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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/ Wednesday, April 15, 2009 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2009 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in March, before 

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

has decreased 0.4 percent over the last year, the first 12 month decline since August 1955. 

 On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 0.1 percent in March after rising 0.4 percent in 

February. The decrease was due to a downturn in the energy index, which declined 3.0 percent in March after 

rising 3.3 percent the previous month. All the energy indexes decreased, particularly the indexes for fuel oil, 

natural gas, and motor fuel. The food index declined 0.1 percent for the second straight month to virtually the 

same level as October 2008. The food at home index declined 0.4 percent, the second straight such decrease, as 

the index for dairy and related products continued to decline. 

 The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent for the third month in a row. An 

11.0 percent increase in the index for tobacco and smoking products accounted for over sixty percent of the 

March rise, with a 0.6 percent increase in the new vehicles index also contributing. In contrast, the indexes for 

lodging away from home, used cars and trucks, and airline fares continued to decline. The index for all items 

less food and energy has risen 1.8 percent over the past year. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Mar. 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Mar. 2009

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

All items ................................. .0 -.8 -1.7 -.8 .3 .4 -.1 2.2 -.4 

Food and beverages ........... .5 .4 .2 .1 .1 -.1 -.1 -.7 4.3 

Housing ............................... -.1 .0 -.1 .0 .0 .0 -.1 -.5 1.4 

Apparel ................................ -.3 -.7 .1 -.6 .3 1.3 -.2 5.3 1.4 

Transportation ..................... -.1 -4.8 -9.7 -5.0 1.3 1.9 -1.1 8.8 -13.1 

Medical care ........................ .3 .2 .2 .3 .4 .3 .2 4.0 2.8 

Recreation ........................... .2 .2 .0 -.2 .0 .4 .0 1.8 1.7 

Education and

communication .............. .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 .2 2.9 3.6 

Other goods and services ... .2 .3 .0 .0 .3 .2 2.7 13.5 5.7 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -1.0 -7.8 -16.9 -9.3 1.7 3.3 -3.0 7.9 -23.0 

Food .................................... .5 .4 .2 .0 .1 -.1 -.1 -.8 4.4 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .0 .1 .0 .2 .2 .2 2.2 1.8 
The food and beverages index declined 0.1 percent in March, the same decrease as in February. A 0.4 

percent decrease in the food at home index more than offset 0.1 percent increases in the indexes for food away 

from home and for alcoholic beverages. Within food at home, the indexes for three of the six major grocery 

store food groups declined. The largest decline was in the dairy and related products index, which fell 2.4 

percent in March, the same decrease as in February, as the milk index declined 4.4 percent. The index for 

meats, poultry, fish and eggs decreased 0.9 percent, the fifth straight monthly decline, as the index for eggs fell 

4.6 percent and the beef index declined 1.4 percent. The index for cereals and bakery products also declined in 

March, while the other food at home index was virtually unchanged. Registering increases in March were the 

indexes for fruits and vegetables and for nonalcoholic beverages. The food index has increased 4.4 percent 

over the past year, with the food at home index up 4.3 percent. 

After being virtually unchanged in February, the housing index declined 0.1 percent in March. The 

shelter index was virtually unchanged in March. The indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent rent both rose 0.2 

percent, but these increases were offset by a 2.4 percent decrease in the index for lodging away from home. 

This was the sixth straight monthly decline in that index, which has fallen 7.8 percent over the past year. The 

index for household energy decreased 1.8 percent in March. The indexes for fuel oil and natural gas, which 

have been falling since last summer, continued to decline in March, with the fuel oil index falling 8.5 percent 

and the index for natural gas decreasing 4.8 percent. The electricity index turned down in March, falling 0.2 

percent after rising 0.5 percent in February. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.3 

percent in March. Over the past year, the housing index has risen 1.4 percent, with the shelter index up 1.5 

percent and the household energy index down 0.5 percent. 

The index for transportation declined 1.1 percent in March after rising 1.9 percent in February. The 

gasoline index, which rose 8.3 percent in February, declined 4.0 percent in March. (Prior to seasonal 

adjustment, gasoline prices rose 1.0 percent in March.) The index for new and used motor vehicles was 

virtually unchanged in March, as a 0.6 percent increase in the new vehicles index offset a 1.7 percent decline in 

the index for used cars and trucks. The index for public transportation declined 1.0 percent in March as the 

airline fare index fell 2.3 percent. This was the seventh straight monthly decline for the airline fares index; it 

has decreased 7.7 percent over the last 12 months. The transportation index has declined 13.1 percent since 

March 2008, with the index for gasoline down 39.3 percent. 

Among other CPI groups, the index for apparel turned down in March, declining 0.2 percent after rising 

1.3 percent in February. (On a not seasonally adjusted basis, apparel prices rose 3.1 percent in March and were 

up 1.4 percent over the past year.) The medical care index rose 0.2 percent in March and has increased 2.8 

percent over the past year. The index for recreation was virtually unchanged in March and was up 1.7 percent 

over the past year. The index for education and communication rose 0.2 percent in March, with the education 

index up 0.5 percent and the communication index virtually unchanged. The index for other goods and services 

rose 2.7 percent in March due to the 11.0 percent increase in the tobacco and smoking products index. 
Year-to-Date Change

For the first three months of 2009, consumer prices increase at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate 

(SAAR) of 2.2 percent. This compares to a 0.1 percent increase for all of 2008. The index for energy, which 

fell 21.3 percent in 2008, advanced at a 7.9 SAAR in the first quarter of 2009. Petroleum-based energy costs 

rose at a 29.1 percent rate and energy services decreased at an 8.5 percent rate. The food index fell at a SAAR 

of 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2009 after rising 5.9 percent during 2008. The food at home index, which 

rose 6.6 percent during 2008, fell at a 3.6 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2009. 

Excluding food and energy, the CPU-U rose at a 2.2 percent SAAR during the first quarter of 2009 after 

increasing 1.8 percent during 2008. Advances during the first quarter in the indexes for tobacco, new vehicles, 

medical care, and apparel contributed to the rise, while declines in the indexes for lodging away from home and 

public transportation mitigated the increase. 

Expenditure

Category

Percentage change 12 months ended in December SAAR 3

mos. 

ended

Mar.

