Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-09-1124

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, September 16, 2009 

Technical information: (202) 691-7000 • Reed.Steve@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cpi 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – AUGUST 2009 

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 

percent in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The index has decreased 1.5 percent 

over the last 12 months on a not seasonally adjusted basis. 

 

The 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted increase in the CPI-U was driven by a 9.1 percent rise in the 

gasoline index. This increase accounted for almost the entire advance in the energy index and over 80 

percent of the overall increase. Despite the August increase, the gasoline index has fallen 30.0 percent 

over the last 12 months. 

The indexes for food and for all items less food and energy both posted slight increases in August. The 

food index rose 0.1 percent following a 0.3 percent decline in July. The food at home index, which fell 

0.5 percent in July, was unchanged in August. Of the six major grocery store food group indexes, three 

rose in August and three declined. The index for all items less food and energy also rose 0.1 percent in 

August, the second consecutive such increase. Increases in the indexes for used cars and trucks, medical 

care, public transportation and lodging away from home offset a decline in the new vehicle index. The 

index for all items less food and energy increased 1.4 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest 12-

month increase in the index since February 2004. 

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Aug'08 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug'09

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Aug. 2008 - Aug. 2009

Percent change

0.0 0.0

-0.8

-1.7

-0.8

0.3 0.4

-0.1

0.0 0.1

0.7

0.0

0.4
- 2 -

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Aug. 2008 - Aug. 2009

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Aug'08 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug'09

Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Aug. 2009

Feb.

2009

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

All items ................................................. 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.4 -1.5 

Food .................................................... -.1 -.1 -.2 -.2 .0 -.3 .1 .4 

Food at home .................................... -.4 -.4 -.6 -.5 .0 -.5 .0 -1.6 

Food away from home 1 .................... .3 .1 .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 3.0 

Energy ................................................. 3.3 -3.0 -2.4 .2 7.4 -.4 4.6 -23.0 

Energy commodities .......................... 6.9 -4.7 -2.6 2.3 16.2 -.4 8.5 -30.8 

Gasoline (all types) .......................... 8.3 -4.0 -2.8 3.1 17.3 -.8 9.1 -30.0 

Fuel oil ............................................. -3.8 -8.5 -.3 -3.3 4.8 -1.5 6.2 -39.9 

Energy services ................................. .0 -1.4 -2.2 -1.7 -1.2 -.3 .0 -10.6 

Electricity ......................................... .5 -.2 -.6 -.4 -1.9 -.6 -.1 -1.2 

Utility (piped) gas service ................ -1.6 -4.8 -7.0 -5.7 1.3 .9 .4 -32.7 

All items less food and energy ............ .2 .2 .3 .1 .2 .1 .1 1.4 

Commodities less food and energy

commodities ................................ .4 .4 .5 .2 .3 .2 -.3 1.1 

New vehicles ................................... .8 .6 .4 .5 .7 .5 -1.3 .5 

Used cars and trucks ....................... -1.7 -1.7 -.1 1.0 .9 .0 1.9 -5.4 

Apparel ............................................ 1.3 -.2 -.2 -.2 .7 .6 -.1 .6 

Medical care commodities ............... .6 .2 .3 .4 .1 -.1 .5 3.7 

Services less energy services ........... .1 .1 .2 .1 .1 .0 .2 1.6 

Shelter ............................................. .0 .0 .2 .1 .1 -.2 .1 .9 

Transportation services ................... .4 -.1 .3 -.1 -.1 .5 .6 1.4 

Medical care services ...................... .3 .2 .4 .3 .2 .3 .2 3.2 

1 Not seasonally adjusted.
- 3 -

Consumer Price Index Data for August 2009 

Energy 

The energy index rose 4.6 percent in August after falling 0.4 percent in July. The energy commodities 

index rose 8.5 percent as the gasoline index rose 9.1 percent in August following a 0.8 percent decline in 

July. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 3.3 percent in August.) The index for energy 

services was unchanged in August, with a 0.1 percent decline in the electricity index offsetting a 0.4 

percent increase in the index for natural gas. Over the past 12 months, the energy index has fallen 23.0 

percent, with the gasoline index falling 30.0 percent, the index for natural gas declining 32.7 percent, 

and the electricity index decreasing 1.2 percent. 

