Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-09-1239

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, October 15, 2009

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

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

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – SEPTEMBER 2009 

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 

percent in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The increase was less than the 0.4 

percent rise in August. The index has decreased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months on a not seasonally 

adjusted basis. 

The seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index was broad based, although tempered by a decline 

in the food index. The all items less food and energy index increased 0.2 percent in September after 

increasing 0.1 percent in each of the previous two months. Contributing to this increase were advances 

in the indexes for lodging away from home, medical care, new vehicles, used cars and trucks, and public 

transportation. The increase occurred despite declines in the indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent 

rent, the first decreases in those indexes since 1992. The energy index also increased in September, as 

increases in the indexes for gasoline, fuel oil and electricity more than offset a decline in the index for 

natural gas.

In contrast to these increases, the food index declined, falling for the sixth time in the last eight months. 

The index for food away from home increased, but the food at home index declined as the indexes for 

fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish and eggs fell sharply. Both the food and energy indexes 

have declined over the past 12 months. The decline in the food index is the first 12-month decrease in 

that index in over 40 years.

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Sep'08 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep'09

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Sep. 2008 - Sep. 2009

Percent change

 0.0

 -0.8

 -1.7

 -0.8

 0.3 0.4

 -0.1

 0.0 0.1

 0.7

 0.0

 0.4

 0.2
- 2 -

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Sep. 2008 - Sep. 2009

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

Sep'08 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep'09

Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Sep. 2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

All items ................................................. -.1 .0 .1 .7 .0 .4 .2 -1.3 

Food .................................................... -.1 -.2 -.2 .0 -.3 .1 -.1 -.2 

Food at home .................................... -.4 -.6 -.5 .0 -.5 .0 -.3 -2.5 

Food away from home 1 .................... .1 .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 2.6 

Energy ................................................. -3.0 -2.4 .2 7.4 -.4 4.6 .6 -21.6 

Energy commodities .......................... -4.7 -2.6 2.3 16.2 -.4 8.5 1.1 -30.1 

Gasoline (all types) .......................... -4.0 -2.8 3.1 17.3 -.8 9.1 1.0 -29.7 

Fuel oil ............................................. -8.5 -.3 -3.3 4.8 -1.5 6.2 1.5 -36.0 

Energy services ................................. -1.4 -2.2 -1.7 -1.2 -.3 .0 .1 -8.0 

Electricity ......................................... -.2 -.6 -.4 -1.9 -.6 -.1 .6 -.1 

Utility (piped) gas service ................ -4.8 -7.0 -5.7 1.3 .9 .4 -1.7 -28.0 

All items less food and energy ............ .2 .3 .1 .2 .1 .1 .2 1.5 

Commodities less food and energy

commodities ................................ .4 .5 .2 .3 .2 -.3 .3 1.6 

New vehicles ................................... .6 .4 .5 .7 .5 -1.3 .4 1.6 

Used cars and trucks ....................... -1.7 -.1 1.0 .9 .0 1.9 1.6 -2.7 

Apparel ............................................ -.2 -.2 -.2 .7 .6 -.1 .1 1.1 

Medical care commodities ............... .2 .3 .4 .1 -.1 .5 .6 4.1 

Services less energy services ........... .1 .2 .1 .1 .0 .2 .1 1.5 

Shelter ............................................. .0 .2 .1 .1 -.2 .1 .0 .7 

Transportation services ................... -.1 .3 -.1 -.1 .5 .6 .7 2.0 

Medical care services ...................... .2 .4 .3 .2 .3 .2 .4 3.3 

1 Not seasonally adjusted.
- 3 -

Consumer Price Index Data for September 2009 

Food

After rising 0.1 percent in August, the food index declined 0.1 percent in September. The index for food 

away from home rose 0.1 percent while the food at home index declined 0.3 percent, its eighth decline 

in the last 10 months. The September decrease was driven by declines in the indexes for fruits and 

vegetables, which fell 1.2 percent, and for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, which decreased 1.0 percent. 

The index for nonalcoholic beverages was unchanged in September, while the other grocery store food 

groups posted increases. After declining for nine straight months, the index for dairy and related 

products rose 0.5 percent in September. The cereals and bakery products index increased 0.3 percent and 

the index for other food at home rose 0.1 percent. Over the past year, the food at home index has 

decreased 2.5 percent, with the fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meat groups all posting significant 

declines. The food index has declined 0.2 percent since September 2008, the first 12-month decrease 

since April 1967. 

Energy

The energy index rose 0.6 percent in September after increasing 4.6 percent in August. The index for 

energy commodities rose 1.1 percent, with the gasoline index increasing 1.0 percent. (Before seasonal 

adjustment, gasoline prices fell 2.1 percent in September.) The index for energy services, which was 

unchanged in August, rose 0.1 percent in September. The electricity index rose 0.6 percent while the 

index for natural gas declined 1.7 percent. Over the past 12 months, the energy index has fallen 21.6 

percent with all its major components declining. The gasoline index decreased 29.7 percent, the index 

for natural gas declined 28.0 percent, and the electricity index fell 0.1 percent. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in September after increasing 0.1 percent in 

both July and August. One contributor to the increase was the medical care index, which rose 0.4 

percent in September. The index for medical care commodities rose 0.6 percent in September, with the 

prescription drugs index rising 0.6 percent and the index for nonprescription drugs advancing 1.1 

percent. Several transportation indexes contributed to the increase in the index for all items less food 

and energy. The new vehicles index, which declined 1.3 percent in August, rose 0.4 percent in 

September. The index for used cars and trucks increased sharply for the second month in a row, rising 

1.6 percent, and the index for public transportation rose 2.1 percent as the airline fares index increased 

3.4 percent. The tobacco index rose 1.0 percent in September and has risen 26.1 percent since February. 

The shelter index was unchanged in September, as a 1.5 percent increase in the index for lodging away 

from home was offset by declines of 0.1 percent in the heavily weighted rent and owners’ equivalent 

rent indexes. For the past 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.5 percent. 

The indexes for shelter, new vehicles, medical care and tobacco have all risen during the period, while 

the indexes for used cars and trucks and public transportation have declined.
- 4 -

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 1.3 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 215.969 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.1 percent 

prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 1.7 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 211.322 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

increased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 1.4 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-2007 period are subject to revision.

