News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Stephen B. Reed (202) 691-7000 USDL-09-0678 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, June 17, 2009 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MAY 2009 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in May before 

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

last 12 months the index has fallen 1.3 percent. This is the largest decline since April 1950 and is due mainly to 

a 27.3 percent decline in the energy index. 

 On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent in May after being unchanged in April. 

The index for energy, which had declined the previous two months, rose 0.2 percent in May as an increase in 

the gasoline index more than offset declines in other energy indexes. The food index decreased for the fourth 

consecutive month, falling 0.2 percent as the indexes for all major grocery store food groups declined. 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May following a 0.3 percent increase in 

April. The smaller increase was partly due to the tobacco and smoking products index, which turned down in 

May after rising sharply in March and April. In May, the indexes for shelter, new and used motor vehicles, and 

medical care posted increases, while the public transportation index fell 1.0 percent and the indexes for apparel 

and tobacco declined slightly. The index for all items less food and energy has increased 1.8 percent over the 

last 12 months. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

May 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

May 2009

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

All items ................................. -1.7 -0.8 0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.2 -1.3 

Food and beverages ........... .2 .1 .1 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.2 -2.0 2.7 

Housing ............................... -.1 .0 .0 .0 -.1 -.1 -.1 -1.0 .5 

Apparel ................................ .1 -.6 .3 1.3 -.2 -.2 -.2 -2.3 .8 

Transportation ..................... -9.7 -5.0 1.3 1.9 -1.1 -.4 .8 -2.6 -14.3 

Medical care ........................ .2 .3 .4 .3 .2 .4 .3 3.5 3.2 

Recreation ........................... .0 -.2 .0 .4 .0 -.4 .0 -1.6 1.1 

Education and

communication .............. .2 .3 .3 .2 .2 .3 .3 3.1 3.4 

Other goods and services ... .0 .0 .3 .2 2.7 2.6 -.2 22.3 7.3 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -16.9 -9.3 1.7 3.3 -3.0 -2.4 .2 -18.9 -27.3 

Food .................................... .2 .0 .1 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.2 -2.2 2.7 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .0 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 2.3 1.8 
The food and beverages index declined 0.2 percent in May, the same decline as in April. The food away 

from home index rose 0.1 percent and the index for alcoholic beverages advanced 0.3 percent. These increases 

were more than offset by a 0.5 percent decline in the food at home index, which has now declined six months in 

a row. The decline was broad, with the indexes for all six major grocery store food groups decreasing. The 

largest declines were in the fruits and vegetables index, which fell 1.0 percent, and the index for meats, poultry, 

fish and eggs, which decreased 0.9 percent as the eggs index declined 6.5 percent. The index for dairy and 

related products fell 0.5 percent in May and has declined 5.6 percent over the past year. The indexes for cereals 

and bakery products, for nonalcoholic beverages, and for other food at home all posted slight decreases in May. 

The food at home index has risen 1.5 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest increase since December 

2006. 

The housing index fell 0.1 percent in May, the third straight such decline. The index for shelter rose 0.1 

percent, with the indexes for rent, for owners’ equivalent rent, and for lodging away from home all rising 0.1 

percent. However, the household energy index declined for the tenth straight month, falling 1.8 percent. The 

fuel oil index fell 3.3 percent, the index for natural gas declined 5.7 percent, and the index for electricity 

declined 0.4 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged in May for the second 

month in a row. Over the past year, the housing index has risen 0.5 percent. The shelter index has risen 1.5 

percent while the index for household energy has declined 8.7 percent. 

The index for transportation rose 0.8 percent in May following declines in April and March. The 

gasoline index increased 3.1 percent in May after declining 2.8 percent in April. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, 

gasoline prices rose 9.6 percent in May.) The index for new and used motor vehicles increased 0.5 percent in 

May. The new vehicles index rose 0.5 percent in May, its fifth straight monthly increase following five straight 

monthly declines. The index for used cars and trucks posted its first increase in over a year, rising 1.0 percent. 

In contrast, the index for public transportation continued to decline, falling 1.0 percent. The airline fare index 

fell 1.5 percent in May and has declined 18.5 percent from its August 2008 peak. Over the last year, the 

transportation index has declined 14.3 percent with the index for motor fuel down 39.9 percent. The public 

transportation index has fallen 9.0 percent over the period and the index for used cars and trucks has declined 

10.0 percent. These declines contrast with a 0.4 percent increase in the new vehicles index. 

Among other CPI groups, the index for medical care rose 0.3 percent in May after a 0.4 percent increase 

in April. The index for prescription drugs rose 0.6 percent in May after advancing 0.5 percent in April, while 

the hospital services index rose 0.1 percent in May after a 1.0 percent increase in April. The index for 

education and communication rose 0.3 percent in May with the education component rising 0.5 percent and the 

communication component increasing 0.1 percent. After declining 0.4 percent in April, the recreation index 

was unchanged in May. The apparel index declined 0.2 percent in May, the third straight such decrease. The 

index for other goods and services also declined 0.2 percent as the tobacco and smoking products index 

declined 0.3 percent. 
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.4 percent in 

May, prior to seasonal adjustment. The index value of 208.774 was 1.9 percent lower than in May 2008. On a 

seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-W rose 0.1 percent in May. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

May 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

May 2009

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

All items ................................. -2.1 -1.0 0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 -1.9 

Food and beverages ........... .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.2 -2.1 2.8 

Housing ............................... .0 .0 .0 .1 -.1 -.1 .0 -1.1 .8 

Apparel ................................ .0 -.6 .6 1.0 -.3 -.3 .0 -2.6 .8 

Transportation ..................... -10.9 -5.6 1.5 2.0 -1.3 -.5 .9 -3.4 -16.3 

Medical care ........................ .2 .3 .4 .4 .2 .4 .3 3.8 3.3 

Recreation ........................... .0 -.1 .0 .4 .0 -.3 .0 -1.3 1.2 

Education and

communication .............. .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 2.4 3.0 

Other goods and services ... .1 .1 .4 .2 3.9 3.8 -.2 34.4 10.5 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -17.8 -9.7 1.9 3.6 -3.1 -2.4 .4 -18.5 -28.0 

Food .................................... .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.3 -2.4 2.7 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .0 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 3.0 2.0 

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in May 

on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The index has decreased 1.4 percent over the past year. Please note that the 

indexes for the post-2007 period are subject to revision. 

