3.1 2.9 

Recreation ........................... -.2 .0 .2 .4 .5 .2 .0 3.1 2.0 

Education and

communication .............. .4 .3 .5 .5 .2 .0 .2 1.9 3.1 

Other goods and services ... .4 .5 .6 .5 .2 .2 .3 2.7 4.5 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -.2 4.5 6.8 4.0 -3.2 -1.7 -9.0 -43.7 11.7 

Food .................................... 1.0 .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 6.0 6.4 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 1.0 2.1 

 

Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, at 

8:30 A.M. (EST). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339. 

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of 

stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included 

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

national level. It is important to note that the CPI-U and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the 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. 
Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

The CPI is a statistical estimate that is subject to sampling error because it is based upon a sample of 

retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-month, 

2-month, 6-month and 12-month percent change standard errors annually, for the CPI-U. These standard error 

estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For example, the estimated 

standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index. This 

means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology, and 

estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 

1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI 

for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices 

would fall between 0.08 and 0.32 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the 

estimates of standard error, see “Variance Estimates for Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January 2005- 

December 2005” in the CPI Detailed Report, February 2006. These data are available on the CPI home page 

(http://www.bls.gov/cpi), using the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2006.pdf

Calculating Index Changes 

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

than changes in index points, because index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to its 

base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation of index point and 

percent changes. 

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

according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change 

would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2003 through December 2007 

were replaced in January 2008. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of the 

dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 

48 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2008. 
Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years 

after their original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements. 

Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an 

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. 

Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme 

values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the 

data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2008, BLS adjusted 20 series using Intervention Analysis 

Seasonal Adjustment, including selected food and beverage items, motor fuels, electricity and vehicles. For 

example, this procedure was used for the Motor fuel series to offset the effects of events such as damage to oil 

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

 

For a complete list of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment series and explanations, please refer to 

the article “Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment,” located on our website at 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm. 

 

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

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Jeff Wilson at 

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

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Sep.

2008

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 218.783 216.573 3.7 -1.0 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 

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

 655.376 648.758 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 217.672 218.705 6.1 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.833 217.696 218.738 6.3 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.660 218.629 219.660 7.5 .5 .8 .6 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.030 250.924 252.832 12.5 .8 -.1 1.1 .6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.807 209.937 210.706 6.2 .4 1.0 1.0 .6 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .887 213.533 212.733 3.6 -.4 .4 -.6 -1.0 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.156 285.986 285.484 8.3 -.2 2.1 -.5 -2.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .928 161.499 163.727 5.3 1.4 .4 .7 1.2 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.852 187.944 189.348 8.4 .7 .7 1.1 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .277 189.929 190.515 7.5 .3 .6 1.7 .7 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .205 206.274 208.300 18.3 1.0 1.1 1.7 .5 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.369 201.388 202.993 7.0 .8 .6 .8 .6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .404 121.144 122.699 6.8 1.3 .4 .1 1.3 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.173 218.225 219.290 4.8 .5 .3 .5 .5 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .297 152.040 153.544 5.1 1.0 .0 .6 1.0 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.080 216.055 216.972 3.8 .4 .4 .5 .4 

Housing ...................................................................................... 42.427 218.184 217.383 3.2 -.4 -.1 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.596 247.737 247.844 2.2 .0 .1 .3 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.765 244.926 245.855 3.7 .4 .3 .3 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.564 143.597 141.140 -1.4 -1.7 -1.1 .9 -1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 23.942 253.493 253.902 2.3 .2 .1 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .325 119.944 119.916 2.8 .0 -.2 1.2 .0 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.128 228.450 221.199 10.1 -3.2 -1.1 -2.8 -.6 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.215 209.501 201.176 10.8 -4.0 -1.6 -3.4 -.9

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .351 349.164 318.667 21.7 -8.7 -6.5 -5.8 -8.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.864 210.950 203.503 9.8 -3.5 -1.1 -3.2 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .913 154.264 155.557 6.9 .8 1.3 .3 1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.702 128.584 128.789 2.0 .2 .2 .5 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .737 150.193 150.052 6.4 -.1 .6 .7 -.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.731 121.168 122.243 .3 .9 .5 -.1 -1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .935 112.720 115.067 .1 2.1 .3 -.3 -.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.600 111.774 111.833 -1.4 .1 2.0 -.3 -2.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .185 113.494 116.158 -.8 2.3 -.8 1.3 .6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .679 124.907 126.442 1.4 1.2 -1.6 -.4 .3 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.688 203.861 192.709 4.2 -5.5 -1.5 -.6 -5.4 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.583 199.153 187.976 3.9 -5.6 -1.6 -.6 -5.5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.191 92.480 92.071 -2.3 -.4 -.4 -.9 -.7 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.632 132.399 132.264 -2.3 -.1 -.6 -.7 -.5 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 1.773 132.916 129.733 -5.3 -2.4 -.3 -1.8 -2.4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.482 315.078 268.537 12.3 -14.8 -4.2 -.8 -13.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.215 313.535 266.382 12.0 -15.0 -4.2 -.6 -14.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .356 131.048 131.917 7.2 .7 .9 .6 .7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.123 237.121 238.227 5.9 .5 .6 .4 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.106 261.318 252.323 8.4 -3.4 1.1 -1.0 -3.3 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.231 365.036 365.746 2.8 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.601 295.461 295.791 1.2 .1 .1 .2 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.630 386.579 387.440 3.4 .2 .3 .4 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.626 312.527 312.914 3.1 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.467 537.728 540.853 6.0 .6 .6 .6 .4 

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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Sep.

