Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-10-0813

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, June 17, 2010 

Technical information: (202) 691-7000 • Reed.Steve@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cpi 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

(NOTE: This release was reissued on Friday, July 16, 2010, to correct errors in the January-April 2010 

data. Corrections have been made to Table 7. There were no changes made to the text of the release.) 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX –MAY 2010 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.2 percent in May on a 

seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, 

the index increased 2.0 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

For the second month in a row a decline in the energy index accounted for the seasonally adjusted 

decrease in the all items index. The index for energy decreased 2.9 percent in May and more than offset 

a slight increase in the index for all items less food and energy. The food index was unchanged. Within 

the energy component, the gasoline index accounted for most of the decrease, although all the major 

energy indexes declined. 

 

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in May, posting a monthly increase 

for only the second time this year. Contributing to the May rise were increases in a number of indexes 

including shelter, used cars and trucks, tobacco, apparel, and medical care. The index has increased 0.9 

percent over the last 12 months. 

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, May 2009 - May 2010

Percent change

 0.1

 0.7

 0.1

 0.4

 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

 0.0

 0.1

 -0.1

 -0.2
- 2 -

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, May 2009 - May 2010

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10
- 3 -

Consumer Price Index Data for May 2010 

Food 

The food index was unchanged in May after increasing 0.2 percent each of the last two months. The 

food away from home index rose 0.1 percent while the food at home index was unchanged. Within the 

food at home group, declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for nonalcoholic beverages 

offset increases in the other major grocery store food group indexes. The fruits and vegetables index fell 

1.1 percent after declining 0.2 percent in April. The index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.8 

percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.4 percent due to increases in the beef and 

pork indexes. The index for other food at home rose 0.3 percent, and the indexes for cereals and bakery 

products and for dairy and related products both increased 0.2 percent. For the past 12 months the food 

index has risen 0.7 percent, with the index for food at home up 0.3 percent and the index for food away 

from home up 1.1 percent. 

Energy 

The energy index declined 2.9 percent in May following a 1.4 percent decrease in April. The gasoline 

index declined 5.2 percent in May after falling 2.4 percent in April. (Before seasonal adjustment, 

gasoline prices rose 0.7 percent in May.) The index for household energy also declined in May, falling 

0.6 percent. The fuel oil index declined 1.4 percent, the index for natural gas fell 1.0 percent, and the 

electricity index decreased 0.4 percent. Despite the May decline, the energy index has risen 14.7 percent 

over the last 12 months, with all components increasing during that time period including a 27.0 percent 

increase in the gasoline index. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May after being unchanged each of the 

previous two months. The shelter index increased for the first time since August 2009, rising 0.1 

percent. The rise was mostly due to the index for lodging away from home, which increased 2.5 percent. 

The indexes for both rent and owners’ equivalent rent were unchanged in May. Several transportation 

indexes rose in May. The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.6 percent and has now risen 16.2 

percent over the last 12 months. The index for new vehicles also increased, rising 0.1 percent. The index 

for airline fares rose 1.9 percent in May after increasing 2.2 percent in April. The tobacco index rose 1.3 

percent in May, and the indexes for apparel and for medical care posted small increases of 0.2 percent 

and 0.1 percent, respectively. The index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged in 

May after declining in each of the previous four months. The index for recreation was also unchanged. 

Over the last 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy has risen 0.9 percent, well below 

the 2.0 percent average annual increase over the past 10 years. 

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.0 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 218.178 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.1 percent prior to 

seasonal adjustment. 
- 4 -

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.6 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 214.124 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

rose 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.0 percent over the 

last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please 

note that the indexes for the post-2008 period are subject to revision. 

The Consumer Price Index for June 2010 is scheduled to be released on Friday, July 16, 2010, at 

8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
- 5 -

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

groups: (1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households 

of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and 

(2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPIU), 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 each month in 87 urban areas across the country from about 4,000 housing 

units and approximately 25,000 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 C-CPI-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. 
- 6 -

Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 

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

These standard error estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For 

example, the estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.04 percent for the U.S. All 

Items Consumer Price Index. This means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail 

prices using the same methodology, and estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of 

these estimates would be within 0.08 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. 

For example, for a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 

95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between 0.12 and 

0.28 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the estimates of standard error, 

see “Variance Estimates for Price Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January-December 2009”. 

These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or by using the following link 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2009.pdf 

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation 

of index point and percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
- 7 -

Regions Defined 

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

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

and Vermont. 

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

and Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Washington, and Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

before adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

Each year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2005 through 

December 2009 were replaced in January 2010. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the 

updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January 2002, 

dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a 

change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see 

“Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series,” in the October 2001 issue of the 

CPI Detailed Report. 

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

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

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

from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the 

aggregation of the dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used 

before that period. Note: 46 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2010. 

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. 
- 8 -

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some 

CPI series. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally 

adjusted data. Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are 

estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the 

calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis 

Seasonal Adjustment. 

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2010, BLS adjusted 30 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact David 

Levin at (202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Levin.David@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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Apr.

2010

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 218.009 218.178 2.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 