Upcoming release

 Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 8:30 A.M. 

(EDT). 
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 0.04 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 0.08 percent of the 

1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For example, 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 0.12 and 0.28 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use 

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

January-December 2008”. These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or by using 

the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2008.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 2004 through December 2008 

were replaced in January 2009. 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: 

47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2009. 

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 2009, BLS adjusted 29 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

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Apr.

2009

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 213.240 213.856 -1.3 0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.1 

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

 638.771 640.616 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 218.364 218.076 2.7 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.629 218.162 217.826 2.7 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.156 215.783 215.088 1.5 -.3 -.4 -.6 -.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.150 252.709 252.714 3.5 .0 -.2 -.7 -.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.898 205.699 203.789 1.4 -.9 -.9 .0 -.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .910 197.124 196.055 -5.6 -.5 -2.4 -1.3 -.5 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.194 274.297 274.006 -.9 -.1 .2 .0 -1.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .982 162.889 162.803 2.8 -.1 1.0 -1.0 -.1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.022 191.352 191.144 4.6 -.1 .0 -.8 -.1 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .300 197.301 196.403 6.1 -.5 .2 -.5 .0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .241 200.464 200.679 3.8 .1 .1 -1.4 -.7 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.481 205.734 205.587 4.5 -.1 .0 -.8 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .433 122.883 122.838 3.4 .0 -.1 .4 .0 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.474 222.905 223.023 4.2 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .314 155.099 155.099 3.6 .0 -.2 .4 .0 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.127 219.671 220.005 3.0 .2 .1 -.1 .3 

Housing ...................................................................................... 43.421 217.126 216.971 .5 -.1 -.1 -.1 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 33.200 249.855 249.779 1.5 .0 .0 .2 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.957 248.899 249.069 3.0 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.478 137.700 135.680 -6.8 -1.5 -2.4 .5 .1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 24.433 256.622 256.875 2.1 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .333 120.675 120.728 2.0 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.431 207.175 206.358 -6.2 -.4 -1.4 -1.7 -1.3 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.460 184.903 183.783 -8.7 -.6 -1.8 -2.2 -1.8

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .301 228.107 225.164 -38.1 -1.3 -7.7 -2.1 -3.1

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.159 190.686 189.619 -5.7 -.6 -1.4 -2.2 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .971 158.698 159.517 6.3 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.790 129.654 129.644 1.6 .0 .3 .0 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.809 149.468 1.7 -.9 .5 -.1 -.9 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.691 123.208 121.751 .8 -1.2 -.2 -.2 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .923 117.195 117.146 .6 .0 -.3 -1.7 .4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.541 111.871 109.460 .7 -2.2 -.7 .2 -.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .183 117.084 114.142 -.4 -2.5 .6 1.3 -1.6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .688 128.057 127.519 1.6 -.4 .2 .4 .1

Transportation ............................................................................ 15.314 171.987 175.997 -14.3 2.3 -1.1 -.4 .8 

Private transportation ............................................................... 14.189 167.516 171.757 -14.6 2.5 -1.1 -.3 .9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.931 92.381 92.701 -1.1 .3 .0 .4 .5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.480 134.863 135.162 .4 .2 .6 .4 .5 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.628 121.213 122.650 -10.0 1.2 -1.7 -.1 1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 3.164 177.272 193.609 -39.9 9.2 -4.4 -2.6 2.7 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 2.964 176.704 193.727 -39.4 9.6 -4.0 -2.8 3.1

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .382 134.640 134.347 5.9 -.2 .3 .1 -.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.188 242.649 242.488 4.6 -.1 .2 .2 -.1 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.125 229.827 228.878 -9.0 -.4 -1.0 -.8 -1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.390 374.170 375.026 3.2 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.625 303.979 304.697 3.3 .2 .2 .3 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.765 395.753 396.648 3.2 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.702 317.661 319.333 2.7 .5 .0 .1 .6 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.545 564.785 564.112 6.2 -.1 .6 .9 .1 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Apr.

2009

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.741 114.261 114.264 1.1 0.0 0.0 -0.4 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.822 102.300 101.947 -1.0 -.3 .0 .1 -.2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.301 126.273 126.467 3.4 .2 .2 .3 .3 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 187.416 187.853 5.5 .2 .5 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .221 472.507 472.588 6.7 .0 .5 .4 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.886 539.149 540.498 5.4 .3 .5 .4 .6 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.194 84.985 85.049 1.3 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.022 82.090 82.038 1.2 -.1 .0 .1 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.408 102.072 102.267 2.4 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .614 9.881 9.775 -3.4 -1.1 -.5 .1 -1.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .214 85.714 84.366 -13.0 -1.6 -1.7 -.6 -1.6 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.386 370.606 369.901 7.3 -.2 2.7 2.6 -.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .776 742.443 740.311 27.4 -.3 11.0 9.3 -.3 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.610 204.896 204.578 1.5 -.2 .2 .3 -.2

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .651 163.777 163.051 2.7 -.4 .1 .7 -.4 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .647 227.913 227.607 1.8 -.1 .9 .0 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.074 342.641 343.051 .9 .1 .0 .2 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.556 167.816 169.060 -5.2 .7 -.3 -.1 .2 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 218.364 218.076 2.7 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 23.799 141.753 143.587 -9.6 1.3 -.4 .0 .5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 13.289 173.855 177.480 -14.6 2.1 -1.2 -.7 .7 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.691 123.208 121.751 .8 -1.2 -.2 -.2 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 9.598 209.177 216.090 -19.1 3.3 -1.6 -.6 .9 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.510 109.404 109.650 -1.5 .2 .0 .2 .3 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.444 258.466 258.433 1.5 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.867 260.469 260.388 1.5 .0 -.1 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .333 120.675 120.728 2.0 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.159 190.686 189.619 -5.7 -.6 -1.4 -2.2 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .971 158.698 159.517 6.3 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.809 149.468 1.7 -.9 .5 -.1 -.9 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.567 248.696 248.628 2.6 .0 -.1 .3 -.1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.765 395.753 396.648 3.2 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.002 301.668 302.132 2.8 .2 .2 -.1 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.371 212.464 213.236 -1.9 .4 -.1 .0 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 66.800 201.271 202.171 -2.6 .4 -.2 -.1 .1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.610 205.275 205.876 -1.6 .3 -.2 .0 .1 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 24.926 144.464 146.261 -9.1 1.2 -.4 .0 .5