The Consumer Price Index for October 2009 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 

18, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
- 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 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 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 2008”. These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or 

by using the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2008.pdf

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

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

of index point and percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
- 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 2004 through 

December 2008 were replaced in January 2009. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the 

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

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

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

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

CPI Detailed Report. 

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

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

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

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

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

before that period. Note: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2009. 
- 8 -

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

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

agreements. 

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some 

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

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

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

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

Seasonal Adjustment. 

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2009, BLS adjusted 29 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

Wilson at (202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

Aug.

2009

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 215.834 215.969 -1.3 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.2 

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

 646.544 646.948 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 217.701 217.617 .0 .0 -.2 .1 -.1 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.629 217.350 217.218 -.2 -.1 -.3 .1 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.156 213.722 213.227 -2.5 -.2 -.5 .0 -.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.150 252.382 251.231 .1 -.5 -.1 -.1 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.898 202.911 201.755 -3.9 -.6 -1.3 .4 -1.0 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .910 192.381 193.353 -9.5 .5 -.6 -.4 .5 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.194 267.309 267.609 -6.4 .1 -.3 -.7 -1.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .982 162.953 162.911 .9 .0 -.3 .4 .0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.022 191.317 190.571 1.4 -.4 -.3 .2 .1 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .300 195.430 196.998 3.7 .8 -1.3 .4 1.0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .241 200.578 200.009 -3.0 -.3 -.3 .1 -.3 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.481 206.064 204.728 1.7 -.6 -.1 .2 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .433 121.892 122.099 .8 .2 -.2 -.1 .2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.474 223.675 224.003 2.6 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .314 156.697 157.302 3.5 .4 .5 .1 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.127 220.946 221.474 2.5 .2 .3 .1 .3 

Housing ...................................................................................... 43.421 217.827 217.178 -.5 -.3 -.2 .1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 33.200 250.248 249.501 .7 -.3 -.2 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.957 249.029 248.965 1.6 .0 .0 .0 -.1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.478 137.454 133.706 -6.9 -2.7 -2.1 .5 1.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 24.433 257.155 256.865 1.3 -.1 .0 .1 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .333 121.830 122.170 1.9 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.431 212.661 211.618 -7.4 -.5 -.1 .4 .2

Household energy .................................................................. 4.460 189.735 188.509 -10.0 -.6 -.3 .2 .1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .301 237.521 236.616 -32.2 -.4 -1.1 3.9 1.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.159 195.475 194.176 -8.0 -.7 -.3 .0 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .971 163.136 163.429 5.9 .2 .6 .8 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.790 128.304 128.201 -.3 -.1 -.1 -.6 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.494 150.437 .2 .0 .0 .3 .0 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.691 117.130 122.476 1.1 4.6 .6 -.1 .1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .923 110.835 112.933 .2 1.9 -.7 .6 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.541 103.991 112.535 .7 8.2 1.2 -.3 .3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .183 113.673 116.309 2.5 2.3 -.7 1.2 .1 

Footwear .................................................................................. .688 125.292 128.670 3.0 2.7 1.1 -.2 .1

Transportation ............................................................................ 15.314 184.386 183.932 -9.8 -.2 .2 2.3 .8 

Private transportation ............................................................... 14.189 179.987 179.466 -9.9 -.3 .1 2.4 .7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.931 93.126 93.440 1.0 .3 .3 -.4 .5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.480 134.080 134.576 1.6 .4 .5 -1.3 .4 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.628 128.028 129.369 -2.7 1.0 .0 1.9 1.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 3.164 225.089 220.690 -30.0 -2.0 -.4 8.8 1.1 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 2.964 225.179 220.542 -29.7 -2.1 -.8 9.1 1.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .382 133.531 133.406 1.8 -.1 -.4 -.1 -.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.188 243.494 244.493 3.1 .4 .1 .2 .4 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.125 238.997 239.855 -8.2 .4 1.9 1.3 2.1 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.390 376.537 377.727 3.5 .3 .2 .3 .4

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.625 305.797 307.671 4.1 .6 -.1 .5 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.765 398.303 399.160 3.3 .2 .3 .2 .4 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.702 320.252 320.756 2.6 .2 .1 .1 .4 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.545 570.150 572.991 6.6 .5 .7 .5 .6 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

Aug.

2009

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.741 114.755 114.629 0.5 -0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.822 101.474 100.801 -1.9 -.7 -.2 -.2 -.7 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.301 128.128 129.035 2.8 .7 .3 .2 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 193.161 195.595 5.1 1.3 .5 .5 .0 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .221 490.102 493.636 6.7 .7 1.2 .6 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.886 555.402 562.635 5.0 1.3 .5 .5 .0 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.194 84.913 85.044 .6 .2 .1 -.2 .2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.022 81.835 81.969 .4 .2 .1 -.2 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.408 102.674 102.968 1.6 .3 .5 .0 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .614 9.499 9.467 -4.4 -.3 -1.3 -1.1 -.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .214 78.576 77.997 -14.1 -.7 -3.2 -2.8 -.7 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.386 372.699 374.219 7.5 .4 .8 .1 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .776 763.634 771.089 29.0 1.0 2.2 .1 1.0 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.610 204.352 204.751 1.1 .2 .2 .1 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .651 162.476 162.372 1.7 -.1 .4 -.3 -.1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .647 227.580 228.286 1.6 .3 -.1 .1 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.074 345.137 345.515 .6 .1 .5 .2 -.2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.556 171.081 171.559 -4.2 .3 .0 .8 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 217.701 217.617 .0 .0 -.2 .1 -.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 23.799 146.528 147.222 -6.6 .5 .1 1.2 .4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 13.289 184.366 185.544 -10.3 .6 .5 3.1 .4 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.691 117.130 122.476 1.1 4.6 .6 -.1 .1

