News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-06-693 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, April 19, 2006 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2006 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent in March, before 

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

level of 199.8 (1982-84=100) was 3.4 percent higher than in March 2005. 

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

March, prior to seasonal adjustment. The March level of 195.3 (1982-84=100) was 3.6 percent higher than in 

March 2005. 

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

a not seasonally adjusted basis. The March level of 116.1 (December 1999=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in 

March 2005. Please note that the indexes for the post-2004 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U advanced 0.4 percent in March, following a 0.1 percent rise in February. 

Energy costs, which declined 1.2 percent in February, increased 1.3 percent in March. Within energy, the index 

for motor fuels increased 3.6 percent, while the index for household fuels fell 1.0 percent. The food index rose 0.1 

percent in March, the same as in February. The index for food at home declined 0.1 percent, reflecting a 1.7 

percent decrease in the index for fruits and vegetables. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 

percent in March, following a 0.1 percent increase in February; the indexes for apparel and for shelter accounted 

for about 70 percent of the March increase. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2005 2006 3-mos. ended ended

 Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’06 Mar. ’06 

All Items 1.2 .3 -.7 -.1 .7 .1 .4 4.3 3.4

 Food and beverages .3 .2 .3 .1 .5 .2 .1 2.7 2.6 

 Housing .5 .9 .4 .2 .5 .1 .2 3.2 3.7 

 Apparel -.1 -.3 .1 -.3 .3 -1.0 1.0 1.4 -1.2 

 Transportation 5.0 -1.2 -4.9 -.7 1.8 -.2 .9 10.5 5.1 

 Medical care .3 .6 .5 .2 .1 .5 .4 4.2 4.1 

 Recreation .4 .2 -.1 .1 .0 .1 .4 1.8 1.5 

 Education and 

 communication .6 .0 .4 .2 .4 .2 .2 3.2 2.6 

 Other goods and 

 services .2 .1 .3 .4 .3 .1 .2 2.3 2.8 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 11.8 .0 -8.1 -2.1 5.0 -1.2 1.3 21.8 17.3 

 Food .2 .3 .3 .1 .5 .1 .1 2.5 2.6 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 .1 .3 2.8 2.1 
For the first three months of 2006, consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR) of 4.3 percent. This compares with an increase of 3.4 percent for all of 2005. The index for energy, 

which rose 17.1 percent in 2005, advanced at a 21.8 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2006 and accounted 

for about 42 percent of the first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U. Petroleum-based energy costs increased 

at a 36.9 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 7.0 percent annual rate. The food index 

rose at a 2.5 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2006. The index for grocery store food prices increased at a 

1.7 percent annual rate, reflecting increases in each of the six major groups ranging from annual rates of 0.4 

percent in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs to 3.0 percent in the index for nonalcoholic beverages. 

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.8 percent SAAR in the first quarter, following a 

2.2 percent rise in all of 2005. While most categories advanced at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2006 than 

in all of 2005, about two-thirds of the acceleration was accounted for by a larger increase in the index for 

shelter--up at a 3.6 percent SAAR in the first quarter after increasing 2.6 percent in all of 2005. An upturn in 

the index for apparel and a larger increase in the index for education and communication also contributed to the 

acceleration in the first quarter of 2006. The annual rates for selected groups for the last seven and one-quarter 

years are shown below. 

 Percentage change 12 months SAAR 3 

 ended in December mos. 

ended 

 in March 

 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

All items 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 1.9 3.3 3.4 4.3

 Food and beverages 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.5 2.6 2.3 2.7

 Housing 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.0 4.0 3.2

 Apparel -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 -.2 -1.1 1.4

 Transportation 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 .3 6.5 4.8 10.5

 Medical care 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.7 4.2 4.3 4.2

 Recreation .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.1 .7 1.1 1.8

 Education and 

 communication 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.4 3.2

 Other goods and services 5.1 4.2 4.5 3.3 1.5 2.5 3.1 2.3

 

Special indexes 

 Energy 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 6.9 16.6 17.1 21.8

 Energy commodities 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 6.9 26.7 16.7 36.9

 Energy services 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 6.9 6.8 17.6 7.0

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

 Food 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.3 2.5

 All items less 

 food and energy 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.2 2.8
The food and beverages index rose 0.1 percent in March. The index for food at home declined 0.1 

percent, the same as in February. A 1.7 percent decline in the index for fruits and vegetables more than offset 

small to moderate increases in each of the other six major grocery store food groups. The indexes for fresh 

fruits and for fresh vegetables decreased 1.2 and 3.4 percent, respectively, more than offsetting a 0.3 percent 

increase in the index for processed fruits and vegetables. Each of the other five major grocery store food groups 

turned up in March. The index for nonalcoholic beverages registered the largest increase--up 0.7 percent--

reflecting a 2.0 percent increase in coffee prices. The indexes for cereal and bakery products and for meats, 

poultry, fish, and eggs each increased 0.3 percent in March, following a decline of the same magnitude in 

February. Within the latter group, prices for beef rose 0.5 percent; poultry, 0.4 percent; and pork, 0.2 percent. 

The indexes for dairy products and for other food at home each increased 0.1 percent. Within the latter group, a 

2.6 percent increase in prices for candy and gum more than offset a 1.8 percent decrease in prices for butter and 

margarine. The other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic 

beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing, which rose 0.1 percent in February, increased 0.2 percent in March. The index 

for shelter increased 0.4 percent in March, the same as in February. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and 

owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.4 percent and the index for lodging away from home rose 0.8 percent. 

(Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home increased 5.2 percent.) The index for 

fuels and utilities declined 0.9 percent, following a 1.1 percent drop in February. Declines in the indexes for 

natural gas and for fuel oil more than offset a small increase in charges for electricity. The index for natural 

gas, which declined 4.5 percent in February, fell 4.3 percent in March. The index for fuel oil declined for the 

sixth consecutive month--down 0.3 percent in March. The index for electricity rose 0.5 percent. During the last 

12 months, charges for natural gas and for electricity have increased 21.9 and 14.9 percent, respectively, and 

fuel oil prices have risen 18.5 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations, which was 

unchanged in February, increased 0.1 percent in March. 

The transportation index increased 0.9 percent in March after declining 0.2 percent in February, 

reflecting an upturn in gasoline prices. The index for gasoline, which declined 1.0 percent in February, 

advanced 3.6 percent in March and accounted for virtually all of the transportation increase in March. The 

index for new vehicles declined 0.1 percent in March and was 0.2 percent lower than in March 2005. The index 

for used cars and trucks increased 0.4 percent in March. The index for public transportation declined 0.3 

percent in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for public transportation rose 0.6 percent as an 

increase in airline fares more than offset declines in the index for other intercity transportation.) Airline fares 

increased 1.1 percent in March, following increases of 1.2 percent in each of the first two months of the year. 

The index for apparel rose 1.0 percent in March, following a 1.0 percent decrease in February. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 4.6 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of spring-summer 

wear. Prices for women’s apparel registered the largest advance--up 9.1 percent.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in March and are 4.1 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

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

percent. The index for medical care services also rose 0.4 percent in March. The indexes for professional 

services and for hospital and related services increased 0.4 and 0.6 percent, respectively. 

. 

The index for recreation, which rose 0.1 percent in February, increased 0.4 percent in March. Twothirds of the March advance was accounted for by a 1.3 percent increase in charges for cable and satellite 

television and radio service. The index for newspapers and magazines rose 1.5 percent. 

