News United States 

Department

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-08-0505 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, April 16, 2008 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2008 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent in March, before 

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

level of 213.528 (1982-84=100) was 4.0 percent higher than in March 2007. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.9 

percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment. The March level of 209.147 (1982-84=100) was 4.3 percent 

higher than in March 2007. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in March 

on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The March level of 123.204 (December 1999=100) was 3.6 percent higher 

than in March 2007. Please note that the indexes for the post-2006 period are subject to revision.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U advanced 0.3 percent in March, following virtually no change 

in February. The energy index increased 1.9 percent in March after declining 0.5 percent in February. Within 

energy, the index for petroleum based energy increased 2.0 percent and the index for energy services rose 1.9 

percent. The food index, which rose 0.4 percent in February, increased 0.2 percent in March. The index for 

food at home also rose 0.2 percent. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in March, 

following virtually no change in February. A larger increase in the index for household furnishings and 

operations and an upturn in the index for airline fares more than offset a larger decline in the apparel index. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Mar. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Mar. 2008 Sep.

2007

Oct.

2007

Nov.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

All items ................................. .4 .3 .9 .4 .4 .0 .3 3.1 4.0 

Food and beverages ........... .5 .2 .4 .1 .7 .4 .2 5.1 4.4 

Housing ............................... .3 .2 .4 .3 .2 .2 .4 3.4 3.0 

Apparel ................................ .2 .1 .6 .1 .4 -.3 -1.3 -4.7 -1.4 

Transportation ..................... .7 .3 3.5 1.0 .5 -.7 .7 2.4 8.2 

Medical care ........................ .4 .5 .4 .3 .5 .1 .1 3.2 4.6 

Recreation ........................... .2 .3 .2 .0 .2 .1 .3 2.3 1.3 

Education and

communication .............. .2 .3 .0 .3 .4 .1 .3 3.2 3.0 

Other goods and services ... .3 .2 .2 .3 .4 .2 .4 4.5 3.2 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 1.4 1.0 6.9 1.7 .7 -.5 1.9 8.6 17.0 

Food .................................... .5 .2 .4 .1 .7 .4 .2 5.3 4.5 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .0 .2 2.0 2.4 
For the first three months of 2008, consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR) of 3.1 percent. This compares with an increase of 4.1 percent for all of 2007. The index for energy, 

which rose 17.4 percent in 2007, advanced at a 8.6 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2008. Petroleum-based 

energy costs increased at a 5.6 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 12.8 percent annual 

rate. The food index rose at a 5.3 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2008, following a 4.9 percent increase in 

all of 2007. The index for grocery store food prices increased at a 5.9 percent annual rate, reflecting increases 

in each of the six major groups ranging from annual rates of 0.7 percent in the index for dairy products to 15.7 

percent in the index for cereal and bakery products. 

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.0 percent SAAR in the first quarter, following a 

2.4 percent rise in all of 2007. The moderation thus far in 2008 largely reflects smaller increases in the indexes 

for shelter--up at a 2.0 percent rate after advancing 3.1 percent in all of 2007--and medical care, coupled with a 

larger decline in the index for apparel. The annual rates for selected groups for the last seven and one-quarter 

years are shown below. 

Expenditure

Category

Percentage change 12 months ended in December SAAR 3

mos.

ended

Mar.

2008

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

All items ................................................. 1.6 2.4 1.9 3.3 3.4 2.5 4.1 3.1 

Food and beverages ........................... 2.8 1.5 3.5 2.6 2.3 2.2 4.8 5.1 

Housing ............................................... 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.0 4.0 3.3 3.0 3.4 

Apparel ................................................ -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 -.2 -1.1 .9 -.3 -4.7 

Transportation ..................................... -3.8 3.8 .3 6.5 4.8 1.6 8.3 2.4 

Medical care ........................................ 4.7 5.0 3.7 4.2 4.3 3.6 5.2 3.2 

Recreation ........................................... 1.5 1.1 1.1 .7 1.1 1.0 .8 2.3 

Education and communication ............ 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.4 2.3 3.0 3.2 

Other goods and services ................... 4.5 3.3 1.5 2.5 3.1 3.0 3.3 4.5 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................................. -13.0 10.7 6.9 16.6 17.1 2.9 17.4 8.6 

Energy commodities .......................... -24.5 23.7 6.9 26.7 16.7 6.1 29.4 5.6 

Energy services ................................. -1.5 .4 6.9 6.8 17.6 -.6 3.4 12.8 

All items less energy ........................... 2.8 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.8 2.5 

Food .................................................. 2.8 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.3 2.1 4.9 5.3 

All items less food and energy ............ 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.0 
The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in March. The index for grocery store food also 

increased 0.2 percent. Another large increase in the index for cereal and bakery products was partially offset by 

a downturn in the index for dairy products; the other four major grocery store food groups registered small 

increases. The index for cereal and bakery products, which increased 1.8 percent in February, rose 1.3 percent 

in March. Prices for bread increased 2.1 percent in March and were 14.7 percent higher than a year earlier.

The index for dairy products declined 0.8 percent in March, as milk prices fell 2.2 percent. Despite the drop in 

March, milk prices were still 13.3 percent higher than in March 2007. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 

0.1 percent. A 2.0 percent increase in the index for fresh vegetables more than offset declines in the indexes for 

fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables--down 1.1 and 0.9 percent, respectively. The index for 

meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was virtually unchanged in March. Increases in prices for beef, for poultry, and 

for other meats were offset by declines in prices for pork and for fish and seafood. The indexes for 

nonalcoholic beverages and for other food at home increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The other two 

components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.3 and 

declined 0.1 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing, which rose 0.2 percent in February, increased 0.4 percent in March. Each of the 

three major groups contributed to the larger advance. The index for shelter increased 0.1 percent in March after 

registering virtually no change in February. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent 

each increased 0.2 percent, while the index for lodging away from home fell 0.6 percent. (Prior to seasonal 

adjustment, the index for lodging away from home increased 3.7 percent.) The index for fuels and utilities 

increased 2.0 percent, following a 1.3 percent rise in February. Upturns in the indexes for electricity and for 

fuel oil more than offset a smaller increase in charges for natural gas. The index for natural gas, which rose 7.2 

percent in February, increased 4.6 percent in March. The index for fuel oil increased 10.1 percent in March and 

is 48.4 percent higher than in March 2007. The index for electricity rose 0.8 percent. The index for household 

furnishings and operations, which was virtually unchanged in February, increased 0.5 percent in March. About 

two-thirds of the advance reflects a 1.7 percent increase in prices for furniture and bedding. 

