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Department

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, November 17, 2004 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: OCTOBER 2004 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in October, before seasonal 

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The October level of 190.9 

(1982-84=100) was 3.2 percent higher than in October 2003. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.6 percent in 

October, prior to seasonal adjustment. The October level of 186.5 was 3.2 percent higher than in October 2003. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in October on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The October level of 111.1 (December 1999=100) was 2.7 percent higher than in October 

2003. 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 increased 0.6 percent in October, following a 0.2 percent rise in September. 

Energy costs, which had declined in each of the preceding three months after advancing sharply in the first half of the 

year, increased 4.2 percent in October, accounting for over half of the advance in the overall CPI-U. Within energy, the 

index for petroleum-based energy increased 8.5 percent, while the index for energy services declined 0.9 percent. The 

index for food, which was unchanged in September, rose 0.6 percent in October. The index for food at home rose 0.8 

percent, reflecting a 6.0 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The index for all items less food and 

energy advanced 0.2 percent in October, following a 0.3 percent rise in September. The indexes for lodging away from 

home and for used cars, which accounted for more than half of the September increase in the index for all items excluding 

food and energy, registered small increases in October. This moderation was largely offset by upturns in the indexes for 

household furnishings and operations, for new vehicles, and for apparel. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 3-mos. ended ended

 Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct. ’04 Oct. ’04 

All Items .2 .6 .3 -.1 .1 .2 .6 3.4 3.2

 Food and beverages .2 .9 .2 .2 .1 .0 .5 2.6 3.4 

 Housing .4 .4 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 2.3 2.9 

 Apparel .0 .3 .2 -.8 -.2 .0 .2 -.3 -.6 

 Transportation .1 1.7 .8 -.8 -.3 .2 2.3 8.8 5.9 

 Medical care .4 .3 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 3.9 4.5 

 Recreation .2 -.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .2 .1 .4 1.0 

 Education and 

 communication .3 .0 .2 -.1 .1 .4 -.3 1.1 1.4 

 Other goods and 

 services .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 .3 .2 2.7 2.2 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy .1 4.6 2.6 -1.9 -.3 -.4 4.2 14.8 15.2 

 Food .2 .9 .2 .3 .1 .0 .6 2.6 3.4 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .3 .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 2.3 2.0 
During the first ten months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 3.9 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR). This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which increased 

6.9 percent in 2003, advanced at a 22.5 percent SAAR in the first ten months of 2004. Petroleum-based energy 

costs increased at a 41.4 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 4.5 percent annual rate.

The food index has increased at a 3.0 percent rate thus far in 2004, following a 3.6 percent rise for all of 2003.

Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.4 percent SAAR in the first ten months of 2004 after 

increasing 1.1 percent in 2003. 

The food and beverages index increased 0.5 percent in October. The index for food at home advanced 

0.8 percent, reflecting a 6.0 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The indexes for fresh fruits 

and for fresh vegetables rose 6.3 and 8.8 percent, respectively. The index for processed fruits and vegetables 

rose 0.4 percent. Increases in the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for other food at home--up 0.4 and 

0.3 percent, respectively--also contributed to the October advance. Partially offsetting these increases were 

declines in the other three major grocery store food groups--for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, for nonalcoholic 

beverages, and for dairy products. The indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for nonalcoholic 

beverages each declined 0.3 percent. Within the former category, the indexes for beef, for pork, and for poultry 

all declined in October. During the last 12 months, however, poultry prices have increased 8.3 percent, beef 

prices, 7.4 percent and pork prices, 5.3 percent. In October, the index for dairy products declined 0.2 percent.

Fresh whole milk prices, which registered sharp increases earlier this year, declined for the fourth consecutive 

month--down 2.2 percent in October. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away 

from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing rose 0.2 percent in October, the same as in each of the preceding three months. A 

sharp upturn in the index for household furnishings and operations, coupled with a smaller decline in the index 

for fuels and utilities, was offset by a smaller increase in shelter costs. Shelter costs, which advanced 0.4 

percent in September, rose 0.1 percent in October. The index for lodging away from home increased 0.2 

percent in October after advancing 2.9 percent in September. The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent 

each increased 0.2 percent after advancing 0.1 percent in September. The index for fuels and utilities fell 0.2 

percent in October. Increases in the indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas--up 9.4 and 0.6 percent, 

respectively--were more than offset by a 1.6 percent decline in the index for electricity. (Prior to seasonal 

adjustment, charges for electricity fell 6.0 percent, reflecting the shift to off-season rates in some areas.) During 

the last 12 months, the indexes for fuel oil, for natural gas and for electricity have advanced 42.6, 8.0, and 0.9 

percent, respectively. The index for household furnishings and operations, which was unchanged in September, 

increased 1.0 percent in October.

The transportation index, which rose 0.2 percent in September, advanced 2.3 percent in October. An 8.6 

percent rise in the index for gasoline accounted for about 85 percent of the October advance. As of October, the 

price of gasoline was 0.3 percent lower than its peak level registered in June. The index for new vehicles turned 

up in October, increasing 0.4 percent. (About 30 percent of the new car sample in October was represented by 

2005 models.) New vehicle prices are 0.4 percent lower than in October 2003. The index for used cars and 

trucks advanced for the fourth consecutive month--up 0.2 percent in October--and is 1.3 percent higher than a 

year ago. The index for public transportation turned up in October, reflecting a 1.4 percent increase in airline 

fares. Despite the October advance, airline fares are 4.1 percent lower than a year ago and 8.3 percent lower 

than in the month prior to the terrorist attacks in 2001. 

The index for apparel, which was unchanged in September, rose 0.2 percent in October. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 2.4 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of fall-winter wear.)

During the last 12 months, the index for apparel has decreased 0.6 percent, with declines in prices for men’s and 

boys’ and for infants’ and toddlers’ apparel more than offsetting a small increase in prices for women’s and 

girls’ clothing. 

Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in October to a level 4.5 percent higher than a year ago. The index 

for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.4 

percent. The index for medical care services also rose 0.4 percent in October. Charges for professional 

services and for hospital and related services increased 0.1 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
The index for recreation increased 0.1 percent in October. Increases in the indexes for admissions to 

sporting events and for newspapers and magazines--up 0.9 and 1.5 percent, respectively--were largely 

responsible for the October increase.