The index for education and communication rose 0.2 percent in March. Educational costs increased 0.5 

percent, reflecting in part an increase in educational books and supplies. Communication costs declined 0.1 

percent, reflecting a decrease in telephone service charges. A 0.1 percent increase in local land-line telephone 

charges was more than offset by a 0.7 percent decrease in long distance land-line telephone charges. The index 

for information technology, hardware and services was unchanged as a 1.4 percent increase in the index for 

internet services and electronic information providers was offset by declines in the indexes for personal 

computers and peripheral equipment, for computer software and accessories, and for telephone hardware. 
The index for other goods and services rose 0.2 percent in March; increases in the indexes for tobacco 

and smoking products and for financial services accounted for over 90 percent of the advance. Prices for 

tobacco and smoking products rose 0.6 percent. The index for financial services increased 1.6 percent, largely 

as a result of a 2.4 percent increase in charges for tax return preparation and other accounting fees. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers rose 0.5 percent 

in March. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2005 2006 3-mos. ended ended

 Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’06 Mar. ’06 

All Items 1.4 .2 -.8 -.1 .7 .0 .5 4.6 3.6

 Food and beverages .2 .3 .3 .2 .4 .1 .1 2.5 2.5 

 Housing .6 .9 .4 .1 .5 .1 .2 3.3 4.1 

 Apparel -.4 -.2 .0 -.3 .0 -.7 1.1 1.7 -1.1 

 Transportation 5.3 -1.3 -5.2 -.7 1.8 -.3 1.1 11.1 5.4 

 Medical care .3 .6 .6 .2 .1 .3 .5 3.7 4.0 

 Recreation .4 .3 -.2 .0 .0 .1 .4 1.9 1.3 

 Education and 

 communication .7 -.1 .4 .1 .4 .1 .2 2.9 2.1 

 Other goods and 

 services .3 .0 .3 .4 .3 .1 .3 3.0 3.1 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 12.1 -.3 -8.7 -2.1 5.0 -1.3 1.4 22.1 17.1 

 Food .2 .3 .3 .2 .4 .1 .1 2.3 2.5 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .1 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .4 2.9 2.1 

Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at 8:30 

A.M. (EDT). 

CPI (Old Weights)

For the first six months of 2006, BLS also will calculate Old Weights CPI-U and Old Weights CPI-W 

based on the 2001-02 expenditure pattern used in the CPI from 2004 through 2005. These Old Weight data are 

contained in tables 1(OW)-4(OW). From February to March, the Old Weight CPI-U rose 0.7 percent and the 

Old Weight CPI-W rose 0.6 percent. Note these series are not seasonally adjusted. 

Facilities for Sensory Impaired 

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

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

data, call (202) 691-5200.
Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7 

Less previous index 111.2 

Equals index point change 4.5 

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5 

Divided by the previous index 111.2 

Equals 0.040 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100 

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

for seasonal variation. 

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

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

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2001 through December 2005 

were replaced in January 2006. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adjusted for 2006. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

 For the Fuel oil, Utility (piped) gas, Motor fuels, and Educational books and supplies indexes, this 

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

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

offset the effects of sharp rises in the price of coffee futures. The procedure was used to account for unusual 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 198.7 199.8 3.4 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.4 

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

 595.2 598.6 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.051 194.4 194.5 2.6 .1 .5 .2 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.942 194.0 194.0 2.6 .0 .5 .1 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.988 192.6 192.3 2.2 -.2 .5 -.1 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.098 210.3 210.9 1.2 .3 .5 -.3 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.133 185.4 185.9 .9 .3 .1 -.3 .3 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .852 183.4 183.0 .9 -.2 .5 -.2 .1 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.219 253.4 248.5 6.3 -1.9 1.7 .7 -1.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .910 147.3 148.0 3.1 .5 .3 -.2 .7 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.777 169.1 169.2 2.1 .1 .5 -.1 .1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .302 167.3 170.1 4.6 1.7 .2 -1.7 1.9 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .231 170.4 168.5 .9 -1.1 1.4 .2 -1.4 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.244 184.7 184.5 1.8 -.1 .5 .2 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .328 113.4 113.0 1.0 -.4 .2 .7 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 5.953 197.2 197.6 3.1 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .277 134.7 135.2 4.5 .4 .2 .3 .4 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.109 199.5 200.1 2.2 .3 .8 .8 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.380 200.5 201.3 3.7 .4 .5 .1 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.260 228.3 229.9 2.5 .7 .1 .4 .4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 5.832 221.6 222.3 3.2 .3 .1 .3 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.611 133.4 140.4 1.5 5.2 .5 .6 .8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.442 234.1 234.9 2.7 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .375 116.2 116.2 -2.4 .0 -.2 .3 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.371 194.6 192.3 15.4 -1.2 3.4 -1.1 -.9

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.494 177.5 174.8 17.8 -1.5 3.8 -1.4 -1.0 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .339 230.5 230.4 17.9 .0 -1.2 -2.8 .4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.155 182.8 179.9 17.8 -1.6 4.2 -1.3 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .877 135.0 135.1 4.8 .1 .7 .8 -.2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.749 126.8 126.7 .5 -.1 -.3 .0 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .779 135.0 134.9 5.1 -.1 .6 .7 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.786 116.6 122.0 -1.2 4.6 .3 -1.0 1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .915 112.7 116.2 -2.8 3.1 .2 -1.0 .5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.612 106.3 115.0 -1.8 8.2 -.6 -1.3 2.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .183 116.6 118.7 -.3 1.8 .2 1.7 -.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ .759 122.8 125.4 2.1 2.1 2.1 -.7 .4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.415 175.8 177.4 5.1 .9 1.8 -.2 .9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.329 171.9 173.5 5.0 .9 1.8 -.2 1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.858 96.2 96.0 .4 -.2 .3 .1 -.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 5.155 139.3 138.8 -.2 -.4 .6 .1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 1.799 139.5 140.0 1.7 .4 .1 .1 .4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 4.191 198.1 205.8 17.0 3.9 6.2 -.9 3.6 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 4.148 197.0 204.7 17.0 3.9 6.4 -1.0 3.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .362 114.9 115.4 4.1 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.131 212.9 213.4 4.3 .2 .2 .9 .3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.087 221.3 222.6 5.9 .6 1.3 -.2 -.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.220 332.1 333.8 4.1 .5 .1 .5 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.457 283.1 284.3 4.1 .4 .4 .3 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.764 346.1 348.0 4.1 .5 .0 .5 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.815 286.5 287.8 2.9 .5 -.3 .2 .4 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.576 460.4 463.3 5.9 .6 .7 1.1 .6 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.637 110.2 110.6 1.5 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.4 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.783 104.3 105.2 .6 .9 -.2 -.2 .9 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 6.047 115.7 115.6 2.6 -.1 .4 .2 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.967 158.4 158.4 6.1 .0 .7 .3 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .196 382.0 383.1 6.2 .3 .5 .1 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.771 457.2 457.2 6.1 .0 .7 .3 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.080 84.5 84.4 -.9 -.1 .2 .0 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.895 82.0 81.9 -1.4 -.1 -.1 -.1 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.245 95.2 95.0 .0 -.2 .0 .0 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .650 13.0 13.0 -7.1 .0 -.8 .0 .0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .236 11.5 11.4 -14.9 -.9 -.9 -.9 -.9 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.463 319.1 320.0 2.8 .3 .3 .1 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .710 515.9 519.0 4.5 .6 .4 .2 .6 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.752 188.6 189.1 2.4 .3 .2 .1 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .710 155.6 155.2 1.4 -.3 .3 -.1 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .675 207.9 208.5 2.6 .3 -.1 .7 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.172 309.3 310.9 3.4 .5 .3 .1 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.790 161.4 162.8 2.9 .9 .9 -.1 .6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.051 194.4 194.5 2.6 .1 .5 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 25.739 142.8 144.7 3.1 1.3 1.1 -.3 .8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.163 169.1 173.3 5.9 2.5 2.3 -1.8 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.786 116.6 122.0 -1.2 4.6 .3 -1.0 1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.377 205.7 209.3 8.6 1.8 2.5 -.3 1.8 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.576 115.3 115.1 -.5 -.2 .1 -.1 .0 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.210 235.7 236.6 3.8 .4 .5 .2 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 31.884 237.8 239.6 2.5 .8 .1 .4 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .375 116.2 116.2 -2.4 .0 -.2 .3 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.155 182.8 179.9 17.8 -1.6 4.2 -1.3 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .877 135.0 135.1 4.8 .1 .7 .8 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .779 135.0 134.9 5.1 -.1 .6 .7 -.1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 5.707 228.7 228.8 2.5 .0 .4 .0 -.1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.764 346.1 348.0 4.1 .5 .0 .5 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.669 273.9 274.6 3.2 .3 .3 .2 .4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 86.058 199.5 200.8 3.5 .7 .7 .1 .4 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.740 189.4 190.3 3.9 .5 .9 -.1 .4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.780 191.9 193.0 3.3 .6 .7 .0 .4 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 26.848 144.9 146.8 3.0 1.3 1.1 -.3 .8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.272 171.0 175.0 5.7 2.3 2.2 -1.7 .8 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.486 204.2 207.5 8.0 1.6 2.3 -.1 1.6 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.214 182.2 184.4 4.2 1.2 1.5 -.9 .5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.325 251.0 250.9 5.2 .0 .9 -.1 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 54.446 226.5 227.3 3.7 .4 .5 .0 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.685 186.4 188.6 17.3 1.2 5.0 -1.2 1.3 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.315 201.6 202.6 2.2 .5 .2 .2 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.373 203.6 204.9 2.1 .6 .2 .1 .3 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.319 140.3 141.5 .3 .9 .2 -.1 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.530 201.1 208.3 17.0 3.6 5.7 -1.0 3.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 55.055 241.1 242.4 2.8 .5 .2 .3 .3 

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

 $ .503 $ .500 - - - - -

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

 $ .168 $ .167 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2006

Sep.

