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Department 

of Labor

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Friday, December 17, 2004

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: NOVEMBER 2004

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in November, before 

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

level of 191.0 (1982-84=100) was 3.5 percent higher than in November 2003.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.2 percent in 

November, prior to seasonal adjustment. The November level of 186.8 was 3.7 percent higher than in November

2003.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) was unchanged in November on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The November level of 111.1 (December 1999=100) was 3.1 percent higher than in 

November 2003. Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject to revision.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in November, following a 0.6 percent rise in 

October. Energy costs, which advanced 4.2 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. Within energy, 

the index for household fuels rose 2.5 percent, while the index for motor fuels decreased 1.8 percent. The index for 

food, which rose 0.6 percent in October, increased 0.2 percent in November. The index for food at home rose 0.3

percent, reflecting a 3.3 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The index for all items less food and 

energy advanced 0.2 percent in November, the same as in October. Deceleration in the indexes for shelter and 

household furnishings and operations was largely offset by a larger increase in the index for new vehicles and an upturn 

in the index for telephone services. 

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 1

9

2004 3-mos. ended ended

May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Nov. ’04 Nov. ’04 

All Items .6 .3 -.1 .1 .2 .6 .2 3.9 ’98‘97Jan.’ 3.5

 Food and beverages .9 .2 .2 .1 .0 .5 .2 3.0 3.1

 Housing .4 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 2.8 3.1

 Apparel .3 .2 -.8 -.2 .0 .2 .1 1.0 -.1

 Transportation 1.7 .8 -.8 -.3 .2 2.3 -.1 9.9 7.4

 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 .2 3.9 4.4

 Recreation -.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .2 .1 .1 1.5 .8

 Education and

 communication .0 .2 -.1 .1 .4 -.3 .4 2.2 1.7

 Other goods and

 services .1 .1 .3 .2 .3 .2 .1 2.2 2.3

 Special Indexes

 Energy 4.6 2.6 -1.9 -.3 -.4 4.2 .2 16.9 19.2

 Food .9 .2 .3 .1 .0 .6 .2 3.0 3.2

 All Items less

 food and energy .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 .2 2.7 2.2
During the first 11 months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 3.7 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). 

This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which increased 6.9 percent in 

2003, advanced at a 20.5 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2004. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at 

a 34.9 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 6.8 percent annual rate. The food index has 

increased at a 2.9 percent rate thus far in 2004, following a 3.6 percent rise for all of 2003. Excluding food and 

energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.3 percent SAAR in the first 11 months of 2004 after increasing 1.1 percent in 

2003.

The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in November. The index for food at home advanced 0.3

percent, reflecting a 3.3 percent increase in the index for fruits and vegetables. The indexes for fresh fruits and for 

fresh vegetables rose 1.7 and 6.3 percent, respectively. The index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 0.4 

percent. Increases in the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages--each up 0.3 

percent--also contributed to the November advance. Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the other 

three major grocery store food groups--for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, for dairy products, and for other food at 

home. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined 0.5 percent. Declines in the indexes for poultry, beef, 

other meats, and eggs more than offset small increases in the indexes for pork and for fish and seafood. During the 

last 12 months, poultry prices have increased 6.3 percent, pork prices, 5.2 percent, and beef prices, 0.6 percent, 

while egg prices have fallen 21.1 percent. In November, the index for dairy products declined 0.7 percent. Fresh 

whole milk prices, which registered sharp increases earlier this year, declined for the fifth consecutive month, but were 

6.8 percent higher than in November 2003. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away 

from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively.

The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in November, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the 

preceding four months. A sharp upturn in the index for fuels and utilities more than offset a deceleration in the index 

for shelter and a downturn in the index for household furnishings and operations. Shelter costs, which rose 0.1 percent 

in October, were virtually unchanged in November. A 0.5 percent decline in the index for lodging away from home

offset a 0.2 percent increase in the index for residential rent; the index for owners' equivalent rent was virtually 

unchanged. The index for fuels and utilities rose 2.1 percent in November. The index for fuel oil rose 3.6 percent in 

November and was 46.1 percent higher than in November 2003. The index for natural gas increased 5.4 percent in 

November to a level 17.1 percent higher than a year ago. The index for electricity increased 0.9 percent and was 2.3 

percent above its level a year ago. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for electricity fell 2.0 percent, reflecting the 

shift to off-season rates in some areas.) The index for household furnishings and operations, which increased 1.0

percent in October, declined 0.2 percent in November. 

The transportation index, which advanced 2.3 percent in October, declined 0.1 percent in November as a 

result of a downturn in the index for motor fuel. The index for gasoline, which advanced 8.6 percent in October, fell

1.8 percent in November. The index for new vehicles, which turned up in October, increased 0.7 percent in 

November. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 1.5 percent, their largest monthly increase since a 

1.8 percent rise in November 1989. About 55 percent of the new car sample in November was represented by 2005 

models.) New vehicle prices are 0.3 percent higher than in November 2003. The index for used cars and trucks

declined 0.1 percent in November, but are 3.6 percent higher than a year ago. The index for public transportation, 

reflecting increases in airline fares and intracity transportation costs, advanced 2.4 percent in November. 

The index for apparel rose 0.1 percent in November, following a 0.2 percent increase in October. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices declined 0.9 percent, reflecting seasonal discounting on women’s and girls’ 

clothing.) During the last 12 months, the index for apparel has decreased 0.1 percent, with declines in prices for 

men’s and boys’ and for infants’ and toddlers’ apparel slightly offsetting an increase in prices for women’s and girls’ 

clothing.

Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in November to a level 4.4 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.1 percent. The 

index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in November. Charges for professional services and for hospital and 

related services increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation rose 0.1 percent in November, the same as in October. Advances in the indexes for 

admissions to sporting events--up 1.4 percent--for club membership dues--up 0.6 percent--and for sporting goods--

up 0.4 percent--were partially offset by declines in the indexes for video and audio--down 0.4 percent--and for 

photography--down 0.2 percent. 
The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in November. Educational costs rose 0.6 

percent, reflecting an increase in the index for educational books and supplies. The index for communication, which 

declined 0.9 percent in October, rose 0.1 percent in November. Within this category, the index for telephone services 

rose 0.3 percent, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase in long distance charges. Partially offsetting this increase was a 2.7

percent decline in the index for personal computers and peripheral equipment.