2008

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.647 114.032 114.169 2.2 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.843 102.706 102.193 -.9 -.5 .5 .1 -.6 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.086 125.505 125.686 3.4 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.944 186.148 186.669 5.9 .3 .6 .4 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .207 462.787 463.825 7.5 .2 2.6 .4 .2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.736 536.082 537.606 5.7 .3 .5 .4 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.142 84.524 84.535 1.0 .0 -.2 -.2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 2.975 81.635 81.652 .9 .0 -.2 -.2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.342 101.311 101.407 2.4 .1 .0 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .634 9.901 9.874 -4.9 -.3 -.7 -1.1 -.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .242 90.797 89.945 -13.8 -.9 -1.9 -2.3 -.9 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.277 348.166 349.276 4.1 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .731 597.581 599.744 7.0 .4 .1 .0 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.546 202.486 203.107 3.2 .3 .3 .3 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .639 159.643 159.826 .9 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .629 224.614 225.564 3.5 .4 .2 .2 .4 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.044 343.431 343.131 4.6 -.1 .4 .5 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 41.269 179.117 175.257 3.9 -2.2 -.5 -.1 -2.3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 217.672 218.705 6.1 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.356 157.621 151.874 2.7 -3.6 -1.1 -.5 -3.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.519 206.919 195.127 6.0 -5.7 -1.8 -.9 -5.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.731 121.168 122.243 .3 .9 .5 -.1 -1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.787 265.100 244.935 7.9 -7.6 -2.0 -1.4 -7.9 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.837 110.077 109.677 -2.0 -.4 -.3 -.6 -.6 

Services ....................................................................................... 58.731 258.059 257.559 3.5 -.2 .1 .0 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.271 258.255 258.368 2.2 .0 .1 .3 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .325 119.944 119.916 2.8 .0 -.2 1.2 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.864 210.950 203.503 9.8 -3.5 -1.1 -3.2 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .913 154.264 155.557 6.9 .8 1.3 .3 1.0 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .737 150.193 150.052 6.4 -.1 .6 .7 -.1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.350 248.047 247.762 5.2 -.1 .8 .1 -.4 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.630 386.579 387.440 3.4 .2 .3 .4 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.641 299.598 299.923 3.7 .1 .4 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.167 218.991 216.250 3.2 -1.3 -.3 -.1 -1.2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.404 209.936 206.776 4.3 -1.5 -.2 -.2 -1.4 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.769 211.321 209.021 3.7 -1.1 -.2 -.1 -1.0 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.436 159.825 154.250 2.7 -3.5 -1.1 -.4 -3.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.599 207.483 196.442 5.8 -5.3 -2.0 -.9 -5.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.868 259.278 241.183 7.5 -7.0 -2.2 -1.4 -7.0 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.432 213.274 207.435 6.0 -2.7 -.9 -.3 -2.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.460 277.615 276.297 5.0 -.5 .2 -.3 -.1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.101 247.563 246.997 3.5 -.2 .2 -.1 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.698 258.020 231.561 11.5 -10.3 -3.1 -1.9 -8.6 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.302 216.397 216.695 2.8 .1 .3 .2 .0

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.469 216.862 217.023 2.2 .1 .2 .1 -.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.602 140.528 140.659 .1 .1 .1 -.2 -.4 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.834 318.918 272.921 12.9 -14.4 -4.4 -1.1 -13.6 

Services less energy services .................................................. 54.867 262.980 263.156 3.0 .1 .2 .3 .0 

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

 $ .457 $ .462 - - - - -

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

 $ .153 $ .154 - - - - -

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.

5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2008

Oct.

2008 Apr.

2008

Oct.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 219.181 218.880 218.813 216.710 6.8 2.3 10.6 -4.4 4.5 2.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 215.539 216.778 217.996 218.569 4.6 6.1 8.0 5.7 5.4 6.9 

Food ................................................................................ 215.545 216.807 218.029 218.582 4.7 6.3 8.4 5.8 5.5 7.1 

Food at home ................................................................ 216.227 217.949 219.225 219.380 5.7 8.3 10.1 6.0 7.0 8.0 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.210 249.024 251.760 253.199 7.6 19.5 17.0 6.6 13.4 11.7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 205.361 207.479 209.534 210.721 2.7 3.4 8.1 10.9 3.0 9.5 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 214.537 215.356 214.066 211.930 2.3 4.5 13.2 -4.8 3.4 3.8 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 285.411 291.493 290.047 283.770 16.3 3.0 17.5 -2.3 9.5 7.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 159.796 160.411 161.609 163.526 4.1 7.7 -.2 9.7 5.9 4.6 

Other food at home ..................................................... 184.951 186.154 188.124 189.320 3.5 12.7 7.8 9.8 8.0 8.8

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 185.865 186.956 190.197 191.438 3.8 10.7 3.2 12.5 7.2 7.8 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 200.870 202.996 206.381 207.508 12.8 26.2 20.9 13.9 19.3 17.3 

Other foods ............................................................... 198.743 199.930 201.577 202.881 1.8 11.1 6.8 8.6 6.3 7.7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 120.510 121.033 121.144 122.699 1.1 12.1 7.0 7.5 6.5 7.2 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 216.376 217.063 218.225 219.290 3.5 3.9 6.3 5.5 3.7 5.9 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 151.120 151.133 152.040 153.544 1.6 5.6 6.8 6.6 3.6 6.7 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 214.173 215.105 216.276 217.103 3.3 3.7 2.4 5.6 3.5 4.0 

Housing ............................................................................. 218.267 218.101 217.891 217.793 3.5 3.7 6.5 -.9 3.6 2.8 