The transportation index increased 0.7 percent in March after declining 0.7 percent in February, 

reflecting the upturn in gasoline prices. The index for motor fuels, which declined 2.0 percent in February, 

advanced 1.6 percent in March and accounted for almost three-fourths of the transportation increase in March. 

As of March, the price of gasoline was 4.4 percent higher than its previous peak level recorded in May 2007.

The index for new vehicles declined 0.1 percent in March and was 1.1 percent lower than in March 2007. The 

index for used cars and trucks was virtually unchanged in March. The index for public transportation advanced 

2.5 percent in March, reflecting increases in airline fares and intercity train fares. Airline fares increased 3.0 

percent in March and have risen 10.2 percent in the last 12 months. 

The index for apparel fell 1.3 percent in March, following a 0.3 percent decrease in February. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 2.6 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of spring-summer 

wear. Prices for women’s and girls’ apparel registered the largest advance--up 4.0 percent.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.1 percent in March and are 4.6 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

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

percent. The index for medical care services rose 0.1 percent in March. The indexes for professional services 

and for hospital and related services increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively. .

The index for recreation, which rose 0.1 percent in February, advanced 0.3 percent in March. Increases 

in the indexes for pets, pet products and services and for admissions to sporting events--each up 1.1--and for 

cable and satellite television and radio service--up 0.6 percent--largely accounted for the March advance.

The index for education and communication rose 0.3 percent in March. Educational costs increased 0.4 

percent and communication costs rose 0.1 percent. Within the latter category, increases in charges for 

telephone services more than offset a decline in the index for information technology, hardware and services. 

Local-and long distance-land-line telephone charges rose 0.5 and 0.2 percent, respectively, while charges for 

wireless telephone services were unchanged. The index for information technology, hardware and services 

declined 0.1 percent, reflecting decreases in the indexes for personal computers and peripheral equipment, for 

computer software and accessories, and for internet services. 
The index for other goods and services rose 0.4 percent in March. The index for personal care rose 0.6 

percent, reflecting increases in the indexes for haircuts, tax return preparation, and miscellaneous personal 

goods. These increases were partially offset by a 0.1 percent decline in the index for tobacco and smoking 

products.

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers rose 0.4 percent 

in March. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Mar. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Mar. 2008 Sep.

2007

Oct.

2007

Nov.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

All items ................................. .4 .3 1.0 .4 .4 .0 .4 3.3 4.3 

Food and beverages ........... .5 .2 .3 .1 .7 .3 .2 5.1 4.4 

Housing ............................... .2 .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .5 3.6 3.0 

Apparel ................................ .0 .1 .4 .2 .8 -.3 -1.2 -3.1 -1.0 

Transportation ..................... .7 .3 3.8 1.1 .7 -.7 .7 2.8 9.0 

Medical care ........................ .4 .5 .4 .3 .6 .1 .1 3.2 4.6 

Recreation ........................... .3 .2 .1 .1 .2 .1 .3 2.5 1.2 

Education and

communication .............. .1 .3 .0 .2 .3 .1 .2 2.6 2.6 

Other goods and services ... .4 .2 .2 .4 .5 .3 .4 4.8 3.4 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 1.4 1.1 7.2 1.8 .8 -.7 1.9 8.3 17.6 

Food .................................... .5 .2 .3 .1 .7 .3 .2 5.2 4.5 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .0 .1 2.1 2.3 

Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 8:30 

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

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

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

CPI data, call (202) 691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of 

stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included 

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000. 
Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-month, 

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

estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For example, the estimated 

standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index. This 

means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology, and 

estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 

1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI 

for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices 

would fall between 0.08 and 0.32 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the 

estimates of standard error, see “Variance Estimates for Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January 2005- 

December 2005 in the CPI Detailed Report, February 2006. These data are available on the CPI home page 

(http://www.bls.gov/cpi), using the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2006.pdf

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation of index point and 

percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2003 through December 2007 

were replaced in January 2008. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of the 

dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 

48 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2008. 

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

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

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series. 
Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted data. Extreme 

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2008, BLS adjusted 20 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Feb.

2008

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 211.693 213.528 4.0 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.3 

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

 634.139 639.636 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 209.462 209.692 4.4 .1 .7 .4 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.833 209.166 209.385 4.5 .1 .7 .4 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.660 208.329 208.203 4.7 -.1 .9 .3 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.030 233.389 236.261 8.1 1.2 .6 1.8 1.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.807 199.688 199.775 3.8 .0 .8 -.1 .0 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .887 208.166 206.171 11.0 -1.0 .2 .8 -.8 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.156 272.129 268.446 1.7 -1.4 2.2 -1.3 .1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .928 157.805 158.089 2.7 .2 1.6 -.1 .3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.852 177.863 178.238 3.7 .2 .4 1.0 .1 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .277 180.588 182.214 4.3 .9 -.1 .4 1.0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .205 184.878 182.808 7.0 -1.1 1.3 1.5 -.7 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.369 192.064 192.597 3.0 .3 .4 1.1 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .404 118.182 117.321 2.6 -.7 -.1 2.6 -.7 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.173 211.878 212.537 4.1 .3 .4 .4 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .297 148.385 148.564 5.1 .1 .6 1.2 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.080 212.044 212.407 3.3 .2 .4 .4 -.1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 42.427 213.026 214.389 3.0 .6 .2 .2 .4 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.596 244.786 245.995 2.9 .5 .3 .0 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.765 240.325 240.874 3.6 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.564 144.092 149.434 5.1 3.7 1.1 -1.2 -.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 23.942 250.481 250.966 2.6 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .325 117.622 117.701 .3 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.128 205.795 209.221 6.5 1.7 .0 1.3 2.0

Household energy .................................................................. 4.215 185.994 189.693 6.8 2.0 -.1 1.5 2.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .351 308.269 332.139 40.2 7.7 3.7 -1.2 7.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.864 187.376 190.105 4.1 1.5 -.5 1.7 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .913 149.057 149.315 5.3 .2 .6 .3 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.702 126.753 127.423 -.2 .5 .1 .0 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .737 143.500 145.034 3.7 1.1 .5 .5 1.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.731 117.839 120.881 -1.4 2.6 .4 -.3 -1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .935 112.917 114.994 1.2 1.8 .7 1.1 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.600 106.340 110.645 -5.4 4.0 .2 -2.0 -2.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .185 115.750 116.037 -1.7 .2 1.2 -.4 -1.7 

Footwear .................................................................................. .679 122.377 124.407 .7 1.7 .6 .0 -.1