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 14.416 176.587 180.017 -13.6 1.9 -1.2 -.6 .7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 10.726 209.195 215.459 -17.4 3.0 -1.5 -.6 .7 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.046 195.864 197.673 -6.4 .9 -.7 -.3 .0 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 27.577 275.752 275.777 1.6 .0 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.679 247.490 247.406 1.4 .0 -.1 .0 -.1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 7.624 179.704 186.909 -27.3 4.0 -3.0 -2.4 .2 

All items less energy .................................................................... 92.376 218.388 218.323 2.0 .0 .1 .2 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.746 219.143 219.128 1.8 .0 .2 .3 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.461 142.489 142.360 1.2 -.1 .4 .5 .2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 3.465 181.102 196.528 -39.8 8.5 -4.7 -2.6 2.3 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.285 265.399 265.466 2.1 .0 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .469 $ .468 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .156 - - - - -

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—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009 Nov.

2008

May

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 213.007 212.714 212.671 212.876 6.7 -9.4 -0.5 -0.2 -1.6 -0.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.076 218.792 218.401 217.965 8.7 4.6 .1 -2.0 6.6 -1.0 

Food ................................................................................ 218.970 218.651 218.254 217.738 9.0 4.5 .0 -2.2 6.7 -1.1 

Food at home ................................................................ 217.968 217.202 215.948 214.929 11.6 3.6 -2.8 -5.5 7.5 -4.1 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 254.347 253.863 252.062 251.645 9.5 9.2 .1 -4.2 9.4 -2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.389 206.465 206.480 204.679 10.9 3.9 -1.5 -6.9 7.3 -4.3 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 204.537 199.687 197.124 196.055 14.1 -3.0 -15.1 -15.6 5.2 -15.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 275.374 275.843 275.810 273.037 23.1 -10.1 -9.6 -3.4 5.2 -6.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 163.173 164.813 163.084 162.848 4.4 9.5 -1.5 -.8 7.0 -1.2 

Other food at home ..................................................... 192.419 192.431 190.826 190.643 9.1 9.7 4.0 -3.6 9.4 .1 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 196.990 197.299 196.398 196.340 5.2 11.0 10.0 -1.3 8.1 4.2

Fats and oils .............................................................. 203.729 204.029 201.213 199.782 23.7 9.9 -7.7 -7.5 16.6 -7.6 

Other foods ............................................................... 206.838 206.741 205.037 205.011 7.6 9.4 4.8 -3.5 8.5 .6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 122.580 122.402 122.883 122.838 7.9 8.6 -3.1 .8 8.2 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 221.968 222.216 222.905 223.023 5.9 5.6 3.5 1.9 5.8 2.7 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 154.726 154.414 155.099 155.099 4.0 7.7 2.0 1.0 5.8 1.5 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 219.141 219.315 218.994 219.601 4.0 5.6 1.8 .8 4.8 1.3 

Housing ............................................................................. 217.621 217.335 217.180 217.056 4.1 -.7 .0 -1.0 1.7 -.5 

Shelter ............................................................................. 248.881 248.899 249.334 249.680 2.3 1.8 .7 1.3 2.0 1.0 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 248.087 248.490 248.916 249.233 4.1 3.4 2.6 1.9 3.8 2.2 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 136.561 133.328 134.000 134.136 -.9 -5.9 -13.2 -6.9 -3.4 -10.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 255.687 256.257 256.627 257.003 2.2 2.3 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.683 120.737 120.675 120.728 .5 5.8 1.5 .1 3.1 .8 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 217.260 214.254 210.702 207.903 16.6 -16.1 -4.8 -16.1 -1.1 -10.6 

Household energy ......................................................... 196.415 192.927 188.753 185.399 18.1 -20.1 -6.2 -20.6 -2.8 -13.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 251.478 232.191 227.355 220.321 1.9 -58.3 -41.5 -41.1 -34.8 -41.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 202.043 199.289 194.967 191.671 19.8 -15.5 -2.9 -19.0 .6 -11.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 157.141 157.817 158.802 159.821 9.4 6.5 2.4 7.0 8.0 4.7 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 129.008 129.436 129.434 129.413 2.6 1.7 .9 1.3 2.2 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 150.156 150.914 150.809 149.468 6.2 2.2 .4 -1.8 4.2 -.7 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.039 119.744 119.537 119.345 5.6 -3.5 3.9 -2.3 .9 .7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 116.328 116.007 114.062 114.561 -2.2 -4.2 16.1 -5.9 -3.2 4.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.374 106.592 106.771 106.667 14.6 -8.2 .3 -2.6 2.5 -1.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 112.796 113.510 115.025 113.149 -5.4 6.7 -3.7 1.3 .5 -1.2 

Footwear ......................................................................... 125.209 125.517 126.039 126.182 -.3 3.0 .5 3.1 1.3 1.8 

Transportation ................................................................... 172.759 170.903 170.259 171.635 15.6 -45.7 -7.4 -2.6 -20.8 -5.0 

Private transportation ...................................................... 168.067 166.252 165.676 167.234 15.2 -47.1 -6.5 -2.0 -22.0 -4.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 91.997 92.016 92.400 92.847 -2.4 -6.9 1.7 3.7 -4.7 2.7 

New vehicles ............................................................... 133.199 134.020 134.580 135.284 -1.3 -6.3 3.1 6.4 -3.8 4.7 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 123.757 121.704 121.616 122.788 -8.6 -16.0 -11.9 -3.1 -12.4 -7.6 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 182.030 173.947 169.373 173.872 45.5 -85.0 -28.4 -16.8 -53.2 -22.8 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 180.685 173.498 168.696 173.954 45.7 -85.4 -26.6 -14.1 -53.8 -20.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.108 134.484 134.640 134.347 11.5 8.3 3.5 .7 9.9 2.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 241.689 242.118 242.649 242.488 7.8 5.0 4.5 1.3 6.4 2.9 

