News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

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Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-08-0664 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, May 14, 2008 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: APRIL 2008 

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

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

level of 214.823 (1982-84=100) was 3.9 percent higher than in April 2007. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.7 

percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The April level of 210.698 (1982-84=100) was 4.2 percent 

higher than in April 2007. 

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

on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The April level of 123.845 (December 1999=100) was 3.5 percent higher 

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

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U advanced 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.3 percent 

increase in March. The index for energy was virtually unchanged after advancing 1.9 percent in March. In 

April, the index for petroleum-based energy fell 1.6 percent, offsetting a 2.5 percent increase in the index for 

energy services. The food index rose 0.9 percent in April. The index for food at home increased 1.5 percent, 

reflecting substantial increases in all six major grocery store food groups. The index for all items less food and 

energy advanced 0.1 percent in April, following a 0.2 percent rise in March. Downturns in the indexes for 

public transportation, for household furnishings and operations, and for recreation, coupled with a larger decline 

in the index for lodging away from home, more than offset an upturn in the index for apparel. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Apr. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Apr. 2008 Oct.

2007

Nov.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

All items ................................. .3 .9 .4 .4 .0 .3 .2 2.3 3.9 

Food and beverages ........... .2 .4 .1 .7 .4 .2 .9 6.1 5.0 

Housing ............................... .2 .4 .3 .2 .2 .4 .3 3.7 3.0 

Apparel ................................ .1 .6 .1 .4 -.3 -1.3 .5 -4.6 -.7 

Transportation ..................... .3 3.5 1.0 .5 -.7 .7 -.7 -2.5 7.2 

Medical care ........................ .5 .4 .3 .5 .1 .1 .2 1.6 4.3 

Recreation ........................... .3 .2 .0 .2 .1 .3 -.1 1.2 1.2 

Education and

communication .............. .3 .0 .3 .4 .1 .3 .4 3.3 3.2 

Other goods and services ... .2 .2 .3 .4 .2 .4 .5 4.8 3.5 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 1.0 6.9 1.7 .7 -.5 1.9 .0 5.6 15.9 

Food .................................... .2 .4 .1 .7 .4 .2 .9 6.3 5.1 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .2 .2 .3 .0 .2 .1 1.2 2.3 
During the first four months of 2008, the CPI-U rose at a 3.0 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR). This compares with an increase of 4.1 percent for all of 2007. The deceleration thus far this year 

reflects smaller increases in the indexes for energy and for all items less food and energy. The index for energy 

advanced at a 6.3 percent SAAR in the first four months of 2008 compared with 17.4 percent in 2007. 

Petroleum-based energy costs decreased at a 0.7 percent annual rate while charges for energy services rose at a 

17.7 percent annual rate. The food index has increased at a 6.9 percent SAAR thus far this year, following a 4.9 

percent rise for all of 2007. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.8 percent SAAR in the first 

four months, following a 2.4 percent rise for all of 2007. 

The food and beverages index rose 0.9 percent in April. The index for food at home increased 1.5 

percent, following a 0.2 percent rise in March. Each of the six major grocery store food groups contributed to 

the larger advance in April. The index for fruits and vegetables, which rose 0.1 percent in March, increased 2.0 

percent in April. The indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables increased 3.2 and 3.4 

percent, respectively, while the index for fresh vegetables declined 0.2 percent. The index for cereal and bakery 

products, which increased 1.3 percent in March, rose 1.4 percent in April. Prices for bread increased 1.5 

percent and were 14.1 percent higher than a year earlier. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which 

was virtually unchanged in March, advanced 0.9 percent in April. A 1.1 percent decline in beef prices was 

more than offset by increases in the indexes for pork, for fish and seafood, and for poultry--up 3.4, 2.6, and 0.7 

percent, respectively. The index for dairy products turned up in April, increasing 1.2 percent. Milk prices rose 

0.9 percent and were 13.5 percent higher than in April 2007. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 

1.7 percent, reflecting large price increases for coffee and for carbonated drinks--up 4.0 and 2.2 percent, 

respectively. The index for other food at home rose 1.9 percent in April, reflecting large increases in most 

categories. In particular, the indexes for butter and for margarine increased 7.8 and 6.5 percent, respectively. 

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

increased 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in April. The index for shelter increased 0.1 percent in April, the 

same as in March. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.2 

percent, respectively. The index for lodging away from home declined for the third consecutive month--down 

1.9 percent in April. The index for household energy registered its third consecutive large increase--up 2.6 

percent in April. The index for fuel oil rose 4.4 percent and was 52.6 percent higher than in April 2007. The 

indexes for natural gas and for electricity rose 4.8 and 1.5 percent, respectively. During the last 12 months 

charges for natural gas and for electricity increased 10.9 and 5.0 percent, respectively. The index for household 

furnishings and operations, which increased 0.5 percent in March, declined 0.1 percent in April. 

The transportation index declined 0.7 percent in April, reflecting a 2.0 percent decrease in the index for 

gasoline. The index for new vehicles declined 0.2 percent and was 1.3 percent lower than in April 2007. The 

index for used cars and trucks declined 0.3 percent in April, but was 1.8 percent higher than a year ago. The 

index for public transportation declined 0.4 percent in April, reflecting a 0.5 percent decrease in the index for 

airline fares. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, airline fares rose 0.9 percent and were 10.1 percent higher than a 

year ago.) 

The index for apparel rose 0.5 percent in April, following a 1.3 percent decrease in March. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 1.0 percent. Prices for men’s and boys’ apparel rose 1.4 percent and 

women’s and girls apparel increased 0.5 percent. During the last 12 months, prices for men’s and boys’ apparel 

increased 1.3 percent, while prices for women’s and girls’ clothing fell 5.0 percent.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in April and are 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--decreased 0.2 

percent. The index for medical care services increased 0.3 percent. Within the latter group, the indexes for 

professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. 

Gasoline prices rose 5.6 percent in April. Compared to a year ago, these prices were up 20.9 percent. 

Gasoline prices increase seasonally during the first five months of the year, with the largest increases 

occurring in March and April and decline seasonally for the remainder of the year. 
The index for recreation, which rose 0.3 percent in March, declined 0.1 percent in April. A 0.4 percent 

decrease in the index for video and audio was largely responsible for the April decrease. Declines in the 

indexes for photography, for toys, and for admissions to movies, theaters, and concerts also contributed to the 

April decrease. 

