News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

 

 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Stephen B. Reed (202) 691-7000 USDL-08-1827 

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED 

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

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Tuesday, December 16, 2008 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: NOVEMBER 2008 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 1.9 percent in November, 

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

November level of 212.425 (1982-84=100) was 1.1 percent higher than in November 2007. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 2.3 

percent in November, prior to seasonal adjustment. The November level of 207.296 (1982-84=100) was 0.7 

percent higher than in November 2007. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 2.0 percent in 

November on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The November level of 122.284 (December 1999=100) was 0.7 

percent higher than in November 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 1.7 percent in November, the second consecutive 

record decrease. For the 12 month period ending in November the CPI was up 1.1 percent, compared to 5.6 

percent for the twelve months ending July of this year. Falling energy prices, particularly gasoline, drove the 

decline in the overall index. Excluding energy, the index was virtually unchanged. 

The energy index fell 17.0 percent in November. The decrease was about twice the October decline and 

energy prices are now 32.4 percent below the July peak earlier this year. The gasoline index fell 29.5 percent in 

November and gas prices are now 47.0 percent below their July peak. The natural gas index also (cont.) 

 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Nov. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Nov. 2008 May

2008

June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

All items ................................. 0.6 1.1 0.8 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 -1.7 -10.2 1.1 

Food and beverages ........... .3 .7 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 4.1 5.9 

Housing ............................... .5 .5 .6 -.1 -.1 .0 -.1 -1.0 2.7 

Apparel ................................ -.3 .1 1.2 .5 -.1 -1.0 .3 -3.3 .0 

Transportation ..................... 2.0 3.8 1.7 -1.5 -.6 -5.4 -9.8 -48.1 -8.9 

Medical care ........................ .2 .2 .1 .2 .3 .2 .2 2.9 2.7 

Recreation ........................... .1 .1 .4 .5 .2 .1 .0 1.2 2.0 

Education and

communication .............. .4 .5 .5 .2 .1 .2 .2 2.1 3.6 

Other goods and services ... .4 .4 .4 .2 .2 .3 .0 1.9 3.8 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 4.4 6.6 4.0 -3.1 -1.9 -8.6 -17.0 -69.3 -13.3 

Food .................................... .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 4.0 6.0 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 .0 .4 2.0 
declined in November, the fourth consecutive decrease. After seasonal adjustment, the index was down 21.7 

percent from July to November. 

Food prices increased 0.2 percent November following a 0.3 percent rise in October. Excluding food 

and energy, the CPI was virtually unchanged in November and is up 2.0 percent since November 2007. 

Continuing declines in the indexes for new and used motor vehicles, lodging away from home, airline fares and 

some technology-related commodities offset small increases in a variety of other service and commodity items. 

For the first eleven months of 2008, the all items index rose at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate 

(SAAR) of 0.7 percent after increasing 4.1 percent in all of 2007. The energy index, which rose 17.4 percent 

during 2007, has declined at a SAAR of 16.0 percent through the first eleven months of 2008. The food index 

has risen at a 6.5 percent SAAR for the first eleven months of 2008 after increasing 4.9 percent in 2007. 

Excluding food and energy, the CPI has advanced at a 1.9 percent SAAR so far in 2008 after rising 2.4 percent 

in 2007. 

The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in November after increasing 0.3 percent in October. 

The food at home index was unchanged in November. The index for meat, poultry, fish and eggs turned down 

in November for the first time since February, falling 0.7 percent as the indexes for beef, fish, and eggs all 

declined. The fruits and vegetables index also declined for the third month in a row, with the decrease being 

driven by a decline in the fresh fruits index. These declines were offset by increases in the other grocery store 

food groups, including a 0.6 percent advance in the other food at home index and a 0.4 percent increase in the 

index for dairy and related products. Compared to November 2007, the food at home index was up 7.0 percent, 

with the largest increase in the cereal and bakery products index at 12.0 percent and the smallest increase in 

dairy and related products at 3.5 percent. The food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in November and 

the index for alcoholic beverages increased 0.5 percent. 

The housing index fell 0.1 percent in November after being virtually unchanged in October. The index 

for shelter, virtually unchanged in October, rose 0.2 percent in November. Within shelter, the indexes for rent 

and owners’ equivalent rent both rose 0.3 percent, while the index for lodging away from home fell 1.1 percent 

in November, its second straight significant decline. The index for household energy, down 0.9 percent in 

October, fell 2.0 percent in November. Both the fuel oil and natural gas indexes posted substantial declines for 

the fourth consecutive month; the fuel oil index decreased 14.6 percent in November and the natural gas index 

fell 5.2 percent. The electricity index rose for the second straight month, increasing 0.6 percent in November. 

The index for household furnishings and operations, virtually unchanged in October, fell 0.2 percent in 

November. 

 The transportation index declined 9.8 percent in November after falling 5.4 percent in October as 

several major components of the index continued to decline. The index for motor fuel fell 29.0 percent in 

November after decreasing 13.9 percent in October and is 28.6 percent lower than in November 2007. New and 

used motor vehicles, down 0.7 percent in October, fell 0.9 percent in November. The index for used cars and 

trucks declined 2.2 percent in November and the new vehicles index fell 0.6 percent and has declined 2.9 

percent since November 2007. The index for public transportation, down 3.3 percent in October, fell 2.7 

percent in November, with the airline fare index declining 4.0 percent. It was the third consecutive decrease in 

the airline fare index, but it is still up 4.0 percent since November 2007. 

The apparel index turned up in November, rising 0.3 percent after declining 1.0 percent in October. 

(Before seasonal adjustment, apparel prices declined 0.8 percent in November and are virtually unchanged from 

their November 2007 level.) 

The index for medical care rose 0.2 percent in November, the same increase as in October, and was 2.7 

percent higher than in November 2007. The medical care commodities index rose 0.6 percent in November 

following a 0.2 percent increase in October as the index for prescription drugs rose 0.6 percent in November 

after increasing 0.3 percent in each of the two prior months. The index for medical care services rose 0.1 

percent in November after rising 0.2 percent in October. Within medical care services, the physicians’ services 

index rose 0.3 percent after increasing 0.1 percent in October and the index for hospital and related services was 

virtually unchanged in November after advancing 0.4 percent in October. 