The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in November. The index for personal care increased 

0.2 percent, more than offsetting a 0.1 percent decrease in the index for tobacco and smoking products.

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

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

in November.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 1

9

2004 3-mos. ended ended

May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Nov. ’04 Nov. ’04 

All Items .7 .3 -.1 .1 .2 .6 .2 3.9 ’98‘97Jan.’ 3.7

 Food and beverages .9 .2 .3 .1 .0 .5 .2 2.8 3.1

 Housing .3 .4 .3 .2 .1 .2 .3 2.2 3.0

 Apparel .2 .0 -.7 -.4 .3 .3 -.1 1.7 .0

 Transportation 2.1 .7 -.9 -.2 .4 2.3 -.2 10.5 7.9

 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .2 .4 .3 .3 4.0 4.5

 Recreation .0 .2 -.3 -.2 .2 .1 .1 1.5 .7

 Education and

 communication -.2 .2 -.1 .0 .4 -.3 .3 1.5 .9

 Other goods and

 services .1 .1 .4 .2 .3 .1 .1 2.1 2.3

 Special Indexes

 Energy 5.0 2.7 -2.0 -.5 -.3 4.3 .0 17.2 19.7

 Food 1.0 .1 .3 .1 -.1 .5 .2 2.8 3.1

 All Items less

 food and energy .1 .2 .1 .1 .3 .2 .2 2.5 2.0

Consumer Price Index data for December are scheduled for release on Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at 8:30 

A.M. (EST). Releases for the remainder of 2005:

Feb.23 Aug. 16

Mar.23 Sep. 15

Apr. 20 Oct. 14

May 18 Nov. 16

June 15 Dec. 15

July 14 Jan. 18, 2006

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

691-5200.
Brief Explanation of the CPI

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

purchased by households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) the CPI for 

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households of wage earners and clerical workers 

that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and 

the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population 

and include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups such as professional, managerial, and 

technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor 

force.

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

dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected in 87 

urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishmentsdepartment 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 CPIU and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two 

annual revisions.

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

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

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

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

from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period.

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7

Less previous index 111.2

Equals index point change 4.5

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5

Divided by the previous index 111.2

Equals 0.040

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

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

seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month.

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

eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such 

as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and 

sales.

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

data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension 

plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.

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

Adjustment Method. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977. 

Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1999 through 2003 were replaced 

at the end of 2003. In January 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-December 

2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. For further information, please 

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

Report.

The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 

selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. 

If any of the 73 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally 

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

before that period. Note: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.

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

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

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

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

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

and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to 

calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software 

was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.

 For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and supplies indexes, this procedure was used to 

offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data for 

those series. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and supply 

problems for coffee. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk 

supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series. For the Water and sewerage 

maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California. For 

Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk production levels and higher demand for cheese. 

For Electricity, it was used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather, increased rates to 
conserve supplies, and declining natural gas inventories. For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure 

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

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

Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 

by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Nov. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Oct.

2004

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 190.9 191.0 3.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 

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

 571.9 572.2 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 188.4 188.6 3.1 .1 .0 .5 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.383 187.9 188.2 3.2 .2 .0 .6 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.256 187.9 188.1 3.1 .1 -.2 .8 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.202 207.0 206.8 2.1 -.1 .1 .4 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.320 182.9 182.4 1.7 -.3 -.3 -.3 -.5 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .842 182.1 180.9 5.7 -.7 -2.0 -.2 -.7 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.221 240.0 248.3 9.1 3.5 .7 6.0 3.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .905 140.6 139.6 1.2 -.7 .3 -.3 .3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.765 165.4 164.4 1.5 -.6 -.5 .3 -.5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .305 162.6 163.1 .9 .3 -.4 -.4 1.2 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .251 170.2 167.8 6.7 -1.4 .4 -.8 -.1 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.210 180.1 178.9 .6 -.7 -.7 .7 -1.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 109.9 110.5 1.4 .5 -.9 -.5 .5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.127 189.4 189.6 3.2 .1 .3 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 126.8 126.7 3.3 -.1 .1 .7 -.1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.001 193.6 194.0 2.9 .2 .5 .1 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.089 191.0 190.8 3.1 -.1 .2 .2 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.878 220.6 219.9 2.7 -.3 .4 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.157 212.8 213.2 2.7 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.954 128.0 121.9 6.0 -4.8 2.9 .2 -.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.383 226.5 226.8 2.2 .1 .1 .2 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .385 116.3 117.7 3.0 1.2 .3 -.3 1.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.741 162.8 165.6 8.3 1.7 -.5 -.2 2.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 3.830 144.9 147.8 8.9 2.0 -.9 -.2 2.5

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .231 177.3 186.6 38.4 5.2 1.9 8.1 3.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.599 150.0 152.7 7.1 1.8 -1.0 -.9 2.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .910 126.0 126.2 5.7 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.470 126.1 125.8 .7 -.2 .0 1.0 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .704 126.2 127.0 3.8 .6 .0 .1 .6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.975 124.1 123.0 -.1 -.9 .0 .2 .1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.024 118.3 118.9 -2.1 .5 -.3 -1.1 .2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.704 119.2 116.8 1.0 -2.0 -.6 1.8 -.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .195 120.6 120.3 -2.2 -.2 1.9 -.8 -.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ .778 122.1 121.8 .7 -.2 2.0 -1.1 .2 

Transportation .......................................................................... 16.881 166.4 167.2 7.4 .5 .2 2.3 -.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.817 162.9 163.6 7.8 .4 .3 2.3 -.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.912 94.3 95.2 .6 1.0 .5 .2 .4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.817 135.9 137.9 .3 1.5 -.2 .4 .7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.007 136.8 136.7 3.6 -.1 2.0 .2 -.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.249 173.1 171.9 31.0 -.7 .1 8.6 -1.8 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.222 172.2 171.0 30.9 -.7 .1 8.6 -1.8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .369 109.5 109.9 1.9 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.349 201.7 202.9 2.9 .6 -.2 .4 .6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.064 206.5 208.6 .3 1.0 -1.1 1.4 2.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.074 313.3 314.1 4.4 .3 .3 .4 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.499 271.7 271.2 2.7 -.2 .4 .4 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.575 324.8 326.0 5.0 .4 .3 .4 .3 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.749 273.7 274.2 4.3 .2 .1 .1 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.489 422.5 425.0 4.8 .6 .6 .4 .4 

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Nov. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Oct.