The index for education and communication decreased 0.3 percent in October. A 0.4 percent increase in 

educational costs was more than offset by a 0.9 percent decline in the index for communication. Within the 

latter category, the index for telephone services fell 0.7 percent, reflecting a 2.0 percent decrease in long 

distance charges. The index for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 2.7 percent. 

The index for other goods and services rose 0.2 percent in October. The index for personal care 

increased 0.3 percent, more than offsetting a 0.1 percent decrease in the index for tobacco and smoking 

products. Within personal care, the index for miscellaneous personal goods--stationery, stationery supplies, and 

gift wrappings--rose 1.0 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 increased 0.6 

percent in October. 

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 3-mos. ended ended

 Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct. ’04 Oct. ’04 

All Items .2 .7 .3 -.1 .1 .2 .6 3.5 3.2

 Food and beverages .2 .9 .2 .3 .1 .0 .5 2.4 3.4 

 Housing .3 .3 .4 .3 .2 .1 .2 2.0 2.7 

 Apparel -.1 .2 .0 -.7 -.4 .3 .3 .3 -.3 

 Transportation -.1 2.1 .7 -.9 -.2 .4 2.3 10.3 6.4 

 Medical care .4 .3 .3 .3 .2 .4 .3 3.7 4.5 

 Recreation .0 .0 .2 -.3 -.2 .2 .1 .4 .8 

 Education and 

 communication .2 -.2 .2 -.1 .0 .4 -.3 .4 .7 

 Other goods and 

 services .2 .1 .1 .4 .2 .3 .1 2.3 2.1 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy -.1 5.0 2.7 -2.0 -.5 -.3 4.3 15.1 15.8 

 Food .1 1.0 .1 .3 .1 -.1 .5 2.4 3.4 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .2 .1 .2 .1 .1 .3 .2 2.3 1.9 

Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on Friday, December 17, 2004, 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. 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. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 

1977. Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1999 through 2003 

were replaced at the end of 2003. 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: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally 

adjusted for 2004. 

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, natural 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, decreases in milk supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and 

oils series. For the Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data 

collection anomaly and dry weather in California. For Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant 

changes in milk production levels and higher demand for cheese. 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 vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, 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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Sep.

2004

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 189.9 190.9 3.2 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 

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

 568.7 571.9 -----

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 187.2 188.4 3.4 .6 .1 .0 .5 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.383 186.7 187.9 3.4 .6 .1 .0 .6 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.256 186.1 187.9 3.5 1.0 -.2 -.2 .8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.202 206.4 207.0 1.9 .3 .0 .1 .4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.320 183.4 182.9 5.1 -.3 .0 -.3 -.3 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .842 181.6 182.1 6.0 .3 -1.8 -2.0 -.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.221 226.0 240.0 6.1 6.2 .2 .7 6.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .905 140.3 140.6 .1 .2 .0 .3 -.3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.765 165.2 165.4 1.5 .1 .1 -.5 .3 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .305 163.5 162.6 .1 -.6 .6 -.4 -.4 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .251 170.4 170.2 6.6 -.1 -1.3 .4 -.8 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.210 179.4 180.1 .8 .4 .2 -.7 .7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 110.5 109.9 -.7 -.5 1.9 -.9 -.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.127 188.9 189.4 3.3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 125.9 126.8 3.7 .7 .2 .1 .7 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.001 193.4 193.6 2.9 .1 .2 .5 .1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.089 191.0 191.0 2.9 .0 .2 .2 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.878 220.2 220.6 2.7 .2 .1 .4 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.157 212.4 212.8 2.9 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.954 127.2 128.0 5.9 .6 -1.7 2.9 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.383 226.1 226.5 2.3 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .385 116.6 116.3 .3 -.3 .2 .3 -.3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.741 166.7 162.8 5.0 -2.3 .8 -.5 -.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 3.830 149.3 144.9 4.8 -2.9 .9 -.9 -.2

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .231 161.6 177.3 34.9 9.7 5.3 1.9 8.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.599 156.0 150.0 3.0 -3.8 .6 -1.0 -.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .910 125.7 126.0 6.1 .2 .4 .4 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.470 125.0 126.1 .8 .9 -.2 .0 1.0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .704 126.1 126.2 2.9 .1 .5 .0 .1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.975 121.2 124.1 -.6 2.4 -.2 .0 .2

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.024 116.2 118.3 -2.1 1.8 -1.3 -.3 -1.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.704 114.4 119.2 .3 4.2 -.3 -.6 1.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .195 119.5 120.6 -3.7 .9 -1.4 1.9 -.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ .778 121.7 122.1 .2 .3 1.6 2.0 -1.1 

Transportation .......................................................................... 16.881 162.9 166.4 5.9 2.1 -.3 .2 2.3 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.817 159.4 162.9 6.5 2.2 -.3 .3 2.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.912 93.9 94.3 -.3 .4 .1 .5 .2 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.817 134.9 135.9 -.4 .7 -.3 -.2 .4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.007 136.5 136.8 1.3 .2 1.3 2.0 .2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.249 161.2 173.1 26.7 7.4 -1.5 .1 8.6 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.222 160.5 172.2 26.6 7.3 -1.4 .1 8.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .369 109.3 109.5 1.5 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.349 200.7 201.7 2.4 .5 .2 -.2 .4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.064 205.3 206.5 -2.3 .6 -1.4 -1.1 1.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.074 312.3 313.3 4.5 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.499 270.9 271.7 2.6 .3 .1 .4 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.575 323.7 324.8 5.1 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.749 273.3 273.7 4.1 .1 .5 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.489 420.3 422.5 5.4 .5 -.4 .6 .4 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Sep.