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.688 190.520 195.189 8.2 2.5 .5 -.7 .7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.583 186.571 191.067 8.3 2.4 .6 -.7 .6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.191 94.581 94.318 -.2 -.3 -.1 -.2 -.1 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.632 136.279 135.727 -1.1 -.4 -.3 -.3 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 1.773 137.248 137.225 2.1 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.482 259.242 278.739 26.4 7.5 1.1 -2.0 1.6 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.215 257.845 276.497 26.0 7.2 1.2 -2.0 1.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .356 125.225 126.325 4.8 .9 .3 .8 .9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.123 228.731 229.765 3.9 .5 .7 .3 .5 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.106 235.724 242.929 7.5 3.1 .4 -.1 2.5 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.231 362.155 363.000 4.6 .2 .5 .1 .1

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.601 296.130 297.308 3.6 .4 .5 .1 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.630 382.196 382.872 4.8 .2 .6 .1 .1 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.626 307.928 308.726 3.3 .3 .4 .0 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.467 527.971 528.968 7.9 .2 1.0 .3 .2 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Feb.

2008

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.647 112.365 112.731 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.843 103.171 103.548 .6 .4 .0 -.2 .2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.086 121.766 121.832 3.0 .1 .4 .1 .3 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.944 177.460 177.407 5.5 .0 .6 .3 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .207 439.052 439.906 6.3 .2 .1 -.1 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.736 511.253 511.013 5.5 .0 .6 .3 .4 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.142 83.391 83.502 .5 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 2.975 80.638 80.752 .2 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.342 98.837 99.031 1.6 .2 .1 -.1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .634 10.253 10.246 -5.7 -.1 .1 .2 -.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .242 100.545 100.359 -12.0 -.2 1.0 -.4 -.2 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.277 340.191 341.827 3.2 .5 .4 .2 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .731 575.227 574.890 4.5 -.1 1.1 .4 -.1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.546 198.716 199.982 2.9 .6 .2 .2 .6 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .639 157.677 158.440 -.1 .5 .0 -.3 .5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .629 220.848 222.752 3.6 .9 .1 .4 .9 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.044 333.826 335.427 4.4 .5 .6 .4 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 41.269 171.530 173.884 4.9 1.4 .5 -.2 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 209.462 209.692 4.4 .1 .7 .4 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.356 150.530 153.682 5.2 2.1 .4 -.5 .4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.519 189.420 196.185 9.9 3.6 1.4 -.1 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.731 117.839 120.881 -1.4 2.6 .4 -.3 -1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.787 238.297 247.546 13.8 3.9 1.6 .0 1.5 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.837 112.094 112.059 -1.0 .0 -.1 -.2 .0 

Services ....................................................................................... 58.731 251.527 252.817 3.3 .5 .3 .2 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.271 255.199 256.470 3.0 .5 .4 .0 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .325 117.622 117.701 .3 .1 .4 .2 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.864 187.376 190.105 4.1 1.5 -.5 1.7 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .913 149.057 149.315 5.3 .2 .6 .3 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .737 143.500 145.034 3.7 1.1 .5 .5 1.1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.350 237.929 239.556 3.2 .7 .5 .1 .7 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.630 382.196 382.872 4.8 .2 .6 .1 .1 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.641 291.406 292.218 3.5 .3 .3 .2 .4

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.167 212.136 214.236 3.9 1.0 .3 .0 .4 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.404 201.110 203.217 4.5 1.0 .4 .0 .4

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.769 204.136 205.992 3.9 .9 .4 .0 .4 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.436 152.799 155.881 5.2 2.0 .4 -.5 .4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.599 190.781 197.167 9.4 3.3 1.0 -.4 .9

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.868 234.736 243.109 12.9 3.6 1.2 -.3 1.6 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.432 200.030 203.767 7.1 1.9 .8 .0 .7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.460 266.154 267.567 3.8 .5 .2 .3 .7 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.101 241.004 242.310 3.2 .5 .3 .2 .4 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.698 219.311 230.505 17.0 5.1 .7 -.5 1.9 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.302 212.545 213.420 2.7 .4 .4 .1 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.469 213.866 214.866 2.4 .5 .3 .0 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.602 140.324 141.056 .0 .5 .2 -.1 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.834 263.508 283.362 27.3 7.5 1.3 -1.9 2.0 

Services less energy services .................................................. 54.867 258.098 259.249 3.3 .4 .4 .1 .2 

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

 $ .472 $ .468 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .158 $ .156 - ----

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—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2007

Sep.

2007

Dec.

2007

Mar.

2008 Sep.

2007

Mar.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 211.680 212.516 212.571 213.301 4.3 2.5 6.2 3.1 3.4 4.6 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 206.929 208.326 209.087 209.517 4.8 5.0 2.6 5.1 4.9 3.9

Food ................................................................................ 206.584 208.026 208.778 209.255 4.9 5.1 2.6 5.3 5.0 3.9 

Food at home ................................................................ 205.001 206.921 207.633 207.971 5.9 4.6 2.5 5.9 5.2 4.2 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 227.852 229.175 233.287 236.325 6.1 4.3 6.8 15.7 5.2 11.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 198.250 199.747 199.499 199.527 10.7 1.0 .7 2.6 5.8 1.6 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 205.278 205.698 207.341 205.624 18.4 24.3 2.4 .7 21.3 1.5 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 266.288 272.105 268.642 268.864 -3.2 1.2 5.2 3.9 -1.0 4.6

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 154.480 156.941 156.743 157.218 1.2 4.3 -1.6 7.3 2.7 2.7 

Other food at home ..................................................... 175.436 176.178 177.957 178.157 3.4 2.8 2.5 6.3 3.1 4.4 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 179.933 179.774 180.431 182.273 3.8 4.8 3.4 5.3 4.3 4.4 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 178.470 180.743 183.396 182.190 3.2 6.1 10.2 8.6 4.7 9.4 

Other foods ............................................................... 189.640 190.435 192.472 192.565 3.4 1.6 .8 6.3 2.5 3.5

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 115.267 115.162 118.182 117.321 6.3 -5.0 2.2 7.3 .5 4.8 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 210.233 211.070 211.878 212.537 3.7 5.7 2.8 4.5 4.7 3.6 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 145.814 146.649 148.385 148.564 5.2 10.4 -2.5 7.8 7.8 2.5 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 210.143 210.953 211.841 211.645 3.6 3.7 3.0 2.9 3.6 2.9

Housing ............................................................................. 212.409 212.920 213.313 214.204 3.4 1.9 3.5 3.4 2.6 3.4 