2009

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

All items ................................................. 2.4 1.9 3.3 3.4 2.5 4.1 .1 2.2 

Food and beverages ........................... 1.5 3.5 2.6 2.3 2.2 4.8 5.8 -.7 

Housing ............................................... 2.4 2.2 3.0 4.0 3.3 3.0 2.4 -.5 

Apparel ................................................ -1.8 -2.1 -.2 -1.1 .9 -.3 -1.0 5.3 

Transportation ..................................... 3.8 .3 6.5 4.8 1.6 8.3 -13.3 8.8 

Medical care ........................................ 5.0 3.7 4.2 4.3 3.6 5.2 2.6 4.0 

Recreation ........................................... 1.1 1.1 .7 1.1 1.0 .8 1.8 1.8 

Education and communication ............ 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.4 2.3 3.0 3.6 2.9 

Other goods and services ................... 3.3 1.5 2.5 3.1 3.0 3.3 3.4 13.5 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................................. 10.7 6.9 16.6 17.1 2.9 17.4 -21.3 7.9 

Energy commodities .......................... 23.7 6.9 26.7 16.7 6.1 29.4 -40.5 29.1 

Energy services ................................. .4 6.9 6.8 17.6 -.6 3.4 7.7 -8.5 

All items less energy ........................... 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.8 2.4 1.7 

Food .................................................. 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.3 2.1 4.9 5.9 -.8 

All items less food and energy ............ 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.4 1.8 2.2 
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

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

percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment. The index value of 207.218 was 0.9 percent lower than in 

March 2008. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-W decreased 0.1 percent in March. 

 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Mar. 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Mar. 2009

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

All items ................................. .0 -1.0 -2.1 -1.0 .3 .4 -.1 2.6 -.9 

Food and beverages ........... .5 .4 .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.1 -1.1 4.4 

Housing ............................... -.1 .0 .0 .0 .0 .1 -.1 -.1 1.8 

Apparel ................................ .0 -1.0 .0 -.6 .6 1.0 -.3 5.4 1.1 

Transportation ..................... -.1 -5.3 -10.9 -5.6 1.5 2.0 -1.3 8.8 -15.2 

Medical care ........................ .3 .1 .2 .3 .4 .4 .2 4.1 2.9 

Recreation ........................... .2 .1 .0 -.1 .0 .4 .0 1.9 1.5 

Education and

communication .............. .0 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.2 3.3 

Other goods and services ... .2 .3 .1 .1 .4 .2 3.9 19.5 7.6 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -.8 -8.2 -17.8 -9.7 1.9 3.6 -3.1 9.5 -24.0 

Food .................................... .5 .4 .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.1 -1.1 4.5 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .1 .0 .1 .0 .2 .2 .2 2.6 1.8 

 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in March 

on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The index has decreased 0.8 percent over the past year. Please note that the 

indexes for the post-2007 period are subject to revision. 

Upcoming release

Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Friday, May 15, 2009, 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 2004 through December 2008 

were replaced in January 2009. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2009. 

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

after their original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements. 
Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an 

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

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

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

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

 

 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Feb.

2009

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 212.193 212.709 -0.4 0.2 0.3 0.4 -0.1 

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

 635.637 637.182 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 219.333 218.794 4.3 -.2 .1 -.1 -.1 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.629 219.205 218.600 4.4 -.3 .1 -.1 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.156 218.389 217.110 4.3 -.6 -.1 -.4 -.4 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.150 254.187 253.698 7.4 -.2 .0 -.5 -.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.898 207.963 206.348 3.3 -.8 -.1 -.1 -.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .910 204.537 199.687 -3.1 -2.4 -.6 -2.4 -2.4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.194 278.721 274.759 2.4 -1.4 -1.3 .4 .2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .982 164.213 165.656 4.8 .9 -.1 -.4 1.0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.022 192.404 192.234 7.9 -.1 .6 -.3 .0 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .300 196.676 197.137 8.2 .2 1.5 .0 .2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .241 205.359 204.776 12.0 -.3 -1.9 -1.1 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.481 206.621 206.367 7.1 -.1 .8 -.2 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .433 122.580 122.402 4.3 -.1 .2 -1.2 -.1 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.474 221.968 222.216 4.6 .1 .3 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .314 154.726 154.414 3.9 -.2 -.4 .9 -.2 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.127 219.682 219.999 3.6 .1 .2 -.2 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 43.421 217.180 217.374 1.4 .1 .0 .0 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 33.200 248.878 249.597 1.5 .3 .2 .0 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.957 248.305 248.639 3.2 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.478 135.809 137.715 -7.8 1.4 -1.1 -1.8 -2.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 24.433 255.779 256.321 2.1 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .333 120.683 120.737 2.6 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.431 213.520 210.501 .6 -1.4 -.7 -.1 -1.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.460 192.168 188.736 -.5 -1.8 -.9 -.2 -1.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .301 242.264 230.837 -30.5 -4.7 -2.7 -1.8 -7.7

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.159 197.886 194.752 2.4 -1.6 -.8 .0 -1.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .971 157.638 158.052 5.9 .3 .2 .1 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.790 129.170 129.669 1.8 .4 -.1 .2 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.156 150.914 4.1 .5 -.2 -.2 .5 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.691 118.825 122.545 1.4 3.1 .3 1.3 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .923 115.202 117.748 2.4 2.2 1.6 2.8 -.3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.541 105.777 111.079 .4 5.0 .2 .8 -.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .183 113.544 115.548 -.4 1.8 .5 -1.1 .6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .688 124.301 126.707 1.8 1.9 -.2 .7 .2 

Transportation ............................................................................ 15.314 169.542 169.647 -13.1 .1 1.3 1.9 -1.1 

Private transportation ............................................................... 14.189 164.871 165.023 -13.6 .1 1.5 2.2 -1.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.931 92.224 92.109 -2.3 -.1 .2 .5 .0 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.480 134.186 134.611 -.8 .3 .3 .8 .6 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.628 122.837 121.061 -11.8 -1.4 -.8 -1.7 -1.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 3.164 167.395 168.404 -39.6 .6 5.3 7.6 -4.4 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 2.964 166.118 167.826 -39.3 1.0 6.0 8.3 -4.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .382 134.108 134.484 6.5 .3 .3 .5 .3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.188 241.689 242.118 5.4 .2 .7 .3 .2 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.125 231.529 230.735 -5.0 -.3 -1.8 -1.9 -1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.390 372.405 373.189 2.8 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.625 302.184 302.908 1.9 .2 .4 .6 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.765 394.047 394.837 3.1 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.702 316.992 317.460 2.8 .1 .3 .1 .0 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.545 558.373 560.995 6.1 .5 .8 .8 .6 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Feb.