After rising 0.1 percent in October, the index for recreation was virtually unchanged in November. The 

indexes for video and audio and for toys decreased in November while the indexes for pets, pet products and 

services, for sporting goods, and for admissions all posted increases. 
The index for education and communication rose 0.2 percent in November, the same increase as the 

previous month. The index for education repeated its October increase of 0.4 percent while the communication 

index rose 0.1 percent after being virtually unchanged in October. Within communication, the telephone 

services index rose 0.1 percent while the index for information technology, hardware and services declined 0.1 

percent. 

The other goods and services index was virtually unchanged in November after rising 0.3 percent in 

October. The indexes for tobacco and smoking products and for personal care were both virtually unchanged in 

November after posting respective increases of 0.4 percent and 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 2.1 

percent in November. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Nov. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Nov. 2008 May

2008

June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

All items ................................. 0.7 1.2 0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -1.2 -2.1 -12.9 0.7 

Food and beverages ........... .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 4.2 6.0 

Housing ............................... .5 .5 .7 .0 -.2 .0 -.1 -.8 3.1 

Apparel ................................ -.2 .0 .8 1.0 .0 -1.2 .2 -3.9 .2 

Transportation ..................... 2.1 4.0 1.8 -1.7 -.7 -6.0 -10.9 -52.1 -10.4 

Medical care ........................ .1 .2 .1 .3 .3 .1 .2 2.7 2.7 

Recreation ........................... .0 .2 .4 .5 .2 .0 -.1 .8 1.9 

Education and

communication .............. .3 .5 .5 .2 .0 .2 .2 1.6 3.4 

Other goods and services ... .5 .6 .5 .2 .2 .3 .1 2.4 4.4 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 4.5 6.8 4.0 -3.2 -1.7 -9.0 -17.8 -70.8 -14.3 

Food .................................... .3 .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 4.1 6.2 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 .0 .1 2.0 

 

Consumer Price Index data for December are scheduled for release on Friday, January 16, 2009, 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

Nov. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Oct.

2008

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 216.573 212.425 1.1 -1.9 0.0 -1.0 -1.7 

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

 648.758 636.332 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 218.705 218.752 5.9 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.833 218.738 218.749 6.0 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.660 219.660 219.086 7.0 -.3 .6 .1 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.030 252.832 252.723 12.0 .0 1.1 .6 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.807 210.706 209.602 5.5 -.5 1.0 .6 -.7 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .887 212.733 213.102 3.5 .2 -.6 -1.0 .4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.156 285.484 283.677 5.7 -.6 -.5 -2.2 -.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .928 163.727 163.015 5.6 -.4 .7 1.2 .1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.852 189.348 189.301 8.8 .0 1.1 .6 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .277 190.515 191.756 7.4 .7 1.7 .7 .6 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .205 208.300 205.806 17.4 -1.2 1.7 .5 .0 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.369 202.993 203.058 7.8 .0 .8 .6 .8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .404 122.699 123.543 7.1 .7 .1 1.3 .7 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.173 219.290 220.043 4.9 .3 .5 .5 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .297 153.544 153.978 5.0 .3 .6 1.0 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.080 216.972 217.492 4.1 .2 .5 .4 .5 

Housing ...................................................................................... 42.427 217.383 216.467 2.7 -.4 -.1 .0 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.596 247.844 247.463 2.2 -.2 .3 .0 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.765 245.855 246.681 3.6 .3 .3 .4 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.564 141.140 133.555 -2.3 -5.4 .9 -1.6 -1.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 23.942 253.902 254.669 2.3 .3 .2 .1 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .325 119.916 120.232 2.8 .3 1.2 .0 .3 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.128 221.199 216.285 7.0 -2.2 -2.8 -.6 -1.6 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.215 201.176 195.599 7.0 -2.8 -3.4 -.9 -2.0 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .351 318.667 281.869 -3.4 -11.5 -5.8 -8.8 -13.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.864 203.503 199.435 7.9 -2.0 -3.2 -.1 -1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .913 155.557 156.193 6.7 .4 .3 1.0 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.702 128.789 128.554 1.8 -.2 .5 .0 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .737 150.052 149.998 5.9 .0 .7 -.1 .0 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.731 122.243 121.262 .0 -.8 -.1 -1.0 .3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .935 115.067 114.239 -.5 -.7 -.3 -.5 -.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.600 111.833 110.588 -1.4 -1.1 -.3 -2.2 .7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .185 116.158 116.010 -1.1 -.1 1.3 .6 .5 

Footwear .................................................................................. .679 126.442 126.788 1.4 .3 -.4 .3 1.1 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.688 192.709 173.644 -8.9 -9.9 -.6 -5.4 -9.8 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.583 187.976 168.527 -9.8 -10.3 -.6 -5.5 -10.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.191 92.071 91.618 -3.1 -.5 -.9 -.7 -.9 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.632 132.264 132.359 -2.9 .1 -.7 -.5 -.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 1.773 129.733 126.869 -7.1 -2.2 -1.8 -2.4 -2.2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.482 268.537 187.189 -28.6 -30.3 -.8 -13.9 -29.0 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.215 266.382 184.235 -29.4 -30.8 -.6 -14.2 -29.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .356 131.917 132.947 7.7 .8 .6 .7 .8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.123 238.227 239.048 5.9 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.106 252.323 243.385 4.1 -3.5 -1.0 -3.3 -2.7 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.231 365.746 366.613 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.601 295.791 297.317 1.4 .5 .2 .2 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.630 387.440 387.992 3.1 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.626 312.914 313.328 3.1 .1 .2 .1 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.467 540.853 543.183 5.4 .4 .6 .4 .0 

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

Nov. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Oct.