 

Food 

The food index rose 0.1 percent in August, with the index for food away from home rising 0.1 percent 

and the food at home index unchanged. Within the latter group, the index for fruits and vegetables fell 

0.7 percent in August following a 0.3 percent decline in July. The index for dairy and related products 

fell 0.4 percent in August, its ninth consecutive decline, and the index for cereals and bakery products 

decreased 0.1 percent. Offsetting these declines were increases of 0.4 percent in the indexes for meats, 

poultry, fish and eggs and for nonalcoholic beverages and a 0.2 percent increase in the index for other 

food at home. The food at home index has declined 2.5 percent since its November 2008 peak. Over the 

past 12 months, the food index has risen 0.4 percent, with the food away from home index rising 3.0 

percent and the food at home index declining 1.6 percent. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in August, the same increase as in July. 

Advances in the indexes for used cars and public transportation contributed to the increase. The used 

cars and trucks index, which was unchanged in July, rose 1.9 percent in August. The public 

transportation index rose 1.3 percent in August as the airline fares index rose 1.7 percent. Also 

contributing was an upturn in the lodging away from home index, which rose 0.5 percent in August after 

declining 2.1 percent in July. This increase drove an upturn in the shelter index, which rose 0.1 percent 

in August after a 0.2 percent decline in July. The rent index was unchanged and the index for owners’ 

equivalent rent increased 0.1 percent. The medical care index rose 0.3 percent in August after a 0.2 

percent increase in July, and the index for recreation edged up 0.1 percent. In contrast to these increases, 

the index for new vehicles fell 1.3 percent in August, partly due to “cash for clunkers” incentives. Also 

declining in August were the indexes for apparel, which fell 0.1 percent, and communication, which 

declined 0.2 percent. 

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 1.5 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 215.834 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.2 percent 

prior to seasonal adjustment. 
- 4 -

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 1.9 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 211.156 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

increased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 1.5 percent over the 

last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please 

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

The Consumer Price Index for September 2009 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 

15, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
- 5 -

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-CPIU), 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 C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to 

two annual revisions. 

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

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

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

can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period market basket of goods and 

services in the CPI has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000. 
- 6 -

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 0.04 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 0.08 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail 

prices. For example, 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 0.12 and 0.28 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the 

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

January-December 2008”. These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or 

by using the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2008.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
- 7 -

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. 
- 8 -

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

Aug. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

July

2009

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 215.351 215.834 -1.5 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.4 

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

 645.096 646.544 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 217.608 217.701 .6 .0 .1 -.2 .1 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.629 217.257 217.350 .4 .0 .0 -.3 .1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.156 213.815 213.722 -1.6 .0 .0 -.5 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.150 253.391 252.382 .9 -.4 .0 -.1 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.898 201.743 202.911 -2.2 .6 -.2 -1.3 .4 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .910 193.118 192.381 -10.4 -.4 -.9 -.6 -.4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.194 270.940 267.309 -5.6 -1.3 1.1 -.3 -.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .982 162.069 162.953 1.8 .5 .1 -.3 .4 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.022 190.967 191.317 2.3 .2 .0 -.3 .2 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .300 195.126 195.430 4.1 .2 .2 -1.3 .4 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .241 201.031 200.578 -1.2 -.2 .6 -.3 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.481 205.544 206.064 2.5 .3 -.2 -.1 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .433 121.990 121.892 .7 -.1 -.5 -.2 -.1 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.474 223.345 223.675 3.0 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .314 156.570 156.697 3.7 .1 .5 .5 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.127 220.850 220.946 2.7 .0 .2 .3 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 43.421 218.085 217.827 -.6 -.1 .0 -.2 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 33.200 250.310 250.248 .9 .0 .1 -.2 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.957 248.994 249.029 2.0 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.478 139.424 137.454 -7.8 -1.4 .3 -2.1 .5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 24.433 256.872 257.155 1.7 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .333 121.298 121.830 2.8 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.431 212.961 212.661 -9.8 -.1 -.8 -.1 .4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.460 190.534 189.735 -12.7 -.4 -1.0 -.3 .2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .301 230.192 237.521 -35.4 3.2 2.0 -1.1 3.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.159 196.767 195.475 -10.6 -.7 -1.2 -.3 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .971 161.403 163.136 5.8 1.1 .4 .6 .8 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.790 129.267 128.304 .2 -.7 .0 -.1 -.6 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 149.983 150.494 .9 .3 .4 .0 .3 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.691 115.620 117.130 .6 1.3 .7 .6 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .923 109.744 110.835 .6 1.0 -.5 -.7 .6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.541 101.688 103.991 -.2 2.3 1.6 1.2 -.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .183 111.022 113.673 3.8 2.4 2.2 -.7 1.2 