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

 653.059 653.564 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.536 219.693 .7 .1 .2 .2 .0 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.738 219.218 219.374 .7 .1 .2 .2 .0 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.801 215.737 215.793 .3 .0 .5 .2 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.108 250.425 251.269 -.6 .3 -.1 -.3 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.745 205.178 205.679 .9 .2 .2 1.4 .4 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .820 197.308 197.749 .9 .2 .0 -.8 .2 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.153 279.272 277.887 1.4 -.5 3.4 -.2 -1.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .952 162.128 160.982 -1.1 -.7 .0 .4 -.8 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.023 191.017 191.461 .2 .2 -.2 .0 .3 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .295 200.775 202.123 2.9 .7 -1.1 .1 1.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 197.749 199.510 -.6 .9 -.5 .7 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.496 204.947 205.036 -.3 .0 .0 -.2 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .439 122.298 120.607 -1.8 -1.4 .9 .0 -1.4 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 5.937 225.276 225.573 1.1 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .326 158.738 158.529 2.2 -.1 .1 .1 -.1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.056 222.299 222.463 1.1 .1 .0 .0 .2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.960 215.798 215.981 -.5 .1 .0 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.289 248.031 248.100 -.7 .0 -.1 .0 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.966 249.012 248.925 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .769 134.331 136.121 .3 1.3 .3 1.4 2.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 25.206 256.170 256.163 -.3 .0 -.1 .0 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 23.593 256.165 256.159 -.3 .0 -.1 .0 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .347 124.879 125.036 3.6 .1 .0 .4 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.081 211.726 212.773 3.1 .5 1.1 -.2 -.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.028 187.054 188.017 2.3 .5 1.3 -.4 -.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .276 278.080 272.606 21.1 -2.0 -.5 .7 -2.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.752 190.284 191.628 1.1 .7 1.4 -.5 -.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.052 169.116 169.825 6.5 .4 .5 .6 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.590 125.997 126.029 -2.8 .0 -.4 -.5 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.068 150.575 .7 .3 .2 .0 .3 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.695 122.143 121.006 -.6 -.9 -.4 -.7 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .903 113.692 113.885 -2.8 .2 -.7 -.6 .5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.580 110.816 108.686 -.7 -1.9 -.5 -1.5 .3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .196 116.469 114.412 .2 -1.8 .4 .2 -.4 

Footwear .................................................................................. .721 129.432 128.738 1.0 -.5 -1.0 .0 .0 

Transportation ............................................................................ 16.685 193.994 194.761 10.7 .4 -.1 -.5 -1.2 

Private transportation ............................................................... 15.497 189.503 190.071 10.7 .3 -.1 -.7 -1.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.386 96.815 96.890 4.5 .1 .2 -.2 .2 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.573 138.174 137.750 1.9 -.3 .1 .0 .1 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.012 141.315 142.537 16.2 .9 .5 .2 .6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.525 244.801 246.671 27.4 .8 -1.1 -2.3 -5.0 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 4.337 244.347 246.080 27.0 .7 -.8 -2.4 -5.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .401 135.701 136.135 1.3 .3 -.1 .1 .3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.167 247.355 247.311 2.0 .0 .3 .3 .0 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.187 249.135 253.275 10.7 1.7 .5 1.7 1.5 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.513 387.703 387.762 3.4 .0 .3 .2 .1 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.611 314.535 314.923 3.4 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.902 410.256 410.173 3.4 .0 .3 .3 .0 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.796 327.015 327.121 2.4 .0 .0 .2 .0 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Apr.

2010

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.619 604.756 605.313 7.3 0.1 1.0 0.4 0.4 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.437 113.781 113.684 -.5 -.1 -.1 .3 .0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.894 100.074 99.572 -2.3 -.5 .1 -.1 -.3 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.434 129.344 129.270 2.2 -.1 .3 .2 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.035 196.798 196.917 4.8 .1 .6 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .200 501.170 502.345 6.3 .2 .0 .2 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.835 565.709 565.983 4.7 .0 .6 .5 .3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.399 84.947 84.809 -.3 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.225 81.784 81.641 -.5 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.392 102.394 102.369 .1 .0 .0 .1 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .833 9.530 9.473 -3.1 -.6 .1 -.2 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .246 78.234 76.676 -9.1 -2.0 .0 -.4 -1.3 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.483 378.911 379.714 2.7 .2 .1 .0 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .871 788.066 798.192 7.8 1.3 .2 .1 1.3 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.612 206.599 206.296 .8 -.1 .0 -.1 -.2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .688 161.601 160.351 -1.7 -.8 .2 -.5 -.8 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .642 229.635 230.013 1.1 .2 .1 .5 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.048 352.779 353.522 3.1 .2 .3 .1 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.816 175.333 175.333 3.7 .0 -.1 -.4 -.6 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.536 219.693 .7 .1 .2 .2 .0 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.021 151.621 151.559 5.6 .0 -.2 -.7 -.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.044 192.335 192.201 8.3 -.1 -.8 -1.3 -1.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.695 122.143 121.006 -.6 -.9 -.4 -.7 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.349 240.381 240.876 11.5 .2 -.6 -1.6 -2.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.978 111.450 111.454 1.6 .0 -.1 -.2 .1 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.184 260.420 260.756 .9 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 31.942 258.457 258.525 -.7 .0 -.3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .347 124.879 125.036 3.6 .1 .0 .4 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.752 190.284 191.628 1.1 .7 1.4 -.5 -.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.052 169.116 169.825 6.5 .4 .5 .6 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.068 150.575 .7 .3 .2 .0 .3 

Transportation services .............................................................. 6.060 258.384 259.325 4.3 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.902 410.256 410.173 3.4 .0 .3 .3 .0 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.347 308.493 308.870 2.2 .1 .1 .4 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.262 217.839 218.010 2.2 .1 .0 -.1 -.2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.711 208.722 208.932 3.3 .1 .1 -.1 -.3 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.487 209.669 209.841 1.9 .1 .0 -.1 -.2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.078 154.163 154.106 5.4 .0 -.2 -.7 -.9 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.100 194.159 194.041 7.8 -.1 -.6 -1.3 -1.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.405 237.626 238.090 10.5 .2 -.5 -1.4 -1.8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.838 206.393 206.391 4.4 .0 -.1 -.5 -.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 28.243 282.851 283.541 2.8 .2 .4 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.282 248.733 249.087 .7 .1 .0 .2 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 8.553 212.977 214.363 14.7 .7 .0 -1.4 -2.9 

All items less energy .................................................................... 91.447 220.252 220.298 .9 .0 .1 .1 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.708 221.166 221.193 .9 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.276 144.169 143.888 1.1 -.2 -.1 -.3 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.801 248.165 249.680 27.0 .6 -1.0 -2.1 -4.8 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.432 267.587 267.829 .9 .1 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .459 $ .458 - - - - -

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

 $ .153 $ .153 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010 Nov.