The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in April. Educational costs rose 0.6 

percent and the index for communication costs rose 0.2 percent. Within the latter category, increases in charges 

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

services. Local land-line telephone charges rose 0.8 and long distance land-line telephone charges and wireless 

telephone services each rose 0.3 percent. The index for information technology, hardware and services declined 

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

internet services. 

The index for other goods and services increased 0.5 percent in April. The index for personal care 

products rose 0.6 percent, reflecting a 1.2 percent increase in the index for hair, dental, shaving and 

miscellaneous personal care products. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.3 percent. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.2 

percent in April. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Apr. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Apr. 2008 Oct.

2007

Nov.

2007

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

All items ................................. .3 1.0 .4 .4 .0 .4 .2 2.4 4.2 

Food and beverages ........... .2 .3 .1 .7 .3 .2 .9 6.1 5.0 

Housing ............................... .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .5 .4 4.6 3.2 

Apparel ................................ .1 .4 .2 .8 -.3 -1.2 .2 -5.4 -.5 

Transportation ..................... .3 3.8 1.1 .7 -.7 .7 -.7 -2.8 7.9 

Medical care ........................ .5 .4 .3 .6 .1 .1 .2 1.4 4.4 

Recreation ........................... .2 .1 .1 .2 .1 .3 -.2 1.2 1.0 

Education and

communication .............. .3 .0 .2 .3 .1 .2 .4 2.9 2.8 

Other goods and services ... .2 .2 .4 .5 .3 .4 .4 4.5 3.8 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 1.1 7.2 1.8 .8 -.7 1.9 -.2 4.3 16.2 

Food .................................... .2 .3 .1 .7 .3 .2 1.0 6.3 5.1 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .2 .2 .3 .0 .1 .1 1.3 2.2 

Consumer Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on Friday, June 13, 2008, at 8:30 A.M. 

(EDT). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

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

percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

48 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2008. 
Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are subject to revision for up to five years 

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

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

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

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Mar.

2008

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 213.528 214.823 3.9 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.2 

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

 639.636 643.515 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 209.692 211.365 5.0 .8 .4 .2 .9 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.833 209.385 211.102 5.1 .8 .4 .2 .9 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.660 208.203 210.851 5.9 1.3 .3 .2 1.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.030 236.261 240.034 8.9 1.6 1.8 1.3 1.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.807 199.775 200.770 3.7 .5 -.1 .0 .9 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .887 206.171 207.680 11.8 .7 .8 -.8 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.156 268.446 272.746 4.1 1.6 -1.3 .1 2.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .928 158.089 159.730 5.2 1.0 -.1 .3 1.7 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.852 178.238 181.806 5.3 2.0 1.0 .1 1.9 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .277 182.214 184.878 5.1 1.5 .4 1.0 1.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .205 182.808 190.640 12.3 4.3 1.5 -.7 5.1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.369 192.597 195.993 4.2 1.8 1.1 .0 1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .404 117.321 118.500 2.8 1.0 2.6 -.7 1.0 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.173 212.537 213.083 4.1 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .297 148.564 148.667 3.9 .1 1.2 .1 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.080 212.407 213.503 3.6 .5 .4 -.1 .6 

Housing ...................................................................................... 42.427 214.389 214.890 3.0 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.596 245.995 246.004 2.6 .0 .0 .1 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.765 240.874 241.474 3.6 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.564 149.434 146.378 1.1 -2.0 -1.2 -.6 -1.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 23.942 250.966 251.418 2.6 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .325 117.701 118.422 .7 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.128 209.221 213.302 8.6 2.0 1.3 2.0 2.2 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.215 189.693 194.121 9.4 2.3 1.5 2.3 2.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .351 332.139 342.811 42.8 3.2 -1.2 7.9 3.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.864 190.105 194.379 6.6 2.2 1.7 1.9 2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .913 149.315 149.536 5.2 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.702 127.423 127.332 -.1 -.1 .0 .5 -.1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .737 145.034 145.784 3.9 .5 .5 1.1 .5 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.731 120.881 122.113 -.7 1.0 -.3 -1.3 .5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .935 114.994 116.653 1.3 1.4 1.1 -.8 .4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.600 110.645 111.221 -5.0 .5 -2.0 -2.6 .0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .185 116.037 116.358 .8 .3 -.4 -1.7 .6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .679 124.407 126.212 2.1 1.5 .0 -.1 .9 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.688 195.189 198.608 7.2 1.8 -.7 .7 -.7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.583 191.067 194.574 7.2 1.8 -.7 .6 -.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.191 94.318 93.973 -.4 -.4 -.2 -.1 -.2 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.632 135.727 135.175 -1.3 -.4 -.3 -.1 -.2 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 1.773 137.225 136.787 1.8 -.3 .0 .0 -.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.482 278.739 294.291 21.1 5.6 -2.0 1.6 -1.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.215 276.497 291.910 20.7 5.6 -2.0 1.3 -2.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .356 126.325 126.049 4.4 -.2 .8 .9 -.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.123 229.765 230.528 4.1 .3 .3 .5 .4 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.106 242.929 244.164 7.3 .5 -.1 2.5 -.4 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.231 363.000 363.184 4.3 .1 .1 .1 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.601 297.308 296.951 3.0 -.1 .1 .4 -.2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.630 382.872 383.292 4.7 .1 .1 .1 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.626 308.726 309.227 3.3 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.467 528.968 530.144 7.7 .2 .3 .2 .5 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Mar.