Public transportation ....................................................... 234.648 232.294 230.470 228.210 21.4 -22.7 -18.4 -10.5 -3.2 -14.5 

Medical care ...................................................................... 371.175 371.902 373.257 374.402 2.3 2.7 4.3 3.5 2.5 3.9 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 301.710 302.464 303.357 304.426 .8 3.3 5.6 3.6 2.0 4.6 

Medical care services ..................................................... 392.512 393.210 394.734 395.884 2.8 2.5 3.8 3.5 2.7 3.7 

Professional services .................................................... 316.299 316.416 316.667 318.499 3.0 2.6 2.4 2.8 2.8 2.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 554.315 557.588 562.843 563.594 5.5 4.2 8.5 6.9 4.8 7.7 

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—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009 Nov.

2008

May

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.492 114.511 114.030 114.044 3.6 1.5 1.0 -1.6 2.6 -0.3

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 101.630 101.640 101.741 101.488 .3 -1.8 -1.9 -.6 -.8 -1.2 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 126.187 126.461 126.783 127.169 4.9 2.2 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.2 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 187.249 188.119 188.943 189.968 6.2 4.9 5.1 5.9 5.6 5.5 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 468.101 470.674 472.682 474.581 12.8 4.2 4.5 5.7 8.4 5.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 539.023 541.493 543.870 546.880 5.7 5.0 5.1 6.0 5.4 5.5 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.944 84.924 84.988 85.049 3.7 -.4 1.6 .5 1.6 1.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 82.052 82.022 82.090 82.038 3.7 -.4 1.6 -.1 1.6 .8 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.895 101.991 102.072 102.267 5.8 .9 1.4 1.5 3.3 1.4 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.926 9.872 9.881 9.775 -4.1 -5.7 2.4 -5.9 -4.9 -1.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 87.696 86.213 85.714 84.366 -15.9 -15.9 -5.7 -14.3 -15.9 -10.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 351.139 360.782 370.031 369.237 4.3 1.9 2.0 22.3 3.1 11.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 611.549 679.078 742.443 740.311 11.6 1.7 8.1 114.7 6.5 52.3 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.328 203.836 204.462 204.078 2.3 2.0 .3 1.5 2.2 .9 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.508 162.696 163.777 163.051 1.2 4.5 3.8 1.3 2.8 2.6 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 225.895 227.982 227.913 227.607 .9 3.7 -.5 3.1 2.3 1.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.519 341.437 342.001 341.763 3.4 -.2 .4 .3 1.6 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 167.199 166.703 166.603 166.959 9.6 -21.8 -2.9 -.6 -7.4 -1.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.076 218.792 218.401 217.965 8.7 4.6 .1 -2.0 6.6 -1.0 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 140.611 140.043 140.066 140.736 10.1 -34.2 -4.8 .4 -14.9 -2.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 172.896 170.758 169.626 170.782 18.3 -49.9 -5.8 -4.8 -23.0 -5.3 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.039 119.744 119.537 119.345 5.6 -3.5 3.9 -2.3 .9 .7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 209.390 206.003 204.807 206.581 22.4 -59.4 -8.7 -5.3 -29.5 -7.0 

Durables .......................................................................... 108.993 109.006 109.203 109.576 -1.4 -5.5 -1.3 2.2 -3.5 .4 

Services .............................................................................. 258.654 258.590 258.599 258.637 4.7 .4 1.3 .0 2.5 .6 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 259.487 259.349 259.854 260.188 2.2 2.1 .6 1.1 2.1 .9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.683 120.737 120.675 120.728 .5 5.8 1.5 .1 3.1 .8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 202.043 199.289 194.967 191.671 19.8 -15.5 -2.9 -19.0 .6 -11.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 157.141 157.817 158.802 159.821 9.4 6.5 2.4 7.0 8.0 4.7 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 150.156 150.914 150.809 149.468 6.2 2.2 .4 -1.8 4.2 -.7 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.567 248.393 249.193 248.944 9.0 -1.6 2.7 .6 3.6 1.6 

Medical care services ....................................................... 392.512 393.210 394.734 395.884 2.8 2.5 3.8 3.5 2.7 3.7 

Other services ................................................................... 301.506 302.251 302.016 302.653 4.6 2.2 2.8 1.5 3.4 2.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 212.061 211.773 211.787 212.111 6.4 -11.5 -.6 .1 -3.0 -.2 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 201.331 200.911 200.676 200.829 8.9 -14.3 -1.0 -1.0 -3.4 -1.0 

All items less medical care .................................................. 205.148 204.820 204.724 204.892 7.0 -10.1 -.8 -.5 -1.9 -.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 143.336 142.788 142.801 143.471 9.9 -32.9 -4.6 .4 -14.2 -2.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 175.672 173.638 172.529 173.715 17.1 -47.5 -5.0 -4.4 -21.6 -4.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 209.425 206.340 205.196 206.725 20.7 -56.1 -7.2 -5.1 -27.2 -6.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 195.833 194.522 193.911 193.862 12.9 -27.8 -2.0 -4.0 -9.7 -3.0 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 277.608 277.380 276.815 276.222 7.5 -1.0 2.1 -2.0 3.2 .0 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.947 247.779 247.685 247.547 4.7 .5 1.1 -.6 2.6 .2 

Energy ................................................................................. 187.901 182.254 177.924 178.340 33.2 -67.0 -17.4 -18.9 -33.7 -18.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 217.276 217.539 217.941 218.126 3.9 1.2 1.2 1.6 2.6 1.4 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 217.670 218.042 218.594 218.910 3.0 .6 1.5 2.3 1.8 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.300 140.893 141.583 141.817 1.4 -2.2 1.2 4.4 -.4 2.8 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 186.872 178.146 173.528 177.449 42.3 -83.9 -29.4 -18.7 -52.1 -24.2 

Services less energy services ......................................... 264.500 264.698 265.129 265.491 3.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 2.6 1.5 

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

item stratum index series 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

May2009 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2009 from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Apr.