Shelter ............................................................................. 247.090 247.258 247.971 248.058 3.5 1.0 2.9 1.6 2.2 2.2 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 243.535 244.296 244.977 245.840 4.5 2.9 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.6 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 145.394 143.846 145.173 142.808 5.1 -13.5 11.6 -6.9 -4.7 1.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 252.610 252.970 253.493 253.871 3.3 2.3 1.8 2.0 2.8 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 118.764 118.562 119.944 119.916 2.8 3.4 1.2 3.9 3.1 2.5 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 233.540 230.876 224.377 223.111 6.0 24.0 34.4 -16.7 14.6 5.8 

Household energy ......................................................... 215.751 212.286 205.021 203.206 5.9 28.7 40.7 -21.3 16.7 5.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 401.283 375.211 353.309 322.208 79.3 48.8 98.2 -58.4 63.3 -9.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 214.896 212.549 205.785 205.538 .6 27.0 35.9 -16.3 13.0 6.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 151.857 153.832 154.269 155.827 6.7 3.8 6.4 10.9 5.3 8.6 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 127.919 128.222 128.917 128.936 .4 1.9 2.7 3.2 1.1 2.9 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 148.290 149.169 150.193 150.052 5.2 8.5 7.1 4.8 6.9 5.9 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.574 120.157 120.005 118.843 4.6 -4.6 4.2 -2.4 -.1 .8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.090 113.420 113.108 112.533 1.9 2.9 -2.3 -2.0 2.4 -2.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.860 110.057 109.678 107.255 7.3 -17.2 9.0 -2.2 -5.8 3.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 112.638 111.741 113.172 113.815 4.5 -5.6 -6.0 4.2 -.7 -1.0 

Footwear ......................................................................... 126.047 124.023 123.572 123.896 3.6 3.5 5.7 -6.7 3.5 -.7 

Transportation ................................................................... 209.358 206.303 205.036 194.031 22.3 -2.5 34.3 -26.2 9.2 -.5 

Private transportation ...................................................... 204.899 201.552 200.367 189.326 23.0 -3.2 34.5 -27.1 9.1 -1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 94.052 93.702 92.900 92.229 -.3 -1.9 .8 -7.5 -1.1 -3.4 

New vehicles ............................................................... 135.300 134.548 133.567 132.889 -1.1 -2.4 1.6 -6.9 -1.8 -2.8 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 135.840 135.405 132.916 129.733 .7 -1.2 -2.7 -16.8 -.2 -10.0 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 334.732 320.647 317.962 273.671 82.1 -8.8 114.6 -55.3 28.9 -2.1 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 332.237 318.255 316.443 271.580 82.7 -10.4 115.4 -55.4 27.9 -1.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 129.118 130.327 131.048 131.917 4.2 5.8 10.1 9.0 5.0 9.5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 234.818 236.340 237.284 238.108 5.3 5.2 7.4 5.7 5.3 6.6 

Public transportation ....................................................... 261.275 264.183 261.556 252.920 10.9 8.1 31.2 -12.2 9.5 7.3 

Medical care ...................................................................... 363.852 364.710 365.836 366.470 5.1 1.6 1.8 2.9 3.3 2.3 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 294.438 294.694 295.231 295.741 5.1 1.5 -3.2 1.8 3.3 -.8 

Medical care services ..................................................... 385.353 386.458 387.816 388.489 5.1 1.6 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.4 

Professional services .................................................... 311.739 312.575 313.273 313.601 3.8 1.5 4.8 2.4 2.6 3.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 534.172 537.549 540.539 542.655 9.0 4.3 4.4 6.5 6.7 5.4 

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—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2008

Oct.

2008 Apr.

2008

Oct.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.264 113.876 114.120 114.214 1.6 1.2 2.4 3.4 1.4 2.9 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.195 102.658 102.801 102.168 .8 -1.5 -2.9 -.1 -.4 -1.5 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 124.226 124.505 124.615 124.888 2.8 3.3 5.5 2.1 3.0 3.8 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 181.582 182.734 183.462 184.260 6.7 5.4 5.3 6.0 6.0 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 447.821 459.494 461.555 462.451 6.2 4.8 5.6 13.7 5.5 9.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 523.254 525.789 527.863 530.257 6.7 5.4 5.3 5.5 6.1 5.4 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.840 84.702 84.526 84.538 -1.3 1.3 5.7 -1.4 .0 2.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.965 81.815 81.635 81.652 -1.5 1.4 5.3 -1.5 -.1 1.8 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.339 101.301 101.311 101.407 -.5 2.4 7.6 .3 .9 3.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.087 10.012 9.901 9.874 -5.9 -2.3 -3.2 -8.2 -4.1 -5.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 94.711 92.921 90.797 89.945 -12.2 -8.2 -15.7 -18.7 -10.2 -17.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 346.962 347.715 348.540 349.441 3.9 4.8 4.6 2.9 4.4 3.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 596.782 597.361 597.581 599.744 8.9 2.6 14.9 2.0 5.7 8.3 

Personal care .................................................................. 201.660 202.169 202.768 203.231 2.5 5.5 1.8 3.2 4.0 2.5 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 158.989 159.252 159.643 159.826 -.5 3.1 -1.0 2.1 1.3 .5 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 223.719 224.151 224.614 225.564 3.8 5.3 1.7 3.3 4.6 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 340.264 341.606 343.441 343.499 4.8 6.1 3.6 3.9 5.4 3.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 180.657 179.687 179.530 175.334 11.5 .8 17.0 -11.3 6.0 1.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 215.539 216.778 217.996 218.569 4.6 6.1 8.0 5.7 5.4 6.9 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 160.622 158.775 158.058 152.036 15.6 -2.0 22.3 -19.7 6.4 -.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 211.267 207.465 205.585 194.214 29.9 .5 35.4 -28.6 14.3 -1.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.574 120.157 120.005 118.843 4.6 -4.6 4.2 -2.4 -.1 .8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 275.611 270.166 266.376 245.230 38.4 2.4 52.4 -37.3 19.1 -2.3 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.425 111.140 110.513 109.868 -.2 -2.1 .0 -5.5 -1.2 -2.8 