2008

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.647 114.169 114.078 2.0 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.843 102.193 101.831 -.9 -.4 .1 -.6 -.1 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.086 125.686 125.758 3.6 .1 .1 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.944 186.669 186.733 5.7 .0 .4 .4 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .207 463.825 462.694 7.2 -.2 .4 .2 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.736 537.606 537.906 5.6 .1 .4 .5 .4 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.142 84.535 84.601 1.6 .1 -.2 .0 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 2.975 81.652 81.723 1.5 .1 -.2 .0 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.342 101.407 101.538 2.8 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .634 9.874 9.867 -3.3 -.1 -1.1 -.3 -.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .242 89.945 88.984 -11.1 -1.1 -2.3 -.9 -1.1 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.277 349.276 349.040 3.8 -.1 .2 .3 .0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .731 599.744 599.820 6.7 .0 .0 .4 .0 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.546 203.107 202.921 2.9 -.1 .3 .2 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .639 159.826 161.000 1.5 .7 .2 .1 .7 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .629 225.564 226.197 3.5 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.044 343.131 340.174 3.5 -.9 .5 .0 -.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 41.269 175.257 167.673 -2.0 -4.3 -.1 -2.3 -4.1 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 218.705 218.752 5.9 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.356 151.874 141.397 -6.4 -6.9 -.5 -3.8 -6.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.519 195.127 173.346 -9.0 -11.2 -.9 -5.5 -9.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.731 122.243 121.262 .0 -.8 -.1 -1.0 .3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.787 244.935 209.569 -12.0 -14.4 -1.4 -7.9 -14.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.837 109.677 109.191 -2.6 -.4 -.6 -.6 -.6 

Services ....................................................................................... 58.731 257.559 256.967 3.2 -.2 .0 .0 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.271 258.368 257.961 2.2 -.2 .3 .0 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .325 119.916 120.232 2.8 .3 1.2 .0 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.864 203.503 199.435 7.9 -2.0 -3.2 -.1 -1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .913 155.557 156.193 6.7 .4 .3 1.0 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .737 150.052 149.998 5.9 .0 .7 -.1 .0 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.350 247.762 247.030 4.5 -.3 .1 -.4 -.3 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.630 387.440 387.992 3.1 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.641 299.923 299.996 3.6 .0 .2 .2 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.167 216.250 211.421 .3 -2.2 -.1 -1.2 -2.0 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.404 206.776 201.075 .5 -2.8 -.2 -1.4 -2.6 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.769 209.021 204.721 1.0 -2.1 -.1 -1.0 -1.8 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.436 154.250 144.055 -6.0 -6.6 -.4 -3.6 -6.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.599 196.442 175.979 -8.2 -10.4 -.9 -5.3 -8.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.868 241.183 209.344 -10.6 -13.2 -1.4 -7.0 -12.6 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.432 207.435 195.773 -1.7 -5.6 -.3 -2.6 -4.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.460 276.297 275.425 4.5 -.3 -.3 -.1 -.2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.101 246.997 246.351 3.2 -.3 -.1 .0 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.698 231.561 189.938 -13.3 -18.0 -1.9 -8.6 -17.0 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.302 216.695 216.417 2.6 -.1 .2 .0 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.469 217.023 216.690 2.0 -.2 .1 -.1 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.602 140.659 140.236 -.2 -.3 -.2 -.4 -.2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.834 272.921 193.395 -27.1 -29.1 -1.1 -13.6 -28.1 

Services less energy services .................................................. 54.867 263.156 262.901 2.9 -.1 .3 .0 .1 

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

 $ .462 $ .471 - - - - -

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

 $ .154 $ .157 - - - - -

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—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2008

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008 May

2008

Nov.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 218.880 218.813 216.710 213.060 3.1 4.9 7.2 -10.2 4.0 -1.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 216.778 217.996 218.569 218.981 4.6 5.9 9.1 4.1 5.2 6.6 

Food ................................................................................ 216.807 218.029 218.582 218.939 4.7 6.2 9.6 4.0 5.4 6.7 

Food at home ................................................................ 217.949 219.225 219.380 219.428 5.3 7.9 12.5 2.7 6.6 7.5 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.024 251.760 253.199 253.738 12.4 18.7 9.4 7.8 15.5 8.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 207.479 209.534 210.721 209.295 2.3 4.3 12.2 3.5 3.3 7.8 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 215.356 214.066 211.930 212.757 3.4 .9 15.3 -4.7 2.1 4.8 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 291.493 290.047 283.770 282.618 2.2 8.4 27.9 -11.6 5.3 6.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 160.411 161.609 163.526 163.684 4.8 4.4 5.1 8.4 4.6 6.7 

Other food at home ..................................................... 186.154 188.124 189.320 190.510 6.8 10.4 8.4 9.7 8.6 9.0

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 186.956 190.197 191.438 192.492 2.6 11.0 3.8 12.4 6.7 8.0 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 202.996 206.381 207.508 207.407 16.1 21.7 23.3 9.0 18.9 15.9 

Other foods ............................................................... 199.930 201.577 202.881 204.414 6.2 8.7 7.1 9.3 7.4 8.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.033 121.144 122.699 123.543 10.0 1.9 7.9 8.6 5.9 8.2 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 217.063 218.225 219.290 220.043 3.9 4.0 5.9 5.6 4.0 5.8 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 151.133 152.040 153.544 153.978 4.9 3.5 4.0 7.7 4.2 5.8 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 215.105 216.276 217.103 218.212 4.1 2.3 3.9 5.9 3.2 4.9 

Housing ............................................................................. 218.101 217.891 217.793 217.577 2.8 4.9 4.2 -1.0 3.8 1.6 

Shelter ............................................................................. 247.258 247.971 248.058 248.472 2.6 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.1 2.2 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 244.296 244.977 245.840 246.558 3.6 2.9 4.0 3.8 3.3 3.9 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 143.846 145.173 142.808 141.218 1.0 -4.3 1.4 -7.1 -1.7 -3.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 252.970 253.493 253.871 254.580 2.6 2.0 2.1 2.6 2.3 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 118.562 119.944 119.916 120.232 2.2 2.7 .5 5.8 2.4 3.1 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 230.876 224.377 223.111 219.524 6.5 29.5 16.8 -18.3 17.5 -2.3 

Household energy ......................................................... 212.286 205.021 203.206 199.099 6.7 35.5 18.2 -22.6 20.3 -4.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 375.211 353.309 322.208 278.365 21.3 111.7 11.9 -69.7 60.2 -41.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 212.549 205.785 205.538 203.484 5.3 29.9 18.8 -16.0 16.9 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 153.832 154.269 155.827 156.427 5.7 4.3 10.0 6.9 5.0 8.5 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 128.222 128.917 128.936 128.711 .3 2.7 2.8 1.5 1.5 2.1 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 149.169 150.193 150.052 149.998 5.4 10.0 6.2 2.2 7.7 4.2 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.157 120.005 118.843 119.165 .8 -4.3 7.4 -3.3 -1.8 1.9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.420 113.108 112.533 111.786 6.8 -.2 -2.5 -5.6 3.3 -4.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.057 109.678 107.255 108.001 -4.2 -11.3 19.9 -7.3 -7.9 5.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 111.741 113.172 113.815 114.398 -.3 -7.5 -5.8 9.9 -3.9 1.8 