Shelter ............................................................................. 243.974 244.744 244.837 245.200 3.9 3.0 2.9 2.0 3.4 2.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 238.925 239.745 240.191 240.763 3.3 3.2 4.9 3.1 3.2 4.0 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 145.050 146.695 144.953 144.128 22.8 4.7 -2.8 -2.5 13.4 -2.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 249.425 250.051 250.413 250.941 2.0 2.7 3.2 2.5 2.4 2.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 117.003 117.435 117.622 117.701 -.8 -1.1 .8 2.4 -.9 1.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 205.615 205.567 208.175 212.311 4.0 -1.4 10.4 13.7 1.3 12.0 

Household energy ......................................................... 186.261 185.991 188.722 193.154 3.9 -2.9 11.4 15.6 .5 13.5

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 295.293 306.227 302.465 326.372 24.1 17.1 78.2 49.2 20.6 63.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 188.470 187.489 190.706 194.239 2.4 -4.4 6.5 12.8 -1.1 9.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 147.262 148.142 148.647 149.080 4.3 6.2 5.7 5.0 5.3 5.3 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 126.414 126.493 126.510 127.205 -1.0 -1.8 -.3 2.5 -1.4 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 142.100 142.828 143.500 145.034 1.9 .5 4.0 8.5 1.2 6.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.240 119.759 119.352 117.819 -3.8 .2 3.1 -4.7 -1.8 -.9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.167 112.941 114.213 113.256 .1 2.8 -2.1 3.9 1.4 .9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.443 110.658 108.393 105.548 -8.2 -1.3 6.0 -16.6 -4.8 -5.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 114.632 116.049 115.627 113.658 -8.9 1.3 4.8 -3.4 -3.9 .7

Footwear ......................................................................... 122.469 123.246 123.304 123.193 -2.6 1.2 2.0 2.4 -.7 2.2 

Transportation ................................................................... 194.653 195.722 194.390 195.797 9.3 1.6 21.1 2.4 5.4 11.3 

Private transportation ...................................................... 190.738 191.811 190.437 191.585 10.0 1.4 21.6 1.8 5.6 11.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 94.405 94.318 94.156 94.068 -.3 1.2 -.1 -1.4 .4 -.8 

New vehicles ............................................................... 135.953 135.597 135.195 135.024 -.6 -.5 -.5 -2.7 -.6 -1.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 136.943 137.203 137.248 137.225 2.1 6.3 -.6 .8 4.1 .1 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 279.928 283.011 277.448 281.996 36.9 .0 81.1 3.0 17.0 36.6 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 278.588 281.880 276.131 279.818 36.8 .0 80.9 1.8 17.0 35.7

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 123.928 124.282 125.225 126.325 1.3 4.7 5.5 8.0 3.0 6.7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 226.137 227.730 228.425 229.641 3.0 3.2 3.0 6.3 3.1 4.7 

Public transportation ....................................................... 238.571 239.414 239.080 245.136 -.1 5.4 14.0 11.5 2.6 12.7 

Medical care ...................................................................... 358.861 360.815 361.168 361.697 4.3 5.9 5.0 3.2 5.1 4.1 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 294.241 295.763 296.151 297.377 2.0 3.8 4.4 4.3 2.9 4.3 

Medical care services ..................................................... 378.338 380.459 380.787 380.994 5.0 6.5 5.1 2.8 5.7 4.0

Professional services .................................................... 305.907 307.011 307.160 307.527 2.7 4.5 3.7 2.1 3.6 2.9

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 517.505 522.889 524.634 525.672 7.4 9.2 8.7 6.5 8.3 7.6 

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—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2007

Sep.

2007

Dec.

2007

Mar.

2008 Sep.

2007

Mar.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 112.008 112.242 112.373 112.656 0.8 0.3 1.9 2.3 0.6 2.1 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 103.291 103.337 103.147 103.370 2.3 -1.7 1.7 .3 .3 1.0 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 121.127 121.578 121.745 122.075 3.6 2.8 2.6 3.2 3.2 2.9 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 175.861 176.895 177.406 178.144 4.9 5.0 6.9 5.3 5.0 6.1 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 436.329 436.635 436.364 437.600 5.2 12.3 7.0 1.2 8.7 4.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 506.547 509.715 511.324 513.503 4.9 4.5 6.9 5.6 4.7 6.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 83.287 83.392 83.388 83.500 2.3 .5 -1.9 1.0 1.4 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 80.546 80.642 80.638 80.752 1.4 .5 -2.1 1.0 .9 -.6 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 98.792 98.906 98.837 99.031 4.0 1.6 -.4 1.0 2.8 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.215 10.229 10.253 10.246 -9.3 -4.5 -9.6 1.2 -6.9 -4.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 100.000 100.998 100.545 100.359 -17.9 -9.7 -20.2 1.4 -13.9 -10.0 

Other goods and services ................................................. 337.641 339.063 339.869 341.374 3.0 2.4 3.0 4.5 2.7 3.7

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 566.696 572.684 575.227 574.890 1.7 5.4 5.1 5.9 3.5 5.5 

Personal care .................................................................. 197.648 198.120 198.473 199.641 3.4 1.6 2.4 4.1 2.5 3.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 158.236 158.201 157.677 158.440 .5 -2.8 1.5 .5 -1.2 1.0 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 219.656 219.932 220.848 222.752 1.4 3.2 3.9 5.8 2.3 4.8 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 330.466 332.309 333.716 334.878 5.1 3.7 3.3 5.4 4.4 4.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 172.460 173.359 173.011 173.575 5.3 2.0 10.3 2.6 3.6 6.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 206.929 208.326 209.087 209.517 4.8 5.0 2.6 5.1 4.9 3.9

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 152.893 153.519 152.726 153.327 5.6 .2 15.0 1.1 2.8 7.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 192.968 195.609 195.406 196.898 8.8 -2.8 27.1 8.4 2.8 17.4 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.240 119.759 119.352 117.819 -3.8 .2 3.1 -4.7 -1.8 -.9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 242.577 246.553 246.666 250.287 14.9 -.1 29.0 13.3 7.2 20.9 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.098 112.020 111.756 111.800 -1.8 -.8 -.3 -1.1 -1.3 -.7 

Services .............................................................................. 250.537 251.317 251.804 252.703 3.5 2.7 3.6 3.5 3.1 3.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 254.282 255.206 255.267 255.657 3.9 3.0 2.8 2.2 3.4 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 117.003 117.435 117.622 117.701 -.8 -1.1 .8 2.4 -.9 1.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 188.470 187.489 190.706 194.239 2.4 -4.4 6.5 12.8 -1.1 9.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 147.262 148.142 148.647 149.080 4.3 6.2 5.7 5.0 5.3 5.3 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 142.100 142.828 143.500 145.034 1.9 .5 4.0 8.5 1.2 6.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 236.887 238.174 238.389 240.053 .2 3.5 3.7 5.5 1.8 4.6