2005

Mar.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 197.7 199.0 199.1 199.8 1.5 10.1 -1.8 4.3 5.7 1.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 193.1 194.0 194.3 194.4 3.0 2.1 2.3 2.7 2.5 2.5 

Food ....................................................................................... 192.7 193.6 193.8 193.9 3.4 1.9 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 191.4 192.4 192.3 192.2 3.4 1.3 2.3 1.7 2.4 2.0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 209.9 211.0 210.3 210.9 .0 .2 2.3 1.9 .1 2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 185.7 185.8 185.3 185.9 2.0 -.9 2.0 .4 .5 1.2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 182.5 183.4 183.1 183.2 2.4 -2.4 2.0 1.5 .0 1.8 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 247.2 251.5 253.2 248.8 10.5 7.0 5.5 2.6 8.7 4.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 146.1 146.5 146.2 147.2 4.3 3.4 1.4 3.0 3.8 2.2 

Other food at home ............................................................ 168.1 169.0 168.8 169.0 3.4 1.7 1.2 2.2 2.6 1.7 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 169.0 169.3 166.5 169.7 7.9 1.2 7.9 1.7 4.5 4.8 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 167.1 169.4 169.8 167.5 -1.7 8.2 -3.5 1.0 3.2 -1.3 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 183.3 184.3 184.7 184.5 3.6 .4 .4 2.6 2.0 1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 112.4 112.6 113.4 113.0 -5.9 4.8 3.3 2.2 -.7 2.7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 196.0 196.6 197.2 197.6 3.2 2.9 2.9 3.3 3.0 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 133.9 134.2 134.6 135.2 7.0 4.3 2.7 3.9 5.6 3.3 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 196.4 198.0 199.5 200.1 .4 1.4 -.4 7.8 .9 3.6 

Housing .................................................................................... 199.7 200.6 200.8 201.3 1.7 4.4 6.0 3.2 3.0 4.6 

Shelter .................................................................................... 227.2 227.4 228.2 229.2 1.1 1.1 4.5 3.6 1.1 4.0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 220.4 220.7 221.4 222.3 3.0 3.0 3.3 3.5 3.0 3.4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 132.8 133.4 134.2 135.3 -10.6 -9.5 21.5 7.7 -10.1 14.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 232.7 233.2 233.9 234.9 2.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 2.3 3.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.1 115.9 116.2 116.2 -3.3 -4.7 -1.7 .3 -4.0 -.7 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 193.5 200.0 197.9 196.1 8.0 31.0 18.9 5.5 18.9 12.0 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 176.8 183.6 181.0 179.1 8.7 38.0 22.1 5.3 22.5 13.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 230.7 227.9 221.6 222.4 19.0 119.2 -14.2 -13.6 61.5 -13.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 182.1 189.8 187.3 185.2 7.9 32.6 25.9 7.0 19.6 16.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 133.1 134.0 135.1 134.8 4.7 4.1 5.3 5.2 4.4 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 126.8 126.4 126.4 126.5 .0 .3 2.6 -.9 .2 .8 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 133.3 134.1 135.0 134.9 5.7 2.8 7.2 4.9 4.3 6.0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 118.7 119.1 117.9 119.1 -4.2 .0 -2.0 1.4 -2.1 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 114.6 114.8 113.6 114.2 -5.0 -3.4 -1.4 -1.4 -4.2 -1.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 110.2 109.5 108.1 110.5 -6.9 -2.2 .7 1.1 -4.6 .9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 114.8 115.0 117.0 116.8 2.1 -9.8 .0 7.2 -4.1 3.5

Footwear ................................................................................ 122.2 124.8 123.9 124.4 2.0 5.7 -6.0 7.4 3.8 .5 

Transportation .......................................................................... 174.1 177.2 176.9 178.5 .7 44.8 -24.2 10.5 20.8 -8.5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 170.2 173.3 172.9 174.6 .0 47.6 -25.5 10.7 21.5 -9.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.4 95.7 95.8 95.7 2.1 .4 -2.1 1.3 1.3 -.4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.4 138.2 138.3 138.2 .0 -4.3 1.2 2.3 -2.2 1.8 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 139.2 139.3 139.5 140.0 6.5 4.7 -6.3 2.3 5.6 -2.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 194.1 206.2 204.4 211.7 -5.0 267.4 -62.1 41.5 86.8 -26.8 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 193.0 205.4 203.3 210.6 -5.0 269.7 -62.4 41.8 87.4 -26.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 114.0 114.4 114.9 115.4 1.1 5.5 4.7 5.0 3.3 4.8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 210.4 210.8 212.7 213.4 3.4 4.7 3.1 5.8 4.0 4.5 

Public transportation ............................................................... 222.3 225.1 224.6 223.9 12.7 5.6 2.7 2.9 9.1 2.8 

Medical care ............................................................................. 329.4 329.8 331.4 332.8 3.5 3.3 5.3 4.2 3.4 4.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 281.1 282.3 283.1 284.3 3.1 3.4 5.1 4.6 3.2 4.9 

Medical care services ............................................................. 343.2 343.3 345.1 346.6 3.8 3.3 5.3 4.0 3.5 4.7 

Professional services ........................................................... 286.3 285.3 285.9 287.0 3.5 3.2 4.0 1.0 3.3 2.5

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 449.7 452.7 457.7 460.5 3.8 2.9 7.2 10.0 3.3 8.5 

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.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2006

Sep.

2005

Mar.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 110.0 110.0 110.1 110.5 0.4 3.0 0.7 1.8 1.7 1.3 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.4 104.2 104.0 104.9 -4.5 6.4 -1.1 1.9 .8 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 115.0 115.5 115.7 115.9 1.8 2.8 2.5 3.2 2.3 2.8 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 156.8 157.9 158.3 159.1 6.8 5.9 5.8 6.0 6.4 5.9 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 376.9 378.9 379.4 381.2 5.7 7.8 6.7 4.6 6.7 5.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 452.7 455.8 457.2 459.5 6.7 5.9 5.8 6.1 6.3 6.0 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 84.3 84.5 84.5 84.4 -2.8 .0 -1.4 .5 -1.4 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 82.2 82.1 82.0 81.9 -3.3 .0 -1.0 -1.5 -1.7 -1.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.2 95.2 95.2 95.0 -1.7 2.1 .4 -.8 .2 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 13.1 13.0 13.0 13.0 -10.9 -8.5 -5.9 -3.0 -9.8 -4.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 11.7 11.6 11.5 11.4 -11.4 -19.9 -18.1 -9.9 -15.7 -14.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 317.7 318.5 318.8 319.5 1.8 3.8 3.2 2.3 2.8 2.7

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 513.1 515.1 515.9 519.0 1.0 10.3 2.4 4.7 5.5 3.5 

Personal care ......................................................................... 187.9 188.3 188.5 188.7 2.2 2.0 3.5 1.7 2.1 2.6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.4 155.8 155.6 155.2 3.4 1.3 1.6 -.5 2.4 .5 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 206.6 206.4 207.9 208.5 -.6 3.2 4.0 3.7 1.3 3.8 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 307.6 308.5 308.9 310.3 3.5 2.9 3.6 3.6 3.2 3.6 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 160.7 162.1 161.9 162.8 .8 18.9 -11.1 5.3 9.4 -3.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 193.1 194.0 194.3 194.4 3.0 2.1 2.3 2.7 2.5 2.5 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 142.3 143.9 143.5 144.7 -.9 30.4 -18.4 6.9 13.7 -6.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 170.0 173.9 170.8 172.1 4.8 46.3 -21.8 5.0 23.8 -9.4 

Apparel ................................................................................. 118.7 119.1 117.9 119.1 -4.2 .0 -2.0 1.4 -2.1 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 203.4 208.5 207.9 211.6 -.2 84.4 -35.4 17.1 35.7 -13.0 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.8 114.9 114.8 114.8 .0 -.7 -1.4 .0 -.3 -.7 

