News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-05-687 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, April 20, 2005 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2005 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in March, before seasonal 

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The March level of 193.3 

(1982-84=100) was 3.1 percent higher than in March 2004. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.7 percent in 

March, prior to seasonal adjustment. The March level of 188.6 was 3.1 percent higher than in March 2004. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.7 percent in March on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The March level of 112.5 (December 1999=100) was 2.6 percent higher than in March 

2004. Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.6 percent in March, following an increase of 0.4 percent in 

February. Energy costs advanced sharply for the second consecutive month--up 4.0 percent in March. Within energy, 

the index for petroleum-based energy increased 7.8 percent, while the index for energy services decreased 0.3 percent. 

The index for food rose 0.2 percent, as the index for food at home turned up in March after registering declines in each 

of the preceding three months. The index for all items less food and energy, which rose 0.3 percent in February, 

increased 0.4 percent in March. An upturn in the index for apparel and a larger increase in the index for lodging while 

away from home accounted for the larger advance in March. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’05 Mar. ’05

All Items .2 .6 .3 .0 .1 .4 .6 4.3 3.1

 Food and beverages .0 .5 .3 .0 .1 .1 .2 1.5 2.5 

 Housing .3 .2 .3 .2 .1 .4 .5 3.8 3.3 

 Apparel .0 .0 .2 -.4 .3 -.2 .8 3.4 .0 

 Transportation .2 2.1 .2 -.7 -.2 .8 1.9 10.3 5.2 

 Medical care .3 .4 .3 .3 .4 .6 .5 6.0 4.3 

 Recreation .2 .1 .1 .0 .1 -.2 .0 -.4 .2 

 Education and 

 communication .4 -.2 .4 .1 .1 .3 .2 2.2 1.4 

 Other goods and 

 services .2 .2 .1 .4 .4 .3 .1 3.3 2.7 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy -.3 4.0 1.0 -1.3 -1.1 2.0 4.0 21.1 12.4 

 Food -.1 .6 .3 .0 .1 .1 .2 1.3 2.5 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .4 3.3 2.3 
For the first three months of 2005, consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR) of 4.3 percent. This compares with an increase of 3.3 percent for all of 2004. The index for energy, 

which rose 16.6 percent in 2004, advanced at a 21.1 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2005 and accounted 

for about three-eights of the first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U. Petroleum-based energy costs 

increased at a 39.6 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 2.3 percent annual rate. The 

food index rose at a 1.3 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2005. The index for grocery store food prices 

decreased at a 0.8 percent annual rate, reflecting a decline in the index for fruits and vegetables--down at an 

annual rate of 21.1 percent. 

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 3.3 percent SAAR in the first quarter, following 

a 2.2 percent rise in all of 2004. While most categories advanced at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2005 

than in all of 2004, about 70 percent of the acceleration was accounted for by a larger increase in the index for 

shelter--up at a 4.4 percent SAAR in the first quarter after increasing 2.7 percent in all of 2004. An upturn in 

the index for apparel and a larger increase in the index for medical care also contributed to the acceleration in 

the first quarter of 2005. The annual rates for selected groups for the last seven and one-quarter years are 

shown below. 

 Percentage change 12 months SAAR 3 

 ended in December mos. 

ended 

 in March 

 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

All items 1.6 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 1.9 3.3 4.3

 Food and beverages 2.3 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.5 2.6 1.5

 Housing 2.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.0 3.8

 Apparel -.7 -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 -.2 3.4

 Transportation -1.7 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 .3 6.5 10.3

 Medical care 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.7 4.2 6.0

 Recreation 1.2 .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.1 .7 -.4

 Education and 

 communication .7 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.2

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

 

Special indexes 

 Energy -8.8 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 6.9 16.6 21.1

 Energy commodities -15.1 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 6.9 26.7 39.6

 Energy services -3.3 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 6.9 6.8 2.3

 All items less energy 2.4 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.9

 Food 2.3 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.6 2.7 1.3

 All items less 

 food and energy 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.2 3.3
The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in March. The index for food at home, which had 

declined in each of the preceding three months, advanced 0.2 percent in March. The indexes for nonalcoholic 

beverages, for dairy products, and for other food at home, each of which had declined in February, turned up 

in March, accounting for 95 percent of the acceleration in the food at home index. Also contributing to the 

upturn were a smaller decline in the index for fruits and vegetables and a larger increase in the index for cereal 

and bakery products. Partially offsetting these changes was a smaller increase in the index for meats, poultry, 

fish, and eggs. Within the latter group, poultry and beef prices rose 1.6 and 0.7 percent, respectively, while 

the indexes for pork and for fish and seafood declined 0.8 and 0.4 percent, respectively. The index for eggs, 

which rose 3.0 percent in February, declined 4.5 percent in March. The index for fruits and vegetables 

declined 0.5 percent in March, its fourth consecutive monthly decline. The indexes for fresh fruits and for 

processed fruits and vegetables declined 2.6 and 0.2 percent, respectively, while the index for fresh vegetables 

increased 1.6 percent. The index for milk, which declined 1.0 percent in February, rose 1.3 percent in March, 

accounting for the upturn in the index for dairy products. The index for cereals and bakery products 

increased 0.2 percent in March, following a 0.1 percent rise in February. The other two components of the 

food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, 

respectively. 

The index for housing rose 0.5 percent in March. Shelter costs, which rose 0.3 percent in February, 

increased 0.6 percent in March, largely as a result of a 3.9 percent advance in the index for lodging away from 

home. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home rose 7.3 percent.) The indexes 

for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. The index for fuels and 

utilities rose 0.1 percent, following a 0.8 percent increase in February. The index for fuel oil increased 5.9 

percent, while the index for gas and electricity declined 0.3 percent. A 1.7 percent decrease in the index for 

natural gas more than offset a 0.4 percent increase in the index for electricity. The index for household 

furnishings and operations was unchanged in March. 

The transportation index rose 1.9 percent in March, largely as a result of a 7.9 percent increase in the 

index for gasoline. As of March, the price of gasoline was 4.2 percent higher than its previous peak level of 

June 2004. The index for new vehicles turned down in March, declining 0.4 percent, its first decrease in six 

months. During the last 12 months, new vehicle prices have risen 0.9 percent. The index for used cars and 

trucks rose 0.1 percent in March to a level 5.0 percent above March 2004. The index for public transportation 

increased 1.3 percent in March, reflecting increases in the indexes for airline fares and for intracity 

transportation. Airline fares registered their second consecutive advance, up 2.7 percent in March, but are 1.4 

percent lower than a year ago. 