2008

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 212.193 212.709 213.240 213.856 -1.3 0.5 0.3 -0.7 0.5 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 226.754 227.309 227.840 228.136 -.8 .4 .1 -.1 .5 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 229.262 229.749 230.400 230.611 -.6 .4 .1 .2 .5 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.967 134.411 134.547 134.857 -1.5 .3 .2 -.9 .4 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 201.453 202.021 202.327 203.195 -1.9 .6 .4 -1.5 .4 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 202.639 203.240 203.463 204.443 -1.8 .6 .5 -1.5 .4 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.057 129.334 129.604 129.967 -2.0 .5 .3 -1.4 .4 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 196.421 197.267 197.644 198.911 -1.9 .8 .6 -1.6 .6 .2 

South urban .................................................... M 205.343 206.001 206.657 207.265 -1.3 .6 .3 -.7 .6 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 207.929 208.529 208.934 209.235 -1.2 .3 .1 -.5 .5 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.380 130.873 131.370 131.777 -1.4 .7 .3 -.9 .8 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 206.671 206.927 207.898 209.563 -.8 1.3 .8 -.4 .6 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 217.095 217.357 217.910 218.567 -1.1 .6 .3 -.7 .4 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.955 221.124 221.790 222.659 -.9 .7 .4 -.4 .4 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.636 131.775 131.912 131.990 -1.5 .2 .1 -1.3 .2 .1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 194.354 194.750 195.207 195.745 -1.1 .5 .3 -.5 .4 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 130.855 131.230 131.557 131.876 -1.6 .5 .2 -1.1 .5 .2 

D ................................................................. M 203.999 204.672 205.421 206.717 -1.2 1.0 .6 -.9 .7 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 207.367 207.462 207.886 209.809 -2.4 1.1 .9 -2.2 .3 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 221.439 221.376 221.693 222.522 -1.8 .5 .4 -1.3 .1 .1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 234.663 235.067 235.582 235.975 -.1 .4 .2 .8 .4 .2 

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

 232.155 - 231.891 -1.5 -.1 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 199.457 - 200.196 -2.3 .4 - - - -

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

 200.039 - 199.311 -1.5 -.4 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 138.620 - 139.311 -.2 .5 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 199.190 -

 199.210 - - - - -3.5 .0 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 201.913 -

 202.373 - - - - -1.4 .2 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 187.972 - 189.701 - - - - .5 .9 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 220.589 -

 220.740 - - - - -.3 .1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 220.262 -

 221.686 - - - - -.9 .6 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 222.166 -

 223.854 - - - - .8 .8 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 224.737 - 225.918 - - - - 1.2 .5 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See 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

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Apr.

2009

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 207.925 208.774 -1.9 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.1 

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

 619.344 621.875 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 217.653 217.308 2.8 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.865 217.376 216.975 2.7 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.3 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.201 214.654 213.876 1.5 -.4 -.3 -.5 -.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.249 253.556 253.430 3.6 .0 -.1 -.7 -.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.315 205.527 203.409 1.5 -1.0 -.9 .0 -.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .992 195.714 194.694 -6.0 -.5 -2.5 -1.2 -.5 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.266 271.771 271.530 -1.0 -.1 .1 .2 -1.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.167 162.464 162.468 3.3 .0 1.2 -1.1 -.1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.212 190.650 190.401 4.5 -.1 .0 -.9 -.1 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .304 195.858 194.928 5.9 -.5 .4 -.6 -.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .274 201.474 201.470 3.7 .0 -.1 -1.2 -.8 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.634 205.820 205.641 4.3 -.1 .0 -.9 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 123.112 123.126 3.3 .0 -.1 .2 .0 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.664 222.957 223.082 4.4 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .233 154.414 154.409 4.0 .0 -.3 .2 .0 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.077 220.243 220.729 3.4 .2 .1 -.1 .5 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.313 212.885 212.881 .8 .0 -.1 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.224 242.857 242.941 1.9 .0 .1 .1 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.279 247.517 247.710 2.9 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.209 138.008 136.113 -6.1 -1.4 -2.3 .4 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 21.430 232.503 232.739 2.1 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 121.084 121.160 2.1 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 6.030 205.840 205.270 -5.6 -.3 -1.4 -1.8 -1.2 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.996 182.795 181.977 -7.9 -.4 -1.8 -2.3 -1.6

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .283 232.068 229.019 -36.2 -1.3 -7.0 -2.5 -3.0

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.713 188.735 187.982 -5.6 -.4 -1.5 -2.3 -1.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.035 159.073 159.861 6.4 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.059 125.458 125.589 1.9 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .360 152.980 152.001 1.5 -.6 .7 -.2 -.6 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.979 122.709 121.364 .8 -1.1 -.3 -.3 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.024 117.834 117.687 .9 -.1 -.5 -1.8 .5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 110.990 108.637 .0 -2.1 -.8 -.2 -.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .249 119.873 116.912 -.3 -2.5 .4 1.7 -1.4 

Footwear .................................................................................. .840 128.312 127.802 2.0 -.4 .4 .4 .1

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.067 168.539 173.055 -16.3 2.7 -1.3 -.5 .9 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.284 165.299 169.957 -16.6 2.8 -1.3 -.5 1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.627 89.620 90.039 -3.0 .5 -.3 .3 .5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.057 135.911 136.113 .1 .1 .7 .3 .4 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.863 121.850 123.339 -10.1 1.2 -1.7 .0 1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.029 177.982 194.339 -39.9 9.2 -4.4 -2.6 2.6 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 3.770 177.510 194.569 -39.4 9.6 -3.9 -2.7 3.0

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .482 134.614 134.439 6.1 -.1 .2 .1 -.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.242 245.180 245.036 4.6 -.1 .2 .2 -.1 

Public transportation ................................................................ .784 228.525 227.522 -8.7 -.4 -.7 -.7 -.9 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 374.599 375.420 3.3 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.320 295.699 296.431 3.3 .2 .3 .3 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.035 397.553 398.387 3.3 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.234 320.407 322.043 2.8 .5 .1 .1 .6 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.338 561.516 560.906 6.4 -.1 .6 1.0 .2 

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

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Apr.