Services .............................................................................. 257.269 257.642 257.662 257.742 3.7 3.4 6.2 .7 3.6 3.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 257.575 257.717 258.498 258.583 3.7 .8 2.9 1.6 2.2 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 118.764 118.562 119.944 119.916 2.8 3.4 1.2 3.9 3.1 2.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 214.896 212.549 205.785 205.538 .6 27.0 35.9 -16.3 13.0 6.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 151.857 153.832 154.269 155.827 6.7 3.8 6.4 10.9 5.3 8.6 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 148.290 149.169 150.193 150.052 5.2 8.5 7.1 4.8 6.9 5.9 

Transportation services ..................................................... 246.409 248.277 248.422 247.447 5.2 3.8 10.4 1.7 4.5 5.9 

Medical care services ....................................................... 385.353 386.458 387.816 388.489 5.1 1.6 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.4 

Other services ................................................................... 296.752 297.887 298.481 298.953 3.5 3.4 4.8 3.0 3.5 3.9 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 219.806 219.250 218.972 216.434 7.1 1.7 10.9 -6.0 4.4 2.1 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 210.755 210.264 209.885 206.884 8.4 3.0 14.4 -7.1 5.7 3.1 

All items less medical care .................................................. 211.774 211.433 211.322 209.135 6.9 2.4 11.2 -4.9 4.6 2.8 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 162.695 160.922 160.257 154.412 15.1 -1.8 21.5 -18.9 6.3 -.7 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 212.335 208.004 206.042 195.181 28.0 2.1 34.4 -28.6 14.3 -2.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 269.125 263.228 259.597 241.328 34.9 3.7 47.7 -35.3 18.3 -2.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 215.067 213.122 212.583 207.029 15.6 4.5 21.8 -14.1 9.9 2.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.996 277.598 276.660 276.380 3.6 6.7 11.1 -.9 5.1 4.9 

Services less medical care services ................................... 246.945 247.327 247.172 247.197 3.2 3.7 6.8 .4 3.4 3.5 

Energy ................................................................................. 270.602 262.107 257.086 235.053 43.6 5.6 79.4 -43.1 23.1 1.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 215.529 216.080 216.528 216.484 3.4 2.0 4.2 1.8 2.7 3.0 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 216.230 216.650 216.956 216.801 3.1 1.2 3.5 1.1 2.2 2.3

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.792 140.885 140.655 140.136 1.2 -.7 1.7 -1.9 .3 -.1 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 340.411 325.603 321.888 278.005 82.5 -6.1 113.5 -55.5 30.9 -2.5 

Services less energy services ......................................... 261.729 262.367 263.046 263.159 3.9 1.9 4.1 2.2 2.9 3.2 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Oct.2008 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2008 from—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Sep.

2007

July

2008

Aug.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 219.964 219.086 218.783 216.573 3.7 -1.1 -1.0 4.9 -0.5 -0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 234.545 233.788 232.841 230.837 4.0 -1.3 -.9 5.2 -.7 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 236.460 236.107 235.314 233.165 3.8 -1.2 -.9 4.9 -.5 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.623 138.537 137.723 136.730 4.6 -1.3 -.7 5.8 -1.4 -.6 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 210.071 209.351 209.252 206.019 3.3 -1.6 -1.5 4.8 -.4 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.003 210.341 210.283 207.049 3.0 -1.6 -1.5 4.5 -.3 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.595 133.969 133.982 131.946 3.6 -1.5 -1.5 5.1 -.5 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 206.435 206.251 205.522 202.086 3.6 -2.0 -1.7 5.1 -.4 -.4 

South urban .................................................... M 213.304 212.387 212.650 210.108 3.9 -1.1 -1.2 5.4 -.3 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 215.373 214.496 214.854 212.617 3.8 -.9 -1.0 5.2 -.2 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.643 135.004 135.093 133.285 3.6 -1.3 -1.3 5.3 -.4 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 215.274 214.655 215.258 213.103 6.2 -.7 -1.0 7.1 .0 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 223.867 222.823 222.132 221.034 3.3 -.8 -.5 4.3 -.8 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 227.562 226.541 225.910 224.967 3.5 -.7 -.4 4.4 -.7 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 136.021 135.207 134.834 133.795 3.0 -1.0 -.8 4.5 -.9 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 200.941 200.278 199.982 198.148 3.6 -1.1 -.9 4.7 -.5 -.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 136.055 135.315 135.160 133.587 3.7 -1.3 -1.2 5.2 -.7 -.1 

D ................................................................. M 212.555 212.138 211.740 209.755 4.4 -1.1 -.9 5.4 -.4 -.2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 217.459 215.971 215.465 213.363 3.2 -1.2 -1.0 4.4 -.9 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 229.886 228.484 227.449 226.159 3.4 -1.0 -.6 4.5 -1.1 -.5 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 240.273 240.550 240.089 238.403 4.3 -.9 -.7 5.2 -.1 -.2 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 241.258 -

 238.519 - - - - 4.7 -1.1 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 206.941 - 206.219 - - - - 4.7 -.3 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 206.413 -

 205.883 - - - - 5.7 -.3 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 142.065 - 142.036 - - - - 5.5 .0 -

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

 211.404 - 206.388 2.2 -2.4 - - - -

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

 209.484 - 205.238 1.7 -2.0 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 192.723 - 191.140 3.4 -.8 - - - -

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

 225.473 - 223.699 4.0 -.8 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 228.337 - 225.113 2.8 -1.4 - - - -

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

 225.411 - 225.824 3.6 .2 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 227.745 - 225.915 3.4 -.8 - - - -

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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Sep.