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 9.598 230.396 228.954 -13.6 -.6 .2 4.2 .4 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.510 109.129 109.387 -.6 .2 .0 -.6 .4 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.444 260.355 260.136 .8 -.1 .0 .2 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.867 260.858 260.064 .7 -.3 -.2 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .333 121.830 122.170 1.9 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.159 195.475 194.176 -8.0 -.7 -.3 .0 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .971 163.136 163.429 5.9 .2 .6 .8 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.494 150.437 .2 .0 .0 .3 .0 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.567 252.234 253.001 2.0 .3 .5 .6 .7 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.765 398.303 399.160 3.3 .2 .3 .2 .4 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.002 305.890 307.161 2.5 .4 .3 .3 .0

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.371 215.617 215.795 -1.5 .1 .0 .5 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 66.800 204.776 205.263 -2.2 .2 .1 .6 .3

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.610 207.855 207.949 -1.6 .0 .0 .5 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 24.926 149.155 149.846 -6.2 .5 .1 1.2 .4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 14.416 186.552 187.691 -9.5 .6 .5 2.9 .4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 10.726 228.446 227.195 -12.4 -.5 .2 3.8 .4 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.046 201.191 201.783 -5.4 .3 .1 1.6 .1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 27.577 279.697 280.194 .9 .2 .3 .4 .3 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.679 249.316 249.043 .6 -.1 .0 .2 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 7.624 204.971 202.243 -21.6 -1.3 -.4 4.6 .6 

All items less energy .................................................................... 92.376 218.642 219.076 1.2 .2 .0 .1 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.746 219.596 220.137 1.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.461 141.310 142.729 1.6 1.0 .2 -.3 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 3.465 227.204 222.961 -30.1 -1.9 -.4 8.5 1.1 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.285 267.008 266.894 1.5 .0 .0 .2 .1 

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

 $ .463 $ .463 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .155 $ .155 - ----

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—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009

June

2009

Sep.

2009 Mar.

2009

Sep.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 214.459 214.469 215.428 215.791 -12.4 2.2 3.3 2.5 -5.4 2.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.094 217.638 217.829 217.670 2.7 -.7 -1.3 -.8 1.0 -1.0 

Food ................................................................................ 217.838 217.291 217.478 217.257 2.5 -.8 -1.5 -1.1 .8 -1.3 

Food at home ................................................................ 214.999 213.876 213.951 213.298 .8 -3.6 -4.0 -3.1 -1.4 -3.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.576 251.380 251.049 251.711 6.9 -2.8 -3.6 .2 2.0 -1.7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 204.365 201.738 202.601 200.583 .0 -4.3 -4.0 -7.2 -2.2 -5.6 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 194.197 193.118 192.381 193.353 -5.0 -19.5 -10.6 -1.7 -12.5 -6.2 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 276.092 275.379 273.410 270.064 -14.3 -2.8 .4 -8.5 -8.7 -4.1

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 162.993 162.431 163.008 162.981 6.3 1.9 -4.3 .0 4.1 -2.2 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.637 190.071 190.494 190.598 8.4 1.3 -3.7 -.1 4.8 -1.9

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 196.818 194.193 194.991 197.000 9.2 6.6 -1.0 .4 7.9 -.3 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 201.067 200.428 200.546 199.971 7.2 -10.6 -5.7 -2.2 -2.1 -3.9 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.694 204.528 204.958 204.773 8.5 2.3 -3.9 .2 5.3 -1.9

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 122.224 121.990 121.892 122.099 9.0 -4.4 -.6 -.4 2.1 -.5 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 223.163 223.345 223.675 224.003 4.6 2.8 1.7 1.5 3.7 1.6 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 155.841 156.570 156.697 157.302 5.4 .9 3.7 3.8 3.1 3.8 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 220.105 220.815 221.072 221.709 5.4 .3 1.4 2.9 2.8 2.2

Housing ............................................................................. 216.984 216.612 216.726 216.770 -.4 -.5 -.6 -.4 -.4 -.5 

Shelter ............................................................................. 249.861 249.410 249.658 249.655 1.0 .6 1.6 -.3 .8 .6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 249.374 249.293 249.266 249.132 3.0 2.6 1.4 -.4 2.8 .5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 134.507 131.742 132.411 134.342 -9.9 -19.1 3.6 -.5 -14.6 1.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 257.138 257.073 257.278 256.911 1.8 2.5 1.4 -.4 2.2 .5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 121.083 121.298 121.830 122.170 .3 2.4 1.2 3.6 1.3 2.4 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 206.342 206.046 206.783 207.172 -9.0 -8.5 -14.0 1.6 -8.8 -6.5 

Household energy ......................................................... 183.526 182.927 183.374 183.627 -11.9 -10.9 -18.1 .2 -11.4 -9.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 224.706 222.296 231.023 233.497 -65.9 -39.5 -12.3 16.6 -54.6 1.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 189.362 188.839 188.839 188.979 -4.7 -8.5 -18.5 -.8 -6.6 -10.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 160.401 161.408 162.756 163.402 6.4 3.0 6.7 7.7 4.7 7.2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 129.428 129.254 128.471 128.455 .2 1.6 .0 -3.0 .9 -1.5 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 149.995 149.983 150.494 150.437 1.3 .6 -2.4 1.2 1.0 -.6 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.183 120.865 120.756 120.931 -4.6 5.3 1.5 2.5 .2 2.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 114.009 113.251 113.938 112.991 -4.5 17.3 -6.7 -3.5 5.8 -5.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 108.388 109.695 109.390 109.688 -9.6 1.4 6.9 4.9 -4.2 5.9

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.667 114.831 116.235 116.350 -.2 .1 7.8 2.4 .0 5.1 

Footwear ......................................................................... 126.438 127.790 127.504 127.603 2.2 3.2 3.0 3.7 2.7 3.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 178.843 179.180 183.312 184.750 -55.5 8.8 19.9 13.9 -30.4 16.9 

Private transportation ...................................................... 174.831 174.949 179.110 180.352 -57.3 11.1 22.3 13.2 -31.1 17.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 93.227 93.501 93.155 93.605 -5.6 3.1 5.4 1.6 -1.3 3.5 