2009

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.454 111.182 111.152 1.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.982 102.516 102.214 -.7 -.3 -.1 .3 -.3 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.221 122.152 122.293 3.0 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.527 184.892 185.291 5.4 .2 .5 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .219 474.950 475.213 6.7 .1 .4 .4 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.308 520.348 521.550 5.3 .2 .5 .4 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.694 87.671 87.712 1.4 .0 .0 .1 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.568 85.655 85.624 1.3 .0 .0 .1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.965 102.048 102.231 2.3 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .604 10.385 10.271 -3.3 -1.1 -.6 .1 -1.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .202 85.406 84.017 -13.4 -1.6 -1.8 -.7 -1.6 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.668 394.902 394.061 10.5 -.2 3.9 3.8 -.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.267 747.906 746.009 27.9 -.3 10.9 9.6 -.3 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.401 203.010 202.631 1.6 -.2 .2 .4 -.2

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .662 163.911 163.119 2.6 -.5 .0 .9 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .580 228.119 227.829 1.7 -.1 .9 .0 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .947 345.016 345.326 1.2 .1 .0 .2 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.689 169.005 170.532 -6.2 .9 -.3 .0 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 217.653 217.308 2.8 -.2 -.1 -.2 -.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.747 143.871 146.125 -11.0 1.6 -.4 .1 .6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 14.587 179.415 183.813 -16.0 2.5 -1.2 -.6 1.0 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.979 122.709 121.364 .8 -1.1 -.3 -.3 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.609 218.502 226.621 -20.5 3.7 -1.4 -.3 1.1 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.160 108.596 108.933 -2.6 .3 -.2 .2 .4 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.311 253.403 253.482 1.7 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.918 234.148 234.229 1.9 .0 .1 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 121.084 121.160 2.1 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.713 188.735 187.982 -5.6 -.4 -1.5 -2.3 -1.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.035 159.073 159.861 6.4 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .360 152.980 152.001 1.5 -.6 .7 -.2 -.6 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.512 248.809 248.795 3.4 .0 .0 .4 .0 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.035 397.553 398.387 3.3 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.432 289.738 290.116 2.6 .1 .3 -.1 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.135 206.081 207.148 -2.7 .5 -.1 .0 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.776 197.432 198.571 -3.5 .6 -.3 -.1 .1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 201.112 201.955 -2.2 .4 -.2 .0 .1 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.824 146.371 148.589 -10.5 1.5 -.4 .1 .6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 15.664 181.815 186.012 -15.0 2.3 -1.1 -.6 1.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 11.686 217.649 225.091 -18.9 3.4 -1.3 -.3 .9 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 31.530 198.408 200.601 -7.4 1.1 -.7 -.2 .0 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.392 243.718 243.784 1.5 .0 -.1 -.3 -.2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.275 242.980 243.022 1.6 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.024 178.485 186.321 -28.0 4.4 -3.1 -2.4 .4 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.976 212.472 212.462 2.1 .0 .2 .2 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 75.111 211.857 211.926 2.0 .0 .2 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.513 143.237 143.170 1.1 .0 .5 .7 .2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.311 181.021 196.706 -39.8 8.7 -4.5 -2.6 2.3 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.598 260.439 260.615 2.4 .1 .1 .2 .2 

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

 $ .481 $ .479 - - - - -

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

 $ .161 $ .161 - - - - -

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—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009 Nov.

2008

May

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 207.692 207.401 207.352 207.624 7.5 -11.8 -0.8 -0.1 -2.6 -0.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.371 218.079 217.672 217.225 9.0 4.7 -.2 -2.1 6.8 -1.1 

Food ................................................................................ 218.207 217.881 217.462 216.912 9.4 4.6 -.3 -2.4 7.0 -1.3 

Food at home ................................................................ 216.694 215.965 214.802 213.768 11.7 3.8 -3.1 -5.3 7.6 -4.2 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 254.813 254.555 252.843 252.282 10.3 9.2 -.5 -3.9 9.7 -2.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.151 206.190 206.191 204.374 11.1 3.9 -1.4 -7.1 7.4 -4.3 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 203.023 198.048 195.714 194.694 14.3 -3.6 -16.2 -15.4 5.0 -15.8 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 272.522 272.783 273.381 270.352 24.2 -10.4 -10.5 -3.1 5.5 -6.9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 162.689 164.563 162.761 162.650 4.1 11.3 -1.7 -.1 7.7 -.9 

Other food at home ..................................................... 191.629 191.720 190.049 189.923 8.9 9.4 3.6 -3.5 9.2 .0 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 195.485 196.202 195.060 194.731 5.5 11.2 8.8 -1.5 8.3 3.5 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 204.738 204.559 202.186 200.498 23.4 10.6 -7.8 -8.0 16.8 -7.9 

Other foods ............................................................... 206.781 206.801 204.983 205.144 7.4 8.9 4.7 -3.1 8.1 .7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 122.994 122.837 123.112 123.126 7.6 8.1 -2.7 .4 7.8 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 222.101 222.336 222.957 223.082 6.3 5.8 3.7 1.8 6.1 2.7 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 154.520 154.054 154.414 154.409 4.9 8.7 2.8 -.3 6.8 1.2 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 219.285 219.507 219.265 220.348 4.1 5.9 1.7 2.0 5.0 1.8 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.680 213.463 213.190 213.097 4.6 -.5 .4 -1.1 2.0 -.3 

Shelter ............................................................................. 242.000 242.257 242.595 242.963 2.4 2.4 1.4 1.6 2.4 1.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 246.739 247.150 247.522 247.874 3.9 3.2 2.5 1.9 3.6 2.2 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 137.170 133.991 134.472 134.706 -1.6 -3.4 -12.0 -7.0 -2.5 -9.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 231.675 232.200 232.489 232.851 2.1 2.3 1.8 2.0 2.2 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.960 121.099 121.084 121.160 .9 5.8 1.2 .7 3.4 .9 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 216.077 213.084 209.329 206.844 17.1 -14.9 -4.3 -16.0 -.2 -10.4 