Footwear .................................................................................. .688 124.405 125.292 2.7 .7 .2 1.1 -.2 

Transportation ............................................................................ 15.314 182.798 184.386 -10.8 .9 4.2 .2 2.3 

Private transportation ............................................................... 14.189 178.330 179.987 -10.8 .9 4.5 .1 2.4

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.931 93.413 93.126 -.1 -.3 .4 .3 -.4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.480 136.055 134.080 .5 -1.5 .7 .5 -1.3 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.628 125.061 128.028 -5.4 2.4 .9 .0 1.9 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 3.164 217.860 225.089 -30.5 3.3 17.2 -.4 8.8 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 2.964 217.945 225.179 -30.0 3.3 17.3 -.8 9.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .382 133.729 133.531 2.5 -.1 -.1 -.4 -.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.188 243.031 243.494 3.1 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.125 238.932 238.997 -11.0 .0 -.5 1.9 1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.390 375.739 376.537 3.3 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.625 304.229 305.797 3.7 .5 .1 -.1 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.765 397.868 398.303 3.2 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.702 320.076 320.252 2.5 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.545 568.315 570.150 6.5 .3 .4 .7 .5 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Aug. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

July

2009

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.741 114.619 114.755 0.9 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.1 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.822 101.614 101.474 -1.0 -.1 .4 -.2 -.2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.301 126.914 128.128 2.8 1.0 .2 .3 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 189.184 193.161 5.4 2.1 .4 .5 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .221 481.768 490.102 6.8 1.7 1.2 1.2 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.886 543.810 555.402 5.3 2.1 .3 .5 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.194 85.056 84.913 .3 -.2 -.1 .1 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.022 81.991 81.835 .0 -.2 -.2 .1 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.408 102.643 102.674 1.4 .0 -.1 .5 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .614 9.604 9.499 -5.1 -1.1 -.5 -1.3 -1.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .214 80.838 78.576 -15.4 -2.8 -1.1 -3.2 -2.8 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.386 372.894 372.699 7.4 -.1 .3 .8 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .776 762.907 763.634 27.8 .1 .8 2.2 .1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.610 204.571 204.352 1.4 -.1 .1 .2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .651 162.887 162.476 2.0 -.3 -.5 .4 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .647 227.325 227.580 1.5 .1 .0 -.1 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.074 344.367 345.137 1.2 .2 .4 .5 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.556 170.483 171.081 -4.5 .4 1.8 .0 .8 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 217.608 217.701 .6 .0 .1 -.2 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 23.799 145.742 146.528 -7.4 .5 2.9 .1 1.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 13.289 181.755 184.366 -11.1 1.4 4.9 .5 3.1 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.691 115.620 117.130 .6 1.3 .7 .6 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 9.598 227.038 230.396 -14.3 1.5 6.6 .2 4.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.510 109.924 109.129 -1.5 -.7 .3 .0 -.6 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.444 259.992 260.355 .7 .1 .1 .0 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.867 260.935 260.858 .9 .0 .0 -.2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .333 121.298 121.830 2.8 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.159 196.767 195.475 -10.6 -.7 -1.2 -.3 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .971 161.403 163.136 5.8 1.1 .4 .6 .8 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 149.983 150.494 .9 .3 .4 .0 .3 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.567 251.184 252.234 1.4 .4 -.1 .5 .6 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.765 397.868 398.303 3.2 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.002 303.761 305.890 2.7 .7 .4 .3 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.371 215.069 215.617 -1.8 .3 .9 .0 .5 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 66.800 204.069 204.776 -2.6 .3 1.1 .1 .6 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.610 207.388 207.855 -1.8 .2 .8 .0 .5 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 24.926 148.386 149.155 -7.0 .5 2.7 .1 1.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 14.416 184.090 186.552 -10.2 1.3 4.5 .5 2.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 10.726 225.410 228.446 -13.0 1.3 6.1 .2 3.8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.046 199.746 201.191 -5.5 .7 2.4 .1 1.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 27.577 278.747 279.697 .4 .3 .0 .3 .4 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.679 248.963 249.316 .5 .1 .0 .0 .2 