New vehicles ............................................................... 136.179 136.826 135.030 135.574 -4.8 7.0 6.6 -1.8 1.0 2.3 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 123.851 123.848 126.157 128.153 -13.8 -15.3 7.2 14.6 -14.6 10.9 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 203.703 202.924 220.836 223.273 -93.5 37.4 88.1 44.3 -70.2 64.8 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 204.131 202.498 220.967 223.146 -93.9 47.4 91.6 42.8 -70.1 65.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.270 133.729 133.531 133.406 6.3 4.3 -.6 -2.5 5.3 -1.6 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 242.683 243.031 243.494 244.493 3.8 4.7 .9 3.0 4.3 2.0 

Public transportation ....................................................... 227.003 231.418 234.384 239.281 -24.0 -17.1 -8.8 23.5 -20.6 6.1 

Medical care ...................................................................... 375.203 375.851 376.919 378.555 2.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.6 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 304.820 304.406 306.029 308.016 4.2 5.0 3.2 4.3 4.6 3.7 

Medical care services ..................................................... 396.846 397.947 398.742 400.180 2.2 3.6 3.8 3.4 2.9 3.6

Professional services .................................................... 319.339 319.810 320.262 321.405 2.4 1.7 3.7 2.6 2.1 3.2

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 565.707 569.494 572.422 575.812 4.2 8.8 6.0 7.3 6.5 6.6 

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—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009

June

2009

Sep.

2009 Mar.

2009

Sep.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.592 114.612 114.731 114.585 0.0 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.9 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 101.920 101.741 101.530 100.824 -2.1 -2.1 1.1 -4.2 -2.1 -1.6 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 127.366 127.751 127.967 128.074 3.2 2.9 2.9 2.2 3.0 2.6 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 190.734 191.709 192.686 192.711 5.4 5.0 5.7 4.2 5.2 4.9 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 480.501 486.256 489.280 490.667 4.7 4.7 8.6 8.7 4.7 8.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 548.730 551.241 554.000 553.955 5.5 5.0 5.5 3.9 5.3 4.7 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.972 85.053 84.909 85.040 1.1 .8 .2 .3 1.0 .3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.909 81.991 81.835 81.969 1.2 .7 -.5 .3 1.0 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.182 102.643 102.674 102.968 1.5 1.2 .8 3.1 1.3 1.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.731 9.604 9.499 9.467 .2 -1.4 -5.6 -10.4 -.6 -8.0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 83.476 80.838 78.576 77.997 -9.6 -10.1 -12.1 -23.8 -9.8 -18.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 370.235 373.084 373.425 374.442 1.3 13.5 10.9 4.6 7.2 7.7

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 746.283 762.907 763.634 771.089 3.4 61.2 45.9 14.0 29.1 28.9 

Personal care .................................................................. 204.231 204.714 204.899 204.919 .7 1.6 .8 1.4 1.2 1.1 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.301 162.887 162.476 162.372 4.5 3.3 -1.0 .2 3.9 -.4 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 227.572 227.325 227.580 228.286 3.0 3.0 -.7 1.3 3.0 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.178 344.739 345.448 344.770 -1.9 .4 2.1 1.9 -.7 2.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 169.920 169.875 171.236 171.666 -28.5 4.5 7.9 4.2 -13.6 6.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.094 217.638 217.829 217.670 2.7 -.7 -1.3 -.8 1.0 -1.0 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 144.765 144.891 146.689 147.347 -42.6 8.0 14.2 7.3 -21.3 10.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 179.090 179.986 185.567 186.349 -60.0 13.9 21.0 17.2 -32.5 19.1 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.183 120.865 120.756 120.931 -4.6 5.3 1.5 2.5 .2 2.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 220.257 220.790 230.120 231.087 -69.9 16.8 30.7 21.2 -40.7 25.8 

Durables .......................................................................... 109.957 109.926 109.238 109.714 -5.1 .2 3.5 -.9 -2.5 1.3 

Services .............................................................................. 258.780 258.833 259.344 259.617 .8 .8 .3 1.3 .8 .8 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 260.267 259.779 260.033 260.233 1.3 .1 1.4 -.1 .7 .7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 121.083 121.298 121.830 122.170 .3 2.4 1.2 3.6 1.3 2.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 189.362 188.839 188.839 188.979 -4.7 -8.5 -18.5 -.8 -6.6 -10.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 160.401 161.408 162.756 163.402 6.4 3.0 6.7 7.7 4.7 7.2 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 149.995 149.983 150.494 150.437 1.3 .6 -2.4 1.2 1.0 -.6 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.652 249.855 251.455 253.146 -2.0 2.4 .4 7.4 .2 3.9

Medical care services ....................................................... 396.846 397.947 398.742 400.180 2.2 3.6 3.8 3.4 2.9 3.6 

Other services ................................................................... 303.902 304.916 305.733 305.795 2.4 2.9 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 213.936 214.037 215.123 215.582 -14.6 2.7 4.1 3.1 -6.4 3.6 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 202.989 203.183 204.437 204.951 -18.2 2.9 4.2 3.9 -8.2 4.1 

All items less medical care .................................................. 206.490 206.476 207.422 207.735 -13.3 2.0 3.3 2.4 -5.9 2.9 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 147.413 147.555 149.315 149.975 -41.2 7.6 13.6 7.1 -20.4 10.3 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 181.572 182.401 187.699 188.493 -57.2 12.7 19.6 16.1 -30.6 17.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 219.267 219.772 228.214 229.166 -66.3 15.0 27.5 19.3 -37.8 23.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 198.515 198.640 201.800 202.076 -34.9 5.7 8.5 7.4 -17.1 7.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.247 276.955 277.946 278.770 1.0 .7 -1.6 3.7 .9 1.0 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.530 247.503 248.063 248.397 1.2 .2 -.4 1.4 .7 .5 

Energy ................................................................................. 191.584 190.905 199.667 200.959 -76.7 7.9 22.1 21.1 -49.9 21.6 

All items less energy ........................................................... 218.507 218.588 218.743 219.012 .5 1.7 1.8 .9 1.1 1.4 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 219.344 219.543 219.692 220.053 .2 2.2 2.4 1.3 1.2 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 142.300 142.612 142.179 142.624 -2.4 3.8 4.1 .9 .7 2.5 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 206.131 205.261 222.805 225.260 -92.8 29.1 79.3 42.6 -69.4 59.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 265.873 265.982 266.543 266.830 1.2 1.5 1.8 1.4 1.4 1.6 