Household energy ......................................................... 194.282 190.862 186.541 183.586 18.5 -18.6 -5.6 -20.3 -1.8 -13.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 255.111 237.288 231.388 224.548 3.1 -55.7 -39.6 -40.0 -32.4 -39.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 200.210 197.294 192.851 189.940 19.8 -15.0 -3.0 -19.0 .9 -11.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 157.531 158.223 159.211 160.241 9.7 6.8 2.2 7.1 8.2 4.6 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 124.754 125.029 125.303 125.430 3.1 1.7 .5 2.2 2.4 1.3 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.168 153.239 152.980 152.001 6.2 .4 -.2 -.4 3.3 -.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.854 119.478 119.065 119.078 5.7 -3.7 4.1 -2.6 .9 .7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 117.255 116.702 114.576 115.184 -1.2 -4.5 18.0 -6.9 -2.9 4.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.054 106.208 106.000 105.873 15.6 -9.0 -.5 -4.3 2.6 -2.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.319 115.748 117.751 116.074 -8.3 8.7 -3.2 2.6 -.2 -.3 

Footwear ......................................................................... 125.352 125.880 126.391 126.469 .4 2.4 1.6 3.6 1.4 2.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 169.627 167.435 166.620 168.145 16.0 -49.6 -8.9 -3.4 -23.5 -6.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 166.302 164.112 163.332 164.963 15.8 -50.5 -8.5 -3.2 -24.3 -5.9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 89.662 89.419 89.667 90.153 -3.8 -9.0 -1.1 2.2 -6.4 .5 

New vehicles ............................................................... 134.277 135.162 135.612 136.199 -1.5 -6.6 3.2 5.8 -4.1 4.5 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 124.356 122.304 122.256 123.465 -8.6 -16.3 -12.0 -2.8 -12.5 -7.5 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 182.697 174.688 170.137 174.513 45.2 -85.0 -28.1 -16.7 -53.4 -22.6 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 181.433 174.331 169.566 174.723 45.5 -85.5 -25.8 -14.0 -54.1 -20.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.264 134.485 134.614 134.439 11.5 9.2 3.5 .5 10.3 2.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 244.219 244.650 245.180 245.036 7.7 5.0 4.6 1.3 6.3 2.9 

Public transportation ....................................................... 231.991 230.256 228.536 226.424 22.1 -23.9 -17.7 -9.3 -3.6 -13.6 

Medical care ...................................................................... 371.397 372.188 373.540 374.834 2.4 2.6 4.4 3.8 2.5 4.1 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 293.339 294.284 295.047 296.120 1.0 3.2 5.5 3.8 2.1 4.7 

Medical care services ..................................................... 394.081 394.779 396.348 397.699 2.9 2.5 4.0 3.7 2.7 3.9 

Professional services .................................................... 318.961 319.150 319.449 321.250 3.1 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.8 2.8 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 550.509 553.960 559.368 560.587 5.8 3.7 8.6 7.5 4.8 8.0 

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—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009 Nov.

2008

May

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 111.309 111.324 110.976 110.947 3.7 1.0 1.3 -1.3 2.3 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 101.852 101.751 102.023 101.761 .8 -1.8 -1.5 -.4 -.5 -.9 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 122.064 122.270 122.505 122.797 5.1 1.7 2.8 2.4 3.4 2.6 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 184.662 185.499 186.203 187.168 6.7 4.8 4.5 5.5 5.8 5.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 471.367 473.276 475.206 477.376 11.2 5.6 4.9 5.2 8.4 5.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 520.014 522.397 524.365 527.111 6.3 4.8 4.5 5.6 5.5 5.0 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.639 87.616 87.673 87.712 4.1 -.3 1.6 .3 1.9 .9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.624 85.595 85.655 85.624 4.1 -.3 1.6 .0 1.9 .8 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.890 101.977 102.048 102.231 5.7 .9 1.3 1.3 3.3 1.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.442 10.378 10.385 10.271 -3.6 -5.9 2.9 -6.4 -4.7 -1.8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 87.622 86.004 85.406 84.017 -15.8 -17.3 -4.5 -15.5 -16.5 -10.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 365.470 379.874 394.363 393.500 5.4 2.4 3.0 34.4 3.9 17.6 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 615.012 682.115 747.906 746.009 11.8 2.1 8.3 116.5 6.8 53.1 

Personal care .................................................................. 201.381 201.817 202.554 202.156 2.2 2.6 .3 1.5 2.4 .9 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.543 162.516 163.911 163.119 .9 4.2 3.9 1.4 2.5 2.7 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 226.088 228.201 228.119 227.829 1.0 3.6 -.6 3.1 2.3 1.2 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.601 343.711 344.376 344.423 3.5 .3 .1 1.0 1.9 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 168.242 167.715 167.690 168.137 10.6 -25.1 -3.8 -.2 -9.0 -2.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.371 218.079 217.672 217.225 9.0 4.7 -.2 -2.1 6.8 -1.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 142.519 141.910 142.044 142.846 11.5 -38.4 -6.0 .9 -17.1 -2.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 177.755 175.626 174.600 176.429 20.2 -55.0 -5.1 -3.0 -26.5 -4.0 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.854 119.478 119.065 119.078 5.7 -3.7 4.1 -2.6 .9 .7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 217.299 214.185 213.527 215.822 24.8 -64.0 -8.7 -2.7 -32.9 -5.7 

Durables .......................................................................... 108.475 108.251 108.461 108.846 -1.6 -7.2 -2.8 1.4 -4.5 -.7 

Services .............................................................................. 253.785 253.811 253.695 253.765 4.9 .5 1.6 .0 2.7 .8 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 233.328 233.478 233.802 234.196 2.3 2.7 1.2 1.5 2.5 1.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.960 121.099 121.084 121.160 .9 5.8 1.2 .7 3.4 .9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 200.210 197.294 192.851 189.940 19.8 -15.0 -3.0 -19.0 .9 -11.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 157.531 158.223 159.211 160.241 9.7 6.8 2.2 7.1 8.2 4.6 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.168 153.239 152.980 152.001 6.2 .4 -.2 -.4 3.3 -.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.087 248.145 249.142 249.130 8.1 -.1 3.9 1.7 3.9 2.8 