2004

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.872 108.7 108.7 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.736 104.2 104.0 .2 -.2 .3 .2 -.4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.948 112.5 112.7 1.7 .2 .4 -.3 .4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.841 148.3 148.4 6.8 .1 .6 .4 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .219 353.8 354.4 5.5 .2 -.9 .3 1.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.623 428.2 428.7 6.9 .1 .6 .4 .6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.107 85.5 85.6 -2.9 .1 .3 -.9 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.925 83.4 83.5 -3.1 .1 .1 -.8 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.315 94.6 94.9 -2.4 .3 .3 -.7 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .610 14.5 14.3 -7.1 -1.4 .0 -1.4 -1.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .230 14.6 14.2 -12.9 -2.7 -.7 -2.7 -2.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.776 306.8 307.0 2.3 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .806 482.3 481.7 2.7 -.1 .3 -.1 -.1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.970 182.8 183.0 2.2 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 154.0 153.8 .4 -.1 .5 .3 -.1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .650 199.4 200.0 3.0 .3 .1 .2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.448 296.3 296.9 3.4 .2 .3 .1 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.117 157.1 157.2 4.2 .1 .1 1.3 -.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 188.4 188.6 3.1 .1 .0 .5 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.733 139.4 139.4 4.9 .0 .1 1.8 -.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.458 162.6 162.0 8.7 -.4 -1.1 3.8 .9 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.975 124.1 123.0 -.1 -.9 .0 .2 .1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 9.483 190.6 190.2 12.5 -.2 .1 3.8 -.5 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.275 114.7 115.3 .2 .5 .4 .3 .1 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.883 224.5 224.6 3.1 .0 .3 .1 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.494 229.8 229.0 2.7 -.3 .3 .1 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .385 116.3 117.7 3.0 1.2 .3 -.3 1.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.599 150.0 152.7 7.1 1.8 -1.0 -.9 2.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .910 126.0 126.2 5.7 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .704 126.2 127.0 3.8 .6 .0 .1 .6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.319 221.4 222.8 1.9 .6 .0 .4 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.575 324.8 326.0 5.0 .4 .3 .4 .3 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.896 263.7 264.2 2.7 .2 .5 .0 .4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.617 191.4 191.5 3.6 .1 .2 .6 .2 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.122 181.4 181.9 4.0 .3 .1 .8 .2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.926 184.6 184.7 3.5 .1 .2 .6 .2 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.734 141.4 141.4 4.7 .0 .2 1.7 -.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.459 164.5 163.9 8.3 -.4 -1.0 3.6 .7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 10.484 190.0 189.7 11.6 -.2 .2 3.5 -.5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.842 175.8 175.6 5.7 -.1 -.6 2.2 .5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.389 235.1 236.4 3.6 .6 .1 .0 .9 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.308 216.0 216.1 3.0 .0 .2 .1 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.080 157.7 158.6 19.2 .6 -.4 4.2 .2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.920 196.0 196.0 2.3 .0 .3 .3 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.537 198.2 198.1 2.2 -.1 .3 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.254 140.5 140.6 .5 .1 .2 .4 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 3.480 174.2 173.6 31.4 -.3 .2 8.5 -1.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.283 232.1 231.9 2.8 -.1 .3 .2 .2 

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

 $ .524 $ .524 - - - - -

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

 $ .175 $ .175 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2004

Nov.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 189.4 189.7 190.9 191.2 3.7 5.5 1.3 3.9 4.6 2.6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.5 187.5 188.5 188.9 2.6 5.1 1.9 3.0 3.9 2.5 

Food ....................................................................................... 187.0 187.0 188.1 188.4 2.7 5.1 1.9 3.0 3.9 2.5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 187.0 186.6 188.1 188.6 1.8 6.9 .6 3.5 4.3 2.0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 206.3 206.6 207.4 208.1 .8 3.0 1.2 3.5 1.9 2.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 183.9 183.4 182.9 181.9 1.3 6.2 4.2 -4.3 3.7 -.1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 185.3 181.6 181.2 180.0 2.4 41.4 -3.2 -11.0 20.3 -7.1 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 227.4 228.9 242.6 250.5 -1.9 1.6 -3.3 47.3 -.2 19.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.3 140.7 140.3 140.7 4.4 -1.7 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.1 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.9 165.1 165.6 164.8 4.0 4.5 .5 -2.6 4.2 -1.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 164.2 163.5 162.8 164.7 .0 -.2 2.5 1.2 -.1 1.8 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 169.4 170.0 168.6 168.5 11.3 17.6 1.0 -2.1 14.4 -.6 

Other foods ....................................................................... 180.6 179.4 180.7 178.9 3.6 2.9 -.2 -3.7 3.3 -2.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.5 110.5 109.9 110.5 1.8 4.8 2.6 -3.5 3.3 -.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 188.4 188.9 189.4 189.6 3.8 2.6 3.7 2.6 3.2 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 125.4 125.5 126.4 126.3 5.7 3.9 .6 2.9 4.8 1.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 192.5 193.4 193.6 194.0 2.8 3.8 1.7 3.2 3.3 2.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 190.3 190.7 191.1 191.6 3.0 4.3 2.6 2.8 3.7 2.7 

Shelter .................................................................................... 219.5 220.4 220.7 220.8 1.7 5.3 1.7 2.4 3.5 2.0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 212.1 212.4 212.8 213.2 2.3 3.5 3.3 2.1 2.9 2.7 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 124.9 128.5 128.7 128.1 -2.9 25.1 -5.6 10.6 10.2 2.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 225.9 226.1 226.5 226.6 2.0 3.5 2.3 1.2 2.7 1.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.3 116.6 116.3 117.7 2.5 3.9 .7 4.9 3.2 2.8 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 164.6 163.7 163.4 166.8 12.5 2.0 12.8 5.5 7.1 9.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 147.2 145.9 145.6 149.2 13.8 .8 15.1 5.5 7.1 10.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 166.2 169.3 183.0 189.4 32.6 4.4 56.9 68.7 17.7 62.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 153.3 151.7 150.4 154.0 12.8 .8 12.4 1.8 6.6 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 125.1 125.6 126.0 126.2 7.9 5.0 6.0 3.6 6.5 4.8 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 124.9 124.9 126.2 125.9 2.3 -1.0 -1.6 3.2 .6 .8 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 126.1 126.1 126.2 127.0 3.3 2.0 6.9 2.9 2.6 4.9 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 120.1 120.1 120.3 120.4 -3.0 5.1 -3.6 1.0 1.0 -1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 117.1 116.8 115.5 115.7 .7 .0 -4.0 -4.7 .3 -4.3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 112.7 112.0 114.0 113.9 -4.9 9.3 -4.5 4.3 2.0 -.2