Services ...................................................................................... 234.4 235.5 236.0 236.5 2.1 4.1 5.3 3.6 3.1 4.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 236.6 236.9 237.8 238.6 .9 1.2 4.3 3.4 1.0 3.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.1 115.9 116.2 116.2 -3.3 -4.7 -1.7 .3 -4.0 -.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 182.1 189.8 187.3 185.2 7.9 32.6 25.9 7.0 19.6 16.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 133.1 134.0 135.1 134.8 4.7 4.1 5.3 5.2 4.4 5.2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 133.3 134.1 135.0 134.9 5.7 2.8 7.2 4.9 4.3 6.0 

Transportation services ............................................................ 228.3 229.1 229.0 228.8 4.0 4.3 .9 .9 4.2 .9

Medical care services ............................................................... 343.2 343.3 345.1 346.6 3.8 3.3 5.3 4.0 3.5 4.7 

Other services .......................................................................... 272.4 273.1 273.7 274.7 2.0 4.1 3.3 3.4 3.0 3.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 198.6 199.9 200.0 200.8 1.2 11.4 -2.4 4.5 6.2 1.0 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 188.4 190.1 189.9 190.6 2.0 14.4 -4.5 4.8 8.0 .0 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 191.0 192.3 192.3 193.0 1.5 10.2 -2.1 4.3 5.8 1.0 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 144.4 146.0 145.6 146.8 -.8 29.2 -17.7 6.8 13.2 -6.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 171.6 175.4 172.5 173.8 4.4 43.1 -20.8 5.2 22.3 -8.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 202.0 206.6 206.3 209.6 -.2 75.9 -33.0 15.9 32.5 -11.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 181.8 184.6 182.9 183.9 3.9 22.3 -11.2 4.7 12.7 -3.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 249.5 251.7 251.5 251.4 4.6 6.8 6.2 3.1 5.7 4.6 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 225.4 226.6 226.7 227.1 2.6 3.9 5.3 3.1 3.2 4.2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 184.3 193.5 191.2 193.6 1.5 134.3 -34.7 21.8 54.2 -10.8 

All items less energy .................................................................. 200.7 201.1 201.5 202.0 1.6 1.6 2.8 2.6 1.6 2.7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 202.8 203.2 203.5 204.2 1.2 1.8 2.6 2.8 1.5 2.7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.2 140.5 140.3 140.7 -.3 .0 -.3 1.4 -.1 .6 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 197.3 208.6 206.5 213.4 -3.7 255.4 -60.0 36.9 85.0 -26.0 

Services less energy services ................................................ 239.8 240.2 241.0 241.8 1.9 2.2 3.9 3.4 2.1 3.7 

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

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

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

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.2006 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2006 from—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Feb.

2005

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 196.8 198.3 198.7 199.8 3.4 0.8 0.6 3.6 1.0 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 209.0 211.0 211.6 212.8 3.3 .9 .6 3.9 1.2 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.3 213.2 213.8 215.0 3.1 .8 .6 3.8 1.2 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.6 124.8 125.2 126.0 3.9 1.0 .6 4.2 1.3 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 189.7 190.8 190.7 192.0 3.1 .6 .7 3.0 .5 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.6 192.7 192.5 193.8 2.9 .6 .7 2.9 .5 -.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.9 121.6 121.6 122.3 3.0 .6 .6 3.0 .6 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 184.4 185.3 185.2 186.7 3.8 .8 .8 3.3 .4 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 190.1 191.5 191.8 192.8 3.7 .7 .5 3.8 .9 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.9 193.6 193.9 194.6 3.6 .5 .4 3.9 1.0 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.2 122.0 122.1 123.0 3.9 .8 .7 3.7 .7 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 189.7 191.0 191.1 192.3 4.2 .7 .6 4.4 .7 .1 

West urban ..................................................... M 200.0 201.7 202.7 203.8 3.4 1.0 .5 3.6 1.4 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.0 204.7 205.7 206.8 3.5 1.0 .5 3.7 1.3 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.8 122.9 123.7 124.2 3.2 1.1 .4 3.4 1.6 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 180.0 181.4 181.9 182.8 3.3 .8 .5 3.6 1.1 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 121.6 122.5 122.7 123.5 3.6 .8 .7 3.5 .9 .2 

D ................................................................. M 189.3 190.1 190.2 191.6 3.7 .8 .7 3.5 .5 .1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 196.4 197.5 197.2 197.6 3.3 .1 .2 3.5 .4 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 203.9 206.0 207.5 208.5 4.7 1.2 .5 5.1 1.8 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 214.2 215.9 216.4 218.2 2.7 1.1 .8 3.6 1.0 .2 

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

 220.5 - 221.3 3.3 .4 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 190.3 - 190.7 2.4 .2 - - - -

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

 188.6 - 188.4 3.9 -.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 126.3 - 126.8 3.3 .4 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 188.7 -

 189.8 - - - - 2.4 .6 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 192.4 -

 194.8 - - - - 3.7 1.2 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 177.2 - 178.6 - - - - 2.3 .8 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 197.4 -

 202.2 - - - - 6.1 2.4 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 204.9 -

 209.0 - - - - 4.4 2.0 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 203.4 -

 207.1 - - - - 2.9 1.8 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 200.9 - 203.6 - - - - 3.0 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

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 194.2 195.3 3.6 0.6 0.7 0.0 0.5 

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

 578.6 581.8 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 16.537 193.7 193.8 2.5 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 15.519 193.3 193.2 2.5 -.1 .4 .1 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.347 191.7 191.4 2.1 -.2 .5 -.1 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.275 210.5 211.1 1.3 .3 .7 -.5 .4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.653 185.1 185.8 .8 .4 -.1 -.2 .4 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .965 183.3 182.7 .8 -.3 .3 .1 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.338 251.3 245.9 6.3 -2.1 1.5 .9 -2.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.087 146.7 147.3 3.0 .4 .3 -.3 .8 

Other food at home ............................................................ 2.030 168.7 168.7 2.1 .0 .5 .0 .1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .337 166.5 169.0 4.4 1.5 .1 -1.5 1.8 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .287 171.2 169.4 1.3 -1.1 1.5 .4 -1.3 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.406 185.0 184.8 1.7 -.1 .4 .3 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .370 113.8 113.4 .8 -.4 .1 .7 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.172 197.0 197.4 3.0 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .275 134.4 134.8 4.4 .3 .1 .4 .4 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.018 199.4 200.5 2.3 .6 .9 .7 .6 

Housing .................................................................................... 40.161 196.1 196.6 4.1 .3 .5 .1 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.069 221.2 222.4 2.6 .5 .0 .4 .5 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 7.880 220.8 221.4 3.2 .3 .1 .3 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.412 133.1 140.4 2.4 5.5 -.5 1.3 1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.429 212.4 213.0 2.7 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .348 116.5 116.5 -2.4 .0 -.2 .3 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.900 193.2 190.8 15.1 -1.2 3.3 -1.1 -.9

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.984 175.0 172.4 17.4 -1.5 3.8 -1.4 -1.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .347 229.7 229.8 17.7 .0 -1.6 -2.8 .5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.637 181.1 178.3 17.5 -1.5 4.2 -1.4 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .916 135.3 135.4 4.8 .1 .7 .7 -.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.193 122.4 122.5 .5 .1 -.2 .2 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .363 137.5 137.3 5.5 -.1 .5 .6 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.090 116.1 121.6 -1.1 4.7 .0 -.7 1.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .982 112.7 115.7 -3.3 2.7 .1 -.7 .0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.689 105.4 114.3 -2.1 8.4 -1.1 -1.0 2.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .242 118.1 120.8 -.9 2.3 .3 .8 .8 

Footwear ................................................................................ .964 122.1 124.7 2.5 2.1 1.8 -.6 .9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.669 174.8 176.6 5.4 1.0 1.8 -.3 1.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.931 172.0 173.8 5.4 1.0 1.9 -.3 1.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 8.944 95.2 95.1 .6 -.1 .3 .0 .1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 5.380 140.3 139.9 -.1 -.3 .6 .0 .1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.801 140.3 140.8 1.7 .4 .1 .1 .4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 5.244 198.7 206.5 17.0 3.9 6.2 -1.1 3.7 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 5.193 197.7 205.6 17.0 4.0 6.2 -1.1 3.7 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .434 114.3 114.9 4.0 .5 .3 .4 .5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.130 215.4 215.8 4.3 .2 .2 .8 .3 

Public transportation ............................................................... .738 220.4 221.6 6.0 .5 1.3 -.1 -.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.171 331.5 333.2 4.0 .5 .1 .3 .5 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.140 276.3 277.3 4.0 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.030 346.4 348.3 4.0 .5 .0 .3 .6 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.336 288.9 290.2 2.8 .4 -.3 .2 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.332 455.4 458.4 5.7 .7 .6 .9 .6 