The index for apparel increased 0.8 percent in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices 

rose 4.0 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of spring-summer wear. Prices for women’s and girls’ 

apparel registered the largest advance--up 7.1 percent.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.5 percent in March to a level 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index 

for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was virtually 

unchanged in March. The index for medical care services rose 0.6 percent in March. Charges for professional 

services and for hospital and related services increased 0.4 and 0.7 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation was unchanged in March. Increases in the indexes for cable and satellite 

television and radio service, for admissions to sporting events, for recreational reading materials, and for pets, 

pet products and services were offset by declines in the indexes for club membership dues and fees for 

participant sports, for toys, and for sporting goods. 

The index for education and communication increased 0.2 percent in March. The education index rose 

0.5 percent, while the index for communication costs declined 0.2 percent. Within the latter group, the index 

for telephone services decreased 0.1 percent, as a decline in long distance charges, both land line and wireless, 

more than offset an increase in local telephone charges. The index for personal computers and peripheral 

equipment declined 0.7 percent in March and 15.2 percent during the last 12 months. 

The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in March. The indexes for tobacco and 

smoking products and for personal care each increased 0.1 percent. The index for miscellaneous personal 
services rose 0.2 percent, reflecting a 0.4 percent increase in financial services associated with tax return 

preparation and other accounting fees. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.6 

percent in March. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’05 Mar. ’05

All Items .2 .6 .3 -.1 .1 .4 .6 4.4 3.1

 Food and beverages -.1 .5 .3 .0 .1 .1 .2 1.3 2.5 

 Housing .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .4 .3 3.5 3.1 

 Apparel .1 .0 .2 -.3 .5 -.1 .5 3.7 .1 

 Transportation .4 2.2 .1 -.5 -.3 .8 2.1 10.6 5.7 

 Medical care .4 .3 .3 .3 .3 .6 .4 5.7 4.4 

 Recreation .1 .1 .1 -.1 .2 -.2 .0 .0 .0 

 Education and 

 communication .4 -.3 .3 .1 .1 .3 .1 1.8 .8 

 Other goods and 

 services .2 .1 .2 .4 .5 .4 .0 3.7 2.8 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy -.3 4.2 .7 -1.3 -1.3 2.0 4.4 22.0 12.5 

 Food -.1 .6 .3 .0 .1 .1 .2 1.3 2.6 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 2.7 2.2 

Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at 8:30 

A.M. (EDT). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired 

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

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

data, call (202) 691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7 

Less previous index 111.2 

Equals index point change 4.5 

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5 

Divided by the previous index 111.2 

Equals 0.040 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100 

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

for seasonal variation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adjusted for 2005. 

Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years 

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

 For the fuel oil, utility (piped) gas, motor fuels, and educational books and supplies indexes, this 

procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates 

of seasonally adjusted data for those series. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Feb.

2005

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 191.8 193.3 3.1 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.6 

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

 574.5 579.0 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 189.3 189.6 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.295 188.8 189.1 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.183 188.0 188.1 2.1 .1 -.2 -.2 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.185 208.4 208.5 1.8 .0 .1 .1 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.272 183.9 184.3 2.7 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .849 181.8 181.4 5.5 -.2 2.2 -.8 .2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.276 234.8 233.7 1.6 -.5 -4.6 -.7 -.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .884 142.5 143.6 2.0 .8 .4 -.1 1.0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.716 165.3 165.7 .4 .2 .8 -.2 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .296 164.2 162.6 -.4 -1.0 -.2 .5 -.9 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .258 169.3 167.0 .5 -1.4 .6 -.9 -1.3 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.163 179.7 181.3 .5 .9 1.1 -.3 .9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .301 110.3 111.9 .2 1.5 -.6 .2 1.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.113 191.4 191.7 3.2 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 128.7 129.4 4.3 .5 .5 .9 .5 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ .996 195.2 195.7 2.6 .3 .2 .5 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.993 192.7 194.1 3.3 .7 .1 .4 .5 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.686 222.5 224.4 3.0 .9 .2 .3 .6 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.133 215.0 215.5 3.0 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 3.008 128.9 138.3 8.0 7.3 -.7 1.1 3.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.158 228.4 228.7 2.4 .1 .3 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .387 118.7 119.0 3.4 .3 -.2 .2 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.951 166.4 166.7 7.4 .2 -.1 .8 .1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.021 148.1 148.4 7.8 .2 -.3 .8 .1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .300 188.5 195.5 28.2 3.7 -4.9 1.4 4.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.722 152.9 152.7 6.4 -.1 .1 .8 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .930 128.5 128.9 5.5 .3 .9 .6 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.355 126.1 126.1 .3 .0 .1 -.2 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .707 128.6 128.3 3.8 -.2 .7 .5 -.2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.841 118.7 123.5 .0 4.0 .3 -.2 .8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .977 116.3 119.6 -.2 2.8 1.0 -.2 .4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.638 109.3 117.1 -.4 7.1 -.4 -.6 2.0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .188 118.1 119.0 -2.4 .8 1.1 -.7 -1.3 

Footwear ................................................................................ .765 121.1 122.8 2.2 1.4 1.4 .8 -.9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.414 166.1 168.8 5.2 1.6 -.2 .8 1.9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.385 162.6 165.2 5.5 1.6 -.2 .8 2.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.744 95.9 95.6 1.5 -.3 .4 .1 -.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.692 139.9 139.1 .9 -.6 .7 .1 -.4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.037 137.6 137.7 5.0 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.969 164.3 175.9 16.9 7.1 -2.0 3.2 8.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.934 163.4 175.0 16.8 7.1 -2.1 3.2 7.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .364 110.9 110.9 2.9 .0 .6 .3 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.341 203.9 204.7 3.1 .4 .4 -.1 .6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.029 205.9 210.1 .1 2.0 -.8 .0 1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.132 319.3 320.7 4.3 .4 .4 .6 .5 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.484 272.8 273.2 2.2 .1 .3 .4 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.649 332.5 334.3 5.0 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.767 278.6 279.7 3.7 .4 .3 .7 .4 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.516 434.7 437.3 5.7 .6 .5 .7 .7 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Feb.