2009

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.741 114.461 114.625 1.7 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.822 101.704 102.000 -1.5 .3 -.5 .0 .0 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.301 126.190 126.187 3.6 .0 .3 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 187.256 187.298 5.6 .0 .3 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .221 469.996 472.185 7.3 .5 .3 .3 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.886 538.878 538.813 5.4 .0 .3 .5 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.194 84.945 84.922 1.7 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.022 82.052 82.022 1.6 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.408 101.895 101.991 3.0 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .614 9.926 9.872 -3.7 -.5 .1 .1 -.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .214 87.696 86.213 -14.1 -1.7 .0 -.9 -1.7 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.386 351.223 361.156 5.7 2.8 .3 .2 2.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .776 611.549 679.078 18.1 11.0 .8 .7 11.0 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.610 203.391 204.117 2.1 .4 .1 .0 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .651 162.508 162.696 2.7 .1 .7 .0 .1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .647 225.895 227.982 2.3 .9 -.2 .1 .9 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.074 341.188 341.570 1.8 .1 .0 .1 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.556 165.891 166.645 -4.2 .5 .5 .9 -.3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 219.333 218.794 4.3 -.2 .1 -.1 -.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 23.799 138.702 139.962 -8.9 .9 .8 1.5 -.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 13.289 167.560 170.200 -13.2 1.6 1.7 2.8 -1.2 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.691 118.825 122.545 1.4 3.1 .3 1.3 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 9.598 201.554 203.557 -17.8 1.0 2.3 3.3 -1.6 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.510 109.221 109.264 -2.5 .0 -.1 .1 .0 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.444 258.328 258.597 2.3 .1 .1 .1 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.867 259.440 260.197 1.5 .3 .2 -.1 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .333 120.683 120.737 2.6 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.159 197.886 194.752 2.4 -1.6 -.8 .0 -1.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .971 157.638 158.052 5.9 .3 .2 .1 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.156 150.914 4.1 .5 -.2 -.2 .5 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.567 248.114 247.912 3.5 -.1 .3 .4 -.1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.765 394.047 394.837 3.1 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.002 301.471 302.024 3.4 .2 .1 .3 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.371 211.076 211.775 -1.1 .3 .3 .5 -.1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 66.800 200.184 200.626 -1.3 .2 .3 .6 -.2 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.610 204.265 204.766 -.6 .2 .3 .4 -.2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 24.926 141.491 142.728 -8.4 .9 .8 1.4 -.4

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 14.416 170.665 173.167 -12.2 1.5 1.6 2.6 -1.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 10.726 202.323 204.159 -16.0 .9 2.1 3.0 -1.5 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.046 192.943 194.105 -4.7 .6 .8 1.2 -.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 27.577 276.739 276.407 3.3 -.1 .1 .2 -.1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.679 247.439 247.675 2.2 .1 .1 .0 -.1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 7.624 178.741 177.454 -23.0 -.7 1.7 3.3 -3.0 

All items less energy .................................................................... 92.376 217.325 218.033 2.2 .3 .2 .1 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.746 217.685 218.639 1.8 .4 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.461 140.270 141.662 .4 1.0 .1 .4 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 3.465 172.428 172.787 -39.0 .2 4.6 6.9 -4.7 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.285 264.547 265.147 2.3 .2 .2 .1 .1 

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

 $ .471 $ .470 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .157 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009 Sep.

2008

Mar.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 211.577 212.174 213.007 212.714 6.5 3.1 -12.4 2.2 4.7 -5.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.181 219.309 219.076 218.792 7.4 8.2 2.7 -.7 7.8 1.0 

Food ................................................................................ 219.082 219.193 218.970 218.651 7.8 8.5 2.5 -.8 8.1 .8 

Food at home ................................................................ 219.179 218.879 217.968 217.202 10.2 10.4 .8 -3.6 10.3 -1.4 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 255.655 255.719 254.347 253.863 14.2 12.0 6.9 -2.8 13.1 2.0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.726 208.536 208.389 206.465 7.4 11.0 .0 -4.3 9.2 -2.2 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 210.838 209.632 204.537 199.687 5.8 8.7 -5.0 -19.5 7.3 -12.5 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 277.783 274.270 275.374 275.843 19.1 10.5 -14.3 -2.8 14.7 -8.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 164.038 163.804 163.173 164.813 3.7 7.3 6.3 1.9 5.5 4.1 

Other food at home ..................................................... 191.809 192.914 192.419 192.431 11.0 11.0 8.4 1.3 11.0 4.8 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 194.164 197.086 196.990 197.299 6.8 10.2 9.2 6.6 8.5 7.9 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 209.848 205.904 203.729 204.029 34.3 22.4 7.2 -10.6 28.2 -2.1 

Other foods ............................................................... 205.566 207.193 206.838 206.741 8.6 9.4 8.5 2.3 9.0 5.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 123.791 124.012 122.580 122.402 3.9 9.4 9.0 -4.4 6.6 2.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 220.684 221.319 221.968 222.216 4.7 6.1 4.6 2.8 5.4 3.7 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 154.062 153.402 154.726 154.414 3.6 5.9 5.4 .9 4.7 3.1 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 219.154 219.504 219.141 219.315 3.5 5.2 5.4 .3 4.3 2.8 

Housing ............................................................................. 217.592 217.646 217.621 217.335 4.8 1.9 -.4 -.5 3.3 -.4 

Shelter ............................................................................. 248.519 248.938 248.881 248.899 2.3 2.0 1.0 .6 2.2 .8 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 246.928 247.744 248.087 248.490 3.7 3.6 3.0 2.6 3.7 2.8 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 140.600 139.122 136.561 133.328 -.4 -.5 -9.9 -19.1 -.5 -14.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 254.683 255.349 255.687 256.257 2.3 1.9 1.8 2.5 2.1 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.019 120.402 120.683 120.737 4.8 2.9 .3 2.4 3.8 1.3 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 219.092 217.515 217.260 214.254 25.1 -1.2 -9.0 -8.5 11.2 -8.8 