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

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.097 107.5 107.9 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.4 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.6 104.4 .5 .8 -.2 .0 .7 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.635 113.1 113.0 2.1 -.1 .4 .1 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.243 156.7 156.8 6.1 .1 .8 .3 .4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .199 383.5 384.9 6.2 .4 .6 .3 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.044 443.2 443.1 6.0 .0 .8 .3 .4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.392 86.3 86.2 -.7 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.244 84.6 84.5 -.9 -.1 .0 .0 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.653 95.4 95.2 .1 -.2 .0 .1 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .590 13.5 13.6 -6.2 .7 .0 -.7 .7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .208 11.3 11.3 -14.4 .0 -1.7 -.9 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.640 328.4 329.4 3.1 .3 .3 .1 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.137 517.9 520.9 4.7 .6 .4 .2 .6 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.504 186.8 187.2 2.3 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .774 155.6 155.2 1.2 -.3 .3 -.1 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .616 208.0 208.5 2.4 .2 -.1 .7 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... .949 309.7 311.4 3.5 .5 .3 .2 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.601 162.7 164.3 3.2 1.0 1.0 -.2 .7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 16.537 193.7 193.8 2.5 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 28.064 145.1 147.2 3.5 1.4 1.2 -.3 1.0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 15.599 174.0 178.7 6.5 2.7 2.5 -1.8 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.090 116.1 121.6 -1.1 4.7 .0 -.7 1.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 11.509 213.9 218.1 9.4 2.0 2.7 -.3 1.9 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.465 115.3 115.2 -.1 -.1 .2 .0 .0 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.399 231.2 231.8 3.9 .3 .5 .1 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.721 213.1 214.3 2.6 .6 .0 .4 .5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .348 116.5 116.5 -2.4 .0 -.2 .3 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.637 181.1 178.3 17.5 -1.5 4.2 -1.4 -1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .916 135.3 135.4 4.8 .1 .7 .7 -.1 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .363 137.5 137.3 5.5 -.1 .5 .6 -.1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 5.659 229.0 229.0 2.2 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.030 346.4 348.3 4.0 .5 .0 .3 .6 

Other services .......................................................................... 9.726 265.0 265.7 2.9 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 84.481 194.2 195.5 3.7 .7 .8 -.1 .5 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.931 186.5 187.6 4.0 .6 1.0 -.2 .4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 94.829 188.4 189.5 3.5 .6 .7 .0 .4 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 29.082 147.0 149.1 3.5 1.4 1.2 -.3 1.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 16.617 175.6 180.1 6.3 2.6 2.4 -1.7 .9 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 12.527 211.7 215.6 8.7 1.8 2.6 -.3 1.8 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 32.136 184.5 186.9 4.4 1.3 1.5 -.8 .5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.679 222.9 222.7 5.2 -.1 1.0 -.2 .0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.369 222.5 223.0 3.9 .2 .5 .0 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 10.228 185.9 188.4 17.1 1.3 5.0 -1.3 1.4 

All items less energy .................................................................. 89.772 196.1 197.0 2.1 .5 .2 .2 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 74.253 197.1 198.2 2.1 .6 .2 .2 .4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 23.491 140.7 141.9 .4 .9 .1 .0 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 5.591 200.9 208.4 17.0 3.7 5.7 -1.2 3.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 50.762 236.5 237.5 2.8 .4 .1 .3 .4 

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

 $ .515 $ .512 - - - - -

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

 $ .173 $ .172 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2006

Sep.

2005

Mar.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 193.3 194.6 194.6 195.5 1.7 11.7 -3.0 4.6 6.6 0.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 192.5 193.3 193.5 193.7 3.0 1.7 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.6 

Food ....................................................................................... 192.1 192.9 193.1 193.2 3.2 1.7 2.8 2.3 2.5 2.5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 190.6 191.5 191.4 191.3 3.5 1.1 2.6 1.5 2.3 2.0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 209.9 211.3 210.3 211.1 .6 -.4 2.7 2.3 .1 2.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 185.6 185.4 185.0 185.8 2.0 -.9 1.7 .4 .5 1.1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 182.3 182.9 183.0 182.8 2.4 -2.6 1.8 1.1 -.1 1.4 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 245.3 249.0 251.2 246.2 10.6 6.9 6.8 1.5 8.7 4.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 145.5 146.0 145.5 146.6 4.6 3.1 1.7 3.1 3.8 2.4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 167.6 168.4 168.4 168.5 2.9 1.7 1.4 2.2 2.3 1.8 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 168.1 168.3 165.7 168.7 7.4 1.5 7.7 1.4 4.4 4.5 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 167.4 169.9 170.6 168.4 -2.4 9.0 -3.3 2.4 3.2 -.5 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 183.7 184.4 185.0 184.8 3.1 .2 1.1 2.4 1.7 1.8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 112.9 113.0 113.8 113.4 -6.9 5.2 3.6 1.8 -1.1 2.7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 195.8 196.4 197.0 197.4 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.3 2.9 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 133.7 133.9 134.4 135.0 7.0 4.3 2.7 3.9 5.7 3.3 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 196.3 198.0 199.4 200.5 -.6 .6 .6 8.8 .0 4.6 

Housing .................................................................................... 195.2 196.2 196.4 196.8 2.6 4.9 5.7 3.3 3.7 4.5 

Shelter .................................................................................... 220.1 220.2 221.0 222.0 1.7 1.5 3.9 3.5 1.6 3.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 219.6 219.9 220.5 221.4 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.3 3.0 3.4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 132.5 131.9 133.6 135.8 -7.9 -12.0 22.7 10.3 -10.0 16.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 211.0 211.5 212.2 213.0 2.3 2.1 2.5 3.8 2.2 3.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.4 116.2 116.5 116.5 -3.6 -4.7 -1.7 .3 -4.1 -.7 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 192.2 198.6 196.4 194.7 8.6 29.8 19.1 5.3 18.7 12.0 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 174.5 181.1 178.5 176.6 9.1 36.1 22.1 4.9 21.8 13.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 230.4 226.8 220.4 221.4 19.6 120.4 -14.8 -14.7 62.4 -14.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 180.5 188.1 185.5 183.4 8.4 30.9 25.6 6.6 19.1 15.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 133.4 134.3 135.3 135.1 4.7 4.0 5.3 5.2 4.4 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 122.2 121.9 122.2 122.2 .3 .0 1.3 .0 .2 .7 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 136.0 136.7 137.5 137.3 8.2 2.1 7.7 3.9 5.1 5.8 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 118.2 118.2 117.4 118.7 -4.3 -.7 -1.7 1.7 -2.5 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 114.2 114.3 113.5 113.5 -6.3 -3.1 -1.0 -2.4 -4.7 -1.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 109.6 108.4 107.3 109.6 -7.0 -2.9 1.5 .0 -4.9 .7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 117.3 117.6 118.5 119.4 -.7 -10.2 1.0 7.4 -5.6 4.1 

Footwear ................................................................................ 121.5 123.7 123.0 124.1 3.0 4.3 -5.7 8.8 3.7 1.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 173.2 176.4 175.9 177.8 .7 48.7 -25.6 11.1 22.4 -9.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 170.3 173.5 173.0 175.0 .2 50.6 -26.6 11.5 22.9 -9.5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 94.5 94.8 94.8 94.9 2.6 1.3 -2.9 1.7 1.9 -.6 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.4 139.2 139.2 139.3 .0 -3.7 .9 2.6 -1.9 1.7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 140.0 140.1 140.3 140.8 6.5 4.9 -6.6 2.3 5.7 -2.2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 195.1 207.1 204.8 212.3 -4.8 267.8 -61.9 40.2 87.2 -26.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 194.1 206.1 203.8 211.3 -4.8 267.8 -62.0 40.4 87.1 -26.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 113.6 113.9 114.3 114.9 1.1 5.5 4.7 4.7 3.3 4.7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 212.9 213.4 215.2 215.8 3.5 4.9 3.3 5.6 4.2 4.4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 220.8 223.6 223.3 222.7 11.1 6.3 3.3 3.5 8.7 3.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 329.2 329.5 330.5 332.2 3.8 3.0 5.7 3.7 3.4 4.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 274.2 275.3 276.3 277.3 2.7 2.7 6.1 4.6 2.7 5.3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 344.0 344.0 345.0 346.9 4.1 3.1 5.5 3.4 3.6 4.5 

Professional services ........................................................... 288.7 287.7 288.3 289.3 3.7 2.8 3.7 .8 3.3 2.2 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 446.2 448.7 452.7 455.6 4.0 2.3 7.9 8.7 3.1 8.3 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

June

2005

Sep.