2008

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.647 112.731 112.874 1.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 -0.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.843 103.548 103.477 .3 -.1 -.2 .2 -.4 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.086 121.832 122.073 3.2 .2 .1 .3 .4 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.944 177.407 177.754 5.7 .2 .3 .4 .6 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .207 439.906 442.160 6.7 .5 -.1 .3 .9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.736 511.013 511.887 5.6 .2 .3 .4 .6 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.142 83.502 83.670 .6 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 2.975 80.752 80.921 .3 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.342 99.031 99.494 1.9 .5 -.1 .2 .5 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .634 10.246 10.170 -6.4 -.7 .2 -.1 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .242 100.359 98.853 -13.2 -1.5 -.4 -.2 -1.5 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.277 341.827 343.410 3.5 .5 .2 .4 .5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .731 574.890 576.359 5.2 .3 .4 -.1 .3 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.546 199.982 201.028 3.1 .5 .2 .6 .6 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .639 158.440 159.398 .5 .6 -.3 .5 .6 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .629 222.752 222.799 3.4 .0 .4 .9 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.044 335.427 337.685 4.4 .7 .4 .3 .7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 41.269 173.884 175.838 4.8 1.1 -.2 .3 .1 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 209.692 211.365 5.0 .8 .4 .2 .9 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.356 153.682 155.690 4.7 1.3 -.5 .4 -.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.519 196.185 200.926 8.9 2.4 -.1 .8 -.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.731 120.881 122.113 -.7 1.0 -.3 -1.3 .5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.787 247.546 254.599 12.1 2.8 .0 1.5 -.9 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.837 112.059 111.671 -1.2 -.3 -.2 .0 -.3 

Services ....................................................................................... 58.731 252.817 253.426 3.3 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.271 256.470 256.463 2.6 .0 .0 .2 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .325 117.701 118.422 .7 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.864 190.105 194.379 6.6 2.2 1.7 1.9 2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .913 149.315 149.536 5.2 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .737 145.034 145.784 3.9 .5 .5 1.1 .5 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.350 239.556 240.150 3.4 .2 .1 .7 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.630 382.872 383.292 4.7 .1 .1 .1 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.641 292.218 293.016 3.4 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.167 214.236 215.462 3.7 .6 .0 .4 .1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.404 203.217 205.040 4.6 .9 .0 .4 .3 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.769 205.992 207.317 3.9 .6 .0 .4 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.436 155.881 157.870 4.6 1.3 -.5 .4 -.3

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.599 197.167 201.693 8.5 2.3 -.4 .9 .1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.868 243.109 249.571 11.4 2.7 -.3 1.6 -.4 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.432 203.767 207.096 7.0 1.6 .0 .7 .5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.460 267.567 269.007 4.2 .5 .3 .7 .6 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.101 242.310 242.921 3.2 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.698 230.505 240.194 15.9 4.2 -.5 1.9 .0 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.302 213.420 213.851 2.7 .2 .1 .2 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.469 214.866 215.059 2.3 .1 .0 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.602 141.056 141.156 .1 .1 -.1 -.1 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.834 283.362 298.757 22.5 5.4 -1.9 2.0 -1.6 

Services less energy services .................................................. 54.867 259.249 259.503 3.1 .1 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .468 $ .465 - - - - -

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

 $ .156 $ .155 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2007

Oct.

2007

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008 Oct.

2007

Apr.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 212.516 212.571 213.301 213.743 3.9 2.6 6.8 2.3 3.2 4.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 208.326 209.087 209.517 211.442 4.7 4.5 4.6 6.1 4.6 5.4 

Food ................................................................................ 208.026 208.778 209.255 211.232 4.8 4.6 4.7 6.3 4.7 5.5 

Food at home ................................................................ 206.921 207.633 207.971 211.085 5.2 4.5 5.7 8.3 4.9 7.0 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 229.175 233.287 236.325 239.619 4.0 5.0 7.6 19.5 4.5 13.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 199.747 199.499 199.527 201.404 5.2 3.4 2.7 3.4 4.3 3.0 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 205.698 207.341 205.624 207.992 29.2 12.9 2.3 4.5 20.8 3.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 272.105 268.642 268.864 274.120 -5.5 4.0 16.3 3.0 -.9 9.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 156.941 156.743 157.218 159.868 5.1 4.1 4.1 7.7 4.6 5.9 

Other food at home ..................................................... 176.178 177.957 178.157 181.508 3.1 2.3 3.5 12.7 2.7 8.0

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 179.774 180.431 182.273 184.421 3.7 2.3 3.8 10.7 3.0 7.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 180.743 183.396 182.190 191.560 6.6 4.6 12.8 26.2 5.6 19.3 

Other foods ............................................................... 190.435 192.472 192.565 195.506 2.4 1.8 1.8 11.1 2.1 6.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 115.162 118.182 117.321 118.500 -1.0 -.6 1.1 12.1 -.8 6.5 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 211.070 211.878 212.537 213.083 4.4 4.6 3.5 3.9 4.5 3.7 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 146.649 148.385 148.564 148.667 4.6 3.6 1.6 5.6 4.1 3.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 210.953 211.841 211.645 212.894 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.7 3.6 3.5 

Housing ............................................................................. 212.920 213.313 214.204 214.850 2.8 2.2 3.5 3.7 2.5 3.6 

Shelter ............................................................................. 244.744 244.837 245.200 245.335 3.4 2.7 3.5 1.0 3.0 2.2 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 239.745 240.191 240.763 241.489 3.3 3.8 4.5 2.9 3.6 3.7 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 146.695 144.953 144.128 141.456 16.4 -1.3 5.1 -13.5 7.2 -4.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 250.051 250.413 250.941 251.461 2.0 2.9 3.3 2.3 2.5 2.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 117.435 117.622 117.701 118.422 -3.3 .2 2.8 3.4 -1.6 3.1 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 205.567 208.175 212.311 216.921 2.7 2.9 6.0 24.0 2.8 14.6 

Household energy ......................................................... 185.991 188.722 193.154 198.101 2.3 2.5 5.9 28.7 2.4 16.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 306.227 302.465 326.372 338.212 22.4 27.3 79.3 48.8 24.8 63.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 187.489 190.706 194.239 199.018 .7 .6 .6 27.0 .7 13.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 148.142 148.647 149.080 149.537 5.1 5.0 6.7 3.8 5.1 5.3 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 126.493 126.510 127.205 127.076 -.7 -1.7 .4 1.9 -1.2 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 142.828 143.500 145.034 145.784 1.3 .9 5.2 8.5 1.1 6.9 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.759 119.352 117.819 118.363 -1.3 -.9 4.6 -4.6 -1.1 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.941 114.213 113.256 113.763 2.3 -2.0 1.9 2.9 .2 2.4

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.658 108.393 105.548 105.549 -6.9 -1.6 7.3 -17.2 -4.3 -5.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 116.049 115.627 113.658 114.388 -4.7 9.7 4.5 -5.6 2.2 -.7 