2005

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.733 109.0 109.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.691 104.3 104.6 .3 .3 -.2 -.5 .5 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.846 112.8 112.7 1.4 -.1 .1 .3 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.931 149.2 149.3 6.2 .1 .3 .5 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .220 359.9 360.6 3.4 .2 -.5 .0 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.712 430.6 430.9 6.5 .1 .3 .5 .6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 2.914 85.4 85.2 -2.9 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.737 83.3 83.1 -3.0 -.2 -.1 .1 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.187 95.1 95.0 -1.8 -.1 .0 .3 -.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .550 14.0 14.0 -7.9 .0 .0 -1.4 .0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .192 13.5 13.4 -15.2 -.7 .7 -3.6 -.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.750 310.8 311.2 2.7 .1 .4 .3 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .804 496.1 496.6 4.9 .1 1.9 .4 .1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.946 184.4 184.7 2.1 .2 -.1 .3 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .658 153.9 153.0 -1.0 -.6 -.2 .5 -.6 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .652 202.9 203.3 3.8 .2 .3 .5 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.454 299.8 300.8 3.2 .3 .0 .1 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.239 156.5 158.2 2.9 1.1 .0 .4 .9 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 189.3 189.6 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.948 138.1 140.4 3.2 1.7 -.1 .5 1.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.980 158.6 163.7 5.4 3.2 -1.2 .3 1.7 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.841 118.7 123.5 .0 4.0 .3 -.2 .8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.139 187.3 192.7 7.6 2.9 -1.3 1.8 3.2 

Durables ................................................................................. 10.967 116.0 115.7 .5 -.3 .3 .1 -.3 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.761 226.8 228.0 3.2 .5 .2 .3 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.300 231.7 233.7 3.0 .9 .2 .4 .6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .387 118.7 119.0 3.4 .3 -.2 .2 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.722 152.9 152.7 6.4 -.1 .1 .8 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .930 128.5 128.9 5.5 .3 .9 .6 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .707 128.6 128.3 3.8 -.2 .7 .5 -.2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.235 222.4 223.3 1.6 .4 .0 .0 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.649 332.5 334.3 5.0 .5 .4 .6 .6 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.833 265.8 266.1 2.5 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.705 192.3 194.0 3.2 .9 .1 .4 .7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.314 181.9 183.2 3.2 .7 .1 .3 .7 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.868 185.3 186.8 3.0 .8 .1 .3 .6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.943 140.2 142.5 3.3 1.6 -.1 .6 1.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.976 160.8 165.6 5.1 3.0 -1.2 .4 1.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.135 187.2 192.1 7.1 2.6 -1.2 1.8 3.0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.271 174.2 177.0 3.9 1.6 -.5 .2 .9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.462 238.0 238.5 3.4 .2 .1 .1 .3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.113 218.0 219.2 3.1 .6 .2 .3 .4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.991 155.2 160.8 12.4 3.6 -1.1 2.0 4.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.009 197.3 198.3 2.4 .5 .2 .2 .4 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.714 199.5 200.7 2.3 .6 .2 .3 .4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 21.674 140.3 141.1 .6 .6 .3 .0 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.269 166.6 178.0 17.6 6.8 -2.2 3.1 7.8 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.040 234.3 235.7 3.0 .6 .2 .3 .5 

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

 $ .521 $ .517 - - - - -

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

 $ .174 $ .173 - - - - -

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

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

4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2004

Sep.

2004

Dec.

2004

Mar.

2005

Sep.

2004

Mar.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 191.2 191.3 192.0 193.2 4.3 0.6 3.4 4.3 2.5 3.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.9 189.1 189.2 189.6 4.6 1.1 3.2 1.5 2.8 2.4 

Food ....................................................................................... 188.4 188.6 188.7 189.0 4.6 .9 3.5 1.3 2.7 2.4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 188.4 188.0 187.7 188.0 6.2 -1.5 4.6 -.8 2.3 1.8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 207.8 208.0 208.2 208.7 1.6 1.4 2.3 1.7 1.5 2.0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 183.2 183.5 184.0 184.4 6.4 1.5 .4 2.6 3.9 1.5 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 179.2 183.1 181.6 181.9 48.5 -18.2 -3.7 6.2 10.2 1.1

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 247.3 235.9 234.2 233.1 -2.6 1.9 36.0 -21.1 -.3 3.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 141.2 141.7 141.5 142.9 -.6 2.3 1.4 4.9 .9 3.2 

Other food at home ............................................................ 164.2 165.5 165.1 165.5 2.2 -1.9 -2.2 3.2 .1 .5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.9 162.5 163.3 161.9 -.2 2.0 -1.2 -2.4 .9 -1.8 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 169.3 170.3 168.8 166.6 15.3 -4.6 -1.2 -6.2 4.9 -3.7 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 178.3 180.3 179.7 181.3 .2 -2.4 -2.4 6.9 -1.1 2.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.8 110.1 110.3 111.9 -2.8 -1.4 1.1 4.0 -2.1 2.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 189.9 190.8 191.4 191.7 2.6 4.1 2.1 3.8 3.4 3.0 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 126.9 127.5 128.7 129.4 2.9 2.3 3.5 8.1 2.6 5.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 193.9 194.3 195.2 195.7 3.4 2.1 1.0 3.8 2.7 2.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 192.1 192.3 193.0 193.9 3.7 2.6 3.0 3.8 3.1 3.4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 221.3 221.7 222.4 223.7 3.4 2.6 1.8 4.4 3.0 3.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 213.7 214.3 214.8 215.3 3.5 3.1 2.3 3.0 3.3 2.7 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 128.7 127.8 129.2 134.3 4.6 7.9 1.6 18.6 6.2 9.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 227.0 227.6 228.1 228.7 3.1 2.0 1.6 3.0 2.5 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 118.7 118.5 118.7 119.0 3.9 1.4 7.4 1.0 2.6 4.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 167.7 167.6 168.9 169.0 11.7 3.8 10.9 3.1 7.6 7.0 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 150.1 149.7 150.9 151.0 13.2 3.4 12.6 2.4 8.2 7.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 185.2 176.1 178.6 186.9 22.9 37.4 54.2 3.7 29.9 26.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 155.3 155.4 156.7 156.2 12.5 1.1 10.1 2.3 6.6 6.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 126.5 127.7 128.5 128.7 6.0 5.9 2.9 7.1 6.0 5.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 126.0 126.1 125.9 125.9 -.3 -.6 2.6 -.3 -.5 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 127.0 127.9 128.6 128.3 3.6 4.6 2.9 4.2 4.1 3.5 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.9 120.3 120.0 120.9 .7 -3.3 -.7 3.4 -1.3 1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 116.4 117.6 117.4 117.9 1.0 -5.3 -1.4 5.3 -2.2 1.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.9 111.5 110.8 113.0 1.1 -6.2 -.4 4.0 -2.6 1.8