2005

Dec.

2005

Mar.

2006

Sep.

2005

Mar.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 107.3 107.3 107.4 107.8 0.4 2.7 0.4 1.9 1.5 1.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.6 103.4 103.4 104.1 -4.2 6.0 -1.5 1.9 .8 .2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 112.4 112.9 113.0 113.2 1.5 2.5 1.8 2.9 2.0 2.3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 155.0 156.2 156.6 157.3 6.3 5.7 5.9 6.1 6.0 6.0 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 377.9 380.2 381.2 382.9 5.5 7.4 6.3 5.4 6.5 5.8 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 438.3 442.0 443.2 444.9 6.4 5.6 5.8 6.2 6.0 6.0 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 86.2 86.3 86.3 86.2 -2.3 .5 -.9 .0 -.9 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 84.6 84.6 84.6 84.5 -2.3 .0 -.9 -.5 -1.2 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.3 95.3 95.4 95.2 -1.3 2.1 .0 -.4 .4 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 13.6 13.6 13.5 13.6 -8.0 -8.2 -8.4 .0 -8.1 -4.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 11.6 11.4 11.3 11.3 -14.3 -17.6 -15.5 -10.0 -16.0 -12.8 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 326.8 327.8 328.1 329.2 1.9 4.7 2.7 3.0 3.3 2.9

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 515.0 517.1 517.9 520.9 1.2 11.1 2.2 4.7 6.0 3.4 

Personal care ......................................................................... 186.0 186.5 186.6 187.0 2.2 1.8 3.1 2.2 2.0 2.6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.4 155.8 155.6 155.2 3.2 1.3 1.0 -.5 2.2 .3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 206.9 206.6 208.0 208.5 -.6 3.0 4.2 3.1 1.2 3.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 308.0 308.9 309.4 310.8 3.8 2.9 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 161.9 163.5 163.2 164.3 .8 20.7 -12.3 6.1 10.3 -3.6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 192.5 193.3 193.5 193.7 3.0 1.7 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.6 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 144.5 146.3 145.9 147.3 -.6 34.1 -20.0 8.0 15.5 -7.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 174.9 179.3 176.0 177.4 5.1 50.6 -23.5 5.8 25.8 -10.0 

Apparel ................................................................................. 118.2 118.2 117.4 118.7 -4.3 -.7 -1.7 1.7 -2.5 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 211.5 217.2 216.5 220.7 -1.6 95.5 -37.4 18.6 38.7 -13.9 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.8 115.0 115.0 115.0 .7 -.3 -1.4 .7 .2 -.3 

Services ...................................................................................... 230.0 231.1 231.4 232.0 2.5 4.3 5.2 3.5 3.4 4.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 212.1 212.1 212.9 213.9 1.7 1.7 3.9 3.4 1.7 3.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.4 116.2 116.5 116.5 -3.6 -4.7 -1.7 .3 -4.1 -.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 180.5 188.1 185.5 183.4 8.4 30.9 25.6 6.6 19.1 15.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 133.4 134.3 135.3 135.1 4.7 4.0 5.3 5.2 4.4 5.2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 136.0 136.7 137.5 137.3 8.2 2.1 7.7 3.9 5.1 5.8 

Transportation services ............................................................ 228.5 229.0 228.9 228.9 3.1 3.8 1.4 .7 3.4 1.1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 344.0 344.0 345.0 346.9 4.1 3.1 5.5 3.4 3.6 4.5 

Other services .......................................................................... 263.6 264.3 264.8 265.7 1.6 3.9 3.1 3.2 2.7 3.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 193.3 194.8 194.7 195.7 1.5 13.5 -4.2 5.1 7.3 .3 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 185.6 187.4 187.1 187.9 1.8 16.1 -5.8 5.0 8.7 -.5 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 187.5 188.9 188.9 189.7 1.8 12.0 -3.5 4.8 6.8 .5 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 146.4 148.2 147.8 149.3 -.6 32.2 -19.2 8.2 14.6 -6.5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 176.3 180.5 177.4 179.0 4.6 47.2 -22.2 6.3 24.1 -9.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 209.2 214.6 214.0 217.8 -.8 85.5 -35.5 17.5 35.6 -12.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 184.1 186.9 185.4 186.3 3.6 23.9 -11.9 4.9 13.3 -3.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 221.7 223.9 223.4 223.3 4.6 7.1 6.4 2.9 5.8 4.6 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 221.4 222.6 222.7 223.0 3.0 4.3 5.0 2.9 3.7 4.0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 183.9 193.1 190.6 193.3 1.2 140.3 -36.9 22.1 55.9 -12.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 195.3 195.7 196.0 196.6 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.7 1.8 2.5 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 196.3 196.6 197.0 197.7 1.5 1.7 2.3 2.9 1.6 2.6 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.5 140.7 140.7 141.1 .3 .6 -.8 1.7 .4 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 197.6 208.8 206.3 213.4 -3.5 257.8 -60.2 36.0 85.9 -26.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 235.3 235.6 236.3 237.2 2.1 2.3 3.7 3.3 2.2 3.5 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Mar.2006 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2006 from—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Feb.

2005

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 192.5 194.0 194.2 195.3 3.6 0.7 0.6 3.7 0.9 0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 205.5 207.5 207.9 209.0 3.6 .7 .5 4.0 1.2 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.4 208.2 208.6 209.7 3.4 .7 .5 3.7 1.1 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.7 125.2 125.5 126.1 4.0 .7 .5 4.5 1.5 .2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 185.1 186.2 185.9 187.0 3.2 .4 .6 3.2 .4 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 186.2 187.3 186.9 188.0 3.0 .4 .6 3.1 .4 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.3 121.1 121.0 121.7 3.3 .5 .6 3.2 .6 -.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 182.4 183.5 183.2 184.7 4.2 .7 .8 3.8 .4 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 187.2 188.8 188.9 189.9 3.9 .6 .5 4.1 .9 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 189.7 191.6 191.8 192.4 3.8 .4 .3 4.2 1.1 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.8 120.7 120.7 121.6 3.9 .7 .7 3.8 .8 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 189.8 191.0 191.1 192.4 4.5 .7 .7 4.6 .7 .1 

West urban ..................................................... M 194.9 196.3 197.2 198.3 3.3 1.0 .6 3.5 1.2 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.2 197.6 198.6 199.7 3.4 1.1 .6 3.7 1.2 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.3 122.3 123.1 123.6 3.2 1.1 .4 3.4 1.5 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 178.4 179.8 180.0 181.0 3.4 .7 .6 3.6 .9 .1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 120.7 121.7 121.9 122.6 3.6 .7 .6 3.7 1.0 .2 

D ................................................................. M 187.9 188.7 188.7 190.2 4.0 .8 .8 3.9 .4 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 190.2 191.2 190.6 190.9 3.3 -.2 .2 3.5 .2 -.3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 196.5 198.3 199.9 200.8 4.5 1.3 .5 5.0 1.7 .8 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 208.7 210.2 210.6 212.0 3.2 .9 .7 3.6 .9 .2 

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

 219.5 - 220.5 3.5 .5 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 181.4 - 181.6 2.5 .1 - - - -

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

 189.9 - 189.7 4.5 -.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 126.1 - 126.4 3.4 .2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 187.2 -

 188.5 - - - - 2.8 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 187.9 -

 189.6 - - - - 3.8 .9 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 175.1 - 176.7 - - - - 2.9 .9 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 195.5 -

 199.9 - - - - 6.2 2.3 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 205.2 -

 209.1 - - - - 4.6 1.9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 199.3 -

 202.5 - - - - 2.6 1.6 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 196.1 - 198.0 - - - - 2.9 1.0 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

2003-2004

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Mar. 2006 from—

 Feb.

 2006

 Mar.

 2006

 Mar.

 2005

 Feb.