2008

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 214.935 212.182 3.8 -1.3 -0.2 -0.1 -1.2 

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

 640.226 632.025 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 217.098 218.141 6.2 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.901 217.090 218.120 6.4 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.595 217.594 218.600 7.5 .5 .8 .6 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.110 251.448 253.561 12.7 .8 .0 .9 .7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.192 209.515 210.314 6.1 .4 1.2 .9 .6 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .965 212.841 211.808 3.3 -.5 .3 -.7 -1.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.218 284.612 283.549 8.3 -.4 1.9 -.4 -2.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.094 160.850 163.265 5.4 1.5 .2 1.0 1.3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.016 187.467 188.806 8.4 .7 .7 1.1 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .279 188.914 189.574 7.6 .3 .7 1.6 .6 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 207.069 208.973 18.3 .9 1.1 1.7 .6 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.504 201.632 203.138 6.9 .7 .6 .9 .6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .438 121.589 123.026 6.6 1.2 .4 .1 1.2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.305 218.147 219.219 4.9 .5 .4 .5 .5 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .218 151.321 152.910 5.6 1.1 .0 .7 1.1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.025 215.728 216.953 3.7 .6 .4 .5 .4 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.994 213.954 213.156 3.5 -.4 .0 -.2 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.397 240.163 240.517 2.4 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 7.979 243.741 244.624 3.5 .4 .3 .3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.233 142.591 140.763 -1.3 -1.3 -1.0 .8 -1.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 20.888 229.670 230.028 2.3 .2 .1 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .297 120.279 120.258 2.8 .0 -.1 1.2 .0 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.637 226.709 219.325 10.3 -3.3 -1.0 -2.6 -.5 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.670 206.544 198.191 11.0 -4.0 -1.4 -3.2 -.8

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .323 345.907 317.012 21.0 -8.4 -5.6 -5.8 -8.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.347 209.442 201.651 10.1 -3.7 -1.1 -2.9 -.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .966 154.628 156.005 7.0 .9 1.4 .3 1.1 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.960 124.500 124.719 2.2 .2 .2 .6 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .339 152.850 152.612 6.1 -.2 .5 .5 -.2 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.998 120.990 121.957 .3 .8 1.0 .0 -1.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.031 112.973 115.495 .7 2.2 1.0 -.3 -.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.619 112.304 111.880 -1.5 -.4 2.9 .4 -3.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .251 115.764 118.496 -1.0 2.4 -1.3 1.5 .3 

Footwear .................................................................................. .821 124.873 126.352 1.6 1.2 -1.6 -.4 .4 

Transportation ............................................................................ 20.054 204.785 192.198 4.1 -6.1 -1.7 -.7 -6.0 

Private transportation ............................................................... 19.287 201.476 188.871 3.9 -6.3 -1.8 -.7 -6.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.952 91.305 90.530 -2.9 -.8 -.4 -1.1 -1.1 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.172 133.504 133.351 -2.3 -.1 -.5 -.8 -.5 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 3.103 133.669 130.444 -5.3 -2.4 -.3 -1.8 -2.4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.940 316.717 269.639 12.3 -14.9 -4.2 -.8 -13.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.597 315.324 267.580 12.0 -15.1 -4.2 -.6 -14.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .446 131.072 132.088 7.5 .8 1.0 .6 .8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.169 239.571 240.688 5.8 .5 .6 .4 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .767 258.142 249.168 7.8 -3.5 .8 -1.1 -3.3

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.192 365.250 366.000 2.9 .2 .3 .3 .1 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.295 287.397 287.725 1.1 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.897 388.036 388.947 3.5 .2 .4 .4 .1 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.159 314.977 315.458 3.1 .2 .3 .2 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.260 534.394 537.382 6.4 .6 .7 .6 .3 

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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Sep.

2008

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.341 110.904 110.947 2.0 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.987 102.819 102.267 -.6 -.5 .4 .2 -.6 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 5.987 121.439 121.569 3.1 .1 .2 .0 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.377 183.613 184.091 6.0 .3 .8 .3 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 465.570 466.885 7.4 .3 2.4 .7 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.174 517.389 518.726 5.8 .3 .7 .2 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.609 87.224 87.226 1.2 .0 -.1 -.2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.488 85.208 85.214 1.1 .0 -.2 -.2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.869 101.350 101.436 2.3 .1 .0 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .619 10.414 10.375 -4.6 -.4 -.7 -1.1 -.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .228 90.722 89.690 -14.1 -1.1 -1.9 -2.4 -1.1 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.508 361.125 362.354 4.5 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.183 600.293 602.533 7.2 .4 .1 .1 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.325 200.284 200.930 3.2 .3 .2 .3 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .647 159.730 159.914 1.0 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .560 224.910 225.800 3.5 .4 .2 .2 .4 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .910 345.175 344.622 4.5 -.2 .4 .5 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 44.745 182.647 177.906 4.1 -2.6 -.6 -.1 -2.7 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 217.098 218.141 6.2 .5 .6 .6 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 28.819 162.971 155.982 3.0 -4.3 -1.2 -.5 -4.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.315 217.828 203.762 6.6 -6.5 -1.9 -.9 -6.2 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.998 120.990 121.957 .3 .8 1.0 .0 -1.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.318 283.056 259.204 8.5 -8.4 -2.6 -1.6 -8.4 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.504 110.451 109.782 -2.2 -.6 -.3 -.7 -.8 