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 118.1 119.4 118.6 117.1 -6.2 1.0 -1.0 -3.3 -2.6 -2.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ 120.3 122.0 123.0 121.9 -.7 6.5 -2.0 5.4 2.9 1.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 165.6 165.3 166.6 169.7 9.5 -4.8 6.5 10.3 2.1 8.4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 162.0 161.7 163.0 166.2 10.3 -4.4 6.4 10.8 2.7 8.6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.0 95.4 95.5 95.4 -.4 2.6 2.6 1.7 1.1 2.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.8 138.8 139.0 138.5 .9 -4.3 5.1 2.0 -1.7 3.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 137.3 137.5 137.6 137.7 -1.8 19.3 2.4 1.2 8.2 1.8 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 165.7 162.4 167.6 181.0 45.1 -23.3 17.7 42.4 5.5 29.4 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 165.0 161.6 166.8 180.0 45.7 -23.4 17.7 41.6 5.7 29.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 109.9 110.6 110.9 110.9 1.5 4.1 2.2 3.7 2.8 2.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 203.0 203.8 203.5 204.7 2.9 2.0 4.2 3.4 2.4 3.8 

Public transportation ............................................................... 209.5 207.9 208.0 210.8 -3.7 -5.5 8.0 2.5 -4.6 5.2 

Medical care ............................................................................. 315.6 316.9 318.7 320.2 3.8 3.8 3.8 6.0 3.8 4.9 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 271.2 272.1 273.1 273.2 2.9 2.2 .7 3.0 2.6 1.9 

Medical care services ............................................................. 328.1 329.5 331.5 333.6 4.1 4.3 4.8 6.9 4.2 5.8 

Professional services ........................................................... 275.5 276.2 278.0 279.2 3.2 3.7 2.7 5.5 3.4 4.1

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 427.7 429.7 432.6 435.5 5.6 3.3 6.1 7.5 4.5 6.8 

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—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2004

Sep.

2004

Dec.

2004

Mar.

2005

Sep.

2004

Mar.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.9 109.0 108.8 108.8 0.7 -0.4 0.7 -0.4 0.2 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.5 104.3 103.8 104.3 .8 .4 .8 -.8 .6 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 112.3 112.4 112.7 112.9 1.1 1.8 1.1 2.2 1.4 1.6 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 147.9 148.3 149.0 149.8 6.7 6.9 6.2 5.2 6.8 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 358.9 357.1 357.0 358.5 4.7 1.7 7.8 -.4 3.2 3.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 426.6 428.0 430.2 432.6 6.7 7.5 5.9 5.7 7.1 5.8 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 85.4 85.4 85.4 85.2 -4.0 -2.7 -3.7 -.9 -3.4 -2.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 83.3 83.2 83.3 83.1 -4.6 -2.8 -3.8 -1.0 -3.7 -2.4 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 94.8 94.8 95.1 95.0 -3.7 -2.1 -2.1 .8 -2.9 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 14.2 14.2 14.0 14.0 -7.7 -5.3 -12.9 -5.5 -6.5 -9.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 13.9 14.0 13.5 13.4 -7.4 -12.3 -26.3 -13.6 -9.9 -20.2 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 308.5 309.6 310.6 311.0 1.7 3.2 2.8 3.3 2.5 3.0

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 484.8 493.9 496.1 496.6 2.0 5.9 1.6 10.1 4.0 5.8 

Personal care ......................................................................... 183.8 183.7 184.3 184.5 1.6 2.4 3.1 1.5 2.0 2.3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.4 153.1 153.9 153.0 -1.8 -.8 -.3 -1.0 -1.3 -.7 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 201.2 201.9 202.9 203.3 2.3 4.5 4.3 4.2 3.4 4.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 298.8 298.8 299.2 299.9 3.5 3.7 3.7 1.5 3.6 2.6 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 156.2 156.2 156.8 158.2 5.9 -2.5 3.7 5.2 1.6 4.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.9 189.1 189.2 189.6 4.6 1.1 3.2 1.5 2.8 2.4 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 137.9 137.8 138.5 140.4 6.3 -4.6 4.2 7.5 .7 5.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 161.4 159.4 159.9 162.6 11.6 -5.7 13.7 3.0 2.6 8.2 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.9 120.3 120.0 120.9 .7 -3.3 -.7 3.4 -1.3 1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 187.6 185.2 188.5 194.6 17.1 -9.6 9.0 15.8 2.9 12.3 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.3 115.7 115.8 115.5 -1.0 .3 2.5 .7 -.3 1.6 

Services ...................................................................................... 225.7 226.2 226.9 227.9 3.5 2.7 2.7 4.0 3.1 3.3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 230.4 230.8 231.7 233.0 3.2 2.5 1.8 4.6 2.8 3.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 118.7 118.5 118.7 119.0 3.9 1.4 7.4 1.0 2.6 4.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 155.3 155.4 156.7 156.2 12.5 1.1 10.1 2.3 6.6 6.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 126.5 127.7 128.5 128.7 6.0 5.9 2.9 7.1 6.0 5.0 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 127.0 127.9 128.6 128.3 3.6 4.6 2.9 4.2 4.1 3.5 

Transportation services ............................................................ 222.2 222.3 222.3 223.1 1.1 1.6 2.4 1.6 1.4 2.0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 328.1 329.5 331.5 333.6 4.1 4.3 4.8 6.9 4.2 5.8 