 2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 R115.5 116.1 3.0 0.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.072 114.9 114.9 2.4 .0 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.943 114.9 114.9 2.5 .0 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.029 112.5 112.4 2.2 -.1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.914 118.2 118.4 3.0 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.130 114.9 115.2 2.1 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.173 120.4 120.9 3.5 .4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.495 120.7 121.6 2.6 .7 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.702 149.4 147.8 14.2 -1.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.977 96.9 96.8 .0 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.076 87.6 91.7 -1.2 4.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.095 116.6 117.4 4.3 .7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.988 117.2 118.1 4.2 .8 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.107 108.8 109.5 5.6 .6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.055 129.8 130.4 3.9 .5 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.458 119.8 120.3 3.9 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.597 133.2 133.9 4.0 .5 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.863 105.3 105.7 1.1 .4 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.190 102.8 102.7 1.6 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.751 147.1 147.1 6.1 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.439 76.4 76.3 -1.9 -.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.475 118.8 119.1 2.7 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.763 122.9 123.4 3.6 .4 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.237 106.1 107.0 2.2 .8 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.340 88.1 87.9 -.9 -.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.897 114.9 116.3 3.6 1.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.707 111.8 112.5 2.0 .6 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.351 162.0 163.7 16.6 1.0 

R Revised.

Indexes for 2006 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2005 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 198.7 200.0 3.5 0.7 

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

 595.3 599.0 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.127 194.4 194.5 2.6 .1 

Food ................................................................................................ 14.151 194.0 194.0 2.6 .0 

Food at home ................................................................................ 8.049 192.7 192.5 2.3 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.157 210.4 210.9 1.2 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 2.229 185.5 186.0 .9 .3 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .836 183.4 182.9 .8 -.3 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.242 253.6 248.8 6.5 -1.9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ .885 147.5 148.2 3.2 .5 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.700 169.1 169.4 2.2 .2 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .297 167.5 170.2 4.7 1.6 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .246 170.5 168.6 1.0 -1.1 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.157 184.6 184.7 1.9 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .295 113.2 113.0 1.0 -.2 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.102 197.1 197.5 3.0 .2 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .338 134.5 135.0 4.3 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ .976 199.6 200.3 2.4 .4 

Housing ............................................................................................. 42.224 200.5 201.4 3.8 .4 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 32.442 228.4 230.2 2.6 .8 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 6.116 221.6 222.3 3.2 .3 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 3.009 132.6 139.8 1.1 5.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 22.951 234.2 234.9 2.7 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .366 116.2 116.2 -2.4 .0 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 5.538 193.9 191.4 14.8 -1.3 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 4.592 176.6 173.9 17.2 -1.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .360 230.4 230.3 17.8 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 4.233 181.9 178.8 17.1 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .946 135.0 135.1 4.8 .1 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 4.243 126.8 126.8 .6 .0 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .717 134.7 134.8 5.1 .1 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 3.677 116.4 121.9 -1.3 4.7

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. .927 112.5 115.8 -3.2 2.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.568 106.0 114.9 -1.9 8.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .177 116.9 119.2 .2 2.0 

Footwear .......................................................................................... .747 123.1 125.6 2.3 2.0 

Transportation ................................................................................... 17.650 175.8 177.6 5.2 1.0 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 16.595 172.0 173.7 5.1 1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 7.519 96.1 96.0 .4 -.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.521 139.3 138.8 -.2 -.4 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 1.998 139.5 139.9 1.6 .3 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 4.460 198.1 205.8 17.0 3.9 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 4.418 197.0 204.8 17.0 4.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .366 114.9 115.4 4.1 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.344 213.0 213.5 4.3 .2 

Public transportation ........................................................................ 1.055 221.2 222.5 5.9 .6 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 6.186 332.2 333.8 4.1 .5 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.488 283.4 284.5 4.1 .4 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 4.698 346.1 347.9 4.1 .5 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.776 286.5 287.7 2.9 .4 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.540 460.2 463.1 5.9 .6 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.605 110.4 110.8 1.7 0.4 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.637 104.3 105.1 .5 .8 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.791 115.8 115.7 2.7 -.1 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 3.008 158.5 158.5 6.2 .0 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .223 381.9 383.1 6.2 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.784 457.4 457.4 6.1 .0 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 2.784 84.5 84.5 -.8 .0 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.612 82.1 82.0 -1.3 -.1 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.123 95.2 95.1 .1 -.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .489 12.9 13.0 -7.1 .8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .156 11.5 11.4 -14.9 -.9 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 3.739 319.1 320.1 2.9 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... .824 515.9 518.9 4.5 .6 

Personal care .................................................................................. 2.916 188.6 189.1 2.4 .3 

Personal care products .................................................................. .645 155.3 155.1 1.4 -.1 

Personal care services .................................................................. .647 208.0 208.4 2.5 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.449 309.2 310.7 3.3 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 39.974 161.5 163.0 3.0 .9 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.127 194.4 194.5 2.6 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 24.847 143.0 145.0 3.3 1.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 14.289 169.3 173.6 6.0 2.5 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 3.677 116.4 121.9 -1.3 4.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 10.612 205.9 209.7 8.8 1.8 

Durables .......................................................................................... 10.558 115.4 115.2 -.4 -.2 

Services ............................................................................................... 60.026 235.6 236.6 3.8 .4 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 32.076 237.9 239.9 2.7 .8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .366 116.2 116.2 -2.4 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 4.233 181.9 178.8 17.1 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .946 135.0 135.1 4.8 .1 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .717 134.7 134.8 5.1 .1 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.194 228.6 228.7 2.4 .0 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 4.698 346.1 347.9 4.1 .5 

Other services ................................................................................... 10.795 274.1 274.8 3.3 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 85.849 199.6 201.0 3.6 .7 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 67.558 189.4 190.4 3.9 .5 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 93.814 191.9 193.1 3.4 .6 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 25.823 145.1 147.1 3.2 1.4 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 15.265 171.1 175.3 5.9 2.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 11.588 204.5 208.0 8.3 1.7 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 29.416 182.3 184.6 4.3 1.3 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 27.950 250.8 250.6 5.1 -.1 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 55.328 226.4 227.4 3.7 .4 

Energy ................................................................................................. 9.052 186.1 188.3 17.1 1.2 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 90.948 201.6 202.7 2.2 .5 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 76.797 203.7 205.0 2.1 .6 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 21.004 140.4 141.6 .4 .9 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 4.819 201.1 208.4 17.1 3.6 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 55.793 241.1 242.5 2.9 .6 

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

 $ .503 $ .500 - -

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

 $ .168 $ .167 - -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. 

All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

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

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 2 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 194.3 195.4 3.6 0.6 

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

 578.8 582.1 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 16.817 193.7 193.8 2.5 .1 

Food ................................................................................................ 15.758 193.3 193.3 2.5 .0 

Food at home ................................................................................ 9.374 191.7 191.5 2.2 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.310 210.5 210.9 1.2 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 2.787 185.2 185.8 .8 .3 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .946 183.4 182.7 .8 -.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.365 251.2 246.1 6.4 -2.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ 1.051 146.8 147.5 3.1 .5 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.914 168.7 168.9 2.2 .1 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .312 167.0 169.7 4.9 1.6 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .298 170.5 168.6 .8 -1.1 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.304 185.0 185.1 1.9 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .335 113.8 113.5 .9 -.3 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.385 196.9 197.3 3.0 .2 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .255 134.4 134.9 4.5 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ 1.059 199.0 200.2 2.1 .6 

Housing ............................................................................................. 39.247 196.2 196.7 4.1 .3 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 29.666 221.4 222.7 2.7 .6 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 8.000 220.7 221.4 3.2 .3 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 1.739 133.3 140.3 2.3 5.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 19.607 212.4 213.0 2.7 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .321 116.3 116.3 -2.6 .0 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 5.903 192.7 190.2 14.8 -1.3 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 4.935 174.5 171.8 17.0 -1.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .337 229.9 230.1 17.8 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 4.598 180.6 177.5 16.9 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .968 135.3 135.5 4.9 .1 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 3.677 122.4 122.5 .5 .1 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .326 137.5 137.5 5.6 .0 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 4.020 116.6 121.5 -1.2 4.2

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. 1.009 112.3 115.1 -3.8 2.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.582 106.1 114.5 -2.0 7.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .226 120.0 122.0 .1 1.7 

Footwear .......................................................................................... .970 122.4 124.7 2.5 1.9 

Transportation ................................................................................... 20.141 174.8 176.7 5.4 1.1 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 19.348 172.0 173.9 5.5 1.1 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 8.889 95.2 95.1 .6 -.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.550 140.3 139.9 -.1 -.3 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 3.465 140.3 140.8 1.7 .4 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 5.443 198.7 206.6 17.1 4.0 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 5.396 197.8 205.7 17.1 4.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .451 114.5 115.0 4.1 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.362 215.6 216.1 4.4 .2 