Household energy ......................................................... 198.564 196.727 196.415 192.927 29.6 -3.1 -11.9 -10.9 12.1 -11.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 263.242 256.210 251.478 232.191 60.7 -29.6 -65.9 -39.5 6.4 -54.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 203.746 202.120 202.043 199.289 26.8 .0 -4.7 -8.5 12.6 -6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 156.646 157.027 157.141 157.817 5.5 8.6 6.4 3.0 7.0 4.7 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 128.910 128.759 129.008 129.436 .8 4.5 .2 1.6 2.6 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 150.689 150.438 150.156 150.914 8.5 6.0 1.3 .6 7.2 1.0 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.221 118.523 120.039 119.744 1.0 4.3 -4.6 5.3 2.6 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 111.478 113.210 116.328 116.007 -.5 -1.4 -4.5 17.3 -.9 5.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 106.214 106.470 107.374 106.592 .2 10.6 -9.6 1.4 5.3 -4.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.474 114.014 112.796 113.510 -2.5 .9 -.2 .1 -.8 .0 

Footwear ......................................................................... 124.534 124.325 125.209 125.517 4.1 -1.9 2.2 3.2 1.0 2.7 

Transportation ................................................................... 167.353 169.489 172.759 170.903 14.8 1.4 -55.5 8.8 7.9 -30.4 

Private transportation ...................................................... 161.950 164.414 168.067 166.252 14.1 1.3 -57.3 11.1 7.5 -31.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 91.321 91.534 91.997 92.016 -1.9 -4.8 -5.6 3.1 -3.4 -1.3 

New vehicles ............................................................... 131.766 132.132 133.199 134.020 -.5 -4.6 -4.8 7.0 -2.6 1.0 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 126.872 125.893 123.757 121.704 -7.0 -10.7 -13.8 -15.3 -8.9 -14.6 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 160.675 169.176 182.030 173.947 42.4 5.5 -93.5 37.4 22.6 -70.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 157.460 166.839 180.685 173.498 42.4 6.5 -93.9 47.4 23.2 -70.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 133.077 133.414 134.108 134.484 4.8 10.5 6.3 4.3 7.6 5.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 239.356 241.076 241.689 242.118 6.0 7.0 3.8 4.7 6.5 4.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 243.444 239.071 234.648 232.294 24.6 3.6 -24.0 -17.1 13.6 -20.6 

Medical care ...................................................................... 368.302 369.914 371.175 371.902 2.2 2.3 2.7 4.0 2.3 3.3 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 298.814 299.887 301.710 302.464 -2.1 .6 4.2 5.0 -.7 4.6 

Medical care services ..................................................... 389.723 391.533 392.512 393.210 3.7 2.9 2.2 3.6 3.3 2.9 

Professional services .................................................... 315.052 316.115 316.299 316.416 4.4 2.8 2.4 1.7 3.6 2.1 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 545.921 550.035 554.315 557.588 5.5 5.8 4.2 8.8 5.6 6.5 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009 Sep.

2008

Mar.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.002 114.022 114.492 114.511 1.2 3.8 0.0 1.8 2.5 0.9 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.189 101.677 101.630 101.640 -3.2 1.5 -2.1 -2.1 -.9 -2.1 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 125.567 125.900 126.187 126.461 5.1 3.1 3.2 2.9 4.1 3.0 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 185.829 186.426 187.249 188.119 6.0 5.9 5.4 5.0 5.9 5.2 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 465.315 466.752 468.101 470.674 7.6 12.6 4.7 4.7 10.0 4.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 534.870 536.592 539.023 541.493 5.9 5.4 5.5 5.0 5.6 5.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.746 84.926 84.944 84.924 4.3 .6 1.1 .8 2.4 1.0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.886 82.030 82.052 82.022 3.8 .6 1.2 .7 2.2 1.0 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.688 101.880 101.895 101.991 6.8 2.5 1.5 1.2 4.7 1.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.906 9.919 9.926 9.872 -6.7 -6.6 .2 -1.4 -6.6 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 88.529 88.522 87.696 86.213 -17.4 -18.8 -9.6 -10.1 -18.1 -9.8 

Other goods and services ................................................. 349.529 350.529 351.139 360.782 4.9 3.3 1.3 13.5 4.1 7.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 602.644 607.403 611.549 679.078 10.9 5.3 3.4 61.2 8.0 29.1 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.007 203.284 203.328 203.836 3.2 2.8 .7 1.6 3.0 1.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 161.397 162.588 162.508 162.696 1.1 2.0 4.5 3.3 1.5 3.9 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 226.281 225.734 225.895 227.982 1.4 2.0 3.0 3.0 1.7 3.0 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.063 341.123 341.519 341.437 5.1 3.8 -1.9 .4 4.5 -.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 164.891 165.772 167.199 166.703 8.4 3.4 -28.5 4.5 5.9 -13.6 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.181 219.309 219.076 218.792 7.4 8.2 2.7 -.7 7.8 1.0 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 137.385 138.547 140.611 140.043 9.0 .8 -42.6 8.0 4.8 -21.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 165.287 168.119 172.896 170.758 22.7 1.3 -60.0 13.9 11.5 -32.5 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.221 118.523 120.039 119.744 1.0 4.3 -4.6 5.3 2.6 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 198.177 202.707 209.390 206.003 29.3 .6 -69.9 16.8 14.1 -40.7 

Durables .......................................................................... 108.961 108.857 108.993 109.006 -2.1 -2.9 -5.1 .2 -2.5 -2.5 

Services .............................................................................. 258.073 258.406 258.654 258.590 5.0 2.7 .8 .8 3.9 .8 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 259.268 259.773 259.487 259.349 2.1 2.2 1.3 .1 2.2 .7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.019 120.402 120.683 120.737 4.8 2.9 .3 2.4 3.8 1.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 203.746 202.120 202.043 199.289 26.8 .0 -4.7 -8.5 12.6 -6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 156.646 157.027 157.141 157.817 5.5 8.6 6.4 3.0 7.0 4.7 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 150.689 150.438 150.156 150.914 8.5 6.0 1.3 .6 7.2 1.0 

Transportation services ..................................................... 246.912 247.648 248.567 248.393 8.6 5.2 -2.0 2.4 6.9 .2 

Medical care services ....................................................... 389.723 391.533 392.512 393.210 3.7 2.9 2.2 3.6 3.3 2.9 

Other services ................................................................... 300.093 300.534 301.506 302.251 4.3 3.8 2.4 2.9 4.1 2.7 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 210.379 211.055 212.061 211.773 6.2 2.2 -14.6 2.7 4.2 -6.4 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 199.458 200.133 201.331 200.911 8.5 3.5 -18.2 2.9 6.0 -8.2 