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

Sep.2009 from—

Percent change to

Aug.2009 from—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

June

2009

July

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 215.693 215.351 215.834 215.969 -1.3 0.3 0.1 -1.5 0.1 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 229.930 230.154 230.883 231.200 -.7 .5 .1 -1.2 .4 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 232.058 232.416 233.314 233.695 -.7 .6 .2 -1.2 .5 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 136.488 136.417 136.598 136.691 -.7 .2 .1 -1.4 .1 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 205.350 204.814 205.632 205.601 -1.7 .4 .0 -1.8 .1 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.308 205.656 206.591 206.459 -1.8 .4 -.1 -1.8 .1 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.640 131.366 131.748 131.812 -1.6 .3 .0 -1.7 .1 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 201.157 200.908 201.823 201.918 -1.8 .5 .0 -2.1 .3 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 209.343 208.819 209.000 208.912 -1.8 .0 .0 -1.6 -.2 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.390 211.034 211.436 211.212 -1.7 .1 -.1 -1.4 .0 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.056 132.736 132.729 132.722 -1.8 .0 .0 -1.7 -.2 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 211.815 210.491 210.899 210.911 -2.0 .2 .0 -1.7 -.4 .2 

West urban ..................................................... M 219.865 219.484 219.884 220.294 -.8 .4 .2 -1.3 .0 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 223.908 223.498 224.072 224.412 -.7 .4 .2 -1.1 .1 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.952 132.774 132.756 133.128 -1.3 .3 .3 -1.8 -.1 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 197.214 196.987 197.614 197.724 -1.1 .4 .1 -1.3 .2 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 133.220 132.975 133.069 133.165 -1.5 .1 .1 -1.7 -.1 .1 

D ................................................................. M 208.543 207.784 208.369 208.503 -1.5 .3 .1 -1.8 -.1 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 211.010 210.906 211.441 211.345 -1.9 .2 .0 -2.1 .2 .3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 223.906 224.010 224.507 225.226 -1.0 .5 .3 -1.7 .3 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 237.172 237.600 238.282 238.568 -.6 .4 .1 -.9 .5 .3 

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

 233.018 - 236.596 -.8 1.5 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 200.558 - 201.836 -2.1 .6 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 200.663 - 201.802 -2.0 .6 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 140.810 - 140.945 -.8 .1 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 203.585 - 203.351 ---- -3.8 -.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 204.537 - 204.673 ---- -2.3 .1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 192.325 - 191.687 ---- -.5 -.3 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 221.485 - 221.306 ---- -1.8 -.1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 223.810 - 226.039 ---- -1.0 1.0 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 225.692 - 225.801 ---- .2 .0 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 227.257 - 227.138 ---- -.3 -.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 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

Aug.

2009

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 211.156 211.322 -1.7 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.2 

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

 628.970 629.462 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 216.957 216.734 -.2 -.1 -.2 .1 -.1 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.865 216.539 216.313 -.4 -.1 -.3 .1 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.201 212.623 212.010 -2.6 -.3 -.5 .0 -.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.249 252.932 251.754 .1 -.5 -.1 -.1 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.315 202.483 201.087 -4.0 -.7 -1.3 .4 -1.1 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .992 191.048 192.048 -9.8 .5 -.6 -.4 .5 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.266 265.730 265.810 -6.6 .0 -.1 -.9 -1.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.167 162.433 162.396 1.0 .0 -.4 .3 .0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.212 190.704 189.892 1.3 -.4 -.3 .3 .0 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .304 194.511 196.027 3.8 .8 -1.4 .5 1.0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .274 201.199 200.621 -3.1 -.3 -.4 .1 -.3 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.634 206.210 204.823 1.6 -.7 -.1 .3 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 122.217 122.496 .7 .2 -.3 .1 .2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.664 223.789 224.102 2.7 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .233 156.769 157.132 3.8 .2 1.2 -.1 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.077 221.618 221.454 2.7 -.1 .4 .2 .0 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.313 213.824 213.391 -.3 -.2 -.1 .0 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.224 243.279 242.816 1.1 -.2 -.1 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.279 247.601 247.500 1.5 .0 .0 .0 -.1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.209 138.543 134.803 -5.5 -2.7 -1.6 .2 1.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 21.430 232.977 232.731 1.3 -.1 .0 .1 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 122.254 122.644 2.0 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 6.030 211.808 210.796 -7.0 -.5 -.1 .3 .3

Household energy .................................................................. 4.996 188.125 186.967 -9.5 -.6 -.3 .1 .2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .283 239.435 238.006 -31.2 -.6 -1.1 3.7 .8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.713 194.211 193.013 -7.8 -.6 -.2 -.1 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.035 163.567 163.808 5.9 .1 .6 .9 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.059 124.219 124.351 -.1 .1 -.1 -.6 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .360 153.667 153.648 .5 .0 -.1 .7 .0 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.979 117.095 122.176 1.0 4.3 .6 .0 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.024 111.629 113.682 .6 1.8 -.4 .7 -.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 103.727 112.086 -.2 8.1 1.3 -.2 .7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .249 116.482 119.075 2.9 2.2 -.6 .8 .3 

Footwear .................................................................................. .840 125.880 128.988 3.3 2.5 1.0 -.2 -.1

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.067 182.541 182.024 -11.1 -.3 .1 2.7 .8 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.284 179.368 178.801 -11.3 -.3 .0 2.8 .7

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.627 91.129 91.599 .3 .5 .2 .1 .7 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.057 135.130 135.672 1.6 .4 .5 -1.3 .4 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.863 128.781 130.122 -2.7 1.0 .0 1.9 1.5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.029 225.797 221.241 -30.1 -2.0 -.5 8.8 1.0 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 3.770 226.007 221.197 -29.9 -2.1 -.9 9.1 .8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .482 133.587 133.504 1.9 -.1 -.4 -.1 -.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.242 245.871 246.850 3.0 .4 .1 .2 .4 

Public transportation ................................................................ .784 237.029 238.225 -7.7 .5 2.0 1.2 1.9 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 377.007 378.263 3.6 .3 .2 .3 .5

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.320 297.379 299.098 4.1 .6 -.2 .5 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.035 400.204 401.217 3.4 .3 .3 .2 .4 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.234 322.964 323.577 2.7 .2 .1 .1 .4 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.338 567.545 570.697 6.8 .6 .7 .6 .7 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

Aug.