Footwear ......................................................................... 123.246 123.304 123.193 124.302 3.7 -2.4 3.6 3.5 .6 3.5 

Transportation ................................................................... 195.722 194.390 195.797 194.483 7.8 1.7 22.3 -2.5 4.7 9.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 191.811 190.437 191.585 190.264 8.2 1.3 23.0 -3.2 4.7 9.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 94.318 94.156 94.068 93.859 .8 .0 -.3 -1.9 .4 -1.1 

New vehicles ............................................................... 135.597 135.195 135.024 134.772 -.7 -1.0 -1.1 -2.4 -.8 -1.8 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 137.203 137.248 137.225 136.787 5.0 2.8 .7 -1.2 3.9 -.2 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 283.011 277.448 281.996 276.571 26.3 2.6 82.1 -8.8 13.9 28.9 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 281.880 276.131 279.818 274.251 26.3 2.6 82.7 -10.4 13.8 27.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 124.282 125.225 126.325 126.049 2.7 5.0 4.2 5.8 3.9 5.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 227.730 228.425 229.641 230.660 3.4 2.4 5.3 5.2 2.9 5.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 239.414 239.080 245.136 244.145 1.1 9.3 10.9 8.1 5.1 9.5 

Medical care ...................................................................... 360.815 361.168 361.697 362.243 5.0 5.6 5.1 1.6 5.3 3.3 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 295.763 296.151 297.377 296.876 2.3 3.0 5.1 1.5 2.7 3.3 

Medical care services ..................................................... 380.459 380.787 380.994 381.990 5.8 6.4 5.1 1.6 6.1 3.3 

Professional services .................................................... 307.011 307.160 307.527 308.120 3.8 4.4 3.8 1.5 4.1 2.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 522.889 524.634 525.672 528.453 7.9 9.7 9.0 4.3 8.8 6.7 

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—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2007

Oct.

2007

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008 Oct.

2007

Apr.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 112.242 112.373 112.656 112.588 0.4 1.7 1.6 1.2 1.0 1.4 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 103.337 103.147 103.370 102.948 .5 1.4 .8 -1.5 .9 -.4 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 121.578 121.745 122.075 122.564 3.5 3.1 2.8 3.3 3.3 3.0 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 176.895 177.406 178.144 179.234 5.2 5.6 6.7 5.4 5.4 6.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 436.635 436.364 437.600 441.736 7.8 8.3 6.2 4.8 8.1 5.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 509.715 511.324 513.503 516.515 5.0 5.4 6.7 5.4 5.2 6.1 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 83.392 83.388 83.500 83.669 1.7 .5 -1.3 1.3 1.1 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 80.642 80.638 80.752 80.921 .8 .5 -1.5 1.4 .7 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 98.906 98.837 99.031 99.494 4.0 1.9 -.5 2.4 2.9 .9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.229 10.253 10.246 10.170 -12.0 -5.3 -5.9 -2.3 -8.7 -4.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 100.998 100.545 100.359 98.853 -20.6 -11.1 -12.2 -8.2 -16.0 -10.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 339.063 339.869 341.374 343.072 2.6 2.8 3.9 4.8 2.7 4.4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 572.684 575.227 574.890 576.359 4.7 4.9 8.9 2.6 4.8 5.7 

Personal care .................................................................. 198.120 198.473 199.641 200.773 2.1 2.2 2.5 5.5 2.1 4.0 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 158.201 157.677 158.440 159.398 -.5 -.2 -.5 3.1 -.3 1.3 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 219.932 220.848 222.752 222.799 2.5 2.2 3.8 5.3 2.3 4.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 332.309 333.716 334.878 337.233 2.3 4.6 4.8 6.1 3.4 5.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 173.359 173.011 173.575 173.718 4.7 2.1 11.5 .8 3.4 6.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 208.326 209.087 209.517 211.442 4.7 4.5 4.6 6.1 4.6 5.4 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 153.519 152.726 153.327 152.734 4.6 .6 15.6 -2.0 2.6 6.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 195.609 195.406 196.898 195.857 5.1 2.4 29.9 .5 3.7 14.3 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.759 119.352 117.819 118.363 -1.3 -.9 4.6 -4.6 -1.1 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 246.553 246.666 250.287 248.038 13.3 -1.7 38.4 2.4 5.5 19.1 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.020 111.756 111.800 111.417 -1.4 -.9 -.2 -2.1 -1.1 -1.2 

Services .............................................................................. 251.317 251.804 252.703 253.456 3.2 3.0 3.7 3.4 3.1 3.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 255.206 255.267 255.657 255.735 3.5 2.6 3.7 .8 3.0 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 117.435 117.622 117.701 118.422 -3.3 .2 2.8 3.4 -1.6 3.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 187.489 190.706 194.239 199.018 .7 .6 .6 27.0 .7 13.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 148.142 148.647 149.080 149.537 5.1 5.0 6.7 3.8 5.1 5.3 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 142.828 143.500 145.034 145.784 1.3 .9 5.2 8.5 1.1 6.9 

Transportation services ..................................................... 238.174 238.389 240.053 240.412 1.8 2.9 5.2 3.8 2.4 4.5 

Medical care services ....................................................... 380.459 380.787 380.994 381.990 5.8 6.4 5.1 1.6 6.1 3.3 

Other services ................................................................... 290.834 291.364 292.410 293.296 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.5 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 213.281 213.221 213.992 214.183 3.7 2.3 7.1 1.7 3.0 4.4 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 202.288 202.328 203.213 203.782 4.1 2.6 8.4 3.0 3.3 5.7 

All items less medical care .................................................. 205.033 205.076 205.807 206.241 3.8 2.4 6.9 2.4 3.1 4.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 155.681 154.934 155.514 154.972 4.6 .8 15.1 -1.8 2.7 6.3 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 196.169 195.304 197.043 197.193 6.1 .0 28.0 2.1 3.0 14.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 241.905 241.207 245.015 244.131 12.3 -2.2 34.9 3.7 4.8 18.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 202.477 202.376 203.730 204.711 5.3 3.0 15.6 4.5 4.1 9.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 265.500 266.373 268.136 269.814 3.6 2.8 3.6 6.7 3.2 5.1 

Services less medical care services ................................... 240.726 241.233 242.188 242.925 3.4 2.6 3.2 3.7 3.0 3.4 