Services ....................................................................................... 55.255 252.861 252.369 3.6 -.2 .2 -.1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.100 231.541 231.885 2.4 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .297 120.279 120.258 2.8 .0 -.1 1.2 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.347 209.442 201.651 10.1 -3.7 -1.1 -2.9 -.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .966 154.628 156.005 7.0 .9 1.4 .3 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .339 152.850 152.612 6.1 -.2 .5 .5 -.2 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.266 245.722 246.003 4.7 .1 .7 .1 -.2 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.897 388.036 388.947 3.5 .2 .4 .4 .1 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.042 287.792 287.898 3.4 .0 .4 .2 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.099 214.361 210.949 3.4 -1.6 -.3 -.2 -1.5 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.603 208.068 204.149 4.5 -1.9 -.3 -.2 -1.8 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.808 208.563 205.726 3.9 -1.4 -.2 -.1 -1.3 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 29.844 164.937 158.132 3.0 -4.1 -1.2 -.5 -4.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.341 218.010 204.734 6.4 -6.1 -1.8 -.8 -5.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.343 276.112 254.473 8.2 -7.8 -2.4 -1.4 -7.9 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.241 218.725 211.680 6.3 -3.2 -.8 -.2 -3.0 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 25.155 245.787 244.331 5.0 -.6 .2 -.4 -.2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 51.358 242.868 242.316 3.6 -.2 .2 -.1 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.610 259.864 232.106 11.7 -10.7 -3.2 -1.7 -9.0 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.390 210.325 210.649 2.9 .2 .3 .2 .0

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.489 209.329 209.511 2.1 .1 .2 .1 -.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.581 141.428 141.375 .1 .0 .1 -.2 -.5 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.264 319.507 272.894 12.8 -14.6 -4.3 -1.1 -13.7 

Services less energy services .................................................. 50.908 257.411 257.774 3.1 .1 .3 .2 .1 

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

 $ .465 $ .471 - - - - -

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

 $ .156 $ .158 - - - - -

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator. 4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base

5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2008

Oct.

2008 Apr.

2008

Oct.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 215.507 215.130 214.946 212.361 7.7 2.4 11.9 -5.7 5.0 2.7 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 214.883 216.195 217.401 218.005 4.5 6.1 8.2 5.9 5.3 7.1 

Food ................................................................................ 214.813 216.160 217.375 217.962 4.6 6.3 8.6 6.0 5.4 7.3 

Food at home ................................................................ 215.085 216.812 218.085 218.328 5.5 8.1 10.2 6.2 6.8 8.1 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.875 249.930 252.230 254.031 7.6 20.2 16.9 6.8 13.7 11.8 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 204.852 207.265 209.114 210.380 2.4 3.1 8.1 11.2 2.8 9.7 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 214.042 214.768 213.317 211.048 2.0 4.3 13.1 -5.5 3.2 3.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 283.919 289.447 288.190 281.464 16.3 2.8 19.3 -3.4 9.4 7.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 158.971 159.322 160.916 163.076 3.7 7.7 -.2 10.7 5.7 5.1 

Other food at home ..................................................... 184.409 185.692 187.670 188.794 3.4 12.5 7.9 9.9 7.9 8.9

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 184.838 186.049 189.095 190.215 3.8 11.5 3.2 12.2 7.6 7.6 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 201.406 203.666 207.065 208.358 12.2 27.2 19.8 14.5 19.4 17.1 

Other foods ............................................................... 198.916 200.172 201.892 203.095 1.7 10.5 6.9 8.7 6.0 7.8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.015 121.443 121.589 123.026 1.0 11.1 7.8 6.8 5.9 7.3 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 216.177 217.002 218.147 219.219 3.4 3.9 6.5 5.7 3.6 6.1 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 150.232 150.301 151.321 152.910 2.4 4.8 8.1 7.3 3.6 7.7 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 214.434 215.219 216.292 217.149 3.2 3.6 2.9 5.2 3.4 4.0 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.943 213.851 213.496 213.543 3.5 4.6 6.9 -.7 4.0 3.0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 239.431 239.715 240.297 240.616 3.5 1.7 2.5 2.0 2.6 2.3 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 242.535 243.215 243.875 244.675 4.2 2.9 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 144.351 142.928 144.035 142.329 6.2 -13.7 8.8 -5.5 -4.2 1.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 228.943 229.239 229.663 229.991 3.4 2.3 1.8 1.8 2.8 1.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 119.006 118.894 120.279 120.258 2.6 3.2 1.1 4.3 2.9 2.7 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 230.774 228.472 222.522 221.400 5.7 23.3 34.1 -15.3 14.2 6.6 

Household energy ......................................................... 211.612 208.571 202.000 200.368 5.6 27.7 40.1 -19.6 16.1 6.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 393.808 371.762 350.353 320.577 76.4 43.8 92.5 -56.1 59.3 -8.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 212.785 210.473 204.284 203.862 .9 26.5 36.5 -15.7 13.0 7.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 152.020 154.174 154.652 156.289 6.6 3.7 6.2 11.7 5.2 8.9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 123.832 124.141 124.860 124.842 .8 1.7 3.1 3.3 1.2 3.2 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 151.290 152.083 152.850 152.612 4.4 8.4 8.0 3.5 6.4 5.8 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.892 120.050 120.102 118.614 5.6 -5.4 2.7 -.9 .0 .9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.842 113.971 113.679 113.184 5.0 1.0 -4.3 1.2 3.0 -1.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.177 110.267 110.689 107.308 6.7 -18.0 7.0 .5 -6.5 3.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.245 113.771 115.496 115.890 4.8 -3.6 -7.0 2.3 .5 -2.5 