Energy .......................................................................................... 7.624 201.938 204.971 -23.0 1.5 7.4 -.4 4.6 

All items less energy .................................................................... 92.376 218.421 218.642 1.3 .1 .2 .0 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.746 219.350 219.596 1.4 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.461 141.463 141.310 1.1 -.1 .3 .2 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 3.465 219.922 227.204 -30.8 3.3 16.2 -.4 8.5 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.285 266.484 267.008 1.6 .2 .1 .0 .2 

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

 $ .464 $ .463 - - - - -

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

 $ .155 $ .155 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2009 Feb.

2009

Aug.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 212.876 214.459 214.469 215.428 -9.4 -0.5 -0.2 4.9 -5.0 2.3 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.965 218.094 217.638 217.829 4.6 .1 -2.0 -.2 2.3 -1.1 

Food ................................................................................ 217.738 217.838 217.291 217.478 4.5 .0 -2.2 -.5 2.2 -1.4 

Food at home ................................................................ 214.929 214.999 213.876 213.951 3.6 -2.8 -5.5 -1.8 .4 -3.7 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.645 251.576 251.380 251.049 9.2 .1 -4.2 -.9 4.5 -2.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 204.679 204.365 201.738 202.601 3.9 -1.5 -6.9 -4.0 1.1 -5.5 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 196.055 194.197 193.118 192.381 -3.0 -15.1 -15.6 -7.3 -9.3 -11.5 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 273.037 276.092 275.379 273.410 -10.1 -9.6 -3.4 .5 -9.8 -1.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 162.848 162.993 162.431 163.008 9.5 -1.5 -.8 .4 3.9 -.2 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.643 190.637 190.071 190.494 9.7 4.0 -3.6 -.3 6.8 -2.0 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 196.340 196.818 194.193 194.991 11.0 10.0 -1.3 -2.7 10.5 -2.0 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 199.782 201.067 200.428 200.546 9.9 -7.7 -7.5 1.5 .7 -3.1 

Other foods ............................................................... 205.011 204.694 204.528 204.958 9.4 4.8 -3.5 -.1 7.1 -1.8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 122.838 122.224 121.990 121.892 8.6 -3.1 .8 -3.0 2.6 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 223.023 223.163 223.345 223.675 5.6 3.5 1.9 1.2 4.6 1.5 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 155.099 155.841 156.570 156.697 7.7 2.0 1.0 4.2 4.8 2.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 219.601 220.105 220.815 221.072 5.6 1.8 .8 2.7 3.7 1.8 

Housing ............................................................................. 217.056 216.984 216.612 216.726 -.7 .0 -1.0 -.6 -.4 -.8 

Shelter ............................................................................. 249.680 249.861 249.410 249.658 1.8 .7 1.3 .0 1.3 .6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 249.233 249.374 249.293 249.266 3.4 2.6 1.9 .1 3.0 1.0 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 134.136 134.507 131.742 132.411 -5.9 -13.2 -6.9 -5.0 -9.6 -6.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 257.003 257.138 257.073 257.278 2.3 1.8 2.1 .4 2.1 1.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.728 121.083 121.298 121.830 5.8 1.5 .1 3.7 3.6 1.9 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 207.903 206.342 206.046 206.783 -16.1 -4.8 -16.1 -2.1 -10.6 -9.4 