2009

May

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 217.591 217.729 217.579 217.224 4.8 2.4 1.4 -0.7 3.6 0.3 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.838 219.338 219.680 219.764 -.7 .3 1.6 1.7 -.2 1.7 

Food ................................................................................ 218.494 219.032 219.396 219.459 -.9 .1 1.9 1.8 -.4 1.8 

Food at home ................................................................ 214.628 215.622 216.045 215.939 -2.6 -1.2 2.7 2.5 -1.9 2.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.354 250.990 250.147 250.615 -1.1 .7 -.7 -1.2 -.2 -.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 202.506 202.823 205.699 206.622 -4.0 -3.4 3.2 8.4 -3.7 5.7 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 198.800 198.814 197.308 197.749 -7.3 3.2 10.5 -2.1 -2.2 4.0 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 272.571 281.805 281.331 278.110 -3.5 -4.9 6.5 8.4 -4.2 7.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 161.872 161.908 162.487 161.177 -.6 -1.5 -.7 -1.7 -1.0 -1.2 

Other food at home ..................................................... 191.211 190.831 190.748 191.270 -.5 .3 .7 .1 -.1 .4 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 201.656 199.463 199.672 202.040 -1.3 6.8 5.5 .8 2.7 3.1 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 199.352 198.373 199.755 199.880 -2.3 -4.0 3.0 1.1 -3.1 2.0 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.793 204.843 204.458 204.717 .0 -.3 -.6 -.1 -.2 -.4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.172 122.318 122.298 120.607 -3.0 -2.0 -.3 -1.9 -2.5 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.081 224.991 225.276 225.573 1.2 1.7 .8 .9 1.4 .8 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 158.569 158.657 158.738 158.529 4.2 .8 4.0 -.1 2.5 1.9 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 221.954 221.946 222.001 222.354 2.4 2.8 -1.4 .7 2.6 -.3 

Housing ............................................................................. 216.181 216.280 216.129 216.172 -.5 .1 -1.3 .0 -.2 -.7 

Shelter ............................................................................. 247.976 247.812 247.855 248.080 .0 -.8 -1.9 .2 -.4 -.9 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 248.813 248.957 248.982 249.015 .1 -.7 .0 .3 -.3 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 129.776 130.195 132.018 135.330 -5.6 -.9 -7.5 18.2 -3.3 4.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 256.449 256.170 256.091 256.166 .5 -.8 -.4 -.4 -.1 -.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 256.445 256.163 256.086 256.161 .5 -.8 -.4 -.4 -.1 -.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 124.439 124.416 124.879 125.036 3.7 1.4 7.4 1.9 2.5 4.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 213.770 216.172 215.725 214.885 -1.9 8.8 3.6 2.1 3.3 2.9 

Household energy ......................................................... 189.753 192.188 191.400 190.232 -3.8 9.7 2.7 1.0 2.7 1.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 277.284 276.027 278.080 272.606 23.8 44.1 28.9 -6.6 33.6 9.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 193.283 196.019 195.046 194.056 -5.5 7.5 .9 1.6 .8 1.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 167.696 168.543 169.531 170.317 6.6 5.1 7.9 6.4 5.8 7.1 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 126.879 126.389 125.722 125.708 -2.5 -2.7 -2.3 -3.6 -2.6 -3.0 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 149.707 149.999 150.068 150.575 2.8 -1.0 -1.1 2.3 .9 .6 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.814 119.316 118.459 118.740 3.9 -1.2 -1.4 -3.5 1.3 -2.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 111.748 111.014 110.398 110.897 -1.2 -4.6 -2.2 -3.0 -2.9 -2.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 108.261 107.682 106.015 106.381 7.5 -3.5 .5 -6.8 1.8 -3.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.551 114.027 114.244 113.803 9.4 -7.2 -1.4 .9 .7 -.2 

Footwear ......................................................................... 128.641 127.341 127.337 127.334 4.5 3.8 -.2 -4.0 4.1 -2.1 

Transportation ................................................................... 193.332 193.195 192.243 189.994 30.3 12.8 8.0 -6.7 21.2 .4 

Private transportation ...................................................... 189.062 188.843 187.597 185.021 31.9 12.2 8.9 -8.3 21.6 -.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 96.794 96.993 96.840 97.011 2.3 11.8 3.4 .9 7.0 2.1 

New vehicles ............................................................... 137.648 137.793 137.747 137.840 .6 9.4 -2.5 .6 4.9 -1.0 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 140.963 141.683 141.905 142.691 12.5 29.9 18.8 5.0 20.9 11.7 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 244.826 242.182 236.628 224.806 156.6 18.2 22.2 -28.9 74.2 -6.8 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 244.409 242.413 236.631 224.391 154.5 17.2 22.9 -29.0 72.7 -6.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 135.649 135.523 135.701 136.135 -2.4 2.1 4.3 1.4 -.2 2.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 245.969 246.624 247.355 247.311 1.7 3.4 .7 2.2 2.5 1.5 

Public transportation ....................................................... 244.713 246.023 250.293 254.009 9.4 21.6 -2.9 16.1 15.3 6.2 

Medical care ...................................................................... 384.703 386.007 386.905 387.136 2.7 3.6 4.8 2.6 3.1 3.7 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 312.864 314.023 314.535 314.923 1.5 3.6 5.7 2.7 2.5 4.2 

Medical care services ..................................................... 406.755 408.092 409.135 409.293 3.1 3.5 4.5 2.5 3.3 3.5 

Professional services .................................................... 325.373 325.393 326.134 326.207 2.4 2.8 3.6 1.0 2.6 2.3 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010 Nov.