Footwear ......................................................................... 126.005 124.021 123.558 124.008 2.9 4.7 5.4 -6.2 3.8 -.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 210.841 207.328 205.872 193.620 24.6 -2.8 36.7 -28.9 10.0 -1.4 

Private transportation ...................................................... 207.657 203.988 202.585 190.310 25.2 -3.3 36.9 -29.5 10.0 -1.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 93.007 92.659 91.646 90.675 .0 -1.7 -.2 -9.7 -.9 -5.0 

New vehicles ............................................................... 136.460 135.721 134.684 133.947 -1.0 -2.1 1.2 -7.2 -1.6 -3.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 136.639 136.186 133.669 130.444 .7 -1.3 -2.8 -16.9 -.3 -10.2 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 336.117 321.941 319.245 274.761 82.2 -8.5 113.9 -55.3 29.1 -2.3 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 333.854 319.790 317.912 272.741 82.6 -10.1 115.2 -55.5 28.1 -2.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 128.997 130.228 131.072 132.088 5.3 5.3 9.7 9.9 5.3 9.8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 237.365 238.826 239.756 240.510 5.3 5.1 7.5 5.4 5.2 6.4 

Public transportation ....................................................... 258.873 261.046 258.294 249.715 9.7 8.2 31.3 -13.4 8.9 6.6 

Medical care ...................................................................... 363.864 364.964 366.132 366.635 5.4 1.4 1.7 3.1 3.4 2.4 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 286.207 286.645 287.227 287.613 5.5 .6 -3.4 2.0 3.0 -.7 

Medical care services ..................................................... 386.607 387.963 389.352 389.891 5.4 1.7 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 

Professional services .................................................... 314.053 315.066 315.757 316.135 3.8 1.4 4.4 2.7 2.6 3.5 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 530.663 534.373 537.382 539.145 9.5 5.1 4.6 6.5 7.2 5.6 

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—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2008

Oct.

2008 Apr.

2008

Oct.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.173 110.748 110.998 111.021 1.3 1.2 2.4 3.1 1.2 2.8 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.269 102.685 102.922 102.257 1.5 -.9 -2.7 .0 .3 -1.4 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 120.439 120.740 120.747 121.001 2.2 2.9 5.6 1.9 2.6 3.7 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 179.067 180.563 181.030 181.968 6.9 5.3 5.2 6.6 6.1 5.9 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 450.380 461.173 464.432 465.921 5.6 3.8 5.9 14.5 4.7 10.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 504.965 508.443 509.542 512.277 7.0 5.4 5.1 5.9 6.2 5.5 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.490 87.369 87.225 87.228 -1.2 1.5 5.9 -1.2 .1 2.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.484 85.355 85.208 85.214 -1.3 1.5 5.6 -1.3 .1 2.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.375 101.339 101.350 101.436 -.6 2.4 7.5 .2 .8 3.8 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.600 10.525 10.414 10.375 -5.0 -2.4 -2.6 -8.2 -3.8 -5.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 94.691 92.931 90.722 89.690 -12.1 -8.6 -15.7 -19.5 -10.3 -17.6 

Other goods and services ................................................. 360.084 360.634 361.459 362.487 4.5 4.5 6.4 2.7 4.5 4.5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 599.180 599.823 600.293 602.533 9.3 2.5 15.2 2.3 5.8 8.6 

Personal care .................................................................. 199.599 199.951 200.567 201.043 2.2 5.6 2.0 2.9 3.9 2.5 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.237 159.345 159.730 159.914 -.6 3.6 -.9 1.7 1.5 .4 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 223.994 224.464 224.910 225.800 4.0 5.1 1.6 3.3 4.6 2.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.783 343.214 345.068 344.743 4.6 6.0 4.0 3.5 5.3 3.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 184.380 183.312 183.072 178.054 13.1 .5 19.0 -13.0 6.6 1.7 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 214.883 216.195 217.401 218.005 4.5 6.1 8.2 5.9 5.3 7.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 166.283 164.264 163.433 156.243 18.2 -2.4 25.4 -22.1 7.4 -1.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 222.730 218.408 216.425 202.998 33.5 .3 39.6 -31.0 15.7 -1.9 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.892 120.050 120.102 118.614 5.6 -5.4 2.7 -.9 .0 .9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 295.649 287.973 283.308 259.494 42.9 2.6 59.5 -40.7 21.1 -2.7 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.904 111.513 110.738 109.905 .6 -1.8 -.4 -7.0 -.6 -3.7 

Services .............................................................................. 252.098 252.502 252.363 252.575 3.4 4.0 6.3 .8 3.7 3.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 230.750 231.020 231.740 232.006 3.5 1.5 2.5 2.2 2.5 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 119.006 118.894 120.279 120.258 2.6 3.2 1.1 4.3 2.9 2.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 212.785 210.473 204.284 203.862 .9 26.5 36.5 -15.7 13.0 7.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 152.020 154.174 154.652 156.289 6.6 3.7 6.2 11.7 5.2 8.9 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 151.290 152.083 152.850 152.612 4.4 8.4 8.0 3.5 6.4 5.8 

Transportation services ..................................................... 244.333 246.033 246.228 245.773 4.5 3.5 8.8 2.4 4.0 5.5 

Medical care services ....................................................... 386.607 387.963 389.352 389.891 5.4 1.7 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 