Footwear ......................................................................... 124.023 123.572 123.896 125.281 -.7 3.2 -.9 4.1 1.3 1.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 206.303 205.036 194.031 175.106 3.5 8.7 16.8 -48.1 6.1 -22.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 201.552 200.367 189.326 169.911 3.4 8.0 16.2 -49.5 5.7 -23.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 93.702 92.900 92.229 91.425 -.9 -1.5 -.4 -9.4 -1.2 -5.0 

New vehicles ............................................................... 134.548 133.567 132.889 132.153 -2.5 -1.5 -.4 -6.9 -2.0 -3.7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 135.405 132.916 129.733 126.869 1.9 -2.7 -2.7 -22.9 -.4 -13.4 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 320.647 317.962 273.671 194.333 7.8 23.1 44.9 -86.5 15.2 -55.8 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 318.255 316.443 271.580 191.383 7.7 21.6 45.2 -86.9 14.4 -56.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 130.327 131.048 131.917 132.947 5.7 5.2 11.5 8.3 5.5 9.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 236.340 237.284 238.108 238.802 5.4 6.1 8.0 4.2 5.7 6.1 

Public transportation ....................................................... 264.183 261.556 252.920 246.102 4.7 19.3 25.0 -24.7 11.7 -3.0 

Medical care ...................................................................... 364.710 365.836 366.470 367.316 3.9 1.8 2.1 2.9 2.8 2.5 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 294.694 295.231 295.741 297.469 3.9 -2.0 .0 3.8 .9 1.9 

Medical care services ..................................................... 386.458 387.816 388.489 388.922 3.9 3.2 2.9 2.6 3.5 2.7 

Professional services .................................................... 312.575 313.273 313.601 314.457 3.0 4.0 3.2 2.4 3.5 2.8 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 537.549 540.539 542.655 542.537 7.9 4.6 5.3 3.8 6.3 4.5 

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—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2008

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008 May

2008

Nov.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.876 114.120 114.214 114.222 1.4 1.0 4.4 1.2 1.2 2.8 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.658 102.801 102.168 102.084 .7 -2.7 .8 -2.2 -1.0 -.7 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 124.505 124.615 124.888 125.157 3.2 4.2 5.0 2.1 3.7 3.5 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 182.734 183.462 184.260 184.919 5.6 5.9 6.3 4.9 5.8 5.6 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 459.494 461.555 462.451 463.867 3.4 6.9 15.0 3.9 5.2 9.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 525.789 527.863 530.257 532.175 5.8 5.8 5.6 4.9 5.8 5.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.702 84.526 84.538 84.604 .6 2.6 3.7 -.5 1.6 1.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.815 81.635 81.652 81.723 .6 2.2 3.7 -.4 1.4 1.6 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.301 101.311 101.407 101.538 .3 4.3 5.8 .9 2.2 3.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.012 9.901 9.874 9.867 1.9 -5.2 -4.1 -5.7 -1.7 -4.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 92.921 90.797 89.945 88.984 1.8 -13.3 -15.9 -15.9 -6.1 -15.9 

Other goods and services ................................................. 347.715 348.540 349.441 349.336 3.9 5.3 4.0 1.9 4.6 2.9 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 597.361 597.581 599.744 599.820 9.8 4.2 11.6 1.7 7.0 6.5 

Personal care .................................................................. 202.169 202.768 203.231 203.144 2.2 5.7 1.9 1.9 3.9 1.9 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.252 159.643 159.826 161.000 -2.2 2.9 1.2 4.5 .3 2.8 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 224.151 224.614 225.564 226.197 4.2 5.2 .9 3.7 4.7 2.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.606 343.441 343.499 340.689 5.7 6.5 3.1 -1.1 6.1 1.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 179.687 179.530 175.334 168.069 3.1 5.3 10.4 -23.5 4.2 -8.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 216.778 217.996 218.569 218.981 4.6 5.9 9.1 4.1 5.2 6.6 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 158.775 158.058 152.036 141.850 2.2 5.1 11.2 -36.3 3.6 -15.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 207.465 205.585 194.214 175.859 4.4 10.8 14.6 -48.4 7.6 -23.1 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.157 120.005 118.843 119.165 .8 -4.3 7.4 -3.3 -1.8 1.9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 270.166 266.376 245.230 210.977 12.2 14.7 25.5 -62.8 13.4 -31.7 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.140 110.513 109.868 109.244 -1.4 -1.9 -.3 -6.7 -1.7 -3.5 

Services .............................................................................. 257.642 257.662 257.742 257.820 3.2 4.6 4.8 .3 3.9 2.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 257.717 258.498 258.583 259.077 2.7 1.6 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 118.562 119.944 119.916 120.232 2.2 2.7 .5 5.8 2.4 3.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 212.549 205.785 205.538 203.484 5.3 29.9 18.8 -16.0 16.9 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 153.832 154.269 155.827 156.427 5.7 4.3 10.0 6.9 5.0 8.5 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 149.169 150.193 150.052 149.998 5.4 10.0 6.2 2.2 7.7 4.2 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.277 248.422 247.447 246.653 4.0 6.9 10.1 -2.6 5.5 3.5 

Medical care services ....................................................... 386.458 387.816 388.489 388.922 3.9 3.2 2.9 2.6 3.5 2.7 

Other services ................................................................... 297.887 298.481 298.953 299.356 3.4 4.3 4.8 2.0 3.8 3.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 219.250 218.972 216.434 212.128 2.9 4.7 6.8 -12.4 3.8 -3.3 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 210.264 209.885 206.884 201.569 3.4 6.5 9.5 -15.5 5.0 -3.8 

All items less medical care .................................................. 211.433 211.322 209.135 205.347 3.1 5.1 7.5 -11.0 4.1 -2.2 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 160.922 160.257 154.412 144.517 2.3 4.9 10.9 -35.0 3.6 -15.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 208.004 206.042 195.181 177.989 3.0 14.8 12.1 -46.4 8.7 -22.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 263.228 259.597 241.328 210.875 9.2 17.0 21.2 -58.8 13.1 -29.4 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 213.122 212.583 207.029 196.797 4.2 11.2 10.6 -27.3 7.7 -10.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 277.598 276.660 276.380 275.814 3.7 8.9 8.3 -2.5 6.3 2.7 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.327 247.172 247.197 247.090 3.1 4.9 5.3 -.4 4.0 2.4 