2009

May

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 593.869 599.951 602.052 604.503 6.6 6.6 8.7 7.4 6.6 8.0 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.415 113.299 113.612 113.557 1.7 -2.2 -1.9 .5 -.3 -.7 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.571 99.650 99.556 99.212 -.8 -3.1 -3.9 -1.4 -2.0 -2.7 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 129.141 129.533 129.852 129.932 2.4 1.1 2.8 2.5 1.8 2.6 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 196.252 197.418 198.426 199.041 5.6 3.0 5.0 5.8 4.3 5.4 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 502.169 501.997 502.840 505.738 9.8 6.5 6.1 2.9 8.2 4.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 563.950 567.553 570.587 572.249 5.2 2.7 5.0 6.0 4.0 5.5 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.905 84.942 84.950 84.811 -.7 -.6 .6 -.4 -.7 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.743 81.776 81.784 81.641 -1.0 -.7 .3 -.5 -.9 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.288 102.298 102.394 102.369 1.6 -.6 -.9 .3 .5 -.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.540 9.552 9.530 9.473 -10.8 -1.3 3.1 -2.8 -6.2 .1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 77.518 77.541 77.198 76.179 -20.8 -1.5 -6.3 -6.7 -11.7 -6.5 

Other goods and services ................................................. 378.091 378.386 378.248 379.027 4.7 3.8 1.2 1.0 4.2 1.1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 785.714 787.268 788.066 798.192 13.2 9.7 2.2 6.5 11.4 4.3 

Personal care .................................................................. 206.209 206.287 206.116 205.796 1.7 1.6 .9 -.8 1.7 .0 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.029 162.367 161.601 160.351 -1.4 -1.8 .7 -4.1 -1.6 -1.7 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 228.107 228.429 229.635 230.013 .0 1.4 -.4 3.4 .7 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 351.082 352.109 352.300 352.658 3.6 4.8 2.1 1.8 4.2 1.9 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 174.878 174.762 174.112 173.127 10.5 4.2 3.7 -3.9 7.3 -.2 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.838 219.338 219.680 219.764 -.7 .3 1.6 1.7 -.2 1.7 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 151.280 150.920 149.892 148.511 18.1 6.6 5.0 -7.1 12.2 -1.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 192.192 190.632 188.173 185.316 36.8 7.3 8.3 -13.6 21.2 -3.2 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.814 119.316 118.459 118.740 3.9 -1.2 -1.4 -3.5 1.3 -2.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 241.214 239.779 235.996 231.178 50.9 8.8 11.5 -15.6 28.1 -3.0 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.514 111.430 111.244 111.315 -.3 6.9 .9 -.7 3.2 .1 

Services .............................................................................. 260.045 260.469 260.792 261.066 1.0 1.2 -.1 1.6 1.1 .7 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 258.517 257.746 257.900 258.334 -.1 -.4 -2.0 -.3 -.3 -1.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 124.439 124.416 124.879 125.036 3.7 1.4 7.4 1.9 2.5 4.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 193.283 196.019 195.046 194.056 -5.5 7.5 .9 1.6 .8 1.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 167.696 168.543 169.531 170.317 6.6 5.1 7.9 6.4 5.8 7.1 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 149.707 149.999 150.068 150.575 2.8 -1.0 -1.1 2.3 .9 .6 

Transportation services ..................................................... 256.676 257.816 258.879 259.890 3.4 7.3 1.5 5.1 5.3 3.3 

Medical care services ....................................................... 406.755 408.092 409.135 409.293 3.1 3.5 4.5 2.5 3.3 3.5 

Other services ................................................................... 307.265 307.678 308.870 309.426 3.7 .9 1.4 2.8 2.3 2.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 217.469 217.544 217.313 216.892 5.8 2.8 1.3 -1.1 4.3 .1 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 208.155 208.414 208.187 207.597 7.2 4.0 2.9 -1.1 5.6 .9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 209.353 209.445 209.257 208.883 5.0 2.3 1.1 -.9 3.6 .1 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 153.820 153.468 152.467 151.127 17.4 6.4 4.7 -6.8 11.8 -1.2 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 193.959 192.716 190.158 187.713 34.3 6.2 7.9 -12.3 19.4 -2.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 238.287 237.059 233.688 229.400 45.8 8.0 10.2 -14.1 25.5 -2.7 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 205.792 205.619 204.613 202.850 15.9 4.2 4.2 -5.6 9.9 -.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 282.121 283.215 284.130 284.374 2.0 3.7 2.3 3.2 2.9 2.8 

Services less medical care services ................................... 248.541 248.658 249.037 249.394 .6 1.4 -.6 1.4 1.0 .4 

Energy ................................................................................. 214.379 214.376 211.324 205.093 56.8 14.2 12.8 -16.2 33.8 -2.8 

All items less energy ........................................................... 219.646 219.799 219.942 220.179 1.0 1.3 .3 1.0 1.2 .7 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 220.579 220.664 220.768 221.037 1.4 1.6 .1 .8 1.5 .4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 143.761 143.666 143.279 143.357 1.2 3.6 .7 -1.1 2.4 -.2 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 248.149 245.556 240.344 228.758 145.5 19.6 22.6 -27.8 71.3 -5.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 266.894 267.103 267.547 267.941 1.5 .8 -.2 1.6 1.1 .7 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

May2010 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2010 from—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

Apr.

2009

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 216.741 217.631 218.009 218.178 2.0 0.3 0.1 2.2 0.6 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 232.382 233.188 233.615 234.130 2.6 .4 .2 2.5 .5 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 234.183 235.060 235.496 236.054 2.4 .4 .2 2.2 .6 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.491 138.871 139.115 139.362 3.3 .4 .2 3.4 .5 .2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 206.563 207.359 207.777 207.987 2.4 .3 .1 2.7 .6 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 207.329 207.975 208.308 208.489 2.0 .2 .1 2.4 .5 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.451 133.096 133.510 133.772 2.9 .5 .2 3.0 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 203.274 204.204 204.326 204.026 2.6 -.1 -.1 3.4 .5 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 210.020 211.216 211.528 211.423 2.0 .1 .0 2.4 .7 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.503 212.692 213.052 213.101 1.8 .2 .0 2.0 .7 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.575 134.363 134.606 134.500 2.1 .1 -.1 2.5 .8 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 214.007 215.026 214.714 214.336 2.3 -.3 -.2 3.3 .3 -.1 