Other services .......................................................................... 264.5 265.0 265.5 266.0 2.2 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 191.6 191.8 192.5 193.9 4.3 .6 3.2 4.9 2.5 4.0 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 181.5 181.6 182.2 183.4 4.8 -.4 4.1 4.3 2.1 4.2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 184.8 184.9 185.5 186.7 4.3 .4 3.3 4.2 2.3 3.7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 140.0 139.8 140.6 142.5 6.2 -4.2 4.1 7.3 .9 5.7 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 163.3 161.4 162.1 164.6 10.9 -4.6 12.1 3.2 2.8 7.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 187.2 185.0 188.3 193.9 15.9 -8.6 7.8 15.1 2.9 11.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 175.3 174.4 174.7 176.3 9.0 -3.4 8.1 2.3 2.6 5.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 237.6 237.9 238.2 238.9 4.0 2.8 4.5 2.2 3.4 3.3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 217.2 217.6 218.2 219.0 3.6 2.4 2.8 3.4 3.0 3.1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 156.9 155.1 158.2 164.6 28.2 -11.3 15.3 21.1 6.7 18.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 196.4 196.8 197.1 197.8 2.5 1.9 2.3 2.9 2.2 2.6 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 198.5 198.9 199.4 200.1 2.3 1.8 2.0 3.3 2.1 2.7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.0 140.4 140.4 140.4 .0 -.3 1.4 1.1 -.1 1.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 167.7 164.0 169.1 182.3 43.6 -20.6 19.8 39.6 6.8 29.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 232.9 233.4 234.1 235.2 3.0 2.8 2.3 4.0 2.9 3.1 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Mar.2005 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2005 from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Feb.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

U.S. city average ............................................ M 190.3 190.7 191.8 193.3 3.1 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.8 0.6 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 201.9 202.6 203.6 206.0 3.7 1.7 1.2 3.5 .8 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.1 205.0 206.0 208.6 3.9 1.8 1.3 3.6 .9 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.2 119.4 120.1 121.3 3.3 1.6 1.0 3.0 .8 .6 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 183.8 184.1 185.2 186.3 2.9 1.2 .6 2.8 .8 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.7 185.9 187.1 188.3 2.8 1.3 .6 2.5 .8 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.3 117.3 118.1 118.7 3.0 1.2 .5 3.0 .7 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 177.2 178.2 179.2 179.9 3.3 1.0 .4 3.6 1.1 .6 

South urban .................................................... M 183.3 183.6 184.7 185.9 3.2 1.3 .6 3.1 .8 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 184.9 185.2 186.6 187.9 3.4 1.5 .7 3.2 .9 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.1 117.1 117.7 118.4 3.0 1.1 .6 3.0 .5 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 181.9 182.3 183.1 184.5 3.8 1.2 .8 3.6 .7 .4 

West urban ..................................................... M 194.2 194.5 195.7 197.1 2.5 1.3 .7 2.6 .8 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.5 196.7 198.3 199.8 2.7 1.6 .8 2.6 .9 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.0 119.5 119.6 120.4 2.1 .8 .7 2.2 .5 .1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 174.0 174.3 175.5 177.0 3.2 1.5 .9 3.0 .9 .7 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 117.7 117.9 118.5 119.2 2.8 1.1 .6 2.9 .7 .5 

D ................................................................. M 182.4 183.0 183.7 184.8 3.3 1.0 .6 3.3 .7 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 189.6 189.9 190.5 191.3 2.7 .7 .4 2.2 .5 .3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 195.2 195.4 197.4 199.2 4.0 1.9 .9 3.8 1.1 1.0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 206.8 208.1 208.9 212.4 4.4 2.1 1.7 3.9 1.0 .4 

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

 211.3 - 214.2 2.6 1.4 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 183.3 - 186.3 3.5 1.6 - - - -

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

 180.0 - 181.3 2.0 .7 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 121.3 - 122.7 3.9 1.2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 183.2 -

 185.3 - - - - 2.5 1.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 185.3 -

 187.8 - - - - 2.4 1.3 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 170.0 - 174.6 - - - - 3.6 2.7 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 188.6 -

 190.6 - - - - 3.8 1.1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 197.8 -

 200.1 - - - - 4.5 1.2 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 199.5 -

 201.2 - - - - 1.6 .9 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 195.1 - 197.6 - - - - 2.1 1.3 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Feb.

2005

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 187.3 188.6 3.1 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.6 

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

 557.9 561.9 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 188.8 189.1 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 15.940 188.2 188.5 2.6 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.540 187.2 187.4 2.1 .1 -.3 -.1 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.342 208.5 208.4 1.7 .0 .0 .2 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.845 183.9 184.3 2.6 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .962 181.6 181.3 5.8 -.2 2.2 -.9 .2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.407 232.2 231.3 1.5 -.4 -5.1 -.6 -.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.051 141.8 143.0 2.1 .8 .4 -.3 1.1 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.934 165.0 165.3 .4 .2 .9 -.2 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .311 163.6 161.8 -.5 -1.1 -.3 .9 -1.0 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .311 169.1 167.2 .7 -1.1 .7 -.9 -1.1 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.312 180.2 181.7 .5 .8 1.2 -.3 .8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .341 110.9 112.5 .3 1.4 -.5 .2 1.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.400 191.2 191.6 3.2 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .251 128.4 129.1 4.3 .5 .3 .9 .6 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.084 195.2 196.0 2.5 .4 .1 .4 .4 

Housing .................................................................................... 38.973 188.1 188.9 3.1 .4 .2 .4 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 29.902 215.7 216.8 2.7 .5 .2 .4 .4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.025 214.2 214.6 3.0 .2 .3 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.742 129.1 137.1 6.4 6.2 -.9 1.7 2.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 19.795 207.2 207.4 2.3 .1 .2 .4 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .339 118.9 119.4 3.6 .4 -.1 .1 .4 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.288 165.4 165.7 7.1 .2 -.1 .8 .1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.336 146.6 146.8 7.5 .1 -.3 .7 .1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .281 187.7 195.3 28.5 4.0 -5.9 1.3 4.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.055 152.0 151.8 6.2 -.1 .1 .7 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .952 128.8 129.2 5.6 .3 .9 .6 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.783 121.9 121.9 .4 .0 .1 -.2 -.1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .321 130.8 130.2 3.8 -.5 .8 .4 -.5 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.208 118.6 123.0 .1 3.7 .5 -.1 .5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.063 116.1 119.6 -.3 3.0 .9 .0 .6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.664 109.3 116.8 -.5 6.9 -.4 -.5 1.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .242 121.0 121.9 -2.6 .7 1.7 -1.1 -1.4 