2004

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.872 108.6 108.7 1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.736 104.0 104.2 .7 .2 -.3 .3 .2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.948 112.9 112.5 1.4 -.4 .1 .4 -.3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.841 147.9 148.3 6.6 .3 .6 .6 .4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .219 352.8 353.8 4.2 .3 1.0 -.9 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.623 427.4 428.2 6.8 .2 .7 .6 .4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.107 86.2 85.5 -3.3 -.8 -.5 .3 -.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.925 84.1 83.4 -3.5 -.8 -.6 .1 -.8 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.315 95.3 94.6 -2.6 -.7 -.6 .3 -.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .610 14.7 14.5 -7.1 -1.4 -.7 .0 -1.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .230 15.0 14.6 -11.5 -2.7 -1.3 -.7 -2.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.776 306.3 306.8 2.2 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .806 482.9 482.3 2.7 -.1 .2 .3 -.1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.970 182.3 182.8 2.1 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 153.5 154.0 .3 .3 -.4 .5 .3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .650 199.1 199.4 1.9 .2 .7 .1 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.448 295.9 296.3 3.7 .1 .3 .3 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.117 154.9 157.1 3.8 1.4 -.1 .1 1.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 187.2 188.4 3.4 .6 .1 .0 .5 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.733 136.7 139.4 4.0 2.0 -.3 .1 1.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.458 157.8 162.6 7.5 3.0 -.6 -1.1 3.8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.975 121.2 124.1 -.6 2.4 -.2 .0 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 9.483 184.4 190.6 11.1 3.4 -.4 .1 3.8 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.275 114.1 114.7 -.4 .5 .0 .4 .3 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.883 224.5 224.5 2.8 .0 .1 .3 .1

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.494 229.3 229.8 2.8 .2 .0 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .385 116.6 116.3 .3 -.3 .2 .3 -.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.599 156.0 150.0 3.0 -3.8 .6 -1.0 -.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .910 125.7 126.0 6.1 .2 .4 .4 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .704 126.1 126.2 2.9 .1 .5 .0 .1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.319 220.1 221.4 1.1 .6 -.1 .0 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.575 323.7 324.8 5.1 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.896 263.8 263.7 2.5 .0 .2 .5 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.617 190.4 191.4 3.1 .5 .0 .2 .6 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.122 180.1 181.4 3.4 .7 .0 .1 .8 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.926 183.6 184.6 3.1 .5 .0 .2 .6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.734 138.8 141.4 3.9 1.9 -.3 .2 1.7 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.459 159.9 164.5 7.3 2.9 -.4 -1.0 3.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 10.484 184.4 190.0 10.3 3.0 -.6 .2 3.5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.842 172.8 175.8 5.4 1.7 -.3 -.6 2.2

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.389 235.9 235.1 2.8 -.3 .4 .1 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.308 216.1 216.0 2.6 .0 .2 .2 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.080 154.3 157.7 15.2 2.2 -.3 -.4 4.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.920 195.2 196.0 2.2 .4 .1 .3 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.537 197.4 198.2 2.0 .4 .1 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.254 139.4 140.5 .1 .8 -.1 .2 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 3.480 162.0 174.2 27.2 7.5 -1.0 .2 8.5 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.283 231.6 232.1 2.8 .2 .1 .3 .2 

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

 $ .527 $ .524 -----

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

 $ .176 $ .175 -----

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—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 189.3 189.4 189.7 190.9 2.0 3.9 3.7 3.4 2.9 3.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.3 187.5 187.5 188.5 3.6 2.4 5.1 2.6 3.0 3.8

Food ....................................................................................... 186.9 187.0 187.0 188.1 3.8 2.0 5.5 2.6 2.9 4.1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 187.3 187.0 186.6 188.1 3.8 1.5 7.1 1.7 2.7 4.4

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 206.2 206.3 206.6 207.4 1.6 2.0 1.8 2.3 1.8 2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 183.9 183.9 183.4 182.9 15.8 -2.8 10.9 -2.2 6.1 4.2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 188.7 185.3 181.6 181.2 1.4 7.9 35.5 -15.0 4.6 7.3 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 227.0 227.4 228.9 242.6 -4.8 2.9 -1.2 30.5 -1.0 13.5

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.3 140.3 140.7 140.3 .6 -2.8 2.6 .0 -1.1 1.3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.8 165.9 165.1 165.6 -1.2 6.0 2.0 -.5 2.3 .7 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 163.3 164.2 163.5 162.8 -1.7 1.7 1.5 -1.2 .0 .1 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 171.7 169.4 170.0 168.6 6.2 14.7 13.9 -7.0 10.4 2.9 

Other foods ....................................................................... 180.2 180.6 179.4 180.7 -2.7 5.5 -.4 1.1 1.3 .3

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.4 111.5 110.5 109.9 -5.7 5.2 -3.9 1.8 -.4 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 187.8 188.4 188.9 189.4 3.5 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.5 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 125.1 125.4 125.5 126.4 6.4 3.3 .6 4.2 4.8 2.4 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 192.2 192.5 193.4 193.6 2.8 5.2 .8 2.9 4.0 1.9 

Housing .................................................................................... 190.0 190.3 190.7 191.1 2.2 3.5 3.4 2.3 2.8 2.9 

Shelter .................................................................................... 219.3 219.5 220.4 220.7 1.7 4.7 2.2 2.6 3.2 2.4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 211.4 212.1 212.4 212.8 2.1 3.1 3.3 2.7 2.6 3.0 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 127.0 124.9 128.5 128.7 .7 16.4 1.9 5.5 8.2 3.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 225.3 225.9 226.1 226.5 1.6 3.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.1 116.3 116.6 116.3 -4.1 3.2 1.4 .7 -.5 1.0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 163.3 164.6 163.7 163.4 5.5 1.0 14.4 .2 3.2 7.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 145.9 147.2 145.9 145.6 5.3 .0 16.3 -.8 2.6 7.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 157.9 166.2 169.3 183.0 32.2 -3.5 44.2 80.4 12.9 61.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 152.4 153.3 151.7 150.4 3.9 .0 14.6 -5.1 1.9 4.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 124.6 125.1 125.6 126.0 5.8 6.1 7.7 4.6 6.0 6.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 125.1 124.9 124.9 126.2 .6 -.6 -.3 3.6 .0 1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 125.5 126.1 126.1 126.2 .3 3.6 5.6 2.2 2.0 3.9 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 120.4 120.1 120.1 120.3 -4.5 3.4 -1.3 -.3 -.7 -.8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.6 117.1 116.8 115.5 .0 .0 2.0 -10.1 .0 -4.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 113.0 112.7 112.0 114.0 -7.2 5.9 -1.1 3.6 -.9 1.2