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 116.6 118.8 117.8 117.6 -1.7 -7.8 -2.7 3.5 -4.8 .3 

Footwear ................................................................................ 118.8 121.2 119.9 120.1 -3.3 2.4 -.7 4.4 -.5 1.9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 163.1 163.4 167.1 167.0 9.0 12.4 -1.5 9.9 10.7 4.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 159.4 159.9 163.6 163.2 9.9 13.5 -1.5 9.9 11.7 4.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 93.9 94.4 94.6 95.0 -1.7 -.8 .0 4.8 -1.3 2.4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 136.3 136.0 136.5 137.5 1.2 -.6 -2.9 3.6 .3 .3 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 133.8 136.5 136.8 136.7 -3.0 2.5 6.2 9.0 -.3 7.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 160.7 160.9 174.7 171.5 51.0 66.8 -9.8 29.7 58.7 8.2 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 160.0 160.1 173.8 170.7 51.2 66.7 -9.8 29.6 58.8 8.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 109.0 109.3 109.5 109.9 .4 -.4 4.1 3.3 .0 3.7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 201.2 200.7 201.5 202.7 1.6 2.4 4.5 3.0 2.0 3.8 

Public transportation ............................................................... 206.6 204.3 207.1 212.0 -2.4 -2.3 -4.1 10.9 -2.4 3.1 

Medical care ............................................................................. 311.6 312.6 313.9 314.6 5.4 4.9 3.4 3.9 5.2 3.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 269.7 270.9 271.9 272.1 3.1 3.6 .9 3.6 3.4 2.2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 323.1 324.0 325.4 326.4 6.2 5.3 4.2 4.1 5.7 4.2 

Professional services ........................................................... 273.3 273.6 273.9 274.8 5.9 4.7 4.1 2.2 5.3 3.1

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 418.8 421.2 423.0 424.6 5.3 5.1 3.2 5.7 5.2 4.4 

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—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2004

Nov.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.5 108.7 108.8 108.9 1.5 1.1 -0.4 1.5 1.3 0.6 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.1 104.4 104.6 104.2 -1.1 1.9 -.4 .4 .4 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.6 112.1 111.8 112.2 2.2 1.4 .7 2.2 1.8 1.4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 144.8 145.6 146.2 147.1 7.2 7.0 6.3 6.5 7.1 6.4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 354.3 351.1 352.1 356.1 9.6 6.5 3.8 2.0 8.0 2.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 417.5 420.2 421.9 424.4 6.8 7.2 6.6 6.8 7.0 6.7 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 86.1 86.4 85.6 85.7 -2.7 -3.6 -4.1 -1.8 -3.1 -3.0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 84.0 84.1 83.4 83.5 -.5 -5.9 -3.7 -2.4 -3.2 -3.0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.0 95.3 94.6 94.9 -.4 -4.9 -3.7 -.4 -2.7 -2.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 14.7 14.7 14.5 14.3 -5.1 -7.7 -5.3 -10.4 -6.4 -7.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.1 15.0 14.6 14.2 -7.2 -7.3 -14.4 -21.8 -7.2 -18.2 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 305.5 306.3 306.8 307.2 3.0 1.7 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.4

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 481.6 482.9 482.3 481.7 3.0 .8 7.0 .1 1.9 3.5 

Personal care ......................................................................... 181.9 182.3 182.8 183.2 2.9 2.0 1.3 2.9 2.5 2.1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 152.8 153.5 154.0 153.8 3.4 .3 -4.6 2.6 1.8 -1.0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 198.9 199.1 199.4 200.0 2.1 2.9 4.8 2.2 2.5 3.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 295.2 296.2 296.5 297.5 3.4 4.1 3.3 3.2 3.7 3.2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 154.8 155.0 157.0 156.9 5.1 7.6 -1.0 5.5 6.3 2.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.5 187.5 188.5 188.9 2.6 5.1 1.9 3.0 3.9 2.5 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 136.5 136.7 139.1 138.8 6.2 9.2 -2.6 6.9 7.7 2.0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 157.0 155.2 161.1 162.5 9.4 14.6 -2.8 14.8 12.0 5.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 120.1 120.1 120.3 120.4 -3.0 5.1 -3.6 1.0 1.0 -1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 184.1 184.3 191.3 190.4 16.8 25.3 -4.4 14.4 21.0 4.6 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.2 114.6 115.0 115.1 .7 -1.7 -1.7 3.2 -.5 .7 

Services ...................................................................................... 223.7 224.3 224.5 225.2 3.0 3.9 2.9 2.7 3.4 2.8 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 228.8 229.5 229.8 229.6 1.8 5.4 1.9 1.4 3.6 1.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.3 116.6 116.3 117.7 2.5 3.9 .7 4.9 3.2 2.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 153.3 151.7 150.4 154.0 12.8 .8 12.4 1.8 6.6 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 125.1 125.6 126.0 126.2 7.9 5.0 6.0 3.6 6.5 4.8 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 126.1 126.1 126.2 127.0 3.3 2.0 6.9 2.9 2.6 4.9 

Transportation services ............................................................ 220.8 220.8 221.6 222.9 .7 .7 2.2 3.9 .7 3.0

Medical care services ............................................................... 323.1 324.0 325.4 326.4 6.2 5.3 4.2 4.1 5.7 4.2 

Other services .......................................................................... 261.8 263.0 262.9 263.9 2.8 2.3 2.3 3.2 2.6 2.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 189.8 190.2 191.4 191.7 3.7 5.5 1.3 4.1 4.6 2.7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 179.7 179.9 181.3 181.7 4.9 5.3 1.1 4.5 5.1 2.8 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 183.1 183.4 184.5 184.8 3.6 5.4 1.1 3.8 4.5 2.4 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 138.5 138.8 141.1 140.9 6.1 8.8 -2.6 7.1 7.4 2.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 159.2 157.6 163.2 164.4 8.7 14.1 -2.2 13.7 11.4 5.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 183.9 184.2 190.7 189.7 15.1 25.0 -4.9 13.2 20.0 3.8 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 172.4 171.4 175.1 176.0 5.9 9.1 -.2 8.6 7.5 4.1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 234.7 235.0 235.1 237.1 4.1 1.9 4.4 4.2 3.0 4.3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 215.3 215.7 216.0 216.7 2.3 4.0 2.8 2.6 3.2 2.7 