West urban ..................................................... M 220.179 220.809 221.202 221.417 1.3 .3 .1 1.5 .5 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 223.989 224.636 225.040 225.571 1.3 .4 .2 1.5 .5 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.513 133.863 134.133 133.889 1.4 .0 -.2 1.7 .5 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 197.949 198.695 199.043 199.358 1.8 .3 .2 2.0 .6 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 134.028 134.639 134.920 134.909 2.3 .2 .0 2.6 .7 .2 

D ................................................................. M 210.098 211.011 210.968 210.739 1.9 -.1 -.1 2.7 .4 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 212.456 212.952 212.929 212.984 1.5 .0 .0 2.4 .2 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 224.620 225.483 225.916 226.438 1.8 .4 .2 1.9 .6 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 238.862 240.101 240.529 241.075 2.2 .4 .2 2.1 .7 .2 

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

 237.986 - 238.083 2.7 .0 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 203.577 - 204.024 1.9 .2 - - - -

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

 201.982 - 202.108 1.4 .1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 141.741 - 142.025 1.9 .2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 202.646 -

 204.014 - - - - 2.4 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 203.380 -

 205.248 - - - - 1.4 .9 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 192.412 - 194.037 - - - - 2.3 .8 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 222.505 -

 222.625 - - - - .9 .1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 226.529 -

 227.432 - - - - 2.6 .4 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 226.145 -

 227.697 - - - - 1.7 .7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 226.085 - 226.513 - - - - .3 .2 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Apr.

2010

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 213.958 214.124 2.6 0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.3 

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

 637.316 637.809 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 218.730 218.844 .7 .1 .2 .2 .0 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.333 218.319 218.427 .7 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.900 214.498 214.501 .3 .0 .4 .2 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.257 251.031 251.920 -.6 .4 -.1 -.4 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.144 204.878 205.228 .9 .2 .1 1.4 .4 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .898 195.958 196.490 .9 .3 -.1 -.7 .3 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.223 276.727 275.080 1.3 -.6 3.4 -.1 -1.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.123 161.721 160.694 -1.1 -.6 .1 .3 -.7 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.254 190.299 190.643 .1 .2 -.3 .0 .2 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .321 199.665 200.979 3.1 .7 -1.1 .3 1.1 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .259 198.454 200.054 -.7 .8 -1.0 1.1 .0 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.674 205.048 205.031 -.3 .0 .0 -.2 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 122.712 120.869 -1.8 -1.5 .9 .1 -1.5 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.433 225.395 225.657 1.2 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .321 159.088 158.901 2.9 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.092 223.305 223.515 1.3 .1 -.2 .0 .3 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.753 212.368 212.518 -.2 .1 .1 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.171 241.987 241.964 -.4 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.476 247.474 247.352 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .432 135.793 137.067 .7 .9 .4 1.2 2.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 20.959 232.108 232.068 -.3 .0 -.1 .0 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 20.218 232.109 232.070 -.3 .0 -.1 .0 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .303 125.872 126.051 4.0 .1 .0 .4 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.632 210.326 211.426 3.0 .5 1.1 -.1 -.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.517 184.918 185.946 2.2 .6 1.3 -.3 -.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .271 280.770 274.630 19.9 -2.2 -.6 .5 -2.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.246 188.837 190.233 1.2 .7 1.4 -.3 -.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.114 169.766 170.427 6.6 .4 .5 .6 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.950 121.979 122.019 -2.8 .0 -.5 -.7 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .369 152.329 153.176 .8 .6 .3 .2 .6 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.788 121.293 120.267 -.9 -.8 -.7 -.8 .4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .945 113.538 113.838 -3.3 .3 -1.1 -.3 .7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 109.783 107.882 -.7 -1.7 -.8 -1.8 .5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .285 120.106 117.881 .8 -1.9 .5 .1 -.2 

Footwear .................................................................................. .781 129.112 128.647 .7 -.4 -1.2 .0 .1 

Transportation ............................................................................ 18.647 193.320 194.079 12.1 .4 -.1 -.8 -1.6 

Private transportation ............................................................... 17.881 190.106 190.768 12.2 .3 -.1 -.9 -1.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.952 95.780 95.988 6.6 .2 .2 -.1 .3 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.385 139.192 138.794 2.0 -.3 .1 -.1 .1 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.944 142.173 143.396 16.3 .9 .4 .2 .5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.774 245.949 247.688 27.5 .7 -1.0 -2.7 -5.6 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.530 245.626 247.224 27.1 .7 -.8 -2.4 -5.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .472 135.914 136.182 1.3 .2 -.1 .3 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.180 249.873 249.841 2.0 .0 .3 .3 .0 

Public transportation ................................................................ .766 246.535 250.119 9.9 1.5 .5 1.4 1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.261 389.050 389.029 3.6 .0 .4 .3 .1 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.301 306.117 306.458 3.4 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.961 413.325 413.145 3.7 .0 .4 .3 .1 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.195 330.228 330.396 2.6 .1 .0 .3 .0 

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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Apr.

2010

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.339 605.497 605.593 8.0 0.0 1.1 0.3 0.4 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.031 110.342 110.195 -.9 -.1 -.1 .1 -.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 2.046 100.568 99.977 -2.2 -.6 .1 -.2 -.4 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.175 124.559 124.459 1.8 -.1 .3 .2 .0 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.327 194.275 194.332 4.9 .0 .6 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .196 504.436 504.925 6.3 .1 .2 .2 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.131 546.192 546.319 4.7 .0 .6 .5 .3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.848 87.581 87.453 -.3 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.715 85.394 85.263 -.4 -.2 .1 .0 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.906 102.132 102.101 -.1 .0 .0 .1 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .809 10.087 10.028 -2.4 -.6 .2 -.1 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .225 78.420 76.736 -8.7 -2.1 .2 -.3 -1.4 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.919 405.786 406.973 3.3 .3 .1 .0 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.397 793.243 803.019 7.6 1.2 .2 .1 1.2 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.522 204.294 203.828 .6 -.2 .0 -.1 -.3 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .733 161.604 160.289 -1.7 -.8 .2 -.5 -.8 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .577 229.857 230.263 1.1 .2 .1 .6 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.019 354.593 354.725 2.7 .0 .3 .1 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 43.589 178.269 178.359 4.6 .1 -.1 -.5 -.7 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 218.730 218.844 .7 .1 .2 .2 .0 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 27.164 156.268 156.345 7.0 .0 -.3 -.8 -1.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 16.703 201.091 201.141 9.4 .0 -.9 -1.7 -1.4 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.788 121.293 120.267 -.9 -.8 -.7 -.8 .4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 12.915 255.140 255.839 12.9 .3 -.6 -1.9 -2.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.461 112.432 112.533 3.3 .1 .0 -.1 .1 