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 118.2 116.6 118.8 117.8 -8.8 -.7 -3.6 -1.3 -4.8 -2.5

Footwear ................................................................................ 116.9 118.8 121.2 119.9 -5.6 4.5 -7.8 10.7 -.7 1.0 

Transportation .......................................................................... 163.6 163.1 163.4 167.1 .5 7.8 6.9 8.8 4.1 7.9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 159.8 159.4 159.9 163.6 .8 8.0 7.6 9.9 4.3 8.7

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 93.8 93.9 94.4 94.6 -4.1 .0 -.4 3.5 -2.1 1.5 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 136.7 136.3 136.0 136.5 -.9 .9 -1.4 -.6 .0 -1.0

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 132.1 133.8 136.5 136.8 -12.1 1.5 2.5 15.0 -5.5 8.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 163.1 160.7 160.9 174.7 10.9 35.6 30.2 31.6 22.6 30.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 162.2 160.0 160.1 173.8 11.2 34.7 30.0 31.8 22.4 30.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.8 109.0 109.3 109.5 .4 -.4 3.4 2.6 .0 3.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 200.7 201.2 200.7 201.5 2.7 1.2 4.3 1.6 1.9 2.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 209.6 206.6 204.3 207.1 -3.5 2.7 -3.5 -4.7 -.5 -4.1 

Medical care ............................................................................. 310.9 311.6 312.6 313.9 4.2 6.3 3.7 3.9 5.3 3.8 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 269.3 269.7 270.9 271.9 1.2 4.3 1.2 3.9 2.7 2.5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 322.3 323.1 324.0 325.4 5.1 7.1 4.3 3.9 6.1 4.1

Professional services ........................................................... 272.0 273.3 273.6 273.9 3.4 7.1 2.8 2.8 5.2 2.8

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 420.4 418.8 421.2 423.0 7.4 5.2 6.7 2.5 6.3 4.6 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.7 108.5 108.7 108.8 1.1 3.0 -0.4 0.4 2.1 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.4 104.1 104.4 104.6 -1.1 3.1 .0 .8 1.0 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.5 111.6 112.1 111.8 1.8 2.6 .4 1.1 2.2 .7 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 143.9 144.8 145.6 146.2 6.9 6.8 6.1 6.5 6.8 6.3 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 350.9 354.3 351.1 352.1 7.0 7.0 1.1 1.4 7.0 1.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 414.8 417.5 420.2 421.9 7.1 6.7 6.2 7.0 6.9 6.6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 86.5 86.1 86.4 85.6 -3.1 -1.4 -4.5 -4.1 -2.2 -4.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 84.5 84.0 84.1 83.4 -1.4 -3.2 -4.1 -5.1 -2.3 -4.6 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.6 95.0 95.3 94.6 -.4 -2.0 -3.7 -4.1 -1.2 -3.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 14.8 14.7 14.7 14.5 -7.5 -7.6 -5.2 -7.9 -7.5 -6.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.3 15.1 15.0 14.6 -7.1 -7.2 -14.3 -17.1 -7.1 -15.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 304.8 305.5 306.3 306.8 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.7 2.1 2.3

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 480.5 481.6 482.9 482.3 3.0 .3 6.2 1.5 1.6 3.8 

Personal care ......................................................................... 181.5 181.9 182.3 182.8 1.8 2.7 .9 2.9 2.2 1.9 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.4 152.8 153.5 154.0 .5 1.8 -2.8 1.6 1.2 -.6 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 197.5 198.9 199.1 199.4 -2.0 3.1 2.9 3.9 .5 3.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 294.4 295.2 296.2 296.5 4.1 4.6 2.8 2.9 4.4 2.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 155.0 154.8 155.0 157.0 1.3 4.6 4.2 5.3 2.9 4.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.3 187.5 187.5 188.5 3.6 2.4 5.1 2.6 3.0 3.8

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 136.9 136.5 136.7 139.1 -.3 6.1 3.6 6.6 2.9 5.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 158.0 157.0 155.2 161.1 6.3 6.5 9.1 8.1 6.4 8.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 120.4 120.1 120.1 120.3 -4.5 3.4 -1.3 -.3 -.7 -.8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 184.9 184.1 184.3 191.3 4.5 13.5 12.1 14.6 8.9 13.3 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.2 114.2 114.6 115.0 -2.4 .3 -2.1 2.8 -1.0 .3 

Services ...................................................................................... 223.4 223.7 224.3 224.5 2.0 3.9 3.3 2.0 3.0 2.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 228.7 228.8 229.5 229.8 1.3 4.9 3.0 1.9 3.1 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.1 116.3 116.6 116.3 -4.1 3.2 1.4 .7 -.5 1.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 152.4 153.3 151.7 150.4 3.9 .0 14.6 -5.1 1.9 4.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 124.6 125.1 125.6 126.0 5.8 6.1 7.7 4.6 6.0 6.1 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 125.5 126.1 126.1 126.2 .3 3.6 5.6 2.2 2.0 3.9 

Transportation services ............................................................ 221.1 220.8 220.8 221.6 .0 .9 2.6 .9 .5 1.7 

Medical care services ............................................................... 322.3 323.1 324.0 325.4 5.1 7.1 4.3 3.9 6.1 4.1 

Other services .......................................................................... 261.3 261.8 263.0 262.9 2.2 3.3 1.9 2.5 2.7 2.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 189.8 189.8 190.2 191.4 1.5 4.4 3.4 3.4 2.9 3.4 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 179.7 179.7 179.9 181.3 1.8 3.9 4.3 3.6 2.9 4.0 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 183.1 183.1 183.4 184.5 1.6 3.8 3.8 3.1 2.7 3.4 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 138.9 138.5 138.8 141.1 -.3 6.0 3.5 6.5 2.8 5.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 159.9 159.2 157.6 163.2 5.9 6.1 8.7 8.5 6.0 8.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 185.0 183.9 184.2 190.7 2.6 16.3 10.1 12.9 9.2 11.5

Nondurables ............................................................................... 172.9 172.4 171.4 175.1 5.2 4.3 7.0 5.2 4.8 6.1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 233.8 234.7 235.0 235.1 2.5 2.3 4.0 2.2 2.4 3.1 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 214.9 215.3 215.7 216.0 1.5 3.4 3.2 2.1 2.5 2.6 

Energy ........................................................................................ 153.4 153.0 152.4 158.8 7.8 16.0 22.9 14.8 11.8 18.8 

All items less energy .................................................................. 194.7 194.8 195.3 195.8 1.5 3.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 196.8 196.9 197.5 197.9 .8 3.3 1.6 2.3 2.1 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.3 139.1 139.4 139.9 -1.7 1.4 -.9 1.7 -.1 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 163.5 161.8 162.2 176.0 11.7 32.9 30.7 34.3 21.9 32.5 

Services less energy services ................................................ 230.6 230.9 231.7 232.1 2.0 4.1 2.5 2.6 3.0 2.5 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Oct.2004 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2004 from—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Sep.