Energy ................................................................................. 230.633 229.390 233.839 233.804 14.4 2.6 43.6 5.6 8.3 23.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 212.281 212.471 212.819 213.314 2.8 2.6 3.4 2.0 2.7 2.7 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 213.765 213.851 214.176 214.398 2.5 2.3 3.1 1.2 2.4 2.2

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.422 140.316 140.180 140.193 .0 -.1 1.2 -.7 .0 .3 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 286.070 280.566 286.164 281.614 26.1 4.1 82.5 -6.1 14.5 30.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 257.857 258.078 258.722 259.084 3.4 3.2 3.9 1.9 3.3 2.9 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Apr.2008 from—

Percent change to

Mar.2008 from—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 211.080 211.693 213.528 214.823 3.9 1.5 0.6 4.0 1.2 0.9 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 224.325 225.213 226.926 228.133 3.9 1.3 .5 3.9 1.2 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 226.310 227.411 229.087 230.038 3.6 1.2 .4 3.7 1.2 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.301 133.511 134.611 135.739 4.8 1.7 .8 4.6 1.0 .8 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 201.427 201.896 203.723 205.393 4.0 1.7 .8 3.7 1.1 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 202.830 203.347 205.141 206.590 3.6 1.6 .7 3.4 1.1 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.753 128.922 130.121 131.484 4.6 2.0 1.0 4.0 1.1 .9 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 196.708 197.596 199.472 200.841 4.8 1.6 .7 4.8 1.4 .9 

South urban .................................................... M 204.510 205.060 206.676 208.085 4.2 1.5 .7 4.4 1.1 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 207.221 207.605 209.065 209.987 4.0 1.1 .4 4.3 .9 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.937 130.351 131.442 132.516 4.3 1.7 .8 4.5 1.2 .8 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.524 205.189 206.933 208.746 4.2 1.7 .9 4.4 1.2 .8 

West urban ..................................................... M 215.739 216.339 218.533 219.437 3.5 1.4 .4 3.7 1.3 1.0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 219.036 219.799 221.997 222.689 3.3 1.3 .3 3.5 1.4 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.328 131.538 132.896 133.694 3.8 1.6 .6 3.9 1.2 1.0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 193.045 193.685 195.314 196.191 3.6 1.3 .4 3.7 1.2 .8 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 130.431 130.728 131.892 132.974 4.3 1.7 .8 4.3 1.1 .9 

D ................................................................. M 203.200 203.803 205.730 207.238 4.4 1.7 .7 4.4 1.2 .9 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 208.757 209.526 211.542 212.662 4.2 1.5 .5 4.5 1.3 1.0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 220.918 221.431 223.606 224.625 3.1 1.4 .5 3.3 1.2 1.0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 229.869 231.020 233.122 233.822 3.6 1.2 .3 3.8 1.4 .9 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 231.980 -

 233.084 - - - - 2.9 .5 -

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

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 197.079 -

 198.596 - - - - 4.4 .8 -

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

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

 204.166 - 206.371 3.7 1.1 - - - -

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

 202.378 - 205.281 2.4 1.4 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 187.585 - 188.795 2.5 .6 - - - -

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

 219.082 - 221.324 4.9 1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 220.935 - 223.622 3.9 1.2 - - - -

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

 219.612 - 222.074 2.9 1.1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 221.728 - 223.196 3.4 .7 - - - -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Mar.

2008

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 209.147 210.698 4.2 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.2 

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

 622.985 627.606 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 208.927 210.559 5.0 .8 .3 .2 .9 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.901 208.571 210.252 5.1 .8 .3 .2 1.0 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.595 207.196 209.657 5.9 1.2 .3 .2 1.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.110 236.764 240.663 8.9 1.6 1.8 1.3 1.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.192 199.484 200.285 3.7 .4 -.2 .1 .9 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .965 205.660 207.135 11.8 .7 .7 -.9 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.218 266.030 270.169 3.9 1.6 -1.7 .5 1.9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.094 157.488 158.799 5.2 .8 .2 .1 1.6 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.016 177.713 181.215 5.4 2.0 1.0 .0 1.9 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .279 181.033 183.725 5.3 1.5 .6 .9 1.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 183.706 191.560 12.3 4.3 1.5 -.8 5.4 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.504 192.832 196.106 4.2 1.7 1.1 .0 1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .438 117.754 118.751 2.9 .8 2.7 -.9 .8 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.305 212.193 212.794 4.0 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .218 147.188 147.335 3.0 .1 .9 .2 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.025 212.748 213.633 3.5 .4 .5 -.2 .5 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.994 209.388 210.161 3.2 .4 .2 .5 .4 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.397 237.965 238.261 2.7 .1 .1 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 7.979 239.932 240.507 3.6 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.233 148.110 145.936 1.1 -1.5 -1.9 -.7 -1.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 20.888 227.488 227.893 2.6 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .297 117.999 118.683 .6 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.637 206.861 210.912 8.2 2.0 1.2 1.9 2.2 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.670 186.315 190.657 8.8 2.3 1.4 2.3 2.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .323 329.271 339.009 41.5 3.0 -1.1 7.0 3.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.347 188.143 192.434 6.4 2.3 1.5 1.9 2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .966 149.555 149.751 5.1 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.960 123.184 123.108 .2 -.1 .0 .5 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .339 147.316 148.403 4.2 .7 .3 1.0 .7 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.998 120.809 121.855 -.5 .9 -.3 -1.2 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.031 115.808 117.136 1.8 1.1 .8 -.7 .1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.619 110.712 110.971 -5.0 .2 -2.0 -2.5 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .251 118.990 119.200 1.4 .2 .1 -1.6 .6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .821 124.343 126.150 2.3 1.5 .3 .1 .7

Transportation ............................................................................ 20.054 195.710 199.556 7.9 2.0 -.7 .7 -.7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 19.287 192.740 196.641 8.0 2.0 -.8 .7 -.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.952 93.455 93.158 -.1 -.3 -.2 -.1 -.2 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.172 136.910 136.456 -1.2 -.3 -.3 -.1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 3.103 138.070 137.616 1.8 -.3 .0 .0 -.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.940 279.975 295.618 21.4 5.6 -1.9 1.7 -1.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.597 277.842 293.349 20.9 5.6 -2.0 1.4 -2.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .446 126.330 126.032 4.7 -.2 .7 .9 -.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.169 232.344 232.983 4.0 .3 .3 .5 .4 

Public transportation ................................................................ .767 240.729 241.966 6.8 .5 -.1 2.4 -.3 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.192 363.069 363.356 4.4 .1 .1 .1 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.295 289.254 288.796 2.7 -.2 .0 .3 -.2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.897 384.149 384.753 4.9 .2 .1 .0 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.159 311.259 311.757 3.4 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.260 524.534 526.495 8.0 .4 .4 .2 .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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Mar.