Medical care services ....................................................... 378.338 380.459 380.787 380.994 5.0 6.5 5.1 2.8 5.7 4.0 

Other services ................................................................... 289.835 290.834 291.364 292.410 4.1 2.6 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 212.548 213.281 213.221 213.992 4.1 2.0 6.8 2.7 3.1 4.8 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 201.415 202.288 202.328 203.213 4.4 2.2 7.9 3.6 3.3 5.7 

All items less medical care .................................................. 204.248 205.033 205.076 205.807 4.3 2.2 6.3 3.1 3.2 4.7 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 155.044 155.681 154.934 155.514 5.5 .3 14.4 1.2 2.9 7.6 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 194.184 196.169 195.304 197.043 11.6 -4.1 26.3 6.0 3.5 15.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 239.022 241.905 241.207 245.015 15.3 -1.6 29.5 10.4 6.5 19.6

Nondurables ........................................................................ 200.818 202.477 202.376 203.730 8.0 .2 14.9 5.9 4.0 10.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 264.852 265.500 266.373 268.136 3.8 2.3 3.9 5.1 3.1 4.5 

Services less medical care services ................................... 240.112 240.726 241.233 242.188 3.8 2.3 3.2 3.5 3.0 3.4 

Energy ................................................................................. 229.076 230.633 229.390 233.839 20.1 -1.4 45.6 8.6 8.9 25.8 

All items less energy ........................................................... 211.498 212.281 212.471 212.819 2.7 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.6 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 213.103 213.765 213.851 214.176 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.0 2.4 2.3

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.200 140.422 140.316 140.180 -.9 .4 .7 -.1 -.3 .3 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 282.263 286.070 280.566 286.164 36.0 1.0 80.9 5.6 17.2 38.3

Services less energy services ......................................... 256.897 257.857 258.078 258.722 3.6 3.3 3.4 2.9 3.4 3.1 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

Mar.2008 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2008 from—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 210.036 211.080 211.693 213.528 4.0 1.2 0.9 4.0 0.8 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 223.425 224.325 225.213 226.926 3.9 1.2 .8 4.0 .8 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 225.688 226.310 227.411 229.087 3.7 1.2 .7 3.7 .8 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.323 133.301 133.511 134.611 4.6 1.0 .8 4.7 .9 .2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 200.227 201.427 201.896 203.723 3.7 1.1 .9 3.8 .8 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 201.519 202.830 203.347 205.141 3.4 1.1 .9 3.5 .9 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.040 128.753 128.922 130.121 4.0 1.1 .9 4.1 .7 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 195.819 196.708 197.596 199.472 4.8 1.4 .9 5.0 .9 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 203.457 204.510 205.060 206.676 4.4 1.1 .8 4.6 .8 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.078 207.221 207.605 209.065 4.3 .9 .7 4.6 .7 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.368 129.937 130.351 131.442 4.5 1.2 .8 4.7 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 202.878 204.524 205.189 206.933 4.4 1.2 .8 4.7 1.1 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 214.733 215.739 216.339 218.533 3.7 1.3 1.0 3.5 .7 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 218.020 219.036 219.799 221.997 3.5 1.4 1.0 3.4 .8 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.481 131.328 131.538 132.896 3.9 1.2 1.0 3.7 .8 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 192.140 193.045 193.685 195.314 3.7 1.2 .8 3.8 .8 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.718 130.431 130.728 131.892 4.3 1.1 .9 4.4 .8 .2 

D ................................................................. M 202.333 203.200 203.803 205.730 4.4 1.2 .9 4.5 .7 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 207.155 208.757 209.526 211.542 4.5 1.3 1.0 4.4 1.1 .4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 219.373 220.918 221.431 223.606 3.3 1.2 1.0 3.1 .9 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 229.395 229.869 231.020 233.122 3.8 1.4 .9 3.6 .7 .5 

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

 231.980 - 233.084 2.9 .5 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 199.686 - 202.500 4.3 1.4 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 197.079 - 198.596 4.4 .8 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 136.293 - 138.090 4.7 1.3 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 202.751 - 204.166 ---- 4.8 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 200.201 - 202.378 ---- 2.2 1.1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 186.246 - 187.585 ---- 3.5 .7 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 217.319 - 219.082 ---- 5.3 .8 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 219.025 - 220.935 ---- 3.7 .9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 218.485 - 219.612 ---- 2.8 .5 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 218.966 - 221.728 ---- 4.7 1.3 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated:

 M - Every month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Feb.

2008

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 207.254 209.147 4.3 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.4 

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

 617.345 622.985 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 208.674 208.927 4.4 .1 .7 .3 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.901 208.317 208.571 4.5 .1 .7 .3 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.595 207.242 207.196 4.8 .0 .9 .3 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.110 233.915 236.764 8.2 1.2 .6 1.8 1.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.192 199.141 199.484 3.9 .2 .7 -.2 .1 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .965 207.750 205.660 11.1 -1.0 .1 .7 -.9 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.218 268.954 266.030 1.7 -1.1 2.2 -1.7 .5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.094 157.456 157.488 2.7 .0 1.5 .2 .1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.016 177.442 177.713 3.8 .2 .5 1.0 .0 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .279 179.740 181.033 4.5 .7 .1 .6 .9 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 185.292 183.706 6.8 -.9 1.2 1.5 -.8 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.504 192.430 192.832 3.1 .2 .5 1.1 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .438 118.828 117.754 2.9 -.9 .0 2.7 -.9 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.305 211.517 212.193 4.1 .3 .4 .4 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .218 146.924 147.188 4.3 .2 .8 .9 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.025 212.507 212.748 3.4 .1 .4 .5 -.2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.994 208.268 209.388 3.0 .5 .2 .2 .5 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.397 237.158 237.965 2.9 .3 .3 .1 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 7.979 239.419 239.932 3.6 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.233 143.046 148.110 4.8 3.5 1.3 -1.9 -.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 20.888 227.057 227.488 2.6 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .297 117.921 117.999 .3 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.637 203.584 206.861 6.1 1.6 .0 1.2 1.9