Energy ................................................................................. 262.107 257.086 235.053 195.144 7.6 28.2 32.9 -69.3 17.5 -36.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 216.080 216.528 216.484 216.580 2.7 2.5 4.4 .9 2.6 2.6 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 216.650 216.956 216.801 216.849 2.3 1.8 3.4 .4 2.1 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.885 140.655 140.136 139.853 .4 -.9 2.5 -2.9 -.2 -.2 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 325.603 321.888 278.005 200.024 8.9 27.2 42.6 -85.8 17.7 -54.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 262.367 263.046 263.159 263.444 3.1 2.9 3.8 1.7 3.0 2.7 

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

item stratum index series 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

Nov.2008 from—

Percent change to

Oct.2008 from—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 219.086 218.783 216.573 212.425 1.1 -2.9 -1.9 3.7 -1.1 -1.0 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 233.788 232.841 230.837 227.236 1.7 -2.4 -1.6 4.0 -1.3 -.9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 236.107 235.314 233.165 229.625 1.7 -2.4 -1.5 3.8 -1.2 -.9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.537 137.723 136.730 134.445 1.8 -2.4 -1.7 4.6 -1.3 -.7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 209.351 209.252 206.019 201.737 .5 -3.6 -2.1 3.3 -1.6 -1.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 210.341 210.283 207.049 202.922 .5 -3.5 -2.0 3.0 -1.6 -1.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.969 133.982 131.946 129.018 .5 -3.7 -2.2 3.6 -1.5 -1.5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 206.251 205.522 202.086 197.883 .7 -3.7 -2.1 3.6 -2.0 -1.7 

South urban .................................................... M 212.387 212.650 210.108 205.559 1.0 -3.3 -2.2 3.9 -1.1 -1.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 214.496 214.854 212.617 208.644 1.4 -2.9 -1.9 3.8 -.9 -1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.004 135.093 133.285 130.324 .6 -3.5 -2.2 3.6 -1.3 -1.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 214.655 215.258 213.103 206.659 2.0 -4.0 -3.0 6.2 -.7 -1.0 

West urban ..................................................... M 222.823 222.132 221.034 217.113 1.0 -2.3 -1.8 3.3 -.8 -.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 226.541 225.910 224.967 220.925 1.3 -2.2 -1.8 3.5 -.7 -.4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.207 134.834 133.795 131.440 .7 -2.5 -1.8 3.0 -1.0 -.8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 200.278 199.982 198.148 194.628 1.3 -2.7 -1.8 3.6 -1.1 -.9 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 135.315 135.160 133.587 130.857 .8 -3.2 -2.0 3.7 -1.3 -1.2 

D ................................................................. M 212.138 211.740 209.755 204.856 1.2 -3.3 -2.3 4.4 -1.1 -.9 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 215.971 215.465 213.363 209.053 .6 -3.0 -2.0 3.2 -1.2 -1.0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 228.484 227.449 226.159 222.229 1.0 -2.3 -1.7 3.4 -1.0 -.6 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 240.550 240.089 238.403 234.498 2.2 -2.3 -1.6 4.3 -.9 -.7 

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

 238.519 - 232.354 .7 -2.6 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 206.219 - 198.187 .2 -3.9 - - - -

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

 205.883 - 200.051 1.8 -2.8 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 142.036 - 138.547 2.5 -2.5 - - - -

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

Nov. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Oct.

2008

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 212.182 207.296 0.7 -2.3 -0.1 -1.2 -2.1 

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

 632.025 617.472 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 218.141 218.178 6.0 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.901 218.120 218.114 6.2 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.595 218.600 217.956 7.0 -.3 .6 .1 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.110 253.561 253.498 12.2 .0 .9 .7 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.192 210.314 209.297 5.5 -.5 .9 .6 -.7 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .965 211.808 212.184 3.1 .2 -.7 -1.1 .4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.218 283.549 281.279 5.8 -.8 -.4 -2.3 -.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.094 163.265 162.472 5.8 -.5 1.0 1.3 .1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.016 188.806 188.685 8.8 -.1 1.1 .6 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .279 189.574 190.501 7.7 .5 1.6 .6 .6 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 208.973 206.870 17.5 -1.0 1.7 .6 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.504 203.138 203.126 7.7 .0 .9 .6 .6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .438 123.026 123.837 6.9 .7 .1 1.2 .7 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.305 219.219 220.107 5.1 .4 .5 .5 .4 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .218 152.910 153.464 5.7 .4 .7 1.1 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.025 216.953 217.626 4.1 .3 .5 .4 .5 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.994 213.156 212.591 3.1 -.3 -.2 .0 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.397 240.517 240.740 2.4 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 7.979 244.624 245.425 3.4 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.233 140.763 133.747 -1.8 -5.0 .8 -1.2 -.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 20.888 230.028 230.743 2.3 .3 .2 .1 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .297 120.258 120.589 2.7 .3 1.2 .0 .3 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.637 219.325 214.700 7.3 -2.1 -2.6 -.5 -1.5 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.670 198.191 193.000 7.4 -2.6 -3.2 -.8 -1.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .323 317.012 283.747 -2.9 -10.5 -5.8 -8.5 -12.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.347 201.651 197.507 8.1 -2.1 -2.9 -.2 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .966 156.005 156.702 6.9 .4 .3 1.1 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.960 124.719 124.466 2.0 -.2 .6 .0 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .339 152.612 152.247 5.5 -.2 .5 -.2 -.2 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.998 121.957 121.149 .2 -.7 .0 -1.2 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.031 115.495 114.651 -.1 -.7 -.3 -.4 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.619 111.880 110.612 -1.4 -1.1 .4 -3.1 .5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .251 118.496 118.611 -1.1 .1 1.5 .3 .7 

Footwear .................................................................................. .821 126.352 126.689 1.6 .3 -.4 .4 .8

Transportation ............................................................................ 20.054 192.198 170.870 -10.4 -11.1 -.7 -6.0 -10.9 

Private transportation ............................................................... 19.287 188.871 167.301 -11.0 -11.4 -.7 -6.1 -11.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.952 90.530 89.783 -4.0 -.8 -1.1 -1.1 -1.1 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.172 133.351 133.380 -2.9 .0 -.8 -.5 -.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 3.103 130.444 127.540 -7.2 -2.2 -1.8 -2.4 -2.2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.940 269.639 187.770 -28.7 -30.4 -.8 -13.9 -29.1 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.597 267.580 184.855 -29.4 -30.9 -.6 -14.2 -29.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .446 132.088 133.125 8.0 .8 .6 .8 .8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.169 240.688 241.509 5.8 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .767 249.168 240.496 3.7 -3.5 -1.1 -3.3 -2.8 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.192 366.000 366.800 2.7 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.295 287.725 289.046 1.3 .5 .2 .1 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.897 388.947 389.493 3.2 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.159 315.458 315.825 3.1 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.260 537.382 539.864 5.7 .5 .6 .3 -.1 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Nov. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Oct.