All items less medical care .................................................. 203.785 204.338 205.148 204.820 6.7 3.1 -13.3 2.0 4.9 -5.9 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 140.192 141.335 143.336 142.788 8.7 1.0 -41.2 7.6 4.8 -20.4 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 168.525 171.218 175.672 173.638 21.7 1.4 -57.2 12.7 11.1 -30.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 199.276 203.422 209.425 206.340 27.5 .6 -66.3 15.0 13.3 -37.8 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 191.854 193.462 195.833 194.522 15.4 3.7 -34.9 5.7 9.4 -17.1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.902 277.056 277.608 277.380 7.9 3.7 1.0 .7 5.8 .9 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.630 247.839 247.947 247.779 4.7 2.8 1.2 .2 3.8 .7 

Energy ................................................................................. 178.835 181.938 187.901 182.254 36.9 1.9 -76.7 7.9 18.1 -49.9 

All items less energy ........................................................... 216.630 216.970 217.276 217.539 3.3 3.2 .5 1.7 3.2 1.1 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 216.882 217.265 217.670 218.042 2.5 2.3 .2 2.2 2.4 1.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 139.578 139.745 140.300 140.893 -.2 .5 -2.4 3.8 .2 .7 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 167.125 174.862 186.872 178.146 43.4 3.0 -92.8 29.1 21.6 -69.4 

Services less energy services ......................................... 263.696 264.221 264.500 264.698 3.6 2.9 1.2 1.5 3.2 1.4 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Mar.2009 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2009 from—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 210.228 211.143 212.193 212.709 -0.4 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 225.091 225.436 226.754 227.309 .2 .8 .2 .7 .7 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 227.681 227.852 229.262 229.749 .3 .8 .2 .8 .7 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.830 133.308 133.967 134.411 -.1 .8 .3 .3 .9 .5 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 199.582 200.815 201.453 202.021 -.8 .6 .3 -.2 .9 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 200.465 202.001 202.639 203.240 -.9 .6 .3 -.3 1.1 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.018 128.636 129.057 129.334 -.6 .5 .2 .1 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 195.383 195.843 196.421 197.267 -1.1 .7 .4 -.6 .5 .3 

South urban .................................................... M 203.501 204.288 205.343 206.001 -.3 .8 .3 .1 .9 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.414 207.035 207.929 208.529 -.3 .7 .3 .2 .7 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.099 129.615 130.380 130.873 -.4 1.0 .4 .0 1.0 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.428 205.766 206.671 206.927 .0 .6 .1 .7 1.1 .4 

West urban ..................................................... M 214.685 215.923 217.095 217.357 -.5 .7 .1 .3 1.1 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 218.698 219.806 220.955 221.124 -.4 .6 .1 .5 1.0 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.725 130.682 131.636 131.775 -.8 .8 .1 .1 1.5 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 192.646 193.412 194.354 194.750 -.3 .7 .2 .3 .9 .5 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.519 130.135 130.855 131.230 -.5 .8 .3 .1 1.0 .6 

D ................................................................. M 202.359 203.409 203.999 204.672 -.5 .6 .3 .1 .8 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 205.959 207.616 207.367 207.462 -1.9 -.1 .0 -1.0 .7 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 219.620 220.719 221.439 221.376 -1.0 .3 .0 .0 .8 .3 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 233.012 233.402 234.663 235.067 .8 .7 .2 1.6 .7 .5 

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

 230.806 - 232.155 -.4 .6 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 198.232 - 199.457 -1.5 .6 - - - -

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

 198.623 - 200.039 .7 .7 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 137.598 - 138.620 .4 .7 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 196.961 -

 199.190 - - - - -2.4 1.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 197.991 -

 201.913 - - - - -.2 2.0 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 185.930 - 187.972 - - - - .2 1.1 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 218.324 -

 220.589 - - - - .7 1.0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 218.186 -

 220.262 - - - - -.3 1.0 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 218.528 -

 222.166 - - - - 1.2 1.7 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 222.580 - 224.737 - - - - 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: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. 

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Feb.

2009

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 206.708 207.218 -0.9 0.2 0.3 0.4 -0.1 

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

 615.719 617.239 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 218.645 218.119 4.4 -.2 .0 -.2 -.1 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.865 218.449 217.855 4.5 -.3 .0 -.2 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.201 217.111 215.922 4.2 -.5 -.2 -.5 -.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.249 254.775 254.395 7.4 -.1 .0 -.6 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.315 207.656 206.094 3.3 -.8 -.2 .0 -.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .992 203.023 198.048 -3.7 -2.5 -.7 -2.6 -2.5 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.266 275.884 271.727 2.1 -1.5 -1.3 .2 .1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.167 163.821 165.437 5.0 1.0 -.2 -.3 1.2 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.212 191.620 191.594 7.8 .0 .6 -.3 .0 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .304 195.395 196.015 8.3 .3 1.2 .0 .4 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .274 206.185 205.693 12.0 -.2 -2.0 -.9 -.1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.634 206.547 206.468 7.1 .0 .9 -.3 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 122.994 122.837 4.3 -.1 .3 -1.2 -.1 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.664 222.101 222.336 4.8 .1 .3 .3 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .233 154.520 154.054 4.7 -.3 -.2 .7 -.3 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.077 220.029 220.500 3.6 .2 .1 -.2 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.313 213.192 213.213 1.8 .0 .0 .1 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.224 242.051 242.605 1.9 .2 .2 .1 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.279 246.991 247.285 3.1 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.209 136.255 138.008 -6.8 1.3 -1.1 -1.6 -2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 21.430 231.746 232.235 2.1 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 120.960 121.099 2.6 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 6.030 212.353 209.400 1.2 -1.4 -.8 .0 -1.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.996 190.110 186.809 .3 -1.7 -1.0 .0 -1.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .283 246.781 236.237 -28.3 -4.3 -2.1 -2.3 -7.0

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.713 196.040 192.922 2.5 -1.6 -1.0 .1 -1.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.035 158.069 158.460 6.0 .2 .2 .1 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.059 124.865 125.337 1.7 .4 -.1 .2 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .360 152.168 153.239 4.0 .7 -.4 -.1 .7 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.979 118.766 122.162 1.1 2.9 .6 1.0 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.024 116.332 118.735 2.5 2.1 2.0 2.8 -.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 105.538 110.380 -.3 4.6 .6 .4 -.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .249 116.001 117.944 -.9 1.7 .5 -.8 .4 