2009

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.454 111.453 111.205 0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.982 101.867 101.228 -1.5 -.6 -.1 -.2 -.7 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.221 123.579 124.322 2.4 .6 .3 .1 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.527 190.222 192.552 4.9 1.2 .6 .4 .0 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .219 493.615 496.691 6.7 .6 1.3 .4 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.308 534.825 541.688 4.7 1.3 .5 .5 .0 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.694 87.667 87.810 .7 .2 .1 -.1 .2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.568 85.532 85.676 .5 .2 .2 -.1 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.965 102.613 102.896 1.5 .3 .4 .0 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .604 10.012 9.975 -4.2 -.4 -1.2 -1.0 -.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .202 78.480 77.835 -14.2 -.8 -3.1 -2.8 -.8 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.668 398.228 400.245 10.8 .5 1.0 .1 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.267 768.483 776.198 29.3 1.0 2.1 .1 1.0 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.401 202.221 202.576 1.1 .2 .2 .1 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .662 162.415 162.312 1.6 -.1 .4 -.2 -.1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .580 227.751 228.480 1.6 .3 -.1 .1 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .947 347.402 347.658 .7 .1 .4 .3 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.689 173.379 173.777 -4.9 .2 .0 1.0 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 216.957 216.734 -.2 -.1 -.2 .1 -.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.747 150.209 150.851 -7.4 .4 .1 1.6 .6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 14.587 192.365 193.225 -11.3 .4 .3 3.5 .4 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.979 117.095 122.176 1.0 4.3 .6 .0 .2

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.609 243.461 241.657 -14.6 -.7 .2 4.7 .4 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.160 109.039 109.470 -.9 .4 .0 -.3 .6 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.311 255.342 255.244 .9 .0 .1 .2 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.918 234.537 234.079 1.1 -.2 -.1 .1 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 122.254 122.644 2.0 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.713 194.211 193.013 -7.8 -.6 -.2 -.1 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.035 163.567 163.808 5.9 .1 .6 .9 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .360 153.667 153.648 .5 .0 -.1 .7 .0 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.512 251.880 252.805 2.9 .4 .4 .6 .6 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.035 400.204 401.217 3.4 .3 .3 .2 .4 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.432 293.266 294.190 2.2 .3 .4 .2 .0

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.135 210.021 210.255 -1.9 .1 .1 .6 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.776 201.726 202.123 -2.9 .2 .1 .8 .3

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 204.341 204.472 -2.0 .1 .0 .6 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.824 152.606 153.229 -7.1 .4 .1 1.6 .5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 15.664 194.170 194.978 -10.6 .4 .3 3.3 .3

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 11.686 240.515 238.857 -13.5 -.7 .2 4.3 .4 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 31.530 205.017 205.374 -6.1 .2 .0 1.8 .1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.392 247.308 247.664 .8 .1 .2 .4 .3 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.275 244.857 244.707 .8 -.1 .0 .2 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.024 205.144 202.287 -22.2 -1.4 -.4 4.8 .6 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.976 212.823 213.363 1.4 .3 .1 .1 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 75.111 212.449 213.144 1.8 .3 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.513 142.634 144.148 1.9 1.1 .3 -.1 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.311 227.506 223.048 -30.2 -2.0 -.5 8.6 1.0 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.598 261.960 261.990 1.8 .0 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .474 $ .473 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .159 $ .159 - ----

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—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009

June

2009

Sep.

2009 Mar.

2009

Sep.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 209.534 209.598 210.758 211.136 -15.3 2.6 4.2 3.1 -6.8 3.6 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.312 216.821 217.045 216.778 2.8 -1.1 -1.4 -1.0 .9 -1.2 

Food ................................................................................ 216.977 216.395 216.610 216.317 2.6 -1.1 -1.6 -1.2 .7 -1.4 

Food at home ................................................................ 213.806 212.646 212.744 212.018 .9 -3.9 -3.9 -3.3 -1.5 -3.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 252.211 251.916 251.677 252.195 7.4 -2.9 -3.6 .0 2.1 -1.8 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 203.845 201.245 202.128 199.912 .5 -4.4 -4.5 -7.5 -2.0 -6.0 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 192.898 191.783 191.048 192.048 -5.4 -20.8 -10.0 -1.8 -13.4 -6.0 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 273.813 273.468 270.988 268.099 -15.1 -4.1 1.5 -8.1 -9.8 -3.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 162.608 161.977 162.465 162.444 6.9 2.4 -4.7 -.4 4.6 -2.6 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.000 189.366 189.945 189.934 7.9 1.3 -3.5 -.1 4.5 -1.9

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 195.695 193.001 194.039 195.992 9.4 6.4 -1.0 .6 7.9 -.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 201.926 201.077 201.203 200.499 7.4 -11.1 -5.1 -2.8 -2.3 -3.9 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.831 204.578 205.196 204.911 7.7 2.5 -3.8 .2 5.1 -1.8

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 122.537 122.119 122.217 122.496 8.7 -4.1 -1.0 -.1 2.1 -.6 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 223.186 223.408 223.789 224.102 5.0 2.7 1.5 1.7 3.9 1.6 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 155.091 156.904 156.769 157.132 6.3 1.1 2.7 5.4 3.6 4.0 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 220.755 221.612 221.978 222.073 6.1 -.1 2.3 2.4 3.0 2.4

Housing ............................................................................. 212.972 212.765 212.823 212.863 .0 -.1 -.9 -.2 .0 -.6 

Shelter ............................................................................. 243.100 242.884 243.044 242.930 1.8 1.5 1.4 -.3 1.7 .6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 247.966 247.880 247.869 247.669 2.9 2.4 1.3 -.5 2.7 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 135.271 133.136 133.451 135.480 -6.4 -18.4 3.9 .6 -12.6 2.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 232.942 232.879 233.061 232.761 1.9 2.5 1.3 -.3 2.2 .5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 121.529 121.765 122.254 122.644 .3 2.5 1.4 3.7 1.4 2.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 205.493 205.268 205.839 206.356 -8.2 -8.6 -13.5 1.7 -8.4 -6.2 