Public transportation ........................................................................ .793 219.9 220.9 5.7 .5 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 5.059 331.7 333.3 4.1 .5 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.127 276.3 277.3 4.0 .4 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 3.931 346.7 348.4 4.1 .5 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.275 288.9 290.2 2.8 .4 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.297 456.0 458.7 5.8 .6 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2006 from—

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Feb.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.408 107.6 108.0 1.4 0.4 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.816 103.5 104.4 .5 .9 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.419 113.1 113.1 2.2 .0 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 2.416 156.7 156.7 6.0 .0 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .220 383.3 384.2 6.0 .2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.196 443.1 443.1 6.0 .0 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 3.003 86.3 86.2 -.7 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.861 84.6 84.5 -.9 -.1 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.399 95.4 95.3 .2 -.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .462 13.5 13.6 -6.2 .7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .140 11.3 11.3 -14.4 .0 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 3.889 328.3 329.4 3.1 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... 1.275 517.9 520.8 4.7 .6 

Personal care .................................................................................. 2.614 186.8 187.2 2.3 .2 

Personal care products .................................................................. .696 155.4 155.1 1.2 -.2 

Personal care services .................................................................. .605 208.1 208.6 2.5 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.154 309.7 311.3 3.5 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 44.564 162.8 164.3 3.2 .9 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 16.817 193.7 193.8 2.5 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 27.747 145.3 147.4 3.7 1.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 15.719 174.3 178.8 6.6 2.6 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 4.020 116.6 121.5 -1.2 4.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 11.700 214.0 218.3 9.5 2.0 

Durables .......................................................................................... 12.027 115.3 115.2 -.1 -.1 

Services ............................................................................................... 55.436 231.2 231.9 3.9 .3 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 29.345 213.3 214.6 2.8 .6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .321 116.3 116.3 -2.6 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 4.598 180.6 177.5 16.9 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .968 135.3 135.5 4.9 .1 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .326 137.5 137.5 5.6 .0 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.109 229.0 229.0 2.2 .0 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 3.931 346.7 348.4 4.1 .5 

Other services ................................................................................... 9.837 265.1 265.8 3.0 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 84.242 194.3 195.6 3.8 .7 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 70.334 186.6 187.6 4.0 .5 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 94.941 188.5 189.6 3.5 .6 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 28.806 147.2 149.3 3.6 1.4 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 16.778 175.9 180.2 6.3 2.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 12.759 211.8 215.8 8.8 1.9 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 32.537 184.6 186.9 4.4 1.2 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 26.091 222.8 222.5 5.2 -.1 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 51.504 222.5 223.1 3.9 .3 

Energy ................................................................................................. 10.378 185.7 188.3 17.0 1.4 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 89.622 196.2 197.1 2.2 .5 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 73.864 197.2 198.3 2.1 .6 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 23.026 140.8 141.9 .4 .8 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 5.780 201.0 208.6 17.1 3.8 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 50.838 236.7 237.7 2.9 .4 

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

 $ .515 $ .512 - -

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

 $ .173 $ .172 - -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. 

All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

Mar. 2006 from—

Percent change to 

Feb. 2006 from—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Feb.

2005

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 196.8 198.3 198.7 200.0 3.5 0.9 0.7 3.6 1.0 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 209.0 211.1 211.8 213.3 3.5 1.0 .7 4.0 1.3 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.3 213.3 214.1 215.4 3.3 1.0 .6 3.9 1.3 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.6 124.9 125.3 126.3 4.1 1.1 .8 4.3 1.4 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 189.7 190.8 190.7 192.0 3.1 .6 .7 3.0 .5 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.6 192.7 192.5 193.8 2.9 .6 .7 2.9 .5 -.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.9 121.6 121.6 122.3 3.0 .6 .6 3.0 .6 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 184.4 185.4 185.3 187.0 3.9 .9 .9 3.4 .5 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 190.1 191.6 191.8 192.9 3.8 .7 .6 3.8 .9 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.9 193.7 193.8 194.7 3.6 .5 .5 3.9 1.0 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.2 122.0 122.1 123.0 3.9 .8 .7 3.7 .7 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 189.7 191.1 191.3 192.3 4.2 .6 .5 4.5 .8 .1 

West urban ..................................................... M 200.0 201.6 202.7 203.7 3.3 1.0 .5 3.6 1.4 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.0 204.6 205.7 206.8 3.5 1.1 .5 3.7 1.3 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.8 122.9 123.7 124.2 3.2 1.1 .4 3.4 1.6 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 180.0 181.5 181.9 182.9 3.3 .8 .5 3.6 1.1 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 121.6 122.5 122.8 123.6 3.7 .9 .7 3.6 1.0 .2 

D ................................................................. M 189.3 190.2 190.2 191.8 3.8 .8 .8 3.5 .5 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 196.4 197.6 197.2 197.6 3.3 .0 .2 3.5 .4 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 203.9 205.9 207.6 208.5 4.7 1.3 .4 5.2 1.8 .8 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 214.2 215.9 216.6 218.6 2.9 1.3 .9 3.7 1.1 .3 

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

 221.0 - 221.6 3.5 .3 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 -

 190.3 - 191.0 2.5 .4 - - - -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 188.7 - 188.5 4.0 -.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 -

 126.3 - 127.2 3.7 .7 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 188.7 -

 189.8 - - - - 2.4 .6 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 192.4 - 194.8 - - - - 3.7 1.2 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 177.2 -

 178.9 - - - - 2.5 1.0 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 197.4 -

 201.2 - - - - 5.6 1.9 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 204.9 -

 209.5 - - - - 4.7 2.2 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 203.4 - 206.8 - - - - 2.8 1.7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 200.9 -

 203.6 - - - - 3.0 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. 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 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items

index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

Mar. 2006 from—

Percent change to 

Feb. 2006 from—

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Mar.

2006

Mar.

2005

Jan.

2006

Feb.

2006

Feb.

2005

Dec.

2005

Jan.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 192.5 194.0 194.3 195.4 3.6 0.7 0.6 3.7 0.9 0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 205.5 207.6 208.1 209.2 3.7 .8 .5 4.1 1.3 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.4 208.4 208.9 209.9 3.5 .7 .5 3.9 1.2 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.7 125.1 125.4 126.2 4.1 .9 .6 4.4 1.4 .2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 185.1 186.2 185.9 187.2 3.3 .5 .7 3.2 .4 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 186.2 187.4 187.0 188.2 3.1 .4 .6 3.1 .4 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.3 121.0 121.0 121.8 3.4 .7 .7 3.2 .6 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 182.4 183.5 183.2 184.7 4.2 .7 .8 3.8 .4 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 187.2 188.9 188.9 189.9 3.9 .5 .5 4.1 .9 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 189.7 191.8 191.9 192.6 3.9 .4 .4 4.3 1.2 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.8 120.7 120.7 121.5 3.8 .7 .7 3.8 .8 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 189.8 191.3 191.3 192.3 4.5 .5 .5 4.7 .8 .0 

West urban ..................................................... M 194.9 196.4 197.4 198.4 3.3 1.0 .5 3.6 1.3 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.2 197.8 198.7 199.9 3.5 1.1 .6 3.7 1.3 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 121.3 122.4 123.1 123.6 3.2 1.0 .4 3.4 1.5 .6 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 178.4 179.9 180.2 181.1 3.5 .7 .5 3.7 1.0 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 120.7 121.7 121.9 122.6 3.6 .7 .6 3.7 1.0 .2 

D ................................................................. M 187.9 188.9 188.8 190.3 4.0 .7 .8 3.9 .5 -.1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 190.2 191.4 190.7 190.9 3.3 -.3 .1 3.5 .3 -.4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 196.5 198.4 200.1 200.9 4.6 1.3 .4 5.1 1.8 .9 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 208.7 210.2 210.8 212.3 3.3 1.0 .7 3.7 1.0 .3 

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

 219.9 - 220.4 3.4 .2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 181.5 - 181.9 2.7 .2 - - - -

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

 190.1 - 189.8 4.5 -.2 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 -

 126.2 - 126.8 3.7 .5 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 187.2 -

 188.6 - - - - 2.8 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 187.9 -

 190.0 - - - - 4.1 1.1 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 175.1 -

 176.8 - - - - 2.9 1.0 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 195.5 - 199.3 - - - - 5.8 1.9 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 205.2 -

 209.2 - - - - 4.6 1.9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 199.3 -

 202.6 - - - - 2.7 1.7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 196.1 - 198.5 - - - - 3.2 1.2 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. 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.