Footwear .................................................................................. .840 124.494 126.858 2.0 1.9 .0 .6 .4

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.067 165.976 165.978 -15.2 .0 1.5 2.0 -1.3 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.284 162.645 162.659 -15.6 .0 1.6 2.1 -1.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.627 89.728 89.418 -4.3 -.3 .1 .0 -.3 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.057 135.248 135.744 -.9 .4 .4 .7 .7 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.863 123.443 121.669 -11.9 -1.4 -.8 -1.7 -1.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.029 168.028 169.060 -39.6 .6 5.3 7.5 -4.4 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 3.770 166.831 168.574 -39.3 1.0 6.0 8.2 -3.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .482 134.264 134.485 6.5 .2 .3 .5 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.242 244.219 244.650 5.3 .2 .7 .3 .2 

Public transportation ................................................................ .784 229.404 229.034 -4.9 -.2 -1.5 -2.0 -.7 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 372.630 373.541 2.9 .2 .4 .4 .2 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.320 293.917 294.728 1.9 .3 .3 .6 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.035 395.563 396.489 3.2 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.234 319.663 320.231 2.9 .2 .3 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.338 554.390 557.167 6.2 .5 .8 .7 .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

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Feb.

2009

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.454 111.257 111.436 1.5 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.982 101.857 102.153 -1.3 .3 -.5 .1 -.1 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.221 122.092 122.087 3.3 .0 .2 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.527 184.765 184.824 5.6 .0 .2 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .219 473.012 474.880 7.3 .4 .2 .5 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.308 520.159 520.146 5.4 .0 .2 .4 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.694 87.640 87.615 1.9 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.568 85.624 85.595 1.8 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.965 101.890 101.977 2.9 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .604 10.442 10.378 -3.4 -.6 .1 .2 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .202 87.622 86.004 -14.2 -1.8 .0 -.6 -1.8 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.668 365.522 380.208 7.6 4.0 .4 .2 3.9 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.267 615.012 682.115 18.2 10.9 .8 .7 10.9 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.401 201.426 202.099 2.2 .3 .1 .0 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .662 162.543 162.516 2.4 .0 .9 -.1 .0 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .580 226.088 228.201 2.3 .9 -.3 .1 .9 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .947 343.443 344.021 2.2 .2 -.1 .0 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.689 166.673 167.514 -5.2 .5 .6 .8 -.3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 218.645 218.119 4.4 -.2 .0 -.2 -.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.747 140.235 141.615 -10.5 1.0 1.1 1.5 -.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 14.587 171.698 174.838 -14.8 1.8 2.2 3.1 -1.2 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.979 118.766 122.162 1.1 2.9 .6 1.0 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.609 208.255 211.287 -19.4 1.5 2.8 3.7 -1.4 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.160 108.592 108.413 -3.7 -.2 -.1 -.1 -.2 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.311 253.456 253.591 2.6 .1 .1 .1 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.918 233.365 233.903 1.9 .2 .2 .0 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 120.960 121.099 2.6 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.713 196.040 192.922 2.5 -1.6 -1.0 .1 -1.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.035 158.069 158.460 6.0 .2 .2 .1 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .360 152.168 153.239 4.0 .7 -.4 -.1 .7 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.512 248.029 247.862 3.9 -.1 .5 .4 .0 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.035 395.563 396.489 3.2 .2 .5 .3 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.432 289.432 290.043 3.2 .2 .1 .3 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.135 204.465 205.167 -1.9 .3 .4 .6 -.1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.776 196.052 196.551 -2.2 .3 .4 .6 -.3 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 199.928 200.421 -1.1 .2 .3 .4 -.2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.824 142.809 144.172 -10.0 1.0 1.0 1.4 -.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 15.664 174.484 177.487 -13.8 1.7 2.1 2.9 -1.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 11.686 208.291 211.094 -17.8 1.3 2.6 3.4 -1.3 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 31.530 194.740 196.174 -5.7 .7 1.1 1.4 -.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.392 244.791 244.413 3.4 -.2 .0 .2 -.1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.275 243.128 243.223 2.5 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.024 177.033 175.947 -24.0 -.6 1.9 3.6 -3.1 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.976 211.279 211.989 2.3 .3 .2 .1 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 75.111 210.203 211.178 1.8 .5 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.513 140.554 142.077 .1 1.1 .2 .2 .5 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.311 171.978 172.563 -39.1 .3 4.9 7.0 -4.5 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.598 259.643 260.158 2.6 .2 .2 .1 .1 

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

 $ .484 $ .483 - - - - -

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

 $ .162 $ .162 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009 Sep.

2008

Mar.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 206.067 206.778 207.692 207.401 7.1 3.2 -15.3 2.6 5.1 -6.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.667 218.714 218.371 218.079 7.7 8.5 2.8 -1.1 8.1 .9 

Food ................................................................................ 218.504 218.536 218.207 217.881 8.0 8.7 2.6 -1.1 8.3 .7 

Food at home ................................................................ 218.100 217.690 216.694 215.965 10.1 10.4 .9 -3.9 10.3 -1.5 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 256.440 256.432 254.813 254.555 14.5 11.6 7.4 -2.9 13.0 2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.532 208.092 208.151 206.190 7.0 11.2 .5 -4.4 9.1 -2.0 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 209.922 208.530 203.023 198.048 5.7 8.6 -5.4 -20.8 7.1 -13.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 275.625 272.072 272.522 272.783 20.7 10.6 -15.1 -4.1 15.5 -9.8 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 163.589 163.227 162.689 164.563 2.8 8.3 6.9 2.4 5.5 4.6 

Other food at home ..................................................... 191.118 192.226 191.629 191.720 11.4 10.9 7.9 1.3 11.2 4.5 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 193.170 195.556 195.485 196.202 7.0 10.3 9.4 6.4 8.7 7.9 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 210.685 206.547 204.738 204.559 35.4 21.6 7.4 -11.1 28.3 -2.3 