Footwear ................................................................................ .991 120.6 121.7 2.6 .9 1.4 1.1 -.8 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.845 164.7 167.6 5.7 1.8 -.3 .8 2.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 19.072 162.2 164.9 5.9 1.7 -.3 .9 2.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.146 94.7 94.5 2.1 -.2 .3 .1 -.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.725 140.7 140.0 .7 -.5 .6 .1 -.4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.536 138.4 138.5 4.9 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 4.843 164.9 176.5 17.0 7.0 -2.1 3.2 8.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 4.803 164.1 175.7 16.9 7.1 -2.1 3.2 8.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .449 110.4 110.5 2.9 .1 .7 .3 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.357 206.1 206.9 3.3 .4 .4 .0 .6 

Public transportation ............................................................... .773 204.9 209.0 .5 2.0 -.6 .0 1.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.014 318.9 320.3 4.4 .4 .3 .6 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.126 266.3 266.6 2.0 .1 .3 .3 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.888 333.0 334.8 5.1 .5 .4 .7 .5 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.270 281.2 282.3 3.7 .4 .3 .6 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.276 430.9 433.6 5.8 .6 .6 .6 .7 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Feb.

2005

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.546 106.5 106.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.2 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.878 103.5 103.9 .4 .4 -.2 -.3 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.498 110.7 110.7 .8 .0 .1 .3 .1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.361 147.7 147.8 5.9 .1 .3 .5 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .217 361.5 362.4 3.6 .2 -.5 .0 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.145 417.6 418.0 6.1 .1 .3 .6 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.137 87.0 86.8 -2.8 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.990 85.5 85.3 -3.0 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.473 95.3 95.1 -1.9 -.2 -.1 .4 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .517 14.6 14.5 -7.6 -.7 .0 -1.4 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .171 13.3 13.2 -14.8 -.8 .0 -2.9 -.8 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.891 319.4 319.6 2.8 .1 .5 .4 .0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.244 496.9 497.4 4.9 .1 1.9 .4 .1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.648 182.9 183.0 1.8 .1 -.1 .3 -.1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .712 154.2 153.3 -1.1 -.6 -.3 .6 -.6 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .611 203.3 203.6 3.7 .1 .3 .4 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.160 299.8 300.8 3.2 .3 .0 -.1 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.809 157.4 159.2 3.3 1.1 -.1 .4 1.0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 188.8 189.1 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.786 139.8 142.2 3.8 1.7 -.1 .6 1.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 15.322 162.5 167.8 5.9 3.3 -1.3 .4 1.8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.208 118.6 123.0 .1 3.7 .5 -.1 .5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 11.113 193.3 199.4 8.3 3.2 -1.4 2.0 3.6 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.464 115.5 115.3 1.1 -.2 .3 .1 -.3 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.191 222.3 223.2 3.0 .4 .2 .4 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.562 207.7 208.8 2.8 .5 .2 .4 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .339 118.9 119.4 3.6 .4 -.1 .1 .4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.055 152.0 151.8 6.2 -.1 .1 .7 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .952 128.8 129.2 5.6 .3 .9 .6 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .321 130.8 130.2 3.8 -.5 .8 .4 -.5 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.166 223.4 224.0 1.8 .3 .1 .0 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.888 333.0 334.8 5.1 .5 .4 .7 .5 

Other services .......................................................................... 9.907 257.8 258.1 2.1 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 84.060 187.0 188.5 3.2 .8 .1 .4 .7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 70.098 179.0 180.4 3.3 .8 .0 .4 .7 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 94.986 181.7 183.1 3.1 .8 .1 .3 .6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.870 141.7 144.1 3.7 1.7 -.1 .6 1.5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 16.406 164.4 169.5 5.7 3.1 -1.3 .5 1.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 12.197 192.7 198.3 7.8 2.9 -1.3 1.8 3.5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 32.346 176.1 179.0 4.2 1.6 -.6 .3 1.0

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.628 211.2 211.6 3.3 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.303 214.0 214.7 2.8 .3 .1 .3 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.179 155.0 160.9 12.5 3.8 -1.3 2.0 4.4 

All items less energy .................................................................. 90.821 192.2 192.9 2.2 .4 .2 .2 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 74.881 193.4 194.2 2.2 .4 .2 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 23.745 140.5 141.3 .9 .6 .4 .0 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 5.124 166.6 178.1 17.6 6.9 -2.3 3.1 7.9 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.136 230.1 231.1 2.8 .4 .2 .3 .3 

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

 $ .534 $ .530 - - - - -

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

 $ .179 $ .178 - - - - -

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

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

4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2004

Sep.

2004

Dec.

2004

Mar.

2005

Sep.

2004

Mar.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 186.7 186.9 187.6 188.7 4.4 0.7 3.3 4.4 2.5 3.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.4 188.5 188.6 189.0 4.9 .9 3.2 1.3 2.8 2.3 

Food ....................................................................................... 187.9 188.0 188.1 188.5 5.1 .6 3.5 1.3 2.9 2.4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 187.6 187.1 186.9 187.3 6.9 -1.7 4.4 -.6 2.5 1.8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 207.7 207.8 208.3 208.7 1.6 1.4 2.3 1.9 1.5 2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 183.2 183.5 184.0 184.4 6.9 1.1 .4 2.6 3.9 1.5 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 179.0 183.0 181.4 181.7 52.2 -19.0 -3.9 6.2 11.0 1.0