Household energy .................................................................. 4.670 182.823 186.315 6.3 1.9 -.1 1.4 2.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .323 307.599 329.271 39.5 7.0 3.7 -1.1 7.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.347 185.324 188.143 3.9 1.5 -.4 1.5 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .966 149.317 149.555 5.3 .2 .5 .3 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.960 122.547 123.184 .0 .5 .2 .0 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .339 145.825 147.316 3.7 1.0 .5 .3 1.0 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.998 117.883 120.809 -1.0 2.5 .8 -.3 -1.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.031 113.592 115.808 1.7 2.0 1.0 .8 -.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.619 106.512 110.712 -4.8 3.9 .5 -2.0 -2.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .251 118.442 118.990 -1.0 .5 1.7 .1 -1.6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .821 122.408 124.343 1.2 1.6 .6 .3 .1

Transportation ............................................................................ 20.054 190.639 195.710 9.0 2.7 .7 -.7 .7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 19.287 187.762 192.740 9.1 2.7 .7 -.8 .7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.952 93.664 93.455 .1 -.2 .0 -.2 -.1 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.172 137.445 136.910 -1.0 -.4 -.2 -.3 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 3.103 138.094 138.070 2.1 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.940 260.402 279.975 26.7 7.5 1.2 -1.9 1.7 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.597 259.112 277.842 26.3 7.2 1.2 -2.0 1.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .446 125.238 126.330 5.1 .9 .5 .7 .9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.169 231.349 232.344 3.9 .4 .7 .3 .5 

Public transportation ................................................................ .767 233.979 240.729 7.0 2.9 .5 -.1 2.4 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.192 362.329 363.069 4.6 .2 .6 .1 .1

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.295 288.335 289.254 3.4 .3 .5 .0 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.897 383.510 384.149 5.0 .2 .6 .1 .0 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.159 310.426 311.259 3.3 .3 .4 .0 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.260 523.654 524.534 8.1 .2 1.2 .4 .2 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Feb.

2008

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.341 109.315 109.742 1.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.3 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.987 103.028 103.525 1.1 .5 .1 -.1 .2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 5.987 118.079 118.155 2.6 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.377 175.118 175.101 5.3 .0 .6 .2 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 441.927 442.639 6.1 .2 .1 -.1 .1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.174 493.672 493.546 5.2 .0 .7 .3 .4 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.609 85.919 86.016 .7 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.488 83.992 84.091 .5 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.869 98.931 99.090 1.5 .2 .1 -.1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .619 10.754 10.745 -4.8 -.1 .1 .2 -.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .228 100.582 100.265 -11.7 -.3 1.1 -.5 -.3 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.508 351.979 353.351 3.4 .4 .5 .3 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.183 577.359 576.910 4.7 -.1 1.1 .5 -.1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.325 196.564 197.803 2.8 .6 .2 .2 .6 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .647 157.877 158.730 .1 .5 -.2 -.2 .5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .560 221.338 223.043 3.6 .8 .2 .5 .8 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .910 334.868 336.476 4.5 .5 .5 .4 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 44.745 174.083 176.727 5.6 1.5 .6 -.2 .4 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 208.674 208.927 4.4 .1 .7 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 28.819 154.603 158.156 6.3 2.3 .6 -.6 .4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.315 197.606 205.166 11.1 3.8 1.6 -.1 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.998 117.883 120.809 -1.0 2.5 .8 -.3 -1.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.318 251.621 262.252 15.2 4.2 1.4 -.4 1.8 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.504 112.560 112.549 -.5 .0 .0 -.2 .0 

Services ....................................................................................... 55.255 246.154 247.197 3.2 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.100 228.660 229.443 2.9 .3 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .297 117.921 117.999 .3 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.347 185.324 188.143 3.9 1.5 -.4 1.5 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .966 149.317 149.555 5.3 .2 .5 .3 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .339 145.825 147.316 3.7 1.0 .5 .3 1.0 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.266 237.426 238.496 2.7 .5 .5 .1 .5 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.897 383.510 384.149 5.0 .2 .6 .1 .0 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.042 280.199 281.017 3.1 .3 .3 .1 .4

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.099 206.877 209.055 4.2 1.1 .4 -.1 .4 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.603 198.592 200.904 4.9 1.2 .5 .0 .4

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.808 200.800 202.713 4.2 1.0 .4 .0 .4 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 29.844 156.670 160.152 6.2 2.2 .6 -.5 .4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.341 198.660 205.843 10.7 3.6 1.5 -.1 .8

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.343 247.188 256.899 14.3 3.9 1.3 -.3 1.7 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.241 203.933 208.101 7.8 2.0 1.1 .1 .7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 25.155 235.258 236.483 3.5 .5 .2 .3 .7 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 51.358 236.154 237.201 3.0 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.610 219.983 231.533 17.6 5.3 .8 -.7 1.9 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.390 206.588 207.296 2.6 .3 .4 .1 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.489 206.605 207.406 2.3 .4 .3 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.581 141.238 141.973 .3 .5 .3 -.1 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.264 263.601 283.359 27.3 7.5 1.4 -1.9 1.9 

Services less energy services .................................................. 50.908 252.756 253.589 3.1 .3 .3 .1 .2 

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

 $ .483 $ .478 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .162 $ .161 - ----

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—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2007

Sep.

2007

Dec.

2007

Mar.

2008 Sep.

2007

Mar.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 207.386 208.301 208.298 209.064 4.5 2.5 7.0 3.3 3.5 5.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 206.145 207.555 208.257 208.709 5.2 4.9 2.5 5.1 5.1 3.8

Food ................................................................................ 205.780 207.222 207.901 208.406 5.2 5.0 2.5 5.2 5.1 3.9 

Food at home ................................................................ 204.017 205.887 206.527 206.912 6.2 4.6 2.4 5.8 5.4 4.1 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 228.116 229.488 233.733 236.729 6.3 4.5 6.4 16.0 5.4 11.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 197.974 199.343 198.931 199.175 10.9 1.4 .8 2.4 6.0 1.6 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 205.206 205.370 206.877 205.091 19.6 24.6 2.5 -.2 22.0 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 263.920 269.770 265.318 266.563 -2.8 .5 5.2 4.1 -1.2 4.6

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 153.768 156.112 156.437 156.572 1.0 4.6 -2.0 7.5 2.8 2.6 

Other food at home ..................................................... 174.809 175.682 177.521 177.582 3.5 2.7 2.7 6.5 3.1 4.6 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 178.326 178.505 179.535 181.198 3.3 4.2 3.9 6.6 3.7 5.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 179.208 181.290 184.099 182.605 3.2 6.4 9.9 7.8 4.8 8.8

Other foods ............................................................... 189.809 190.770 192.783 192.789 3.5 1.6 1.0 6.4 2.5 3.7