Other foods ............................................................... 205.514 207.338 206.781 206.801 8.8 9.4 7.7 2.5 9.1 5.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 124.144 124.477 122.994 122.837 3.9 9.4 8.7 -4.1 6.6 2.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 220.847 221.497 222.101 222.336 5.1 6.3 5.0 2.7 5.7 3.9 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 153.646 153.397 154.520 154.054 5.9 5.5 6.3 1.1 5.7 3.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 219.567 219.832 219.285 219.507 3.4 5.3 6.1 -.1 4.3 3.0 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.500 213.570 213.680 213.463 5.4 2.1 .0 -.1 3.7 .0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 241.355 241.879 242.000 242.257 2.4 2.1 1.8 1.5 2.3 1.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 245.683 246.440 246.739 247.150 3.5 3.4 2.9 2.4 3.5 2.7 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 140.971 139.451 137.170 133.991 .9 -2.0 -6.4 -18.4 -.6 -12.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 230.792 231.392 231.675 232.200 2.1 1.9 1.9 2.5 2.0 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.360 120.715 120.960 121.099 4.5 3.3 .3 2.5 3.9 1.4 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 217.920 216.117 216.077 213.084 25.1 .4 -8.2 -8.6 12.1 -8.4 

Household energy ......................................................... 196.397 194.348 194.282 190.862 29.3 -1.1 -10.8 -10.8 13.1 -10.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 266.721 261.002 255.111 237.288 54.3 -25.7 -63.1 -37.4 7.1 -51.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 201.987 200.013 200.210 197.294 27.5 1.1 -5.3 -9.0 13.5 -7.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 157.070 157.447 157.531 158.223 5.4 9.1 6.5 3.0 7.2 4.7 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 124.653 124.546 124.754 125.029 1.1 5.0 -.3 1.2 3.0 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.814 152.273 152.168 153.239 10.0 5.4 -.1 1.1 7.7 .5 

Apparel .............................................................................. 117.923 118.677 119.854 119.478 -.1 5.7 -6.0 5.4 2.8 -.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 111.922 114.105 117.255 116.702 -1.1 -.3 -5.2 18.2 -.7 5.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 106.026 106.642 107.054 106.208 -2.1 15.4 -13.2 .7 6.3 -6.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.672 116.306 115.319 115.748 -2.5 -.4 -.9 .3 -1.4 -.3 

Footwear ......................................................................... 124.559 124.556 125.352 125.880 2.9 -1.4 2.4 4.3 .7 3.3 

Transportation ................................................................... 163.954 166.362 169.627 167.435 15.1 1.0 -59.7 8.8 7.8 -33.8 

Private transportation ...................................................... 160.223 162.806 166.302 164.112 14.7 .9 -60.8 10.1 7.6 -34.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 89.570 89.682 89.662 89.419 -3.0 -6.4 -7.2 -.7 -4.7 -4.0 

New vehicles ............................................................... 132.783 133.378 134.277 135.162 -.5 -4.8 -5.0 7.4 -2.7 1.0 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 127.590 126.534 124.356 122.304 -7.1 -10.8 -13.7 -15.6 -9.0 -14.7 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 161.274 169.900 182.697 174.688 41.9 5.7 -93.6 37.7 22.5 -70.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 158.198 167.678 181.433 174.331 42.1 6.5 -93.9 47.5 23.0 -70.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 133.295 133.645 134.264 134.485 4.6 10.8 7.0 3.6 7.6 5.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 241.855 243.594 244.219 244.650 5.6 7.0 3.9 4.7 6.3 4.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 240.296 236.685 231.991 230.256 25.7 2.5 -24.5 -15.7 13.5 -20.2 

Medical care ...................................................................... 368.451 370.068 371.397 372.188 2.3 2.6 2.5 4.1 2.5 3.3 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 290.504 291.485 293.339 294.284 -2.2 .8 3.9 5.3 -.7 4.6 

Medical care services ..................................................... 391.178 393.024 394.081 394.779 3.8 3.2 2.1 3.7 3.5 2.9 

Professional services .................................................... 317.551 318.623 318.961 319.150 4.1 2.9 2.5 2.0 3.5 2.2 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 541.934 546.425 550.509 553.960 6.1 6.1 3.5 9.2 6.1 6.3 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2009 Sep.

2008

Mar.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.795 110.813 111.309 111.324 0.9 3.6 -0.2 1.9 2.2 0.9 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.323 101.794 101.852 101.751 -3.0 2.0 -2.0 -2.2 -.5 -2.1 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 121.592 121.817 122.064 122.270 5.2 3.1 2.8 2.2 4.1 2.5 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 183.489 183.869 184.662 185.499 6.0 6.3 5.5 4.5 6.1 5.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 468.077 469.011 471.367 473.276 7.6 12.8 4.4 4.5 10.2 4.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 516.743 517.817 520.014 522.397 5.8 5.7 5.6 4.4 5.8 5.0 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.450 87.598 87.639 87.616 4.7 1.0 1.1 .8 2.8 .9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.454 85.581 85.624 85.595 4.4 .9 1.2 .7 2.7 .9 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.720 101.876 101.890 101.977 6.8 2.5 1.5 1.0 4.6 1.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.406 10.418 10.442 10.378 -5.8 -6.3 -.3 -1.1 -6.1 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 88.176 88.178 87.622 86.004 -16.8 -19.5 -10.8 -9.5 -18.1 -10.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 363.328 364.631 365.470 379.874 5.9 3.7 2.2 19.5 4.8 10.5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 605.662 610.503 615.012 682.115 11.1 5.5 3.6 60.9 8.3 29.1 

Personal care .................................................................. 201.207 201.461 201.381 201.817 3.3 2.8 1.4 1.2 3.0 1.3 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 161.295 162.683 162.543 162.516 .8 1.7 4.0 3.1 1.3 3.5 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 226.578 225.951 226.088 228.201 1.4 1.9 3.0 2.9 1.7 2.9 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.848 343.462 343.601 343.711 5.8 4.7 -1.2 -.2 5.2 -.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 165.761 166.831 168.242 167.715 9.1 3.6 -32.5 4.8 6.3 -15.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.667 218.714 218.371 218.079 7.7 8.5 2.8 -1.1 8.1 .9 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 138.964 140.426 142.519 141.910 9.9 1.1 -47.5 8.8 5.4 -24.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 168.682 172.433 177.755 175.626 27.0 .5 -64.9 17.5 13.0 -35.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 117.923 118.677 119.854 119.478 -.1 5.7 -6.0 5.4 2.8 -.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 203.893 209.548 217.299 214.185 32.5 1.2 -74.2 21.8 15.8 -43.9 

Durables .......................................................................... 108.798 108.637 108.475 108.251 -2.4 -3.7 -6.5 -2.0 -3.1 -4.3 