Services ....................................................................................... 56.411 255.796 256.048 1.0 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 29.868 233.210 233.184 -.4 .0 -.1 .0 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .303 125.872 126.051 4.0 .1 .0 .4 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.246 188.837 190.233 1.2 .7 1.4 -.3 -.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.114 169.766 170.427 6.6 .4 .5 .6 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .369 152.329 153.176 .8 .6 .3 .2 .6 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.918 258.501 259.113 4.1 .2 .5 .3 .3 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.961 413.325 413.145 3.7 .0 .4 .3 .1 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.631 295.327 295.551 1.9 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.667 213.000 213.175 2.9 .1 .0 -.2 -.3 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.829 206.048 206.283 3.9 .1 .1 -.2 -.4 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.739 206.841 207.010 2.5 .1 .0 -.2 -.3 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 28.256 158.569 158.650 6.8 .1 -.3 -.8 -1.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 17.795 202.529 202.587 8.9 .0 -.8 -1.6 -1.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.007 251.298 251.953 11.9 .3 -.5 -1.7 -2.0 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.128 210.526 210.607 5.0 .0 -.2 -.6 -1.1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.543 249.847 250.398 2.7 .2 .4 .3 .0 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 52.450 244.719 244.987 .8 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 10.291 213.728 215.104 15.4 .6 .0 -1.7 -3.4 

All items less energy .................................................................... 89.709 214.945 214.964 1.2 .0 .1 .0 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 74.376 214.643 214.645 1.3 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.211 146.094 145.941 1.9 -.1 -.1 -.3 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 6.045 248.594 250.038 27.1 .6 -.9 -2.6 -5.5 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.165 263.097 263.218 1.0 .0 .1 .1 .1 

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

 $ .467 $ .467 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .157 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010 Nov.

2009

May

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 213.644 213.775 213.475 212.882 6.2 2.8 2.3 -1.4 4.5 0.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.037 218.460 218.864 218.938 -.7 .2 1.7 1.7 -.3 1.7 

Food ................................................................................ 217.593 218.080 218.518 218.546 -1.0 .0 1.9 1.8 -.5 1.8 

Food at home ................................................................ 213.428 214.314 214.833 214.701 -2.7 -1.4 2.9 2.4 -2.0 2.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.687 251.556 250.672 251.275 -1.2 .9 -1.4 -.7 -.2 -1.0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 202.401 202.550 205.451 206.203 -4.2 -3.6 4.1 7.7 -3.9 5.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 197.583 197.370 195.958 196.490 -7.3 3.5 10.5 -2.2 -2.0 4.0 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 270.020 279.327 278.948 275.416 -3.6 -5.0 6.5 8.2 -4.3 7.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 161.550 161.684 162.122 160.946 -1.0 -1.8 -.1 -1.5 -1.4 -.8 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.493 190.002 190.036 190.471 -.2 .0 .8 .0 -.1 .4 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 200.465 198.278 198.863 200.989 -.5 6.7 5.3 1.0 3.1 3.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 200.243 198.210 200.301 200.344 -2.3 -3.8 3.2 .2 -3.1 1.7 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.886 204.931 204.531 204.735 .1 -.6 -.4 -.3 -.2 -.4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.482 122.543 122.712 120.869 -2.9 -1.9 -.5 -2.0 -2.4 -1.3 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.168 225.072 225.395 225.657 1.3 1.8 .6 .9 1.6 .8 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 158.826 159.023 159.088 158.901 6.3 .2 5.1 .2 3.2 2.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 223.101 222.599 222.504 223.245 2.9 3.2 -1.3 .3 3.1 -.5 

Housing ............................................................................. 212.780 212.977 212.824 212.781 -.3 .4 -.7 .0 .0 -.3 

Shelter ............................................................................. 241.916 241.831 241.857 241.982 .2 -.7 -1.2 .1 -.2 -.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 247.213 247.433 247.447 247.434 .0 -.9 -.1 .4 -.4 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 131.519 132.046 133.683 136.433 -4.1 .0 -6.7 15.8 -2.1 4.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 232.286 232.065 232.020 232.086 .5 -.7 -.6 -.3 -.1 -.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 232.286 232.066 232.021 232.088 .5 -.7 -.6 -.3 -.1 -.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 125.367 125.374 125.872 126.051 3.7 1.9 8.5 2.2 2.8 5.3 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 212.146 214.560 214.347 213.520 -1.4 7.9 3.0 2.6 3.1 2.8 

Household energy ......................................................... 187.283 189.703 189.210 188.088 -3.1 8.5 1.9 1.7 2.5 1.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 281.157 279.384 280.770 274.630 19.5 44.1 31.9 -9.0 31.2 9.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 191.397 194.113 193.513 192.568 -4.3 6.7 .2 2.5 1.1 1.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 168.416 169.271 170.225 171.010 6.6 5.1 8.4 6.3 5.9 7.4 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 123.126 122.564 121.744 121.712 -3.0 -1.7 -2.1 -4.5 -2.4 -3.3 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 151.535 152.065 152.329 153.176 4.5 -2.4 -3.1 4.4 1.0 .6 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.483 118.685 117.754 118.204 4.0 -1.9 -1.3 -4.2 1.0 -2.8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 111.820 110.643 110.263 111.040 -.6 -5.9 -3.8 -2.8 -3.3 -3.3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.988 107.167 105.263 105.741 7.6 -3.4 1.7 -8.1 2.0 -3.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 117.058 117.615 117.760 117.581 7.7 -7.0 1.3 1.8 .1 1.6 