2003

July

2004

Aug.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 189.4 189.5 189.9 190.9 3.2 0.7 0.5 2.5 0.3 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 201.0 201.0 201.2 202.5 3.6 .7 .6 3.2 .1 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.0 203.1 203.2 204.5 3.4 .7 .6 3.0 .1 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.2 118.9 119.2 120.1 4.3 1.0 .8 3.7 .0 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 183.2 183.3 183.6 184.5 3.0 .7 .5 2.3 .2 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.4 185.6 185.9 186.8 2.8 .6 .5 2.1 .3 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.3 116.5 116.8 117.4 3.3 .8 .5 2.5 .4 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 177.1 176.3 176.4 177.1 3.1 .5 .4 2.4 -.4 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 182.6 182.6 182.8 183.7 3.1 .6 .5 2.5 .1 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 183.7 183.7 184.0 185.0 2.7 .7 .5 2.2 .2 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.9 116.9 116.9 117.4 3.3 .4 .4 2.7 .0 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 180.1 180.0 181.2 182.8 4.1 1.6 .9 2.8 .6 .7 

West urban ..................................................... M 192.9 193.0 193.8 195.0 3.0 1.0 .6 2.2 .5 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 195.4 195.5 196.4 197.5 2.9 1.0 .6 2.1 .5 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.9 118.1 118.4 119.2 3.2 .9 .7 2.4 .4 .3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 173.1 173.2 173.6 174.6 3.0 .8 .6 2.4 .3 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 117.3 117.3 117.4 118.1 3.5 .7 .6 2.7 .1 .1 

D ................................................................. M 181.3 181.0 181.8 182.9 3.4 1.0 .6 2.5 .3 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 189.2 190.2 190.0 190.8 2.7 .3 .4 2.1 .4 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 193.4 193.1 194.5 196.3 4.5 1.7 .9 3.3 .6 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 205.5 205.7 205.9 207.3 3.7 .8 .7 3.2 .2 .1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 208.9 -

 209.8 ---- 1.5 .4 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 181.7 - 183.8 ---- 3.0 1.2 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 179.1 -

 179.7 ---- 1.5 .3 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 120.2 - 120.8 ---- 3.1 .5 -

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

 184.1 - 183.9 2.1 -.1 ----

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

 186.8 - 187.6 2.3 .4 ----

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 169.1 - 171.8 3.4 1.6 ----

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

 185.1 - 187.0 3.0 1.0 ----

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 199.1 - 200.2 5.2 .6 ----

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

 198.7 - 200.3 2.0 .8 ----

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 194.6 - 196.5 1.4 1.0 ----

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Sep.

2004

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 185.4 186.5 3.2 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.6 

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

 552.4 555.7 -----

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 186.8 187.9 3.4 .6 .1 .0 .5 

Food ....................................................................................... 16.061 186.2 187.4 3.4 .6 .1 -.1 .5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.637 185.5 187.1 3.5 .9 -.1 -.3 .8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.364 206.3 206.9 1.8 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.908 183.4 183.0 5.3 -.2 .1 -.2 -.4 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .955 181.4 181.8 5.9 .2 -1.7 -2.0 -.4 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.344 223.9 238.0 5.8 6.3 .3 .6 6.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.076 139.7 140.0 .1 .2 .1 .3 -.4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.991 164.8 165.0 1.5 .1 .2 -.5 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .321 163.1 162.2 .1 -.6 .7 -.3 -.4 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .303 170.3 170.0 6.5 -.2 -1.5 .1 -.9 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.366 179.7 180.3 .7 .3 .3 -.7 .7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .350 111.0 110.3 -.8 -.6 2.1 -.9 -.6 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.424 188.8 189.3 3.3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .252 125.8 126.8 3.5 .8 .2 .2 .7 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.090 194.0 193.9 3.1 -.1 .3 .6 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 39.114 186.5 186.2 2.7 -.2 .2 .1 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.151 213.4 213.8 2.6 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.065 211.6 212.0 2.9 .2 .3 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.722 127.7 128.3 5.4 .5 -1.0 1.7 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.026 205.1 205.5 2.2 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .337 116.8 116.5 .4 -.3 .2 .3 -.3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.079 166.2 161.9 4.9 -2.6 .8 -.6 -.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.146 148.2 143.5 4.7 -3.2 .8 -.8 -.5

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .216 161.1 177.2 35.6 10.0 5.4 2.2 8.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.930 155.3 149.1 3.1 -4.0 .6 -1.0 -1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .933 125.8 126.1 6.1 .2 .4 .4 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.884 120.6 121.7 .7 .9 -.1 .2 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .318 127.6 127.9 3.4 .2 .4 -.3 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.357 120.6 123.5 -.3 2.4 -.4 .3 .3

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.120 115.6 117.8 -1.8 1.9 -1.4 -.1 -.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.727 114.0 119.3 .9 4.6 -.5 -.4 2.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .250 122.3 123.3 -3.4 .8 -1.2 2.1 -.9 

Footwear ................................................................................ 1.011 120.4 120.6 -.4 .2 1.4 1.9 -1.0 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.145 161.6 165.3 6.4 2.3 -.2 .4 2.3 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.348 159.1 162.7 6.7 2.3 -.2 .4 2.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.305 92.9 93.3 -.2 .4 .2 .8 .3 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.864 136.0 136.9 -.7 .7 -.4 -.1 .4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.487 137.3 137.6 1.3 .2 1.2 2.0 .2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.967 161.7 173.6 26.8 7.4 -1.6 .2 8.6 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.936 161.0 172.9 26.8 7.4 -1.7 .1 8.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .456 108.7 108.9 1.3 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.365 202.7 203.8 2.6 .5 .4 -.2 .4 

Public transportation ............................................................... .797 203.1 204.2 -2.2 .5 -1.3 -1.5 1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 4.969 311.7 312.7 4.5 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.142 264.8 265.4 2.4 .2 .2 .5 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.827 323.9 325.0 5.1 .3 .2 .4 .2 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.256 275.9 276.3 4.2 .1 .5 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.254 416.4 418.5 5.3 .5 -.4 .6 .4 

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Sep.