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 245.6 233.1 231.8 230.9 -3.6 1.8 38.7 -21.9 -1.0 4.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.6 141.1 140.7 142.2 .3 2.0 1.4 4.6 1.2 3.0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 163.7 165.1 164.8 165.1 2.5 -1.9 -2.4 3.5 .2 .5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.0 161.5 162.9 161.3 .0 2.2 -2.2 -1.7 1.1 -2.0 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 169.1 170.2 168.6 166.7 16.4 -4.8 -1.6 -5.6 5.3 -3.6 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 178.6 180.8 180.2 181.7 .0 -2.4 -2.4 7.1 -1.2 2.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.3 110.7 110.9 112.5 -2.8 -1.4 1.1 4.4 -2.1 2.7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 189.7 190.6 191.2 191.6 2.6 4.4 1.9 4.1 3.5 3.0 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 126.9 127.3 128.4 129.2 3.3 2.3 4.2 7.4 2.8 5.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 194.2 194.4 195.2 196.0 3.2 2.7 .4 3.8 3.0 2.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 187.4 187.7 188.4 189.0 3.8 2.4 3.0 3.5 3.1 3.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 214.4 214.8 215.6 216.4 3.1 2.5 1.9 3.8 2.8 2.8 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 212.9 213.5 214.0 214.6 3.3 3.1 2.5 3.2 3.2 2.9 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 128.5 127.3 129.5 133.3 2.3 8.2 .3 15.8 5.2 7.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 205.9 206.4 207.2 207.4 2.8 2.0 1.6 2.9 2.4 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 118.9 118.8 118.9 119.4 4.6 1.0 7.4 1.7 2.8 4.5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 166.8 166.7 168.0 168.1 11.7 3.3 10.5 3.2 7.4 6.7 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 148.6 148.2 149.3 149.4 12.9 2.8 11.8 2.2 7.8 6.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 186.1 175.1 177.3 186.0 24.0 38.6 58.7 -.2 31.1 25.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 154.3 154.5 155.6 155.2 12.3 1.1 9.3 2.4 6.5 5.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 126.8 128.0 128.8 129.0 6.0 5.6 3.5 7.1 5.8 5.3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.8 121.9 121.7 121.6 -.3 -.7 3.0 -.7 -.5 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 129.3 130.3 130.8 130.2 5.2 1.9 5.4 2.8 3.5 4.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.5 120.1 120.0 120.6 .0 -2.6 -.7 3.7 -1.3 1.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 116.0 117.1 117.1 117.8 -.3 -5.0 -2.0 6.4 -2.7 2.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.9 111.5 110.9 112.8 1.1 -6.2 .4 3.3 -2.6 1.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 120.9 123.0 121.7 120.0 -8.2 1.7 -.7 -2.9 -3.4 -1.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ 119.2 120.9 122.2 121.2 -1.7 6.6 -1.3 6.9 2.4 2.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 164.4 163.9 165.2 168.6 9.9 -3.6 6.8 10.6 2.9 8.7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 161.7 161.2 162.6 166.0 10.6 -3.7 6.7 11.1 3.2 8.9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 94.0 94.3 94.4 94.3 -.9 5.3 2.6 1.3 2.2 1.9 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.8 139.7 139.9 139.4 .6 -3.7 4.4 1.7 -1.6 3.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 138.1 138.3 138.4 138.5 -1.8 19.2 2.4 1.2 8.2 1.8 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 166.4 162.9 168.1 181.6 45.3 -23.0 18.2 41.9 5.8 29.5 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 165.6 162.1 167.3 180.7 45.5 -23.5 18.3 41.8 5.5 29.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 109.3 110.1 110.4 110.5 1.5 3.4 2.2 4.5 2.4 3.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 205.0 205.8 205.7 206.9 2.8 2.2 4.4 3.8 2.5 4.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 207.9 206.7 206.8 209.6 -4.2 -6.2 9.8 3.3 -5.2 6.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 315.1 316.2 318.2 319.5 3.8 3.9 3.8 5.7 3.9 4.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 264.9 265.7 266.5 266.6 2.8 2.0 .5 2.6 2.4 1.5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 328.4 329.6 332.0 333.8 4.2 4.4 4.8 6.7 4.3 5.7 

Professional services ........................................................... 278.3 279.1 280.7 281.5 3.1 3.9 2.9 4.7 3.5 3.8

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 423.6 426.1 428.7 431.9 5.7 3.3 5.9 8.1 4.5 7.0 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

June

2004

Sep.

2004

Dec.

2004

Mar.

2005

Sep.

2004

Mar.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.4 106.6 106.4 106.4 1.1 -1.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.7 103.5 103.2 103.6 1.2 .4 .4 -.4 .8 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 110.3 110.4 110.7 110.8 .0 1.1 .4 1.8 .5 1.1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 146.4 146.8 147.6 148.3 6.1 6.0 6.2 5.3 6.1 5.8 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 360.3 358.6 358.6 360.2 4.4 2.8 7.3 -.1 3.6 3.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 413.8 415.2 417.6 419.7 6.2 6.5 6.1 5.8 6.4 6.0 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.0 87.0 87.0 86.8 -4.0 -2.7 -3.6 -.9 -3.3 -2.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 85.5 85.5 85.5 85.3 -4.5 -2.7 -3.7 -.9 -3.6 -2.3 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.0 94.9 95.3 95.1 -3.3 -2.5 -2.1 .4 -2.9 -.8 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 14.8 14.8 14.6 14.5 -7.4 -5.1 -10.1 -7.9 -6.3 -9.0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 13.7 13.7 13.3 13.2 -7.5 -10.1 -26.6 -13.8 -8.8 -20.5 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 316.5 318.2 319.4 319.4 1.3 3.6 2.7 3.7 2.5 3.2

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 485.7 494.9 496.9 497.4 2.3 6.0 1.5 10.0 4.1 5.7 

Personal care ......................................................................... 182.4 182.3 182.9 182.8 .7 2.7 3.1 .9 1.7 2.0 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.8 153.3 154.2 153.3 -1.8 -.8 -.5 -1.3 -1.3 -.9 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 201.8 202.4 203.3 203.6 2.5 4.5 4.3 3.6 3.5 3.9 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 299.5 299.5 299.2 299.9 3.6 4.2 4.2 .5 3.9 2.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 157.2 157.1 157.7 159.3 6.1 -2.0 4.2 5.5 2.0 4.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.4 188.5 188.6 189.0 4.9 .9 3.2 1.3 2.8 2.3 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 139.5 139.4 140.2 142.3 6.9 -4.0 4.4 8.3 1.3 6.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 165.3 163.2 163.9 166.8 12.8 -7.0 15.6 3.7 2.4 9.5 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.5 120.1 120.0 120.6 .0 -2.6 -.7 3.7 -1.3 1.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 193.6 190.9 194.7 201.8 18.8 -10.8 10.1 18.0 2.9 14.0 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.0 115.3 115.4 115.1 -1.1 2.1 3.2 .3 .5 1.8 