2008

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.341 110.947 110.826 1.9 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.987 102.267 101.974 -.5 -.3 .2 -.6 -.1 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 5.987 121.569 121.636 3.4 .1 .0 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.377 184.091 184.115 5.8 .0 .3 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 466.885 465.576 7.0 -.3 .7 .3 .2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.174 518.726 518.938 5.7 .0 .2 .5 .4 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.609 87.226 87.300 1.7 .1 -.2 .0 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.488 85.214 85.292 1.7 .1 -.2 .0 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.869 101.436 101.564 2.7 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .619 10.375 10.367 -3.2 -.1 -1.1 -.4 -.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .228 89.690 88.631 -11.6 -1.2 -2.4 -1.1 -1.2 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.508 362.354 362.550 4.4 .1 .2 .3 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.183 602.533 602.881 7.0 .1 .1 .4 .1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.325 200.930 201.036 3.0 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .647 159.914 160.994 1.5 .7 .2 .1 .7 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .560 225.800 226.433 3.4 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .910 344.622 342.853 3.8 -.5 .5 -.1 -.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 44.745 177.906 168.926 -2.6 -5.0 -.1 -2.7 -4.9 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 218.141 218.178 6.0 .0 .6 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 28.819 155.982 143.544 -7.4 -8.0 -.5 -4.4 -7.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.315 203.762 178.209 -10.3 -12.5 -.9 -6.2 -10.8 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.998 121.957 121.149 .2 -.7 .0 -1.2 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.318 259.204 217.500 -13.5 -16.1 -1.6 -8.4 -15.4 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.504 109.782 109.038 -3.0 -.7 -.7 -.8 -.7 

Services ....................................................................................... 55.255 252.369 252.144 3.4 -.1 -.1 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.100 231.885 232.096 2.4 .1 .3 .1 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .297 120.258 120.589 2.7 .3 1.2 .0 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.347 201.651 197.507 8.1 -2.1 -2.9 -.2 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .966 156.005 156.702 6.9 .4 .3 1.1 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .339 152.612 152.247 5.5 -.2 .5 -.2 -.2 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.266 246.003 246.126 4.3 .0 .1 -.2 -.1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.897 388.947 389.493 3.2 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.042 287.898 288.082 3.4 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.099 210.949 205.214 -.3 -2.7 -.2 -1.5 -2.5 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.603 204.149 197.342 -.1 -3.3 -.2 -1.8 -3.1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.808 205.726 200.707 .6 -2.4 -.1 -1.3 -2.3 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 29.844 158.132 145.985 -7.0 -7.7 -.5 -4.2 -7.5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.341 204.734 180.533 -9.5 -11.8 -.8 -5.9 -10.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.343 254.473 216.516 -12.2 -14.9 -1.4 -7.9 -14.3 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.241 211.680 198.009 -2.5 -6.5 -.2 -3.0 -5.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 25.155 244.331 243.599 4.5 -.3 -.4 -.2 -.2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 51.358 242.316 242.058 3.4 -.1 -.1 .0 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.610 232.106 188.375 -14.3 -18.8 -1.7 -9.0 -17.8 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.390 210.649 210.541 2.7 -.1 .2 .0 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.489 209.511 209.383 2.0 -.1 .1 -.1 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.581 141.375 140.793 -.3 -.4 -.2 -.5 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.264 272.894 192.494 -27.5 -29.5 -1.1 -13.7 -28.3 

Services less energy services .................................................. 50.908 257.774 258.008 3.0 .1 .2 .1 .2 

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

 $ .471 $ .482 - - - - -

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

 $ .158 $ .162 - - - - -

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—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2008

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008 May

2008

Nov.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 215.130 214.946 212.361 207.847 3.4 5.4 8.0 -12.9 4.4 -3.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 216.195 217.401 218.005 218.417 4.6 6.0 9.6 4.2 5.3 6.8 

Food ................................................................................ 216.160 217.375 217.962 218.330 4.5 6.3 9.9 4.1 5.4 7.0 

Food at home ................................................................ 216.812 218.085 218.328 218.329 5.0 7.8 12.6 2.8 6.4 7.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.930 252.230 254.031 254.580 12.6 18.7 10.1 7.7 15.6 8.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 207.265 209.114 210.380 208.935 1.9 4.7 12.5 3.3 3.3 7.8 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 214.768 213.317 211.048 211.860 2.6 .5 15.5 -5.3 1.6 4.6 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 289.447 288.190 281.464 280.614 .7 10.1 28.6 -11.7 5.3 6.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 159.322 160.916 163.076 163.225 5.6 2.6 4.9 10.2 4.1 7.5 

Other food at home ..................................................... 185.692 187.670 188.794 189.849 7.2 10.5 8.4 9.3 8.8 8.8

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 186.049 189.095 190.215 191.433 4.2 10.6 4.3 12.1 7.3 8.1 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 203.666 207.065 208.358 208.546 15.7 21.8 22.9 9.9 18.7 16.3 

Other foods ............................................................... 200.172 201.892 203.095 204.360 6.4 8.8 6.9 8.6 7.6 7.8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.443 121.589 123.026 123.837 10.9 1.4 7.6 8.1 6.0 7.8 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 217.002 218.147 219.219 220.107 3.9 4.2 6.3 5.8 4.1 6.1 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 150.301 151.321 152.910 153.464 4.7 4.4 4.9 8.7 4.6 6.8 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 215.219 216.292 217.149 218.182 5.0 1.9 4.1 5.6 3.5 4.8 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.851 213.496 213.543 213.408 2.8 5.7 4.6 -.8 4.2 1.9 