Other services ................................................................... 285.261 286.423 286.893 287.198 3.0 3.2 4.8 2.7 3.1 3.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 215.430 214.752 214.323 211.186 8.2 1.7 12.5 -7.7 4.9 1.9 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 209.123 208.500 208.034 204.359 9.5 2.7 16.1 -8.8 6.1 2.9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 209.190 208.771 208.547 205.889 7.8 2.5 12.5 -6.2 5.1 2.7 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 168.143 166.189 165.404 158.393 17.6 -2.2 24.5 -21.3 7.2 -1.0 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 222.640 218.543 216.742 204.058 31.3 .6 37.5 -29.4 14.9 -1.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 287.558 280.555 276.627 254.725 39.3 2.9 55.1 -38.4 19.8 -2.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 220.363 218.559 218.036 211.430 17.4 3.9 23.7 -15.3 10.4 2.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 245.434 245.949 244.940 244.551 3.2 7.0 11.8 -1.4 5.1 5.0 

Services less medical care services ................................... 242.231 242.706 242.484 242.544 3.1 4.1 6.9 .5 3.6 3.7 

Energy ................................................................................. 272.093 263.479 258.926 235.743 45.9 4.3 81.3 -43.7 23.4 1.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 209.458 210.097 210.452 210.401 3.4 2.1 4.1 1.8 2.8 2.9 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 208.747 209.244 209.425 209.245 3.1 1.3 3.2 1.0 2.2 2.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 141.700 141.896 141.581 140.817 1.9 -.7 1.7 -2.5 .6 -.4 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 340.121 325.564 322.124 277.981 82.6 -6.7 112.9 -55.4 30.5 -2.5 

Services less energy services ......................................... 256.168 256.890 257.459 257.744 3.7 2.2 3.8 2.5 3.0 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 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Oct.2008 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2008 from—

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Sep.

2007

July

2008

Aug.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 216.304 215.247 214.935 212.182 3.8 -1.4 -1.3 5.4 -0.6 -0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 231.488 230.790 229.949 227.762 4.4 -1.3 -1.0 5.7 -.7 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 231.808 231.465 230.579 228.437 4.2 -1.3 -.9 5.4 -.5 -.4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.253 139.329 138.881 137.489 4.9 -1.3 -1.0 6.5 -1.0 -.3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 206.038 205.121 205.023 201.236 3.5 -1.9 -1.8 5.2 -.5 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 205.761 204.989 205.002 201.323 3.3 -1.8 -1.8 5.0 -.4 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.037 134.236 134.215 131.699 3.8 -1.9 -1.9 5.6 -.6 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 205.452 204.812 204.064 200.017 3.6 -2.3 -2.0 5.4 -.7 -.4 

South urban .................................................... M 211.438 210.362 210.572 207.312 4.0 -1.4 -1.5 5.9 -.4 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 214.379 213.439 213.579 210.663 3.8 -1.3 -1.4 5.5 -.4 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.952 134.179 134.285 132.017 3.7 -1.6 -1.7 5.8 -.5 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 216.901 216.031 216.762 213.696 6.3 -1.1 -1.4 7.7 -.1 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 219.248 217.854 217.028 215.499 3.5 -1.1 -.7 4.8 -1.0 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 221.232 219.827 219.169 217.714 3.7 -1.0 -.7 4.9 -.9 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 136.478 135.464 134.873 133.694 3.3 -1.3 -.9 4.8 -1.2 -.4 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 200.009 199.187 198.842 196.590 3.8 -1.3 -1.1 5.2 -.6 -.2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 135.986 135.138 135.003 133.026 3.8 -1.6 -1.5 5.7 -.7 -.1 

D ................................................................. M 211.929 211.233 210.844 208.028 4.4 -1.5 -1.3 5.8 -.5 -.2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 211.020 209.435 209.084 206.772 3.6 -1.3 -1.1 4.8 -.9 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 223.245 221.230 220.285 218.726 3.5 -1.1 -.7 5.0 -1.3 -.4 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 235.446 235.510 234.703 232.778 4.6 -1.2 -.8 5.6 -.3 -.3 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 240.511 -

 238.133 - - - - 4.7 -1.0 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 198.063 - 197.260 - - - - 5.0 -.4 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 210.830 -

 209.666 - - - - 6.4 -.6 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 141.622 - 141.679 - - - - 5.5 .0 -

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

 211.113 - 205.236 2.3 -2.8 - - - -

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

 205.492 - 200.570 2.2 -2.4 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 193.206 - 190.600 3.9 -1.3 - - - -

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

 224.597 - 222.038 4.0 -1.1 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 228.212 - 225.069 3.2 -1.4 - - - -

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

 221.385 - 221.192 3.8 -.1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 223.273 - 220.687 3.6 -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 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,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Oct. 2008 from—

 Sep.

 2008

 Oct.

 2008

 Oct.

 2007

 Sep.

 2008

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 125.774 124.784 3.3 -0.8

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 127.824 128.468 5.9 .5 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 128.041 128.694 6.1 .5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 126.023 126.691 7.2 .5 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 130.741 131.377 4.7 .5 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 125.484 126.005 3.7 .4 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 129.521 129.104 3.0 -.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 130.655 130.711 2.2 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 168.047 162.945 9.8 -3.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 96.455 96.520 1.2 .1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 89.952 90.870 .1 1.0 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 133.713 127.716 3.6 -4.5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 134.260 128.137 3.3 -4.6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 128.320 123.975 8.4 -3.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 142.011 142.298 2.7 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 125.116 125.280 1.2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 148.349 148.686 3.2 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 106.174 106.180 1.1 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.058 109.190 2.7 .1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 172.330 172.818 5.8 .3 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.072 74.066 .3 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 129.384 129.805 3.9 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 133.734 133.507 3.4 -.2 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 115.828 113.919 3.1 -1.6 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 82.250 81.889 -2.7 -.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 133.796 130.954 5.5 -2.1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 117.985 118.058 1.9 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 218.818 197.346 11.4 -9.8 

Indexes for 2008 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2007 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.