Energy ........................................................................................ 153.0 152.4 158.8 159.1 30.1 29.7 1.6 16.9 29.9 9.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 194.8 195.3 195.8 196.1 1.9 3.6 1.2 2.7 2.7 2.0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 196.9 197.5 197.9 198.2 1.7 3.3 1.0 2.7 2.5 1.8 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.1 139.4 139.9 140.0 .3 .9 -1.7 2.6 .6 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 161.8 162.2 176.0 173.5 50.1 61.9 -6.9 32.2 55.9 11.0 

Services less energy services ................................................ 230.9 231.7 232.1 232.5 2.1 4.3 2.3 2.8 3.2 2.5 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Nov.2004 from—

Percent change to

Oct.2004 from—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 189.5 189.9 190.9 191.0 3.5 0.6 0.1 3.2 0.7 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 201.0 201.2 202.5 202.6 3.8 .7 .0 3.6 .7 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.1 203.2 204.5 204.6 3.7 .7 .0 3.4 .7 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.9 119.2 120.1 120.1 4.2 .8 .0 4.3 1.0 .8 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 183.3 183.6 184.5 184.8 3.3 .7 .2 3.0 .7 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.6 185.9 186.8 186.9 3.0 .5 .1 2.8 .6 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.5 116.8 117.4 117.7 3.6 .8 .3 3.3 .8 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 176.3 176.4 177.1 177.7 3.7 .7 .3 3.1 .5 .4 

South urban .................................................... M 182.6 182.8 183.7 183.7 3.5 .5 .0 3.1 .6 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 183.7 184.0 185.0 185.0 3.3 .5 .0 2.7 .7 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.9 116.9 117.4 117.4 3.6 .4 .0 3.3 .4 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 180.0 181.2 182.8 182.5 4.0 .7 -.2 4.1 1.6 .9 

West urban ..................................................... M 193.0 193.8 195.0 195.1 3.5 .7 .1 3.0 1.0 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 195.5 196.4 197.5 197.6 3.5 .6 .1 2.9 1.0 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.1 118.4 119.2 119.3 3.8 .8 .1 3.2 .9 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 173.2 173.6 174.6 174.6 3.4 .6 .0 3.0 .8 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 117.3 117.4 118.1 118.2 3.8 .7 .1 3.5 .7 .6 

D ................................................................. M 181.0 181.8 182.9 183.0 3.6 .7 .1 3.4 1.0 .6 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 190.2 190.0 190.8 190.7 2.7 .4 -.1 2.7 .3 .4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 193.1 194.5 196.3 196.9 5.2 1.2 .3 4.5 1.7 .9 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 205.7 205.9 207.3 207.2 3.9 .6 .0 3.7 .8 .7 

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

 209.8 - 211.7 2.5 .9 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 183.8 - 183.2 3.2 -.3 - - - -

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

 179.7 - 179.9 2.3 .1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 120.8 - 120.9 3.6 .1 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 184.1 -

 183.9 - - - - 2.1 -.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 186.8 -

 187.6 - - - - 2.3 .4 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 169.1 - 171.8 - - - - 3.4 1.6 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 185.1 -

 187.0 - - - - 3.0 1.0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 199.1 -

 200.2 - - - - 5.2 .6 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 198.7 -

 200.3 - - - - 2.0 .8 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 194.6 - 196.5 - - - - 1.4 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: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 

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. 
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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Nov. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Oct.

2004

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 186.5 186.8 3.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.2 

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

 555.7 556.3 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 187.9 188.1 3.1 .1 .0 .5 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 16.061 187.4 187.6 3.1 .1 -.1 .5 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.637 187.1 187.3 3.1 .1 -.3 .8 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.364 206.9 206.8 2.2 .0 .1 .3 .4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.908 183.0 182.4 1.8 -.3 -.2 -.4 -.6 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .955 181.8 180.8 5.7 -.6 -2.0 -.4 -.6 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.344 238.0 246.4 9.4 3.5 .6 6.2 3.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.076 140.0 138.9 1.2 -.8 .3 -.4 .1 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.991 165.0 163.8 1.4 -.7 -.5 .2 -.4 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .321 162.2 162.1 .4 -.1 -.3 -.4 .9 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .303 170.0 167.7 6.6 -1.4 .1 -.9 -.1 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.366 180.3 179.2 .5 -.6 -.7 .7 -.9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .350 110.3 111.1 1.5 .7 -.9 -.6 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.424 189.3 189.5 3.2 .1 .3 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .252 126.8 126.8 3.2 .0 .2 .7 .0 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.090 193.9 194.2 2.9 .2 .6 -.1 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 39.114 186.2 186.4 3.0 .1 .1 .2 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.151 213.8 213.4 2.5 -.2 .2 .2 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.065 212.0 212.4 2.8 .2 .2 .3 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.722 128.3 121.8 4.8 -5.1 1.7 .0 -.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.026 205.5 205.8 2.2 .1 .1 .2 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .337 116.5 118.1 3.2 1.4 .3 -.3 1.4 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.079 161.9 164.5 8.0 1.6 -.6 -.2 2.0 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.146 143.5 146.2 8.5 1.9 -.8 -.5 2.4

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .216 177.2 186.5 38.8 5.2 2.2 8.3 3.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.930 149.1 151.7 6.9 1.7 -1.0 -1.0 2.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .933 126.1 126.4 5.8 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.884 121.7 121.5 .7 -.2 .2 .9 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .318 127.9 129.2 4.4 1.0 -.3 .2 1.0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.357 123.5 122.6 .0 -.7 .3 .3 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.120 117.8 118.6 -2.1 .7 -.1 -.9 .1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.727 119.3 116.9 1.4 -2.0 -.4 2.1 -.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .250 123.3 123.1 -1.5 -.2 2.1 -.9 -.1 

Footwear ................................................................................ 1.011 120.6 120.6 .2 .0 1.9 -1.0 .1 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.145 165.3 165.8 7.9 .3 .4 2.3 -.2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.348 162.7 163.2 8.2 .3 .4 2.4 -.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.305 93.3 94.0 1.0 .8 .8 .3 .3 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.864 136.9 138.9 .1 1.5 -.1 .4 .7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.487 137.6 137.5 3.5 -.1 2.0 .2 -.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.967 173.6 172.3 31.0 -.7 .2 8.6 -1.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.936 172.9 171.6 31.1 -.8 .1 8.6 -1.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .456 108.9 109.4 1.8 .5 .3 .2 .5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.365 203.8 204.9 3.0 .5 -.2 .4 .6 

Public transportation ............................................................... .797 204.2 207.1 .6 1.4 -1.5 1.3 2.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 4.969 312.7 313.6 4.5 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.142 265.4 264.9 2.5 -.2 .5 .3 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.827 325.0 326.3 5.1 .4 .4 .2 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.256 276.3 276.9 4.4 .2 .1 .1 .4 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.254 418.5 421.0 4.6 .6 .6 .4 .4 

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Nov. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Oct.