Shelter ............................................................................. 239.715 240.297 240.616 241.193 2.5 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.4 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 243.215 243.875 244.675 245.342 3.4 2.9 3.9 3.5 3.2 3.7 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 142.928 144.035 142.329 141.362 -1.7 -2.3 -.2 -4.3 -2.0 -2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 229.239 229.663 229.991 230.644 2.7 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.4 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 118.894 120.279 120.258 120.589 1.9 2.4 .9 5.8 2.1 3.4 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 228.472 222.522 221.400 218.105 6.0 29.4 17.1 -17.0 17.1 -1.4 

Household energy ......................................................... 208.571 202.000 200.368 196.628 6.2 35.0 18.4 -21.0 19.7 -3.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 371.762 350.353 320.577 279.760 20.8 101.8 13.9 -67.9 56.1 -39.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 210.473 204.284 203.862 201.644 4.8 30.9 18.8 -15.8 17.1 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 154.174 154.652 156.289 156.953 5.5 4.1 10.5 7.4 4.8 8.9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 124.141 124.860 124.842 124.587 .6 2.5 3.5 1.4 1.5 2.5 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.083 152.850 152.612 152.247 4.4 11.4 6.2 .4 7.8 3.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.050 120.102 118.614 118.864 2.5 -4.8 7.6 -3.9 -1.3 1.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.971 113.679 113.184 112.252 8.7 -1.5 -1.3 -5.9 3.5 -3.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.267 110.689 107.308 107.834 -3.0 -12.3 21.4 -8.5 -7.7 5.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.771 115.496 115.890 116.742 1.7 -6.9 -8.8 10.9 -2.7 .6 

Footwear ......................................................................... 124.021 123.558 124.008 125.026 .9 2.5 -.1 3.3 1.7 1.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 207.328 205.872 193.620 172.496 4.2 8.9 17.4 -52.1 6.5 -25.0 

Private transportation ...................................................... 203.988 202.585 190.310 168.891 4.2 8.5 17.2 -53.0 6.3 -25.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 92.659 91.646 90.675 89.665 -.4 -1.8 -1.0 -12.3 -1.1 -6.8 

New vehicles ............................................................... 135.721 134.684 133.947 133.188 -2.4 -1.3 -.5 -7.3 -1.8 -4.0 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 136.186 133.669 130.444 127.540 1.9 -2.7 -2.8 -23.1 -.5 -13.5 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 321.941 319.245 274.761 194.879 8.2 23.2 44.6 -86.6 15.5 -55.9 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 319.790 317.912 272.741 191.944 8.0 21.9 44.9 -87.0 14.8 -56.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 130.228 131.072 132.088 133.125 6.4 4.9 11.5 9.2 5.7 10.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 238.826 239.756 240.510 241.219 5.5 5.8 7.9 4.1 5.6 6.0 

Public transportation ....................................................... 261.046 258.294 249.715 242.846 4.5 19.7 23.3 -25.1 11.8 -3.9 

Medical care ...................................................................... 364.964 366.132 366.635 367.415 4.0 1.7 2.3 2.7 2.9 2.5 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 286.645 287.227 287.613 289.320 3.6 -2.5 .3 3.8 .5 2.0 

Medical care services ..................................................... 387.963 389.352 389.891 390.239 4.2 3.2 3.0 2.4 3.7 2.7 

Professional services .................................................... 315.066 315.757 316.135 316.915 3.0 3.8 3.3 2.4 3.4 2.8 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 534.373 537.382 539.145 538.389 9.0 5.1 5.6 3.0 7.1 4.3 

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—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2008

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008 May

2008

Nov.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.748 110.998 111.021 110.958 1.5 0.8 4.4 0.8 1.2 2.6 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.685 102.922 102.257 102.168 1.7 -2.5 1.0 -2.0 -.4 -.5 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 120.740 120.747 121.001 121.229 2.6 4.0 5.2 1.6 3.3 3.4 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 180.563 181.030 181.968 182.592 5.7 6.0 6.9 4.6 5.9 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 461.173 464.432 465.921 466.752 3.0 6.6 13.9 4.9 4.8 9.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 508.443 509.542 512.277 514.115 6.0 6.0 6.3 4.5 6.0 5.4 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.369 87.225 87.228 87.301 .5 2.7 4.1 -.3 1.6 1.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.355 85.208 85.214 85.292 .5 2.5 4.1 -.3 1.5 1.9 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.339 101.350 101.436 101.564 .2 4.1 5.7 .9 2.2 3.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.525 10.414 10.375 10.367 1.7 -4.9 -3.6 -5.9 -1.7 -4.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 92.931 90.722 89.690 88.631 1.3 -13.5 -15.8 -17.3 -6.4 -16.5 

Other goods and services ................................................. 360.634 361.459 362.487 362.769 4.7 5.2 5.1 2.4 5.0 3.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 599.823 600.293 602.533 602.881 10.3 4.2 11.8 2.1 7.2 6.8 

Personal care .................................................................. 199.951 200.567 201.043 201.221 2.1 5.7 1.8 2.6 3.9 2.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.345 159.730 159.914 160.994 -1.8 2.9 .9 4.2 .5 2.5 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 224.464 224.910 225.800 226.433 4.5 4.8 1.0 3.6 4.6 2.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.214 345.068 344.743 343.275 5.2 7.0 3.1 .1 6.1 1.6 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 183.312 183.072 178.054 169.415 3.8 5.7 11.7 -27.0 4.8 -9.7 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 216.195 217.401 218.005 218.417 4.6 6.0 9.6 4.2 5.3 6.8 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 164.264 163.433 156.243 144.123 3.3 5.6 12.8 -40.7 4.4 -18.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 218.408 216.425 202.998 180.978 5.5 12.0 16.2 -52.9 8.7 -26.0 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.050 120.102 118.614 118.864 2.5 -4.8 7.6 -3.9 -1.3 1.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 287.973 283.308 259.494 219.482 10.8 19.2 25.7 -66.3 14.9 -34.9 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.513 110.738 109.905 109.094 -.4 -2.1 -.9 -8.4 -1.3 -4.7 