2004

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.697 106.2 106.2 0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.3 103.5 .7 .2 -.3 .2 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.645 110.8 110.5 .7 -.3 .0 .4 -.3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.299 146.3 146.7 6.2 .3 .6 .5 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .215 354.8 355.6 4.4 .2 1.1 -.8 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.084 414.0 415.2 6.4 .3 .5 .6 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.345 87.8 87.1 -3.1 -.8 -.5 .3 -.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.194 86.3 85.6 -3.3 -.8 -.6 .1 -.8 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.622 95.5 94.8 -2.6 -.7 -.6 .3 -.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .572 15.2 15.0 -7.4 -1.3 .0 -.7 -1.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .205 14.8 14.3 -11.7 -3.4 -.7 -.7 -3.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.923 314.4 314.7 2.1 .1 .2 .3 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.248 483.9 483.0 2.6 -.2 .2 .3 -.2 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.675 180.9 181.4 1.9 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .737 154.0 154.3 .1 .2 -.5 .6 .2 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .610 199.7 199.9 1.8 .1 .7 .1 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.152 296.2 296.6 3.9 .1 .3 .4 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.582 155.7 158.0 4.0 1.5 -.1 .3 1.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 186.8 187.9 3.4 .6 .1 .0 .5 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.430 138.2 141.0 4.3 2.0 -.3 .4 1.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.671 161.2 166.5 8.4 3.3 -.6 -1.2 4.2 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.357 120.6 123.5 -.3 2.4 -.4 .3 .3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.315 190.1 196.9 12.1 3.6 -.6 .1 4.2 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.759 113.7 114.3 -.3 .5 .1 .7 .4 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.418 220.3 220.0 2.6 -.1 .2 .1 .1

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.813 205.5 205.9 2.6 .2 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .337 116.8 116.5 .4 -.3 .2 .3 -.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.930 155.3 149.1 3.1 -4.0 .6 -1.0 -1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .933 125.8 126.1 6.1 .2 .4 .4 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .318 127.6 127.9 3.4 .2 .4 -.3 .2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.241 220.5 222.0 1.4 .7 .0 .0 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.827 323.9 325.0 5.1 .3 .2 .4 .2 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.020 256.0 255.9 2.1 .0 .1 .5 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 83.939 185.1 186.2 3.2 .6 .0 .3 .6 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.849 177.3 178.6 3.5 .7 .0 .2 .8 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 95.031 180.0 181.1 3.1 .6 .0 .2 .7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.520 140.2 142.9 4.3 1.9 -.3 .4 1.7 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.761 163.2 168.2 8.0 3.1 -.6 -1.1 4.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.405 189.7 195.8 11.2 3.2 -.6 .1 4.0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 31.823 174.5 177.7 5.7 1.8 -.2 -.6 2.3

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.605 209.5 208.6 2.7 -.4 .2 .2 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.592 212.3 212.0 2.5 -.1 .2 .1 .0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.114 154.2 157.8 15.8 2.3 -.5 -.3 4.3 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.886 190.2 191.0 2.1 .4 .1 .3 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 75.825 191.4 192.1 1.9 .4 .1 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 24.337 139.5 140.5 .1 .7 .0 .4 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.183 162.3 174.5 27.2 7.5 -1.3 .3 8.6 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.488 227.4 227.9 2.6 .2 .1 .3 .1 

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

 $ .539 $ .536 -----

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

 $ .181 $ .180 -----

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—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 184.9 185.0 185.3 186.5 1.8 3.8 4.0 3.5 2.8 3.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 186.9 187.0 187.0 188.0 3.6 2.2 5.5 2.4 2.9 3.9

Food ....................................................................................... 186.4 186.6 186.5 187.5 3.6 2.0 5.8 2.4 2.8 4.1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 186.5 186.4 185.9 187.3 3.8 1.3 7.4 1.7 2.6 4.5

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 206.3 206.2 206.5 207.1 1.2 3.0 1.6 1.6 2.1 1.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 183.8 184.0 183.6 182.9 16.1 -2.9 10.9 -1.9 6.2 4.3 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 188.7 185.4 181.6 180.9 1.4 7.4 36.7 -15.5 4.4 7.5 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 224.4 225.1 226.4 240.5 -6.2 2.2 -.7 31.9 -2.1 14.5

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.7 139.8 140.2 139.7 .6 -2.6 2.6 .0 -1.0 1.3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.3 165.6 164.7 165.1 -1.2 5.5 2.2 -.5 2.1 .9 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.5 163.6 163.1 162.5 -2.2 1.5 1.0 .0 -.4 .5 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 172.2 169.7 169.9 168.4 6.5 15.0 15.0 -8.5 10.6 2.5 

Other foods ....................................................................... 180.4 181.0 179.7 180.9 -2.6 4.6 .0 1.1 .9 .6

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.7 112.0 111.0 110.3 -5.6 5.2 -4.6 2.2 -.4 -1.3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 187.6 188.2 188.8 189.3 3.3 2.8 3.3 3.7 3.1 3.5 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 125.0 125.3 125.5 126.4 5.3 2.6 1.6 4.6 4.0 3.1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 192.2 192.8 194.0 193.9 3.0 5.6 .2 3.6 4.3 1.9 

Housing .................................................................................... 185.5 185.9 186.1 186.4 2.4 2.9 3.8 2.0 2.7 2.8 