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 115.658 115.658 118.828 117.754 7.0 -6.0 3.8 7.4 .3 5.6 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 209.931 210.776 211.517 212.193 3.7 5.7 2.6 4.4 4.7 3.5 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 144.454 145.625 146.924 147.188 5.5 8.0 -3.6 7.8 6.7 1.9 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 210.180 211.034 212.072 211.736 4.7 3.4 2.6 3.0 4.0 2.8

Housing ............................................................................. 207.639 208.096 208.533 209.497 3.0 1.7 3.9 3.6 2.4 3.8 

Shelter ............................................................................. 236.320 236.955 237.099 237.537 3.5 2.8 3.2 2.1 3.2 2.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 237.988 238.767 239.179 239.762 3.4 3.3 4.6 3.0 3.3 3.8 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 144.750 146.621 143.829 142.831 28.3 1.5 -1.6 -5.2 14.1 -3.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 226.048 226.656 226.982 227.481 1.9 2.8 3.1 2.6 2.4 2.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 117.396 117.740 117.921 117.999 -.5 -1.2 .9 2.1 -.9 1.5 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 203.522 203.514 205.930 209.904 3.5 -1.6 10.1 13.1 .9 11.6 

Household energy ......................................................... 183.168 182.988 185.477 189.679 3.3 -3.0 10.9 15.0 .1 13.0

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 294.530 305.305 301.932 323.185 25.4 18.6 75.4 45.0 22.0 59.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 186.409 185.607 188.475 192.089 1.8 -4.6 6.6 12.8 -1.4 9.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 147.594 148.371 148.883 149.296 4.4 6.3 5.8 4.7 5.3 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 122.123 122.389 122.330 122.902 -.8 -1.4 -.2 2.6 -1.1 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 144.659 145.431 145.825 147.316 2.5 .9 4.0 7.6 1.7 5.8 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.809 119.760 119.341 117.864 -4.5 1.5 2.6 -3.1 -1.5 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.718 113.796 114.759 113.914 -.9 3.1 .1 4.3 1.1 2.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.224 110.735 108.555 105.815 -7.8 1.0 3.8 -15.1 -3.5 -6.1

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 116.423 118.421 118.510 116.638 -8.7 1.7 2.8 .7 -3.6 1.8

Footwear ......................................................................... 122.170 122.938 123.294 123.441 -2.4 1.1 2.0 4.2 -.7 3.1 

Transportation ................................................................... 195.050 196.402 194.963 196.398 10.7 1.6 22.6 2.8 6.1 12.3 

Private transportation ...................................................... 192.213 193.565 192.100 193.389 11.1 1.5 23.1 2.5 6.2 12.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 93.445 93.452 93.308 93.239 .2 1.7 -.4 -.9 .9 -.6 

New vehicles ............................................................... 137.046 136.764 136.345 136.214 -.4 -.4 -.8 -2.4 -.4 -1.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 137.791 138.052 138.094 138.070 2.1 6.3 -.6 .8 4.2 .1 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 280.926 284.180 278.651 283.321 37.6 -.1 81.0 3.5 17.3 36.9 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 279.754 283.087 277.354 281.140 38.0 -.2 80.9 2.0 17.4 35.8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 123.786 124.416 125.238 126.330 1.7 5.0 5.5 8.5 3.3 7.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 228.691 230.251 231.051 232.244 3.1 3.1 2.9 6.4 3.1 4.6 

Public transportation ....................................................... 236.012 237.118 236.848 242.477 .2 4.6 12.3 11.4 2.4 11.8 

Medical care ...................................................................... 358.906 361.100 361.337 361.766 4.1 6.2 5.1 3.2 5.2 4.2 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 286.734 288.251 288.297 289.297 1.1 4.3 4.6 3.6 2.7 4.1 

Medical care services ..................................................... 379.384 381.817 382.130 382.294 5.0 6.7 5.2 3.1 5.9 4.2

Professional services .................................................... 308.431 309.634 309.636 310.053 2.6 4.7 3.8 2.1 3.6 2.9

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 512.146 518.313 520.557 521.401 7.0 9.2 8.9 7.4 8.1 8.2 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2007

Sep.

2007

Dec.

2007

Mar.

2008 Sep.

2007

Mar.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 108.995 109.201 109.351 109.680 0.4 0.3 1.5 2.5 0.4 2.0 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 103.054 103.205 103.080 103.333 2.7 -1.3 2.1 1.1 .7 1.6 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 117.559 117.947 118.044 118.311 3.4 2.5 1.9 2.6 3.0 2.2 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 173.490 174.582 174.995 175.690 4.3 4.8 6.9 5.2 4.5 6.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 439.590 439.883 439.326 439.977 5.3 12.7 6.6 .4 8.9 3.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 488.861 492.237 493.569 495.643 4.2 4.0 6.9 5.7 4.1 6.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 85.837 85.933 85.917 86.014 2.8 .9 -1.6 .8 1.8 -.4 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 83.917 84.008 83.992 84.091 2.2 .9 -1.7 .8 1.5 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 98.887 98.988 98.931 99.090 4.1 1.7 -.6 .8 2.9 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.722 10.737 10.754 10.745 -7.9 -3.7 -8.3 .9 -5.8 -3.8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 100.000 101.067 100.582 100.265 -17.0 -9.4 -19.9 1.1 -13.3 -10.0 

Other goods and services ................................................. 348.898 350.676 351.684 353.001 2.9 2.7 3.2 4.8 2.8 4.0

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 568.410 574.724 577.359 576.910 1.7 5.6 5.3 6.1 3.6 5.7 

Personal care .................................................................. 195.524 195.924 196.315 197.507 3.4 1.4 2.3 4.1 2.4 3.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 158.407 158.167 157.877 158.730 .5 -2.7 1.9 .8 -1.1 1.4 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 219.945 220.324 221.338 223.043 1.6 3.1 4.0 5.8 2.3 4.9 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 331.721 333.520 334.915 335.975 5.7 3.9 3.1 5.2 4.8 4.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 175.167 176.292 175.865 176.501 6.1 2.3 11.4 3.1 4.2 7.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 206.145 207.555 208.257 208.709 5.2 4.9 2.5 5.1 5.1 3.8

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 157.215 158.122 157.241 157.935 6.7 .8 16.9 1.8 3.7 9.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 201.649 204.777 204.470 206.199 10.3 -2.9 30.2 9.3 3.5 19.3 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.809 119.760 119.341 117.864 -4.5 1.5 2.6 -3.1 -1.5 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 257.755 261.377 260.305 264.997 18.7 -2.4 36.3 11.7 7.6 23.4 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.476 112.528 112.347 112.390 -1.6 -.3 .3 -.3 -1.0 .0 