Medical care services ....................................................... 394.081 394.779 396.348 397.699 2.9 2.5 4.0 3.7 2.7 3.9 

Other services ................................................................... 289.415 290.152 289.907 290.444 4.7 2.0 2.4 1.4 3.3 1.9 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 205.662 205.378 205.393 205.809 7.2 -14.5 -.9 .3 -4.3 -.3 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 197.425 196.931 196.739 196.980 9.8 -17.3 -1.7 -.9 -4.7 -1.3 

All items less medical care .................................................. 200.971 200.650 200.558 200.797 7.8 -12.5 -1.1 -.3 -2.9 -.7 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 145.025 144.434 144.560 145.372 11.3 -37.2 -5.7 1.0 -16.4 -2.4 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 180.246 178.203 177.208 178.973 19.2 -52.8 -4.4 -2.8 -25.0 -3.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 216.564 213.688 213.033 215.042 23.3 -61.1 -7.6 -2.8 -30.7 -5.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 198.015 196.725 196.298 196.393 14.0 -31.8 -2.1 -3.2 -11.9 -2.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 245.607 245.340 244.695 244.177 8.0 -1.4 2.0 -2.3 3.2 -.2 

Services less medical care services ................................... 243.578 243.498 243.313 243.221 5.0 .7 1.3 -.6 2.9 .4 

Energy ................................................................................. 186.446 180.751 176.359 177.124 34.1 -68.6 -17.6 -18.5 -35.1 -18.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 211.226 211.602 212.088 212.301 4.0 1.2 1.3 2.1 2.6 1.7 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 210.188 210.707 211.378 211.745 2.9 .5 1.6 3.0 1.7 2.3 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.675 141.363 142.367 142.656 1.4 -3.1 .7 5.8 -.9 3.2 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 186.476 178.042 173.415 177.375 43.0 -84.2 -28.7 -18.1 -52.5 -23.6 

Services less energy services ......................................... 259.521 259.892 260.282 260.701 3.6 2.1 2.1 1.8 2.9 1.9 

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

May2009 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2009 from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

May

2008

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Apr.

2008

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 206.708 207.218 207.925 208.774 -1.9 0.8 0.4 -1.3 0.6 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 222.945 223.626 224.252 224.748 -1.0 .5 .2 -.2 .6 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 224.084 224.597 225.214 225.657 -.8 .5 .2 .0 .5 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.908 134.558 134.951 135.329 -1.7 .6 .3 -.9 .8 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 195.813 196.453 196.933 197.971 -2.4 .8 .5 -1.9 .6 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.147 196.855 197.192 198.271 -2.3 .7 .5 -1.9 .5 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.167 128.468 128.968 129.524 -2.5 .8 .4 -1.8 .6 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 193.527 194.393 194.651 196.047 -2.7 .9 .7 -2.3 .6 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 201.150 201.737 202.619 203.500 -2.1 .9 .4 -1.5 .7 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.501 205.066 205.733 206.271 -2.1 .6 .3 -1.3 .6 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.276 128.686 129.309 129.885 -2.2 .9 .4 -1.6 .8 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 205.337 205.744 206.921 208.989 -1.7 1.6 1.0 -1.3 .8 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 210.492 210.661 211.386 212.263 -1.7 .8 .4 -1.4 .4 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 212.890 212.965 213.646 214.734 -1.6 .8 .5 -1.1 .4 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.649 130.674 131.103 131.389 -2.0 .5 .2 -1.8 .3 .3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 191.927 192.327 192.861 193.597 -1.6 .7 .4 -1.0 .5 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.488 129.833 130.361 130.847 -2.2 .8 .4 -1.6 .7 .4 

D ................................................................. M 200.681 201.485 202.351 203.883 -2.1 1.2 .8 -1.7 .8 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 199.944 200.218 200.607 202.464 -2.8 1.1 .9 -2.6 .3 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 213.234 213.013 213.405 214.446 -2.4 .7 .5 -2.1 .1 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 228.653 229.064 229.639 230.307 -.3 .5 .3 .6 .4 .3 

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

 231.884 - 231.420 -1.7 -.2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 190.107 - 191.297 -2.3 .6 - - - -

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

 200.770 - 200.955 -2.6 .1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 137.539 - 138.510 -.6 .7 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 197.528 -

 197.676 - - - - -3.9 .1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 196.191 -

 197.239 - - - - -1.9 .5 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 185.015 - 186.970 - - - - -.8 1.1 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 217.635 -

 217.900 - - - - -.7 .1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 219.356 -

 220.732 - - - - -1.1 .6 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 216.797 -

 218.587 - - - - .3 .8 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 218.752 - 220.208 - - - - .8 .7 -

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

 May 2009 from—

 Apr.

 2009

 May

 2009

 May

 2008

 Apr.

 2009

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 122.506 122.898 -1.4 0.3

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 128.063 127.886 2.7 -.1 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 128.147 127.943 2.6 -.2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 124.068 123.656 1.4 -.3 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 133.403 133.476 4.2 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 127.359 127.524 2.9 .1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 128.666 128.495 .3 -.1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 131.630 131.566 1.4 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 152.236 151.032 -7.0 -.8 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 96.247 96.226 .9 .0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 91.148 90.000 .4 -1.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 115.183 118.136 -12.9 2.6 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 115.477 118.672 -13.2 2.8 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 112.313 111.889 -9.2 -.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 145.294 145.621 3.0 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 128.434 128.713 3.2 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 151.505 151.849 2.9 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.284 105.191 -.1 -.1 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.709 109.795 2.8 .1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 173.305 173.691 5.5 .2 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.190 74.162 .7 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 133.394 133.152 4.0 -.2 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 133.605 133.528 1.2 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 109.023 109.954 -4.9 .9 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 80.935 81.049 -2.3 .1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 123.424 124.831 -5.9 1.1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 118.688 118.652 1.4 .0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 152.229 158.689 -27.2 4.2 

Indexes for 2009 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2008 are interim adjustments.

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