Shelter .................................................................................... 212.7 213.0 213.5 213.9 2.3 3.5 2.7 2.3 2.9 2.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 210.6 211.2 211.6 212.2 2.0 3.3 3.3 3.1 2.6 3.2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 127.8 126.5 128.7 128.7 4.0 14.3 1.3 2.8 9.0 2.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 204.6 204.9 205.1 205.5 2.0 2.4 3.0 1.8 2.2 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.3 116.5 116.8 116.5 -3.7 3.9 1.0 .7 .0 .9 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 162.7 164.0 163.0 162.6 5.3 1.3 14.2 -.2 3.3 6.7 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 144.7 145.9 144.8 144.1 5.0 .3 15.8 -1.6 2.6 6.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 157.4 165.9 169.6 183.6 30.4 -3.5 45.2 85.1 12.2 63.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 151.6 152.5 151.0 149.5 3.9 .5 14.0 -5.4 2.2 3.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 124.7 125.2 125.7 126.1 5.8 6.1 7.7 4.6 6.0 6.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 120.5 120.4 120.6 121.7 .7 -.7 -1.6 4.0 .0 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 127.5 128.0 127.6 127.9 .0 6.3 6.2 1.3 3.1 3.7 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.9 119.4 119.7 120.0 -3.0 3.0 -1.7 .3 .0 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.3 116.6 116.5 115.4 2.1 .7 .0 -9.5 1.4 -4.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 112.8 112.2 111.8 114.1 -5.9 6.6 -1.4 4.7 .2 1.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 120.5 119.0 121.5 120.4 -7.2 -1.6 -4.5 -.3 -4.4 -2.4

Footwear ................................................................................ 116.1 117.7 119.9 118.7 -4.6 .0 -5.3 9.3 -2.3 1.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 161.9 161.5 162.1 165.9 .0 7.7 8.0 10.3 3.8 9.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 159.2 158.9 159.6 163.4 .0 7.8 8.7 11.0 3.8 9.9

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 92.4 92.6 93.3 93.6 -5.4 .0 .0 5.3 -2.8 2.6 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.8 137.3 137.1 137.6 -.9 .6 -1.4 -.6 -.1 -1.0

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 133.0 134.6 137.3 137.6 -12.1 1.5 2.8 14.6 -5.5 8.5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 163.8 161.1 161.5 175.4 10.8 33.4 33.1 31.5 21.6 32.3 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 163.2 160.5 160.7 174.6 10.9 33.5 32.9 31.0 21.7 31.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.2 108.4 108.7 108.9 .4 -.4 2.6 2.6 .0 2.6 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 202.3 203.1 202.7 203.6 2.6 1.4 3.8 2.6 2.0 3.2 

Public transportation ............................................................... 207.9 205.1 202.1 204.8 -2.6 3.7 -3.6 -5.8 .5 -4.7 

Medical care ............................................................................. 310.2 310.9 312.2 313.0 4.2 6.5 3.6 3.7 5.3 3.6 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 263.2 263.6 264.8 265.7 .9 3.9 1.1 3.9 2.4 2.5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 322.4 323.2 324.6 325.4 5.1 7.2 4.3 3.8 6.2 4.1

Professional services ........................................................... 274.5 275.8 276.2 276.6 3.5 7.5 2.7 3.1 5.5 2.9

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 416.4 414.9 417.3 418.9 7.4 4.7 6.6 2.4 6.1 4.5 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.3 106.1 106.3 106.4 0.8 2.7 -0.4 0.4 1.7 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.7 103.4 103.6 104.0 -1.9 3.6 .4 1.2 .8 .8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.9 109.9 110.3 110.0 1.1 1.8 -.4 .4 1.5 .0 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 142.7 143.5 144.2 145.0 6.9 6.2 5.5 6.6 6.6 6.1 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 351.8 355.8 353.1 354.5 5.9 7.6 1.1 3.1 6.8 2.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 403.3 405.4 407.9 409.9 7.0 6.0 6.2 6.7 6.5 6.4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 88.1 87.7 88.0 87.2 -3.5 -.9 -4.4 -4.0 -2.2 -4.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 86.7 86.2 86.3 85.6 -1.3 -3.1 -3.6 -5.0 -2.2 -4.3 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.8 95.2 95.5 94.8 -.4 -2.0 -3.7 -4.1 -1.2 -3.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.3 15.3 15.2 15.0 -9.5 -7.4 -5.1 -7.6 -8.5 -6.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.0 14.9 14.8 14.3 -9.5 -5.0 -14.5 -17.4 -7.3 -16.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 312.9 313.5 314.4 314.7 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.0 2.3

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 481.6 482.6 483.9 483.0 2.7 .3 6.5 1.2 1.4 3.8 

Personal care ......................................................................... 180.1 180.5 180.9 181.4 1.6 2.9 .4 2.9 2.3 1.7 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.9 153.1 154.0 154.3 .5 2.1 -3.1 1.0 1.3 -1.0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 198.1 199.5 199.7 199.9 -2.4 3.1 3.1 3.7 .3 3.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 294.4 295.4 296.5 296.9 3.8 5.7 2.5 3.4 4.7 3.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 155.7 155.5 155.9 157.9 1.1 4.5 4.8 5.8 2.8 5.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 186.9 187.0 187.0 188.0 3.6 2.2 5.5 2.4 2.9 3.9

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 138.2 137.8 138.3 140.8 -.6 5.8 4.8 7.7 2.5 6.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 161.3 160.3 158.4 165.1 7.6 6.9 9.4 9.8 7.2 9.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.9 119.4 119.7 120.0 -3.0 3.0 -1.7 .3 .0 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 190.8 189.6 189.8 197.7 4.1 14.9 14.1 15.3 9.4 14.7 

Durables ................................................................................. 113.2 113.3 114.1 114.5 -3.8 .0 -2.1 4.7 -1.9 1.2 

Services ...................................................................................... 219.2 219.6 219.9 220.1 2.3 3.2 3.5 1.7 2.7 2.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 204.9 205.1 205.7 205.9 2.0 3.8 2.8 2.0 2.9 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.3 116.5 116.8 116.5 -3.7 3.9 1.0 .7 .0 .9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 151.6 152.5 151.0 149.5 3.9 .5 14.0 -5.4 2.2 3.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 124.7 125.2 125.7 126.1 5.8 6.1 7.7 4.6 6.0 6.1 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 127.5 128.0 127.6 127.9 .0 6.3 6.2 1.3 3.1 3.7 