Services .............................................................................. 245.199 245.868 246.368 247.311 3.2 2.5 3.6 3.5 2.8 3.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 227.878 228.476 228.609 228.985 3.4 3.0 3.3 2.0 3.2 2.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 117.396 117.740 117.921 117.999 -.5 -1.2 .9 2.1 -.9 1.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 186.409 185.607 188.475 192.089 1.8 -4.6 6.6 12.8 -1.4 9.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 147.594 148.371 148.883 149.296 4.4 6.3 5.8 4.7 5.3 5.2 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 144.659 145.431 145.825 147.316 2.5 .9 4.0 7.6 1.7 5.8 

Transportation services ..................................................... 235.963 237.214 237.465 238.681 .2 3.1 2.7 4.7 1.6 3.7

Medical care services ....................................................... 379.384 381.817 382.130 382.294 5.0 6.7 5.2 3.1 5.9 4.2 

Other services ................................................................... 278.909 279.758 280.128 281.126 3.9 2.4 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 207.491 208.298 208.176 208.987 4.4 2.0 7.8 2.9 3.2 5.3 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 199.078 200.108 200.052 200.946 5.0 2.3 8.6 3.8 3.6 6.2 

All items less medical care .................................................. 201.041 201.908 201.898 202.668 4.5 2.3 7.1 3.3 3.4 5.2 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 159.164 160.074 159.239 159.909 6.6 .9 16.3 1.9 3.7 8.9 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 202.296 205.318 205.143 206.776 9.9 -2.5 28.2 9.2 3.5 18.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 252.459 255.821 254.991 259.253 17.8 -1.8 32.8 11.2 7.6 21.5

Nondurables ........................................................................ 204.783 206.961 207.202 208.560 7.5 .9 15.8 7.6 4.1 11.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 234.129 234.673 235.467 237.009 3.6 2.0 3.4 5.0 2.8 4.2 

Services less medical care services ................................... 235.252 235.849 236.298 237.254 3.5 2.1 3.1 3.4 2.8 3.3 

Energy ................................................................................. 230.224 232.031 230.458 234.853 21.2 -1.4 47.5 8.3 9.3 26.4 

All items less energy ........................................................... 205.468 206.280 206.471 206.792 2.6 3.0 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.6 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 205.774 206.456 206.548 206.833 2.0 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.3 2.3

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.900 141.352 141.277 141.117 -.8 1.2 .6 .6 .2 .6 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 282.540 286.486 281.012 286.354 37.0 .8 80.7 5.5 17.5 38.1

Services less energy services ......................................... 251.555 252.403 252.625 253.254 3.3 3.1 3.4 2.7 3.2 3.0 

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

Mar.2008 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2008 from—

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 205.777 206.744 207.254 209.147 4.3 1.2 0.9 4.4 0.7 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 220.146 221.065 221.702 223.209 4.1 1.0 .7 4.3 .7 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.824 221.492 222.315 223.795 3.8 1.0 .7 3.9 .7 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.856 133.766 133.893 134.846 4.6 .8 .7 4.9 .8 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 195.493 196.617 197.110 198.989 4.1 1.2 1.0 4.2 .8 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 195.839 196.963 197.549 199.378 3.8 1.2 .9 3.9 .9 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 127.740 128.561 128.695 129.922 4.3 1.1 1.0 4.5 .7 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 194.099 194.850 195.774 197.864 5.0 1.5 1.1 5.0 .9 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 200.850 201.814 202.291 204.044 4.8 1.1 .9 5.0 .7 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.370 205.304 205.588 207.336 4.6 1.0 .9 4.9 .6 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.206 128.767 129.144 130.243 4.9 1.1 .9 5.1 .7 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 203.333 204.954 205.523 207.600 4.9 1.3 1.0 5.2 1.1 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 209.488 210.342 210.816 213.159 3.9 1.3 1.1 3.8 .6 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.095 212.040 212.614 214.954 3.8 1.4 1.1 3.8 .7 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.309 130.935 131.148 132.640 4.2 1.3 1.1 4.0 .6 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 190.622 191.461 191.982 193.702 4.0 1.2 .9 4.1 .7 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.156 129.830 130.092 131.273 4.6 1.1 .9 4.7 .7 .2 

D ................................................................. M 200.867 201.685 202.292 204.422 4.7 1.4 1.1 4.8 .7 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 200.217 201.525 202.497 204.742 4.7 1.6 1.1 4.7 1.1 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 212.282 213.825 214.231 216.493 3.6 1.2 1.1 3.7 .9 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 223.873 224.557 225.281 226.951 3.9 1.1 .7 3.9 .6 .3 

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

 231.291 - 232.656 3.0 .6 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 190.115 - 192.995 4.9 1.5 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 199.407 - 201.892 5.3 1.2 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 135.826 - 137.544 4.8 1.3 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 202.034 - 203.473 ---- 5.2 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 195.866 - 197.670 ---- 2.6 .9 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 184.975 - 185.904 ---- 3.7 .5 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 215.561 - 216.971 ---- 5.5 .7 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 218.791 - 220.718 ---- 3.6 .9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 214.204 - 214.913 ---- 2.9 .3 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 214.024 - 216.332 ---- 5.1 1.1 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated:

 M - Every month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Mar. 2008 from—

 Feb.

 2008

 Mar.

 2008

 Mar.

 2007

 Feb.

 2008

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 122.251 123.204 3.6 0.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 123.139 123.256 4.2 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 123.160 123.270 4.3 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 120.290 120.183 4.4 -.1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 126.964 127.358 4.1 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 123.233 123.446 3.7 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 126.688 127.457 2.8 .6 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 129.138 129.764 2.9 .5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 151.681 154.075 5.8 1.6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.553 95.972 -.6 .4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 87.846 90.179 -1.7 2.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 126.754 129.370 7.6 2.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 127.677 130.233 7.6 2.0 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 116.081 119.552 7.9 3.0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 141.042 141.366 4.3 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 125.545 126.044 3.6 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 146.791 147.039 4.6 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.181 105.420 .3 .2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 106.297 106.344 2.1 .0 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 164.408 164.357 5.4 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 73.460 73.537 -.5 .1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 126.540 127.144 3.0 .5 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 130.502 131.158 3.2 .5 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 111.962 113.271 4.1 1.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 84.059 83.997 -1.6 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 126.500 128.610 6.4 1.7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 116.594 117.121 2.1 .5 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 186.798 195.823 16.5 4.8 

Indexes for 2008 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2007 are interim adjustments.

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