Services .............................................................................. 252.502 252.363 252.575 252.756 3.0 5.1 5.0 .4 4.1 2.7 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 231.020 231.740 232.006 232.713 2.4 1.9 2.3 3.0 2.2 2.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 118.894 120.279 120.258 120.589 1.9 2.4 .9 5.8 2.1 3.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 210.473 204.284 203.862 201.644 4.8 30.9 18.8 -15.8 17.1 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 154.174 154.652 156.289 156.953 5.5 4.1 10.5 7.4 4.8 8.9 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.083 152.850 152.612 152.247 4.4 11.4 6.2 .4 7.8 3.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 246.033 246.228 245.773 245.541 3.8 5.8 8.9 -.8 4.8 3.9 

Medical care services ....................................................... 387.963 389.352 389.891 390.239 4.2 3.2 3.0 2.4 3.7 2.7 

Other services ................................................................... 286.423 286.893 287.198 287.677 2.9 4.2 4.9 1.8 3.6 3.3 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 214.752 214.323 211.186 205.823 3.1 5.2 7.6 -15.6 4.2 -4.7 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 208.500 208.034 204.359 197.934 3.8 6.8 10.4 -18.8 5.3 -5.3 

All items less medical care .................................................. 208.771 208.547 205.889 201.251 3.3 5.6 8.3 -13.6 4.4 -3.3 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 166.189 165.404 158.393 146.565 3.3 5.4 12.5 -39.5 4.4 -17.5 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 218.543 216.742 204.058 183.159 5.6 11.6 15.4 -50.7 8.6 -24.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 280.555 276.627 254.725 218.302 10.4 18.3 23.9 -63.3 14.3 -32.6 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 218.559 218.036 211.430 199.682 4.8 10.3 12.3 -30.3 7.5 -11.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 245.949 244.940 244.551 244.011 3.5 9.3 8.9 -3.1 6.4 2.7 

Services less medical care services ................................... 242.706 242.484 242.544 242.606 2.8 5.4 5.6 -.2 4.1 2.7 

Energy ................................................................................. 263.479 258.926 235.743 193.718 7.7 27.7 33.8 -70.8 17.3 -37.5 

All items less energy ........................................................... 210.097 210.452 210.401 210.502 2.8 2.5 4.6 .8 2.7 2.6 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 209.244 209.425 209.245 209.292 2.4 1.8 3.5 .1 2.1 1.8 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 141.896 141.581 140.817 140.339 1.4 -1.0 2.8 -4.3 .2 -.8 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 325.564 322.124 277.981 199.208 9.2 25.9 43.1 -86.0 17.3 -55.2 

Services less energy services ......................................... 256.890 257.459 257.744 258.206 2.9 3.1 3.8 2.1 3.0 2.9 

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

Nov.2008 from—

Percent change to

Oct.2008 from—

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Oct.

2007

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 215.247 214.935 212.182 207.296 0.7 -3.6 -2.3 3.8 -1.4 -1.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 230.790 229.949 227.762 223.741 1.8 -2.7 -1.8 4.4 -1.3 -1.0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 231.465 230.579 228.437 224.621 1.8 -2.6 -1.7 4.2 -1.3 -.9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.329 138.881 137.489 134.757 1.7 -3.0 -2.0 4.9 -1.3 -1.0 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 205.121 205.023 201.236 196.346 .1 -4.2 -2.4 3.5 -1.9 -1.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.989 205.002 201.323 196.770 .2 -4.0 -2.3 3.3 -1.8 -1.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.236 134.215 131.699 128.186 .0 -4.5 -2.7 3.8 -1.9 -1.9 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.812 204.064 200.017 195.114 .1 -4.4 -2.5 3.6 -2.3 -2.0 

South urban .................................................... M 210.362 210.572 207.312 201.821 .5 -4.2 -2.6 4.0 -1.4 -1.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.439 213.579 210.663 205.753 .9 -3.7 -2.3 3.8 -1.3 -1.4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.179 134.285 132.017 128.504 .1 -4.3 -2.7 3.7 -1.6 -1.7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 216.031 216.762 213.696 205.777 1.4 -5.1 -3.7 6.3 -1.1 -1.4 

West urban ..................................................... M 217.854 217.028 215.499 210.870 .6 -2.8 -2.1 3.5 -1.1 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 219.827 219.169 217.714 213.143 .9 -2.7 -2.1 3.7 -1.0 -.7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.464 134.873 133.694 130.684 .3 -3.1 -2.3 3.3 -1.3 -.9 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 199.187 198.842 196.590 192.508 1.0 -3.2 -2.1 3.8 -1.3 -1.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 135.138 135.003 133.026 129.723 .4 -3.9 -2.5 3.8 -1.6 -1.5 

D ................................................................. M 211.233 210.844 208.028 202.041 .5 -4.2 -2.9 4.4 -1.5 -1.3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 209.435 209.084 206.772 202.022 .6 -3.4 -2.3 3.6 -1.3 -1.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 221.230 220.285 218.726 214.083 .6 -2.8 -2.1 3.5 -1.1 -.7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 235.510 234.703 232.778 228.727 2.2 -2.5 -1.7 4.6 -1.2 -.8 

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

 238.133 - 231.854 .6 -2.6 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 197.260 - 188.860 .2 -4.3 - - - -

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

 209.666 - 201.479 1.5 -3.9 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 141.679 - 137.700 2.1 -2.8 - - - -

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

 Nov. 2008 from—

 Oct.

 2008

 Nov.

 2008

 Nov.

 2007

 Oct.

 2008

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 124.784 122.284 0.7 -2.0

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 128.468 128.500 5.8 .0 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 128.694 128.705 5.9 .0 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 126.691 126.365 6.8 -.3 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 131.377 131.821 4.8 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 126.005 126.301 3.9 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 129.104 128.534 2.5 -.4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 130.711 130.457 2.1 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 162.945 159.272 6.8 -2.3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 96.520 96.317 1.0 -.2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 90.870 90.265 -.1 -.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 127.716 115.537 -8.9 -9.5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 128.137 115.410 -9.7 -9.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 123.975 119.644 4.0 -3.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 142.298 142.633 2.5 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 125.280 125.920 1.3 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 148.686 148.889 3.0 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 106.180 105.962 .9 -.2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.190 109.242 3.1 .0 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 172.818 172.872 5.6 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.066 74.111 1.0 .1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 129.805 126.818 1.3 -2.3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 133.507 132.999 2.9 -.4 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 113.919 109.089 -2.4 -4.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 81.889 81.481 -3.2 -.5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 130.954 123.506 -2.0 -5.7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 118.058 117.730 1.6 -.3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 197.346 160.638 -13.8 -18.6

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.