2004

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.697 106.2 106.3 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.5 103.3 .3 -.2 .2 .4 -.5 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.645 110.5 110.6 .9 .1 .4 -.3 .3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.299 146.7 146.8 6.4 .1 .5 .6 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .215 355.6 356.1 5.5 .1 -.8 .4 1.0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.084 415.2 415.6 6.5 .1 .6 .5 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.345 87.1 87.2 -2.9 .1 .3 -.9 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.194 85.6 85.7 -3.1 .1 .1 -.8 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.622 94.8 95.1 -2.4 .3 .3 -.7 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .572 15.0 14.9 -6.3 -.7 -.7 -1.3 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .205 14.3 13.9 -13.1 -2.8 -.7 -3.4 -2.8 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.923 314.7 314.9 2.3 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.248 483.0 482.5 2.6 -.1 .3 -.2 -.1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.675 181.4 181.7 2.3 .2 .2 .3 .3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .737 154.3 154.3 .3 .0 .6 .2 .0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .610 199.9 200.6 3.0 .4 .1 .1 .4 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.152 296.6 297.5 3.8 .3 .4 .1 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.582 158.0 158.1 4.5 .1 .3 1.3 -.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 187.9 188.1 3.1 .1 .0 .5 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.430 141.0 141.0 5.4 .0 .4 1.8 -.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.671 166.5 165.9 9.6 -.4 -1.2 4.2 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.357 123.5 122.6 .0 -.7 .3 .3 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.315 196.9 196.5 13.6 -.2 .1 4.2 -.4 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.759 114.3 114.8 .5 .4 .7 .4 .3 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.418 220.0 220.4 2.9 .2 .1 .1 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.813 205.9 205.5 2.5 -.2 .3 .1 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .337 116.5 118.1 3.2 1.4 .3 -.3 1.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.930 149.1 151.7 6.9 1.7 -1.0 -1.0 2.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .933 126.1 126.4 5.8 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .318 127.9 129.2 4.4 1.0 -.3 .2 1.0 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.241 222.0 223.4 2.1 .6 .0 .3 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.827 325.0 326.3 5.1 .4 .4 .2 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.020 255.9 256.3 2.2 .2 .5 .0 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 83.939 186.2 186.4 3.7 .1 .3 .6 .1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.849 178.6 179.1 4.2 .3 .2 .8 .2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 95.031 181.1 181.3 3.6 .1 .2 .7 .1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.520 142.9 142.9 5.2 .0 .4 1.7 -.3 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.761 168.2 167.6 9.0 -.4 -1.1 4.0 .7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.405 195.8 195.4 12.6 -.2 .1 4.0 -.6 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 31.823 177.7 177.5 6.1 -.1 -.6 2.3 .5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.605 208.6 209.8 3.5 .6 .2 .0 .8 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.592 212.0 212.3 2.8 .1 .1 .0 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.114 157.8 158.5 19.7 .4 -.3 4.3 .0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.886 191.0 191.1 2.2 .1 .3 .3 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 75.825 192.1 192.2 2.0 .1 .3 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 24.337 140.5 140.6 .6 .1 .4 .3 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.183 174.5 173.7 31.5 -.5 .3 8.6 -1.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.488 227.9 228.0 2.7 .0 .3 .1 .2 

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

 $ .536 $ .535 - - - - -

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

 $ .180 $ .180 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2004

Nov.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 185.0 185.3 186.5 186.8 4.1 5.6 1.3 3.9 4.8 2.6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.0 187.0 188.0 188.3 2.4 5.1 1.9 2.8 3.8 2.4 

Food ....................................................................................... 186.6 186.5 187.5 187.9 2.4 5.3 2.0 2.8 3.9 2.4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 186.4 185.9 187.3 187.7 1.8 7.0 1.1 2.8 4.3 1.9 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 206.2 206.5 207.1 208.0 1.2 2.8 1.2 3.5 2.0 2.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 184.0 183.6 182.9 181.8 1.6 6.2 4.5 -4.7 3.8 -.2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 185.4 181.6 180.9 179.9 1.9 43.4 -3.4 -11.3 20.9 -7.4 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 225.1 226.4 240.5 248.9 -2.1 .9 -3.1 49.5 -.6 20.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.8 140.2 139.7 139.9 5.0 -1.7 1.4 .3 1.6 .9 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.6 164.7 165.1 164.4 3.2 5.0 .5 -2.9 4.1 -1.2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 163.6 163.1 162.5 163.9 -1.7 .2 2.5 .7 -.7 1.6 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 169.7 169.9 168.4 168.3 11.1 18.7 1.2 -3.3 14.8 -1.1 

Other foods ....................................................................... 181.0 179.7 180.9 179.3 2.7 3.2 -.2 -3.7 2.9 -2.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 112.0 111.0 110.3 111.1 2.2 4.1 2.9 -3.2 3.1 -.2 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 188.2 188.8 189.3 189.5 3.5 2.8 3.5 2.8 3.2 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 125.3 125.5 126.4 126.4 4.7 2.9 1.6 3.6 3.8 2.6 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 192.8 194.0 193.9 194.2 2.6 4.3 1.7 2.9 3.4 2.3 

Housing .................................................................................... 185.9 186.1 186.4 186.9 3.4 3.3 3.5 2.2 3.3 2.8 