2008

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.341 109.742 109.775 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.987 103.525 103.414 .7 -.1 -.1 .2 -.3 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 5.987 118.155 118.462 2.8 .3 .1 .2 .4 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.377 175.101 175.545 5.5 .3 .2 .4 .6 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 442.639 444.594 6.5 .4 -.1 .1 .9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.174 493.546 494.711 5.4 .2 .3 .4 .6 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.609 86.016 86.244 .8 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.488 84.091 84.320 .7 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.869 99.090 99.566 1.9 .5 -.1 .2 .5 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .619 10.745 10.671 -5.7 -.7 .2 -.1 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .228 100.265 98.820 -12.9 -1.4 -.5 -.3 -1.4 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.508 353.351 354.887 3.8 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.183 576.910 578.296 5.4 .2 .5 -.1 .2 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.325 197.803 198.859 3.0 .5 .2 .6 .6 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .647 158.730 159.585 .6 .5 -.2 .5 .5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .560 223.043 223.088 3.4 .0 .5 .8 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .910 336.476 338.851 4.5 .7 .4 .3 .7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 44.745 176.727 178.900 5.4 1.2 -.2 .4 .0 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 208.927 210.559 5.0 .8 .3 .2 .9 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 28.819 158.156 160.488 5.6 1.5 -.6 .4 -.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.315 205.166 210.558 9.9 2.6 -.1 .8 -.6 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.998 120.809 121.855 -.5 .9 -.3 -1.2 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.318 262.252 270.496 13.2 3.1 -.4 1.8 -.7 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.504 112.549 112.171 -.7 -.3 -.2 .0 -.3 

Services ....................................................................................... 55.255 247.197 248.045 3.3 .3 .2 .4 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.100 229.443 229.719 2.7 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .297 117.999 118.683 .6 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.347 188.143 192.434 6.4 2.3 1.5 1.9 2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .966 149.555 149.751 5.1 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .339 147.316 148.403 4.2 .7 .3 1.0 .7 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.266 238.496 239.044 2.9 .2 .1 .5 .2 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.897 384.149 384.753 4.9 .2 .1 .0 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.042 281.017 281.829 3.1 .3 .1 .4 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.099 209.055 210.583 4.1 .7 -.1 .4 .1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.603 200.904 202.931 4.9 1.0 .0 .4 .3 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.808 202.713 204.290 4.2 .8 .0 .4 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 29.844 160.152 162.455 5.5 1.4 -.5 .4 -.5

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.341 205.843 211.005 9.5 2.5 -.1 .8 -.6

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.343 256.899 264.488 12.5 3.0 -.3 1.7 -.6 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.241 208.101 211.757 7.6 1.8 .1 .7 .2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 25.155 236.483 237.922 4.0 .6 .3 .7 .7 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 51.358 237.201 238.048 3.2 .4 .2 .4 .4 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.610 231.533 241.518 16.2 4.3 -.7 1.9 -.2 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.390 207.296 207.812 2.7 .2 .1 .2 .3

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.489 207.406 207.687 2.2 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.581 141.973 142.040 .4 .0 -.1 -.1 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.264 283.359 298.852 22.4 5.5 -1.9 1.9 -1.7 

Services less energy services .................................................. 50.908 253.589 254.031 3.0 .2 .1 .2 .2 

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

 $ .478 $ .475 - - - - -

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

 $ .161 $ .159 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2007

Oct.

2007

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008 Oct.

2007

Apr.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 208.301 208.298 209.064 209.543 4.1 2.7 7.7 2.4 3.4 5.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 207.555 208.257 208.709 210.669 4.9 4.5 4.5 6.1 4.7 5.3 

Food ................................................................................ 207.222 207.901 208.406 210.420 5.0 4.6 4.6 6.3 4.8 5.4 

Food at home ................................................................ 205.887 206.527 206.912 209.945 5.4 4.6 5.5 8.1 5.0 6.8 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 229.488 233.733 236.729 240.305 3.8 4.8 7.6 20.2 4.3 13.7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 199.343 198.931 199.175 200.888 5.8 3.5 2.4 3.1 4.7 2.8 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 205.370 206.877 205.091 207.558 30.4 12.5 2.0 4.3 21.1 3.2 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 269.770 265.318 266.563 271.663 -6.0 3.8 16.3 2.8 -1.2 9.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 156.112 156.437 156.572 159.034 5.5 3.8 3.7 7.7 4.6 5.7 

Other food at home ..................................................... 175.682 177.521 177.582 180.938 3.1 2.8 3.4 12.5 3.0 7.9

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 178.505 179.535 181.198 183.410 3.3 2.9 3.8 11.5 3.1 7.6 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 181.290 184.099 182.605 192.519 5.5 5.7 12.2 27.2 5.6 19.4 

Other foods ............................................................... 190.770 192.783 192.789 195.607 2.6 2.2 1.7 10.5 2.4 6.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 115.658 118.828 117.754 118.751 -.3 .1 1.0 11.1 -.1 5.9 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 210.776 211.517 212.193 212.794 4.2 4.7 3.4 3.9 4.5 3.6 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 145.625 146.924 147.188 147.335 4.1 .9 2.4 4.8 2.5 3.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 211.034 212.072 211.736 212.888 4.0 3.4 3.2 3.6 3.7 3.4 