Services .............................................................................. 253.092 253.417 253.785 253.811 5.3 2.8 1.2 1.1 4.1 1.2 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 232.887 233.312 233.328 233.478 2.4 2.4 2.0 1.0 2.4 1.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.360 120.715 120.960 121.099 4.5 3.3 .3 2.5 3.9 1.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 201.987 200.013 200.210 197.294 27.5 1.1 -5.3 -9.0 13.5 -7.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 157.070 157.447 157.531 158.223 5.4 9.1 6.5 3.0 7.2 4.7 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.814 152.273 152.168 153.239 10.0 5.4 -.1 1.1 7.7 .5 

Transportation services ..................................................... 245.957 247.099 248.087 248.145 7.6 4.7 .0 3.6 6.1 1.8 

Medical care services ....................................................... 391.178 393.024 394.081 394.779 3.8 3.2 2.1 3.7 3.5 2.9 

Other services ................................................................... 288.397 288.590 289.415 290.152 4.2 3.9 2.3 2.5 4.1 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 203.702 204.532 205.662 205.378 6.9 2.3 -18.3 3.3 4.6 -8.1 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 195.424 196.211 197.425 196.931 9.1 3.7 -21.9 3.1 6.4 -10.3 

All items less medical care .................................................. 199.400 200.078 200.971 200.650 7.3 3.3 -16.2 2.5 5.3 -7.3 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 141.555 142.991 145.025 144.434 9.7 1.2 -46.1 8.4 5.4 -23.6 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 171.591 175.208 180.246 178.203 25.7 .7 -62.5 16.3 12.5 -33.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 204.294 209.514 216.564 213.688 30.9 1.1 -71.2 19.7 15.0 -41.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 193.307 195.377 198.015 196.725 17.7 3.3 -39.5 7.3 10.3 -19.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 245.083 245.075 245.607 245.340 8.4 3.9 .9 .4 6.1 .7 

Services less medical care services ................................... 243.176 243.374 243.578 243.498 5.2 2.9 1.6 .5 4.1 1.0 

Energy ................................................................................. 176.692 180.037 186.446 180.751 36.9 3.0 -78.5 9.5 18.8 -51.5 

All items less energy ........................................................... 210.598 210.987 211.226 211.602 3.3 3.3 .7 1.9 3.3 1.3 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 209.372 209.834 210.188 210.707 2.3 2.2 .2 2.6 2.2 1.4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.094 140.375 140.675 141.363 -.4 .3 -3.3 3.7 .0 .1 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 166.230 174.341 186.476 178.042 42.5 4.1 -93.0 31.6 21.8 -69.6 

Services less energy services ......................................... 258.541 259.134 259.521 259.892 3.5 3.0 1.8 2.1 3.2 2.0 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Mar.2009 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2009 from—

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 204.813 205.700 206.708 207.218 -0.9 0.7 0.2 -0.3 0.9 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 221.446 221.704 222.945 223.626 .2 .9 .3 .6 .7 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 222.628 222.707 224.084 224.597 .4 .8 .2 .8 .7 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 132.938 133.345 133.908 134.558 -.2 .9 .5 .0 .7 .4 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 193.987 195.245 195.813 196.453 -1.3 .6 .3 -.7 .9 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 194.120 195.621 196.147 196.855 -1.3 .6 .4 -.7 1.0 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 127.005 127.768 128.167 128.468 -1.1 .5 .2 -.4 .9 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 192.391 192.907 193.527 194.393 -1.8 .8 .4 -1.1 .6 .3 

South urban .................................................... M 199.399 200.067 201.150 201.737 -1.1 .8 .3 -.6 .9 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.121 203.519 204.501 205.066 -1.1 .8 .3 -.5 .7 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 127.055 127.529 128.276 128.686 -1.2 .9 .3 -.7 1.0 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 203.054 204.316 205.337 205.744 -.9 .7 .2 -.1 1.1 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 208.088 209.367 210.492 210.661 -1.2 .6 .1 -.2 1.2 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 210.637 211.857 212.890 212.965 -.9 .5 .0 .1 1.1 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.641 129.639 130.649 130.674 -1.5 .8 .0 -.4 1.6 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 190.272 191.023 191.927 192.327 -.7 .7 .2 .0 .9 .5 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 128.157 128.783 129.488 129.833 -1.1 .8 .3 -.5 1.0 .5 

D ................................................................. M 199.228 200.057 200.681 201.485 -1.4 .7 .4 -.8 .7 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 198.434 200.222 199.944 200.218 -2.2 .0 .1 -1.3 .8 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 211.007 212.454 213.234 213.013 -1.6 .3 -.1 -.5 1.1 .4 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 227.223 227.503 228.653 229.064 .9 .7 .2 1.5 .6 .5 

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

 230.095 - 231.884 -.3 .8 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 188.798 - 190.107 -1.5 .7 - - - -

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

 199.416 - 200.770 -.6 .7 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 136.359 - 137.539 .0 .9 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 195.310 -

 197.528 - - - - -2.9 1.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 192.808 -

 196.191 - - - - -.7 1.8 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 183.088 - 185.015 - - - - -.5 1.1 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 215.867 -

 217.635 - - - - .3 .8 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 217.610 -

 219.356 - - - - -.6 .8 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 213.685 -

 216.797 - - - - .9 1.5 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 216.424 - 218.752 - - - - 1.1 1.1 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Mar. 2009 from—

 Feb.

 2009

 Mar.

 2009

 Mar.

 2008

 Feb.

 2009

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 121.901 122.182 -0.8 0.2

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 128.622 128.292 4.2 -.3 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 128.747 128.378 4.3 -.3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 125.539 124.782 4.1 -.6 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 132.849 132.990 4.5 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 127.399 127.568 3.5 .1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 128.765 128.865 1.2 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 131.107 131.493 1.4 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 157.776 155.178 .2 -1.6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.917 96.311 1.1 .4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 87.673 90.588 .9 3.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 113.341 113.432 -13.1 .1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 113.448 113.571 -13.6 .1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 113.167 112.767 -5.3 -.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 144.662 144.929 2.6 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 127.740 127.992 1.7 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 150.904 151.174 2.9 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.707 105.740 .5 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.693 109.639 3.0 .0 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 173.166 173.200 5.5 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.219 74.141 1.0 -.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 127.284 130.478 2.8 2.5 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 133.617 133.731 2.0 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 107.718 108.187 -4.6 .4 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 80.865 80.852 -3.2 .0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 121.408 122.155 -5.2 .6 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 117.964 118.459 1.3 .4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 150.780 149.828 -23.8 -.6 

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

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