Services ...................................................................................... 221.4 221.8 222.6 223.2 3.4 2.4 2.9 3.3 2.9 3.1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 206.3 206.7 207.5 208.4 3.0 2.6 1.4 4.1 2.8 2.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 118.9 118.8 118.9 119.4 4.6 1.0 7.4 1.7 2.8 4.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 154.3 154.5 155.6 155.2 12.3 1.1 9.3 2.4 6.5 5.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 126.8 128.0 128.8 129.0 6.0 5.6 3.5 7.1 5.8 5.3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 129.3 130.3 130.8 130.2 5.2 1.9 5.4 2.8 3.5 4.1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 222.9 223.2 223.1 223.8 1.3 1.8 2.7 1.6 1.6 2.2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 328.4 329.6 332.0 333.8 4.2 4.4 4.8 6.7 4.3 5.7 

Other services .......................................................................... 256.7 257.1 257.6 258.1 1.6 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 186.3 186.5 187.3 188.6 4.5 .4 3.3 5.0 2.4 4.2 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 178.7 178.7 179.4 180.7 5.4 -.5 4.1 4.6 2.4 4.3 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 181.3 181.4 182.0 183.1 4.6 .4 3.4 4.0 2.5 3.7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 141.5 141.3 142.2 144.3 6.5 -3.4 4.4 8.2 1.4 6.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 167.1 165.0 165.8 168.7 12.0 -6.0 14.3 3.9 2.7 9.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 192.9 190.4 193.8 200.5 17.1 -9.6 9.2 16.7 2.9 12.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 177.3 176.2 176.8 178.5 8.9 -3.2 8.8 2.7 2.7 5.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 210.9 211.2 211.6 212.0 3.8 2.9 4.3 2.1 3.3 3.2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 213.3 213.6 214.2 214.7 3.5 2.5 2.7 2.7 3.0 2.7 

Energy ........................................................................................ 156.8 154.8 157.9 164.8 29.2 -12.0 15.4 22.0 6.7 18.6 

All items less energy .................................................................. 191.3 191.7 192.1 192.5 2.4 1.7 2.3 2.5 2.0 2.4 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 192.4 192.8 193.3 193.7 1.7 2.1 2.1 2.7 1.9 2.4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.1 140.6 140.6 140.6 -.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 .4 1.4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 168.0 164.1 169.2 182.5 44.3 -20.9 20.0 39.3 6.8 29.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 228.7 229.2 230.0 230.7 2.7 2.7 2.1 3.5 2.7 2.8 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Mar.2005 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2005 from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Mar.

2005

Mar.

2004

Jan.

2005

Feb.

2005

Feb.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

U.S. city average ............................................ M 186.0 186.3 187.3 188.6 3.1 1.2 0.7 3.0 0.7 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 198.7 199.0 200.0 201.8 3.4 1.4 .9 3.3 .7 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 199.6 200.1 201.1 202.8 3.5 1.3 .8 3.5 .8 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.4 119.6 120.1 121.2 3.1 1.3 .9 2.9 .6 .4 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 178.8 179.1 180.2 181.2 3.1 1.2 .6 2.8 .8 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 180.1 180.4 181.3 182.5 3.0 1.2 .7 2.5 .7 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.4 116.4 117.2 117.8 3.2 1.2 .5 3.0 .7 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 174.9 175.7 176.5 177.3 3.4 .9 .5 3.5 .9 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 180.3 180.5 181.5 182.7 3.4 1.2 .7 3.2 .7 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.4 182.6 184.0 185.3 3.6 1.5 .7 3.4 .9 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.6 115.7 116.3 117.0 3.2 1.1 .6 3.2 .6 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 181.5 181.9 182.7 184.1 4.1 1.2 .8 3.8 .7 .4 

West urban ..................................................... M 189.4 189.5 190.5 192.0 2.6 1.3 .8 2.6 .6 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 190.2 190.1 191.6 193.2 2.8 1.6 .8 2.7 .7 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.6 118.9 119.0 119.8 2.2 .8 .7 2.2 .3 .1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 172.4 172.6 173.7 175.0 3.2 1.4 .7 3.0 .8 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 116.9 117.0 117.5 118.3 3.0 1.1 .7 2.9 .5 .4 

D ................................................................. M 180.6 181.0 181.7 182.9 3.5 1.0 .7 3.4 .6 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 183.1 183.5 184.2 184.8 2.8 .7 .3 2.4 .6 .4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 188.5 188.5 190.3 192.1 3.9 1.9 .9 3.8 1.0 1.0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 201.8 202.6 203.3 205.5 3.7 1.4 1.1 3.6 .7 .3 

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

 210.3 - 213.1 2.7 1.3 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 174.5 - 177.2 3.6 1.5 - - - -

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

 180.3 - 181.6 2.3 .7 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 120.7 - 122.3 4.0 1.3 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 181.5 -

 183.4 - - - - 2.6 1.0 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 180.7 -

 182.6 - - - - 2.5 1.1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 167.7 - 171.8 - - - - 3.7 2.4 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 186.6 -

 188.3 - - - - 4.1 .9 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 197.9 -

 200.0 - - - - 4.6 1.1 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 195.9 -

 197.3 - - - - 1.6 .7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 190.3 - 192.4 - - - - 2.4 1.1 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Mar. 2005 from—

 Feb.

 2005

 Mar.

 2005

 Mar.

 2004

 Feb.

 2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 111.7 112.5 2.6 0.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 112.6 112.7 2.5 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 112.6 112.7 2.5 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 110.8 110.9 2.0 .1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 114.8 115.1 3.2 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 112.7 113.0 2.5 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 116.0 116.8 3.1 .7 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 117.4 118.3 3.0 .8 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 128.9 129.1 6.9 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 96.6 96.6 .1 .0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 89.3 93.1 -.2 4.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 110.2 111.5 4.4 1.2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 110.8 112.1 4.7 1.2 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 101.7 103.8 -.2 2.1 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 124.8 125.3 4.1 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 115.9 116.0 2.0 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 128.0 128.6 4.8 .5 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.5 103.5 -.8 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 100.2 100.1 .1 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 137.5 137.6 6.1 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 77.9 77.6 -4.1 -.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 116.0 116.1 2.5 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 118.2 118.8 2.9 .5 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 103.5 104.5 2.4 1.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 88.4 88.2 .2 -.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 110.7 112.3 3.2 1.4 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 109.5 110.1 1.9 .5 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 136.0 140.4 11.6 3.2 

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

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