Shelter .................................................................................... 213.0 213.5 213.9 213.9 2.1 4.1 2.5 1.7 3.1 2.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 211.2 211.6 212.2 212.4 2.5 3.1 3.5 2.3 2.8 2.9 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 126.5 128.7 128.7 127.5 -1.6 19.5 .3 3.2 8.4 1.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 204.9 205.1 205.5 205.6 1.8 3.4 2.2 1.4 2.6 1.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.5 116.8 116.5 118.1 2.5 4.6 .3 5.6 3.5 2.9 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 164.0 163.0 162.6 165.8 12.8 2.0 12.9 4.5 7.3 8.6 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 145.9 144.8 144.1 147.6 13.9 1.4 14.3 4.7 7.5 9.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 165.9 169.6 183.6 189.4 30.2 4.7 60.0 69.9 16.8 64.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 152.5 151.0 149.5 153.0 12.9 1.4 12.1 1.3 7.0 6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 125.2 125.7 126.1 126.4 8.3 5.4 5.6 3.9 6.8 4.8 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 120.4 120.6 121.7 121.5 2.3 -1.3 -2.0 3.7 .5 .8 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 128.0 127.6 127.9 129.2 3.9 3.2 6.8 3.8 3.6 5.3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.4 119.7 120.0 119.9 -1.3 4.1 -4.2 1.7 1.3 -1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 116.6 116.5 115.4 115.5 2.1 -1.0 -5.3 -3.7 .5 -4.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 112.2 111.8 114.1 113.8 -4.6 10.9 -5.8 5.8 2.9 -.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 119.0 121.5 120.4 120.3 3.3 -9.7 -3.6 4.4 -3.4 .3 

Footwear ................................................................................ 117.7 119.9 118.7 118.8 -2.3 -1.4 .7 3.8 -1.8 2.2 

Transportation .......................................................................... 161.5 162.1 165.9 165.6 9.4 13.9 -1.5 10.5 11.7 4.4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 158.9 159.6 163.4 162.9 10.2 14.5 -1.2 10.5 12.3 4.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 92.6 93.3 93.6 93.9 -2.1 .0 .4 5.7 -1.1 3.0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.3 137.1 137.6 138.5 1.2 -.6 -3.4 3.5 .3 .0 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 134.6 137.3 137.6 137.5 -3.3 2.8 6.2 8.9 -.3 7.5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 161.1 161.5 175.4 172.0 51.3 67.4 -10.2 29.9 59.1 8.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 160.5 160.7 174.6 171.2 51.5 67.3 -10.0 29.5 59.2 7.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.4 108.7 108.9 109.4 .4 -.4 3.4 3.7 .0 3.6 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 203.1 202.7 203.6 204.9 1.8 2.2 4.7 3.6 2.0 4.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 205.1 202.1 204.8 210.1 -1.1 -2.3 -3.4 10.1 -1.7 3.1 

Medical care ............................................................................. 310.9 312.2 313.0 314.0 5.6 4.9 3.3 4.0 5.3 3.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 263.6 264.8 265.7 265.7 2.6 3.7 .5 3.2 3.2 1.8 

Medical care services ............................................................. 323.2 324.6 325.4 326.7 6.5 5.3 4.1 4.4 5.9 4.2 

Professional services ........................................................... 275.8 276.2 276.6 277.7 6.3 5.0 3.7 2.8 5.6 3.2

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 414.9 417.3 418.9 420.6 4.8 5.2 2.9 5.6 5.0 4.3 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2004

Nov.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.1 106.3 106.4 106.5 1.5 1.1 -1.1 1.5 1.3 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.4 103.6 104.0 103.5 -1.5 2.8 -.4 .4 .6 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.9 110.3 110.0 110.3 1.5 .4 .4 1.5 .9 .9 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 143.5 144.2 145.0 145.7 7.2 6.2 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.2 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 355.8 353.1 354.5 357.9 9.1 6.0 4.6 2.4 7.6 3.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 405.4 407.9 409.9 411.9 7.0 5.9 6.6 6.6 6.5 6.6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.7 88.0 87.2 87.3 -2.2 -3.5 -4.0 -1.8 -2.9 -2.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 86.2 86.3 85.6 85.7 -.9 -5.3 -3.6 -2.3 -3.1 -3.0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.2 95.5 94.8 95.1 -.4 -4.8 -3.7 -.4 -2.7 -2.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.3 15.2 15.0 14.9 -2.5 -9.7 -2.6 -10.1 -6.2 -6.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 14.9 14.8 14.3 13.9 -7.3 -7.4 -12.4 -24.3 -7.4 -18.5 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 313.5 314.4 314.7 315.1 2.9 1.7 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.5

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 482.6 483.9 483.0 482.5 2.6 1.0 7.1 -.1 1.8 3.4 

Personal care ......................................................................... 180.5 180.9 181.4 181.9 3.0 2.0 1.1 3.1 2.5 2.1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.1 154.0 154.3 154.3 3.2 .3 -5.1 3.2 1.7 -1.0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 199.5 199.7 199.9 200.6 1.9 2.9 5.0 2.2 2.4 3.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 295.4 296.5 296.9 298.1 3.5 4.5 3.6 3.7 4.0 3.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 155.5 155.9 157.9 157.8 5.1 8.4 -1.0 6.0 6.7 2.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.0 187.0 188.0 188.3 2.4 5.1 1.9 2.8 3.8 2.4 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 137.8 138.3 140.8 140.4 6.8 10.1 -2.6 7.8 8.4 2.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 160.3 158.4 165.1 166.4 10.4 16.6 -3.7 16.1 13.5 5.8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.4 119.7 120.0 119.9 -1.3 4.1 -4.2 1.7 1.3 -1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 189.6 189.8 197.7 196.9 18.5 28.0 -5.3 16.3 23.1 5.0 

Durables ................................................................................. 113.3 114.1 114.5 114.8 .4 -1.4 -1.7 5.4 -.5 1.8 

Services ...................................................................................... 219.6 219.9 220.1 220.8 3.2 3.2 3.3 2.2 3.2 2.8 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 205.1 205.7 205.9 206.0 2.0 4.2 2.4 1.8 3.1 2.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.5 116.8 116.5 118.1 2.5 4.6 .3 5.6 3.5 2.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 152.5 151.0 149.5 153.0 12.9 1.4 12.1 1.3 7.0 6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 125.2 125.7 126.1 126.4 8.3 5.4 5.6 3.9 6.8 4.8 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 128.0 127.6 127.9 129.2 3.9 3.2 6.8 3.8 3.6 5.3 