Transportation services ............................................................ 221.4 221.4 221.4 222.1 .4 1.1 2.6 1.3 .7 1.9

Medical care services ............................................................... 322.4 323.2 324.6 325.4 5.1 7.2 4.3 3.8 6.2 4.1 

Other services .......................................................................... 254.1 254.3 255.5 255.4 2.1 2.9 1.3 2.1 2.5 1.7 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 184.5 184.5 185.0 186.2 1.3 4.0 4.0 3.7 2.7 3.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 176.8 176.8 177.1 178.6 1.6 4.0 4.7 4.1 2.8 4.4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 179.6 179.6 179.9 181.1 1.6 3.4 4.3 3.4 2.5 3.9 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 140.1 139.7 140.3 142.7 -.3 6.0 4.4 7.6 2.8 6.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 163.3 162.3 160.5 167.0 6.6 6.8 9.3 9.4 6.7 9.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 190.2 189.0 189.1 196.6 2.5 17.7 11.0 14.2 9.8 12.6

Nondurables ............................................................................... 174.5 174.2 173.1 177.0 5.4 4.3 7.4 5.9 4.8 6.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 207.9 208.3 208.7 208.8 2.4 2.6 4.1 1.7 2.5 2.9 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 211.2 211.6 211.9 212.0 2.1 2.9 3.3 1.5 2.5 2.4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 153.5 152.8 152.4 159.0 8.1 16.0 24.6 15.1 12.0 19.7 

All items less energy .................................................................. 189.7 189.8 190.3 190.8 1.3 2.6 2.4 2.3 1.9 2.3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 190.7 190.9 191.4 191.8 .9 2.8 1.5 2.3 1.8 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.0 139.0 139.5 139.9 -2.3 1.4 -.9 2.6 -.4 .9 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 164.1 162.0 162.5 176.5 11.7 31.1 33.7 33.8 21.0 33.8 

Services less energy services ................................................ 226.7 227.0 227.6 227.9 2.2 3.3 2.9 2.1 2.7 2.5 

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

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

4 Indexes on a December 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

Oct.2004 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2004 from—

July

2004

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Sep.

2003

July

2004

Aug.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 184.9 185.0 185.4 186.5 3.2 0.8 0.6 2.4 0.3 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 197.3 197.2 197.7 199.0 3.6 .9 .7 3.0 .2 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.0 198.1 198.4 199.7 3.4 .8 .7 2.8 .2 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.1 118.7 119.2 120.1 4.2 1.2 .8 3.6 .1 .4 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 178.0 178.2 178.6 179.5 3.1 .7 .5 2.3 .3 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 179.5 179.8 180.2 181.1 2.9 .7 .5 2.2 .4 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.5 115.7 115.9 116.6 3.5 .8 .6 2.4 .3 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 173.7 173.4 173.7 174.4 3.0 .6 .4 2.2 .0 .2 

South urban .................................................... M 179.3 179.4 179.7 180.6 3.3 .7 .5 2.5 .2 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 181.2 181.2 181.4 182.5 2.9 .7 .6 2.2 .1 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.2 115.3 115.4 115.9 3.4 .5 .4 2.7 .2 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 179.4 179.5 180.7 182.3 4.3 1.6 .9 2.7 .7 .7 

West urban ..................................................... M 188.0 188.0 188.8 190.0 3.0 1.1 .6 2.1 .4 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 188.9 188.9 189.9 191.0 3.0 1.1 .6 2.0 .5 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.4 117.6 117.8 118.7 3.2 .9 .8 2.2 .3 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 171.3 171.4 171.8 172.8 3.0 .8 .6 2.3 .3 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 116.2 116.2 116.5 117.2 3.5 .9 .6 2.6 .3 .3 

D ................................................................. M 179.0 178.8 179.7 180.8 3.4 1.1 .6 2.3 .4 .5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 182.4 183.2 183.1 184.0 2.7 .4 .5 1.8 .4 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 186.8 186.5 187.8 189.8 4.7 1.8 1.1 3.2 .5 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 200.1 200.3 200.6 201.9 3.4 .8 .6 2.9 .2 .1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 207.9 -

 208.8 ---- 1.3 .4 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 172.8 - 174.8 ---- 3.1 1.2 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 179.4 -

 180.0 ---- 1.9 .3 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 119.7 - 120.4 ---- 3.0 .6 -

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

 182.5 - 181.7 2.3 -.4 ----

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

 181.5 - 183.0 2.7 .8 ----

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 167.4 - 169.5 3.4 1.3 ----

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

 182.9 - 185.1 3.4 1.2 ----

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 198.0 - 199.8 5.0 .9 ----

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

 195.0 - 196.4 2.3 .7 ----

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 189.6 - 191.6 2.0 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

 Oct. 2004 from—

 Sep.

 2004

 Oct.

 2004

 Oct.

 2003

 Sep.

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 110.6 111.1 2.7 0.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 111.6 112.2 3.1 .5 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 111.6 112.2 3.2 .5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 110.2 111.3 3.2 1.0 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 113.3 113.5 3.2 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 112.1 112.1 2.8 .0 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 114.9 114.9 2.6 .0 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 116.4 116.6 2.6 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 128.2 124.9 4.7 -2.6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 95.1 96.1 .4 1.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 91.5 93.6 -1.0 2.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 107.6 109.5 4.7 1.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 108.0 110.0 5.3 1.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 101.4 101.9 -3.1 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 122.2 122.6 4.3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 115.4 115.7 2.5 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 124.6 124.9 5.0 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.3 103.4 .1 .1 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 100.1 99.6 .0 -.5 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 136.0 136.3 6.4 .2 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 78.8 78.0 -4.3 -1.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 114.5 114.8 2.2 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 117.0 116.9 2.5 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 102.3 103.6 2.9 1.3 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 86.3 86.7 -.8 .5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 109.9 111.7 4.6 1.6 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 108.4 108.8 1.7 .4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 135.5 137.5 14.1 1.5 

Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.

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