Household energy ......................................................... 181.978 181.483 181.747 182.153 -10.8 -10.8 -17.4 .4 -10.8 -8.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 227.677 225.175 233.552 235.480 -63.1 -37.4 -15.2 14.4 -51.9 -1.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 188.044 187.619 187.525 187.880 -5.3 -9.0 -17.5 -.3 -7.2 -9.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 160.813 161.801 163.201 163.808 6.5 3.0 6.7 7.7 4.7 7.2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.313 125.131 124.347 124.592 -.3 1.2 .9 -2.3 .5 -.7 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.658 152.577 153.667 153.648 -.1 1.1 -1.5 2.6 .5 .5 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.963 120.666 120.672 120.949 -6.0 5.4 1.6 3.3 -.5 2.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 114.537 114.086 114.936 114.131 -5.2 18.2 -7.2 -1.4 5.9 -4.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.602 109.019 108.852 109.649 -13.2 .7 5.4 7.8 -6.5 6.6

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 118.686 117.941 118.857 119.258 -.9 .3 10.5 1.9 -.3 6.2

Footwear ......................................................................... 127.062 128.313 128.063 127.912 2.4 4.3 3.8 2.7 3.3 3.3 

Transportation ................................................................... 176.300 176.456 181.285 182.716 -59.7 8.8 22.9 15.4 -33.8 19.1 

Private transportation ...................................................... 173.329 173.340 178.196 179.519 -60.8 10.1 24.4 15.1 -34.3 19.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 90.664 90.888 90.936 91.560 -7.2 -.7 5.7 4.0 -4.0 4.8 

New vehicles ............................................................... 137.234 137.855 136.112 136.675 -5.0 7.4 6.3 -1.6 1.0 2.3 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 124.559 124.569 126.950 128.878 -13.7 -15.6 7.6 14.6 -14.7 11.0 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 204.503 203.579 221.467 223.652 -93.6 37.7 87.8 43.1 -70.2 63.9 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 205.099 203.341 221.758 223.578 -93.9 47.5 91.6 41.2 -70.1 64.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.273 133.787 133.587 133.504 7.0 3.6 -.6 -2.3 5.3 -1.5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 245.129 245.421 245.871 246.850 3.9 4.7 .8 2.8 4.3 1.8 

Public transportation ....................................................... 226.048 230.677 233.494 237.928 -24.5 -15.7 -7.1 22.7 -20.2 6.8 

Medical care ...................................................................... 375.650 376.321 377.444 379.213 2.5 4.1 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.8 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 296.547 296.084 297.712 299.487 3.9 5.3 3.1 4.0 4.6 3.6 

Medical care services ..................................................... 398.660 399.808 400.673 402.384 2.1 3.7 4.0 3.8 2.9 3.9

Professional services .................................................... 322.098 322.537 322.955 324.248 2.5 2.0 3.7 2.7 2.2 3.2

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 562.806 566.848 570.031 573.743 3.5 9.2 6.5 8.0 6.3 7.3 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009

June

2009

Sep.

2009 Mar.

2009

Sep.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 111.423 111.418 111.415 111.147 -0.2 1.9 0.4 -1.0 0.9 -0.3

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.220 102.121 101.924 101.243 -2.0 -2.2 1.9 -3.8 -2.1 -1.0 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 122.940 123.348 123.479 123.601 2.8 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.2 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 187.894 189.018 189.859 189.872 5.5 4.5 5.3 4.3 5.0 4.8 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 483.813 490.109 491.859 493.984 4.4 4.5 9.2 8.7 4.5 8.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 528.674 531.480 533.890 533.704 5.6 4.4 4.9 3.9 5.0 4.4 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.650 87.778 87.664 87.807 1.1 .8 .2 .7 .9 .4 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.524 85.653 85.532 85.676 1.2 .7 -.3 .7 .9 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.153 102.587 102.613 102.896 1.5 1.0 .7 2.9 1.2 1.8 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.238 10.113 10.012 9.975 -.3 -1.1 -5.3 -9.9 -.7 -7.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 83.278 80.736 78.480 77.835 -10.8 -9.5 -12.1 -23.7 -10.1 -18.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 394.708 398.522 398.801 400.504 2.2 19.5 16.6 6.0 10.5 11.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 752.078 768.005 768.483 776.198 3.6 60.9 47.8 13.5 29.1 29.5 

Personal care .................................................................. 202.115 202.553 202.705 202.795 1.4 1.2 .6 1.4 1.3 1.0 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 162.165 162.767 162.415 162.312 4.0 3.1 -.9 .4 3.5 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 227.800 227.512 227.751 228.480 3.0 2.9 -.7 1.2 2.9 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 345.423 346.809 347.691 347.345 -1.2 -.2 2.0 2.2 -.7 2.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 171.618 171.568 173.366 173.885 -32.5 4.8 9.6 5.4 -15.9 7.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.312 216.821 217.045 216.778 2.8 -1.1 -1.4 -1.0 .9 -1.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 147.626 147.760 150.154 150.983 -47.5 8.8 17.1 9.4 -24.4 13.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 186.685 187.184 193.645 194.337 -64.9 17.5 27.7 17.4 -35.7 22.4 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.963 120.666 120.672 120.949 -6.0 5.4 1.6 3.3 -.5 2.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 231.872 232.430 243.283 244.219 -74.2 21.8 37.4 23.1 -43.9 30.0 

Durables .......................................................................... 109.361 109.321 108.994 109.657 -6.5 -2.0 4.2 1.1 -4.3 2.6 

Services .............................................................................. 253.882 254.063 254.480 254.679 1.2 1.1 .1 1.3 1.2 .7 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 234.253 234.008 234.179 234.254 2.0 1.0 1.3 .0 1.5 .7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 121.529 121.765 122.254 122.644 .3 2.5 1.4 3.7 1.4 2.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 188.044 187.619 187.525 187.880 -5.3 -9.0 -17.5 -.3 -7.2 -9.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 160.813 161.801 163.201 163.808 6.5 3.0 6.7 7.7 4.7 7.2 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.658 152.577 153.667 153.648 -.1 1.1 -1.5 2.6 .5 .5 