Transportation services ............................................................ 221.4 221.4 222.1 223.3 1.3 1.1 2.6 3.5 1.2 3.0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 323.2 324.6 325.4 326.7 6.5 5.3 4.1 4.4 5.9 4.2 

Other services .......................................................................... 254.3 255.5 255.4 256.2 2.6 1.6 1.7 3.0 2.1 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 184.5 185.0 186.2 186.4 4.3 5.4 1.3 4.2 4.8 2.7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 176.8 177.1 178.6 178.9 5.0 5.9 .9 4.8 5.4 2.9 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 179.6 179.9 181.1 181.3 3.9 5.3 1.3 3.8 4.6 2.6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 139.7 140.3 142.7 142.3 6.7 9.6 -2.5 7.7 8.1 2.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 162.3 160.5 167.0 168.1 9.7 15.3 -2.9 15.1 12.4 5.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 189.0 189.1 196.6 195.4 16.6 28.0 -5.9 14.2 22.2 3.7 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 174.2 173.1 177.0 177.9 6.4 10.5 -.7 8.8 8.4 3.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 208.3 208.7 208.8 210.4 4.0 1.8 4.1 4.1 2.9 4.1 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 211.6 211.9 212.0 212.7 2.3 3.3 3.3 2.1 2.8 2.7 

Energy ........................................................................................ 152.8 152.4 159.0 159.0 31.0 32.3 .5 17.2 31.6 8.6 

All items less energy .................................................................. 189.8 190.3 190.8 191.1 1.9 3.0 1.5 2.8 2.5 2.1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 190.9 191.4 191.8 192.1 1.7 2.6 1.5 2.5 2.1 2.0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.0 139.5 139.9 140.0 .3 .9 -1.1 2.9 .6 .9 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 162.0 162.5 176.5 173.5 49.7 63.9 -7.5 31.6 56.6 10.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 227.0 227.6 227.9 228.3 2.4 3.4 2.7 2.3 2.9 2.5 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Nov.2004 from—

Percent change to

Oct.2004 from—

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Nov.

2003

Sep.

2004

Oct.

2004

Oct.

2003

Aug.

2004

Sep.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 185.0 185.4 186.5 186.8 3.7 0.8 0.2 3.2 0.8 0.6 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 197.2 197.7 199.0 199.4 3.9 .9 .2 3.6 .9 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.1 198.4 199.7 200.2 3.8 .9 .3 3.4 .8 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.7 119.2 120.1 120.2 4.2 .8 .1 4.2 1.2 .8 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 178.2 178.6 179.5 179.8 3.4 .7 .2 3.1 .7 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 179.8 180.2 181.1 181.2 3.1 .6 .1 2.9 .7 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.7 115.9 116.6 116.9 3.7 .9 .3 3.5 .8 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 173.4 173.7 174.4 175.2 3.6 .9 .5 3.0 .6 .4 

South urban .................................................... M 179.4 179.7 180.6 180.7 3.7 .6 .1 3.3 .7 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 181.2 181.4 182.5 182.5 3.5 .6 .0 2.9 .7 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.3 115.4 115.9 116.0 3.7 .5 .1 3.4 .5 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 179.5 180.7 182.3 182.2 4.4 .8 -.1 4.3 1.6 .9 

West urban ..................................................... M 188.0 188.8 190.0 190.2 3.7 .7 .1 3.0 1.1 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 188.9 189.9 191.0 191.2 3.7 .7 .1 3.0 1.1 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.6 117.8 118.7 118.9 3.8 .9 .2 3.2 .9 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 171.4 171.8 172.8 173.0 3.5 .7 .1 3.0 .8 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 116.2 116.5 117.2 117.3 3.8 .7 .1 3.5 .9 .6 

D ................................................................. M 178.8 179.7 180.8 181.1 3.8 .8 .2 3.4 1.1 .6 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 183.2 183.1 184.0 184.2 2.8 .6 .1 2.7 .4 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 186.5 187.8 189.8 190.3 5.4 1.3 .3 4.7 1.8 1.1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 200.3 200.6 201.9 202.2 3.9 .8 .1 3.4 .8 .6 

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

 208.8 - 211.0 2.6 1.1 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 174.8 - 173.9 3.3 -.5 - - - -

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

 180.0 - 180.5 2.8 .3 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 120.4 - 120.4 3.7 .0 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 182.5 -

 181.7 - - - - 2.3 -.4 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 181.5 -

 183.0 - - - - 2.7 .8 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 167.4 - 169.5 - - - - 3.4 1.3 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 182.9 -

 185.1 - - - - 3.4 1.2 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 198.0 -

 199.8 - - - - 5.0 .9 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 195.0 -

 196.4 - - - - 2.3 .7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 189.6 - 191.6 - - - - 2.0 1.1 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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. 
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,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Nov. 2004 from—

 Oct.

 2004

 Nov.

 2004

 Nov.

 2003

 Oct.

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 111.1 111.1 3.1 0.0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 112.2 112.3 2.9 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 112.2 112.3 2.9 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 111.3 111.2 2.9 -.1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 113.5 113.7 3.1 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 112.1 112.4 2.8 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 114.9 114.7 2.9 -.2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 116.6 116.2 2.6 -.3 

Fuels and utilities 1 ................................................................. 4.643 R125.1 126.4 7.4 1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 96.1 95.8 .3 -.3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 93.6 92.9 -.4 -.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 109.5 110.1 6.3 .5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 110.0 110.5 6.7 .5 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 101.9 103.5 .0 1.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 122.6 122.9 4.3 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 115.7 115.5 2.6 -.2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 124.9 125.4 4.8 .4 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.4 103.4 .0 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 99.6 99.7 .5 .1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 136.3 136.4 6.6 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 78.0 78.0 -3.7 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 114.8 114.8 2.2 .0 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 116.9 117.0 2.9 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 103.6 103.6 3.4 .0 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 86.7 87.1 -.1 .5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 111.7 111.5 5.0 -.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 108.8 108.8 1.9 .0 

Energy 2 ..................................................................................... 6.929 R137.6 138.1 17.8 .4 

1 Revised indexes: Sep. 2004=128.4, Aug. 2004=129.2, July 2004=128.3, June 2004=127.5. 2 Revised indexes: Sep. 2004=135.7, Aug. 2004=136.5, July 2004=137.2, June 2004=139.8. R Revised.

Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.

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