Footwear ......................................................................... 128.706 127.183 127.125 127.277 5.2 2.6 -.5 -4.4 3.9 -2.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 192.920 192.779 191.311 188.273 36.2 13.5 11.0 -9.3 24.3 .3 

Private transportation ...................................................... 189.821 189.636 188.020 184.801 37.5 13.2 11.6 -10.2 24.8 .1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 95.710 95.930 95.843 96.087 4.3 15.5 5.5 1.6 9.8 3.5 

New vehicles ............................................................... 138.749 138.848 138.762 138.877 .8 9.7 -2.6 .4 5.2 -1.1 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 141.875 142.513 142.767 143.528 12.6 30.2 19.0 4.7 21.1 11.6 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 246.705 244.355 237.728 224.388 163.6 16.2 25.9 -31.6 75.0 -7.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 245.597 243.680 237.823 225.380 153.8 17.7 23.0 -29.1 72.9 -6.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 135.694 135.573 135.914 136.182 -2.5 2.3 4.1 1.4 -.1 2.8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 248.479 249.127 249.873 249.841 1.4 3.5 .8 2.2 2.4 1.5 

Public transportation ....................................................... 242.675 243.933 247.394 250.693 9.8 20.5 -3.0 13.9 15.0 5.1 

Medical care ...................................................................... 385.728 387.193 388.188 388.456 2.7 3.7 5.2 2.9 3.2 4.0 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 304.320 305.532 306.117 306.458 1.3 3.5 5.9 2.8 2.4 4.4 

Medical care services ..................................................... 409.435 410.965 412.109 412.337 3.2 3.8 5.0 2.9 3.5 3.9 

Professional services .................................................... 328.390 328.391 329.450 329.497 2.4 2.9 3.8 1.4 2.6 2.5 

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—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010 Nov.

2009

May

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 593.708 600.485 602.551 604.958 7.1 7.0 10.1 7.8 7.0 8.9 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.176 110.035 110.165 110.072 1.0 -2.7 -1.4 -.4 -.8 -.9

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 100.171 100.265 100.080 99.656 -.6 -2.8 -3.3 -2.0 -1.7 -2.7 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 124.338 124.650 124.905 124.929 2.1 .9 2.2 1.9 1.5 2.0 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 193.654 194.762 195.692 196.263 5.4 3.4 5.2 5.5 4.4 5.4 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 504.554 505.419 506.406 508.525 10.2 6.1 5.6 3.2 8.1 4.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 544.275 547.590 550.348 551.888 5.0 3.1 5.2 5.7 4.0 5.5 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.501 87.550 87.583 87.454 -.2 -.9 .1 -.2 -.6 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.314 85.362 85.394 85.263 -.4 -.9 -.1 -.2 -.7 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.038 102.048 102.132 102.101 1.5 -.8 -1.5 .2 .4 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.077 10.099 10.087 10.028 -9.7 -1.7 4.4 -1.9 -5.8 1.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 77.391 77.573 77.339 76.229 -19.8 -1.6 -6.4 -5.9 -11.1 -6.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 404.813 405.258 405.156 406.288 5.6 4.6 1.4 1.5 5.1 1.5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 790.710 792.452 793.243 803.019 12.6 9.7 2.1 6.4 11.2 4.2 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.895 203.994 203.801 203.291 1.3 1.3 1.0 -1.2 1.3 -.1 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.073 162.417 161.604 160.289 -1.7 -1.5 .7 -4.3 -1.6 -1.8 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 228.169 228.500 229.857 230.263 -.1 1.5 -.8 3.7 .7 1.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 352.853 353.940 354.179 354.133 2.9 3.7 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 177.989 177.800 176.982 175.718 13.2 4.9 5.1 -5.0 9.0 -.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.037 218.460 218.864 218.938 -.7 .2 1.7 1.7 -.3 1.7 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 156.171 155.727 154.413 152.614 22.7 7.8 7.1 -8.8 15.0 -1.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 201.470 199.698 196.223 193.425 41.7 8.6 9.7 -15.0 24.0 -3.5 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.483 118.685 117.754 118.204 4.0 -1.9 -1.3 -4.2 1.0 -2.8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 255.925 254.457 249.714 244.252 58.4 10.3 12.1 -17.0 32.2 -3.6 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.465 112.488 112.342 112.426 1.0 10.0 2.7 -.1 5.4 1.3 

Services .............................................................................. 255.440 255.973 256.225 256.389 1.1 1.2 .3 1.5 1.1 .9 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 233.241 232.894 232.865 233.081 .1 -.3 -1.3 -.3 -.1 -.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 125.367 125.374 125.872 126.051 3.7 1.9 8.5 2.2 2.8 5.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 191.397 194.113 193.513 192.568 -4.3 6.7 .2 2.5 1.1 1.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 168.416 169.271 170.225 171.010 6.6 5.1 8.4 6.3 5.9 7.4 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 151.535 152.065 152.329 153.176 4.5 -2.4 -3.1 4.4 1.0 .6 

Transportation services ..................................................... 256.694 258.012 258.832 259.637 3.4 6.6 2.0 4.7 5.0 3.3 

Medical care services ....................................................... 409.435 410.965 412.109 412.337 3.2 3.8 5.0 2.9 3.5 3.9 

Other services ................................................................... 294.301 294.699 295.503 295.891 3.4 .5 1.4 2.2 1.9 1.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 212.759 212.827 212.397 211.695 7.6 3.3 2.4 -2.0 5.5 .2 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 205.643 205.853 205.432 204.572 9.0 4.4 3.9 -2.1 6.7 .9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 206.620 206.710 206.373 205.759 6.4 2.8 2.2 -1.7 4.6 .2 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 158.469 158.022 156.736 155.000 21.9 7.7 6.8 -8.5 14.6 -1.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 202.891 201.191 197.896 195.285 38.9 8.2 9.1 -14.2 22.6 -3.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 252.038 250.660 246.339 241.419 53.0 9.7 11.1 -15.8 29.6 -3.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 210.177 209.771 208.423 206.172 19.4 4.3 5.4 -7.4 11.6 -1.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 249.271 250.360 251.049 251.154 1.9 3.6 2.3 3.1 2.7 2.7 