Housing ............................................................................. 208.096 208.533 209.497 210.427 2.6 2.4 3.5 4.6 2.5 4.0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 236.955 237.099 237.537 237.943 3.0 2.9 3.5 1.7 2.9 2.6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 238.767 239.179 239.762 240.466 3.5 3.8 4.2 2.9 3.7 3.5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 146.621 143.829 142.831 141.337 15.7 -.9 6.2 -13.7 7.0 -4.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 226.656 226.982 227.481 227.924 2.0 2.8 3.4 2.3 2.4 2.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 117.740 117.921 117.999 118.683 -3.5 .2 2.6 3.2 -1.6 2.9 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 203.514 205.930 209.904 214.459 2.2 2.8 5.7 23.3 2.5 14.2 

Household energy ......................................................... 182.988 185.477 189.679 194.506 1.7 2.4 5.6 27.7 2.0 16.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 305.305 301.932 323.185 334.332 23.8 27.8 76.4 43.8 25.8 59.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 185.607 188.475 192.089 196.843 .2 .6 .9 26.5 .4 13.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 148.371 148.883 149.296 149.736 5.2 5.0 6.6 3.7 5.1 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 122.389 122.330 122.902 122.893 -.3 -1.4 .8 1.7 -.8 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 145.431 145.825 147.316 148.403 2.0 2.0 4.4 8.4 2.0 6.4 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.760 119.341 117.864 118.109 -1.3 -.2 5.6 -5.4 -.8 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.796 114.759 113.914 114.080 1.2 -.1 5.0 1.0 .6 3.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.735 108.555 105.815 105.369 -6.0 -1.0 6.7 -18.0 -3.6 -6.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 118.421 118.510 116.638 117.342 -3.6 8.7 4.8 -3.6 2.3 .5 

Footwear ......................................................................... 122.938 123.294 123.441 124.364 4.1 -2.4 2.9 4.7 .8 3.8 

Transportation ................................................................... 196.402 194.963 196.398 194.993 8.9 1.6 24.6 -2.8 5.2 10.0 

Private transportation ...................................................... 193.565 192.100 193.389 191.970 9.2 1.3 25.2 -3.3 5.2 10.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 93.452 93.308 93.239 93.051 1.3 .2 .0 -1.7 .8 -.9 

New vehicles ............................................................... 136.764 136.345 136.214 136.052 -.3 -1.3 -1.0 -2.1 -.8 -1.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 138.052 138.094 138.070 137.616 5.1 2.7 .7 -1.3 3.9 -.3 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 284.180 278.651 283.321 277.925 26.9 2.6 82.2 -8.5 14.1 29.1 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 283.087 277.354 281.140 275.644 27.1 2.4 82.6 -10.1 14.1 28.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 124.416 125.238 126.330 126.032 3.3 5.0 5.3 5.3 4.1 5.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 230.251 231.051 232.244 233.139 3.4 2.1 5.3 5.1 2.8 5.2 

Public transportation ....................................................... 237.118 236.848 242.477 241.831 .9 8.7 9.7 8.2 4.7 8.9 

Medical care ...................................................................... 361.100 361.337 361.766 362.359 4.9 5.9 5.4 1.4 5.4 3.4 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 288.251 288.297 289.297 288.672 1.7 3.0 5.5 .6 2.4 3.0 

Medical care services ..................................................... 381.817 382.130 382.294 383.404 5.8 6.7 5.4 1.7 6.2 3.5 

Professional services .................................................... 309.634 309.636 310.053 310.676 3.7 4.6 3.8 1.4 4.2 2.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 518.313 520.557 521.401 524.768 7.3 10.4 9.5 5.1 8.8 7.2 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

July

2007

Oct.

2007

Jan.

2008

Apr.

2008 Oct.

2007

Apr.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 109.201 109.351 109.680 109.514 -0.1 1.8 1.3 1.2 0.8 1.2 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 103.205 103.080 103.333 102.975 .4 1.8 1.5 -.9 1.1 .3 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 117.947 118.044 118.311 118.807 3.3 2.6 2.2 2.9 2.9 2.6 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 174.582 174.995 175.690 176.831 4.7 5.1 6.9 5.3 4.9 6.1 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 439.883 439.326 439.977 443.977 7.9 8.7 5.6 3.8 8.3 4.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 492.237 493.569 495.643 498.741 4.4 4.7 7.0 5.4 4.6 6.2 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 85.933 85.917 86.014 86.243 2.3 .8 -1.2 1.5 1.6 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 84.008 83.992 84.091 84.320 1.7 .8 -1.3 1.5 1.3 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 98.988 98.931 99.090 99.566 4.1 1.7 -.6 2.4 2.9 .8 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.737 10.754 10.745 10.671 -10.9 -4.4 -5.0 -2.4 -7.7 -3.8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 101.067 100.582 100.265 98.820 -19.9 -10.7 -12.1 -8.6 -15.4 -10.3 

Other goods and services ................................................. 350.676 351.684 353.001 354.577 3.1 3.0 4.5 4.5 3.0 4.5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 574.724 577.359 576.910 578.296 4.9 5.0 9.3 2.5 4.9 5.8 

Personal care .................................................................. 195.924 196.315 197.507 198.597 2.2 2.0 2.2 5.6 2.1 3.9 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 158.167 157.877 158.730 159.585 -.3 -.1 -.6 3.6 -.2 1.5 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 220.324 221.338 223.043 223.088 2.6 2.1 4.0 5.1 2.3 4.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 333.520 334.915 335.975 338.418 2.9 4.6 4.6 6.0 3.7 5.3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 176.292 175.865 176.501 176.517 5.5 2.3 13.1 .5 3.9 6.6 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 207.555 208.257 208.709 210.669 4.9 4.5 4.5 6.1 4.7 5.3 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 158.122 157.241 157.935 157.146 5.9 1.0 18.2 -2.4 3.4 7.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 204.777 204.470 206.199 204.907 5.8 2.9 33.5 .3 4.3 15.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.760 119.341 117.864 118.109 -1.3 -.2 5.6 -5.4 -.8 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 261.377 260.305 264.997 263.062 15.5 -3.0 42.9 2.6 5.9 21.1 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.528 112.347 112.390 112.004 -.9 -.5 .6 -1.8 -.7 -.6 

Services .............................................................................. 245.868 246.368 247.311 248.302 2.9 3.0 3.4 4.0 2.9 3.7 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 228.476 228.609 228.985 229.311 3.2 2.8 3.5 1.5 3.0 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 117.740 117.921 117.999 118.683 -3.5 .2 2.6 3.2 -1.6 2.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 185.607 188.475 192.089 196.843 .2 .6 .9 26.5 .4 13.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 148.371 148.883 149.296 149.736 5.2 5.0 6.6 3.7 5.1 5.2 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 145.431 145.825 147.316 148.403 2.0 2.0 4.4 8.4 2.0 6.4 