Transportation services ..................................................... 249.202 250.263 251.654 253.079 .0 3.6 1.7 6.4 1.8 4.0

Medical care services ....................................................... 398.660 399.808 400.673 402.384 2.1 3.7 4.0 3.8 2.9 3.9 

Other services ................................................................... 291.473 292.500 293.179 293.119 2.3 2.5 1.8 2.3 2.4 2.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 208.040 208.216 209.541 210.036 -18.3 3.3 5.3 3.9 -8.1 4.6 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 199.559 199.725 201.265 201.826 -21.9 3.1 5.4 4.6 -10.3 5.0 

All items less medical care .................................................. 202.725 202.769 203.921 204.253 -16.2 2.5 4.2 3.0 -7.3 3.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 150.057 150.211 152.561 153.374 -46.1 8.4 16.5 9.1 -23.6 12.8 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 188.704 189.232 195.417 196.084 -62.5 16.3 25.7 16.6 -33.9 21.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 229.919 230.427 240.380 241.279 -71.2 19.7 34.0 21.3 -41.3 27.5 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 202.033 201.960 205.614 205.775 -39.5 7.3 11.2 7.6 -19.4 9.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 244.247 244.854 245.730 246.381 .9 .4 -1.8 3.5 .7 .9 

Services less medical care services ................................... 243.257 243.332 243.823 244.068 1.6 .5 -.4 1.3 1.0 .5 

Energy ................................................................................. 191.437 190.731 199.863 201.160 -78.5 9.5 25.8 21.9 -51.5 23.9 

All items less energy ........................................................... 212.687 212.846 213.027 213.292 .7 1.9 2.1 1.1 1.3 1.6 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 212.196 212.505 212.680 213.059 .2 2.6 2.9 1.6 1.4 2.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 143.218 143.589 143.376 143.992 -3.3 3.7 5.4 2.2 .1 3.8 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 206.474 205.483 223.093 225.279 -93.0 31.6 80.9 41.7 -69.6 60.1 

Services less energy services ......................................... 261.053 261.304 261.781 261.962 1.8 2.1 1.8 1.4 2.0 1.6 

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

Sep.2009 from—

Percent change to

Aug.2009 from—

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Sep.

2009

Sep.

2008

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

June

2009

July

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 210.972 210.526 211.156 211.322 -1.7 0.4 0.1 -1.9 0.1 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 226.695 226.714 227.598 228.158 -.8 .6 .2 -1.4 .4 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 227.337 227.550 228.472 229.067 -.7 .7 .3 -1.3 .5 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 136.888 136.626 137.109 137.400 -1.1 .6 .2 -1.6 .2 .4 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 200.487 199.824 200.723 200.658 -2.1 .4 .0 -2.1 .1 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 200.356 199.611 200.710 200.566 -2.2 .5 -.1 -2.1 .2 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.554 131.096 131.481 131.497 -2.0 .3 .0 -2.1 -.1 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 198.674 198.455 199.404 199.416 -2.3 .5 .0 -2.6 .4 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 205.968 205.415 205.867 205.726 -2.3 .2 -.1 -2.1 .0 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 208.909 208.492 208.995 208.677 -2.3 .1 -.2 -2.1 .0 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.382 131.063 131.302 131.284 -2.2 .2 .0 -2.1 -.1 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 211.721 210.341 211.088 210.922 -2.7 .3 -.1 -2.3 -.3 .4 

West urban ..................................................... M 213.973 213.541 213.988 214.490 -1.2 .4 .2 -1.8 .0 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 216.395 215.955 216.539 217.000 -1.0 .5 .2 -1.5 .1 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.517 132.314 132.407 132.773 -1.6 .3 .3 -2.3 -.1 .1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 195.414 195.096 195.796 195.957 -1.5 .4 .1 -1.7 .2 .4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 132.384 132.069 132.341 132.450 -1.9 .3 .1 -2.1 .0 .2 

D ................................................................. M 206.327 205.504 206.271 206.341 -2.1 .4 .0 -2.3 .0 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 203.691 203.554 204.246 204.278 -2.3 .4 .0 -2.5 .3 .3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 216.145 216.128 216.628 217.302 -1.4 .5 .3 -2.1 .2 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 231.916 232.177 232.841 233.502 -.5 .6 .3 -1.1 .4 .3 

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

 232.535 - 235.744 -1.0 1.4 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 191.494 - 192.800 -2.3 .7 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 203.075 - 204.298 -2.6 .6 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 140.434 - 140.701 -.7 .2 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 202.632 - 202.276 ---- -4.2 -.2 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 199.977 - 200.169 ---- -2.6 .1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 189.979 - 189.503 ---- -1.9 -.3 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 219.091 - 219.000 ---- -2.5 .0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 223.361 - 225.481 ---- -1.2 .9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 220.996 - 221.279 ---- .0 .1 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 221.993 - 221.873 ---- -.6 -.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,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Sep. 2009 from—

 Aug.

 2009

 Sep.

 2009

 Sep.

 2008

 Aug.

 2009

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 123.955 124.021 -1.4 0.1

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 127.588 127.542 -.1 .0 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 127.577 127.505 -.3 -.1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 122.743 122.477 -2.6 -.2 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 133.847 134.038 2.6 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 128.076 128.371 2.5 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 128.915 128.505 -.7 -.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 131.803 131.413 .7 -.3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 155.255 154.183 -8.7 -.7 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.121 95.039 -.7 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 86.232 90.302 .8 4.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 123.872 123.573 -8.4 -.2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 124.468 124.115 -8.4 -.3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 116.847 117.307 -8.2 .4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 146.130 146.587 3.3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 129.138 129.938 4.0 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 152.392 152.700 3.0 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.236 104.955 -.9 -.3 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 110.825 111.486 2.1 .6 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 178.469 180.639 5.0 1.2 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 73.787 73.860 -.1 .1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 133.832 134.310 4.0 .4 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 134.454 134.306 .5 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 111.158 111.473 -3.9 .3 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 80.544 80.658 -1.4 .1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 127.059 127.490 -4.9 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 118.763 119.059 1.1 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 174.258 171.660 -21.8 -1.5 

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

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