Services less medical care services ................................... 244.557 244.863 245.161 245.348 .7 1.3 -.1 1.3 1.0 .6 

Energy ................................................................................. 215.259 215.253 211.677 204.416 64.5 12.8 14.9 -18.7 36.2 -3.3 

All items less energy ........................................................... 214.406 214.554 214.650 214.861 1.3 1.7 .9 .9 1.5 .9 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 214.141 214.221 214.247 214.496 1.7 2.1 .7 .7 1.9 .7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 145.848 145.661 145.265 145.455 2.1 5.2 1.7 -1.1 3.6 .3 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 249.339 246.999 240.647 227.514 154.3 17.3 26.1 -30.7 72.7 -6.5 

Services less energy services ......................................... 262.409 262.692 263.042 263.332 1.6 .7 .3 1.4 1.1 .9 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

May2010 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2010 from—

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

May

2010

May

2009

Mar.

2010

Apr.

2010

Apr.

2009

Feb.

2010

Mar.

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 212.544 213.525 213.958 214.124 2.6 0.3 0.1 2.9 0.7 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 229.874 230.622 231.109 231.661 3.1 .5 .2 3.1 .5 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 230.099 230.819 231.338 231.851 2.7 .4 .2 2.7 .5 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.379 139.869 140.126 140.510 3.8 .5 .3 3.8 .5 .2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 202.044 202.966 203.426 203.674 2.9 .3 .1 3.3 .7 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 201.758 202.639 203.056 203.330 2.6 .3 .1 3.0 .6 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.507 133.140 133.540 133.797 3.3 .5 .2 3.5 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 201.118 202.072 202.263 201.974 3.0 .0 -.1 3.9 .6 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 207.325 208.621 209.017 208.920 2.7 .1 .0 3.2 .8 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 209.288 210.613 211.068 211.065 2.3 .2 .0 2.6 .9 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.528 133.388 133.695 133.621 2.9 .2 -.1 3.4 .9 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 214.172 215.205 215.006 214.679 2.7 -.2 -.2 3.9 .4 -.1 

West urban ..................................................... M 214.710 215.457 215.873 216.044 1.8 .3 .1 2.1 .5 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 216.850 217.700 218.103 218.605 1.8 .4 .2 2.1 .6 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.325 133.675 133.993 133.764 1.8 .1 -.2 2.2 .5 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 196.516 197.377 197.786 198.087 2.3 .4 .2 2.6 .6 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 133.619 134.274 134.594 134.624 2.9 .3 .0 3.2 .7 .2 

D ................................................................. M 208.368 209.326 209.327 209.097 2.6 -.1 -.1 3.4 .5 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 205.627 206.381 206.466 206.774 2.1 .2 .1 2.9 .4 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 217.090 218.157 218.475 218.787 2.0 .3 .1 2.4 .6 .1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 234.153 235.240 235.750 236.144 2.5 .4 .2 2.7 .7 .2 

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

 238.388 - 238.863 3.2 .2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 194.852 - 195.574 2.2 .4 - - - -

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

 205.351 - 205.263 2.1 .0 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 141.782 - 142.064 2.6 .2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 201.407 -

 203.095 - - - - 2.7 .8 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 198.913 -

 201.003 - - - - 1.9 1.1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 190.351 - 192.447 - - - - 2.9 1.1 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 221.074 -

 220.633 - - - - 1.3 -.2 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 226.539 -

 227.325 - - - - 3.0 .3 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 222.049 -

 223.821 - - - - 2.4 .8 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 221.215 - 222.309 - - - - 1.0 .5 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

2007-2008

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 May 2010 from—

 Apr.

 2010

 May

 2010

 May

 2009

 Apr.

 2010

Expenditure category

All items 1 ................................................................................... 100.000 R126.375 126.451 2.0 0.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.519 128.146 128.246 .6 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.493 128.147 128.247 .6 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.780 123.283 123.330 .2 .0 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.712 134.761 134.940 1.1 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.027 128.590 128.685 1.1 .1 

Housing 2 ................................................................................. 42.074 R128.174 128.247 -.5 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.119 130.868 130.903 -.7 .0 

Fuels and utilities 3 ................................................................. 5.231 R157.710 158.257 3.2 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.724 93.540 93.490 -3.1 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.772 91.002 90.178 -1.0 -.9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.199 132.674 133.208 11.8 .4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.013 133.457 133.869 11.9 .3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.186 122.338 124.376 10.8 1.7 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.294 150.182 150.187 3.1 .0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.570 132.561 132.709 3.2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.723 156.645 156.594 3.1 .0 

Recreation ................................................................................ 6.625 103.622 103.491 -2.1 -.1 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.288 111.983 111.872 1.4 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.804 181.643 181.712 4.7 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.484 73.315 73.162 -1.1 -.2 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.229 137.422 137.580 2.0 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services 4 ................................................................................... 59.383 R135.063 135.226 .8 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.617 115.718 115.684 3.7 .0 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.376 81.266 81.197 .8 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 30.241 133.690 133.676 4.8 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 76.901 119.823 119.814 .6 .0 

Energy 5 ..................................................................................... 9.606 R189.449 190.530 15.7 .6 

1 Revised indexes: Mar. 2010=126.162, Feb. 2010=125.604, Jan. 2010=125.628. 2 Revised indexes: Mar. 2010=128.351, Feb. 2010=128.240, Jan. 2010=128.296. 3 Revised indexes: Mar. 2010=158.501, Feb. 2010=157.467, Jan. 2010=157.973. 4 Revised indexes: Mar. 2010=134.980, Feb. 2010=134.773, Jan. 2010=134.619. 5 Revised indexes: Mar. 2010=186.931, Feb. 2010=181.912, Jan. 2010=185.213. R Revised.

Indexes for 2010 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2009 are interim adjustments.

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