Transportation services ..................................................... 237.214 237.465 238.681 239.245 1.5 2.3 4.5 3.5 1.9 4.0 

Medical care services ....................................................... 381.817 382.130 382.294 383.404 5.8 6.7 5.4 1.7 6.2 3.5 

Other services ................................................................... 279.758 280.128 281.126 281.941 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 208.298 208.176 208.987 209.197 3.9 2.3 8.2 1.7 3.1 4.9 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 200.108 200.052 200.946 201.457 4.5 2.6 9.5 2.7 3.6 6.1 

All items less medical care .................................................. 201.908 201.898 202.668 203.139 4.0 2.5 7.8 2.5 3.3 5.1 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 160.074 159.239 159.909 159.167 5.8 1.1 17.6 -2.2 3.4 7.2 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 205.318 205.143 206.776 205.613 5.8 2.9 31.3 .6 4.4 14.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 255.821 254.991 259.253 257.678 14.7 -2.6 39.3 2.9 5.7 19.8 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 206.961 207.202 208.560 208.946 5.2 4.3 17.4 3.9 4.8 10.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 234.673 235.467 237.009 238.684 3.4 2.4 3.2 7.0 2.9 5.1 

Services less medical care services ................................... 235.849 236.298 237.254 238.224 3.0 2.5 3.1 4.1 2.8 3.6 

Energy ................................................................................. 232.031 230.458 234.853 234.484 15.1 2.5 45.9 4.3 8.6 23.4 

All items less energy ........................................................... 206.280 206.471 206.792 207.378 2.8 2.7 3.4 2.1 2.7 2.8 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 206.456 206.548 206.833 207.131 2.3 2.3 3.1 1.3 2.3 2.2

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 141.352 141.277 141.117 141.088 .5 .2 1.9 -.7 .3 .6 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 286.486 281.012 286.354 281.575 26.7 3.8 82.6 -6.7 14.7 30.5 

Services less energy services ......................................... 252.403 252.625 253.254 253.802 3.1 3.2 3.7 2.2 3.2 3.0 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Apr.2008 from—

Percent change to

Mar.2008 from—

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Apr.

2007

Feb.

2008

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2007

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 206.744 207.254 209.147 210.698 4.2 1.7 0.7 4.3 1.2 0.9 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 221.065 221.702 223.209 224.794 4.2 1.4 .7 4.1 1.0 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 221.492 222.315 223.795 225.144 3.9 1.3 .6 3.8 1.0 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.766 133.893 134.846 136.141 4.8 1.7 1.0 4.6 .8 .7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 196.617 197.110 198.989 200.788 4.4 1.9 .9 4.1 1.2 1.0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.963 197.549 199.378 200.989 3.9 1.7 .8 3.8 1.2 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.561 128.695 129.922 131.354 4.9 2.1 1.1 4.3 1.1 1.0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 194.850 195.774 197.864 199.325 5.0 1.8 .7 5.0 1.5 1.1 

South urban .................................................... M 201.814 202.291 204.044 205.669 4.5 1.7 .8 4.8 1.1 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 205.304 205.588 207.336 208.511 4.3 1.4 .6 4.6 1.0 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.767 129.144 130.243 131.428 4.6 1.8 .9 4.9 1.1 .9 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.954 205.523 207.600 209.641 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.9 1.3 1.0 

West urban ..................................................... M 210.342 210.816 213.159 214.355 3.8 1.7 .6 3.9 1.3 1.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 212.040 212.614 214.954 216.055 3.7 1.6 .5 3.8 1.4 1.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.935 131.148 132.640 133.570 4.0 1.8 .7 4.2 1.3 1.1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 191.461 191.982 193.702 194.886 3.9 1.5 .6 4.0 1.2 .9 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.830 130.092 131.273 132.471 4.6 1.8 .9 4.6 1.1 .9 

D ................................................................. M 201.685 202.292 204.422 205.951 4.5 1.8 .7 4.7 1.4 1.1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 201.525 202.497 204.742 205.885 4.5 1.7 .6 4.7 1.6 1.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 213.825 214.231 216.493 217.914 3.7 1.7 .7 3.6 1.2 1.1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 224.557 225.281 226.951 228.215 3.8 1.3 .6 3.9 1.1 .7 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 231.291 -

 232.656 - - - - 3.0 .6 -

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

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 199.407 -

 201.892 - - - - 5.3 1.2 -

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

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

 203.473 - 205.801 4.0 1.1 - - - -

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

 197.670 - 201.037 2.9 1.7 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 185.904 - 188.463 3.1 1.4 - - - -

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

 216.971 - 219.456 5.0 1.1 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 220.718 - 223.295 4.0 1.2 - - - -

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

 214.913 - 217.913 3.2 1.4 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 216.332 - 218.483 3.8 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,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Apr. 2008 from—

 Mar.

 2008

 Apr.

 2008

 Apr.

 2007

 Mar.

 2008

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 123.204 123.845 3.5 0.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 123.256 124.243 4.9 .8 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 123.270 124.284 4.9 .8 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 120.183 121.725 5.7 1.3 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 127.358 127.683 4.0 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 123.446 124.083 3.8 .5 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 127.457 127.736 2.8 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 129.764 129.773 2.6 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 154.075 157.038 7.9 1.9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.972 95.878 -.5 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 90.179 91.046 -1.2 1.0 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 129.370 131.147 6.4 1.4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 130.233 132.100 6.3 1.4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 119.552 120.125 7.5 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 141.366 141.421 4.0 .0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 126.044 125.851 2.9 -.2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 147.039 147.198 4.4 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.420 105.518 .2 .1 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 106.344 106.515 2.2 .2 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 164.357 164.672 5.5 .2 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 73.537 73.637 -.5 .1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 127.144 127.743 3.3 .5 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 131.158 131.469 3.2 .2 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 113.271 114.312 3.8 .9 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 83.997 83.694 -1.8 -.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 128.610 130.450 6.2 1.4 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 117.121 117.211 1.9 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 195.823 203.705 15.2 4.0 

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

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