Household energy ......................................................... 185.399 183.526 182.927 183.374 -20.1 -6.2 -20.6 -4.3 -13.4 -12.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 220.321 224.706 222.296 231.023 -58.3 -41.5 -41.1 20.9 -50.6 -15.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 191.671 189.362 188.839 188.839 -15.5 -2.9 -19.0 -5.8 -9.4 -12.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 159.821 160.401 161.408 162.756 6.5 2.4 7.0 7.6 4.4 7.3 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 129.413 129.428 129.254 128.471 1.7 .9 1.3 -2.9 1.3 -.8 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 149.468 149.995 149.983 150.494 2.2 .4 -1.8 2.8 1.3 .5 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.345 120.183 120.865 120.756 -3.5 3.9 -2.3 4.8 .1 1.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 114.561 114.009 113.251 113.938 -4.2 16.1 -5.9 -2.2 5.5 -4.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 106.667 108.388 109.695 109.390 -8.2 .3 -2.6 10.6 -4.1 3.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.149 115.667 114.831 116.235 6.7 -3.7 1.3 11.4 1.4 6.2 

Footwear ......................................................................... 126.182 126.438 127.790 127.504 3.0 .5 3.1 4.3 1.7 3.7 

Transportation ................................................................... 171.635 178.843 179.180 183.312 -45.7 -7.4 -2.6 30.1 -29.1 12.6 

Private transportation ...................................................... 167.234 174.831 174.949 179.110 -47.1 -6.5 -2.0 31.6 -29.7 13.6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 92.847 93.227 93.501 93.155 -6.9 1.7 3.7 1.3 -2.7 2.5 

New vehicles ............................................................... 135.284 136.179 136.826 135.030 -6.3 3.1 6.4 -.7 -1.7 2.8 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 122.788 123.851 123.848 126.157 -16.0 -11.9 -3.1 11.4 -14.0 3.9 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 173.872 203.703 202.924 220.836 -85.0 -28.4 -16.8 160.2 -67.2 47.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 173.954 204.131 202.498 220.967 -85.4 -26.6 -14.1 160.4 -67.2 49.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.347 134.270 133.729 133.531 8.3 3.5 .7 -2.4 5.9 -.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 242.488 242.683 243.031 243.494 5.0 4.5 1.3 1.7 4.8 1.5 

Public transportation ....................................................... 228.210 227.003 231.418 234.384 -22.7 -18.4 -10.5 11.3 -20.6 -.2 

Medical care ...................................................................... 374.402 375.203 375.851 376.919 2.7 4.3 3.5 2.7 3.5 3.1 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 304.426 304.820 304.406 306.029 3.3 5.6 3.6 2.1 4.4 2.9 

Medical care services ..................................................... 395.884 396.846 397.947 398.742 2.5 3.8 3.5 2.9 3.2 3.2 

Professional services .................................................... 318.499 319.339 319.810 320.262 2.6 2.4 2.8 2.2 2.5 2.5 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 563.594 565.707 569.494 572.422 4.2 8.5 6.9 6.4 6.3 6.6 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2009 Feb.

2009

Aug.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.044 114.592 114.612 114.731 1.5 1.0 -1.6 2.4 1.3 0.4 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 101.488 101.920 101.741 101.530 -1.8 -1.9 -.6 .2 -1.9 -.2 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 127.169 127.366 127.751 127.967 2.2 3.3 3.1 2.5 2.7 2.8 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 189.968 190.734 191.709 192.686 4.9 5.1 5.9 5.8 5.0 5.9 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 474.581 480.501 486.256 489.280 4.2 4.5 5.7 13.0 4.4 9.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 546.880 548.730 551.241 554.000 5.0 5.1 6.0 5.3 5.1 5.6 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 85.049 84.972 85.053 84.909 -.4 1.6 .5 -.7 .6 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 82.038 81.909 81.991 81.835 -.4 1.6 -.1 -1.0 .6 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.267 102.182 102.643 102.674 .9 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.2 1.5 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.775 9.731 9.604 9.499 -5.7 2.4 -5.9 -10.8 -1.7 -8.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 84.366 83.476 80.838 78.576 -15.9 -5.7 -14.3 -24.8 -10.9 -19.7 

Other goods and services ................................................. 369.237 370.235 373.084 373.425 1.9 2.0 22.3 4.6 2.0 13.1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 740.311 746.283 762.907 763.634 1.7 8.1 114.7 13.2 4.8 55.9 

Personal care .................................................................. 204.078 204.231 204.714 204.899 2.0 .3 1.5 1.6 1.2 1.6 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 163.051 162.301 162.887 162.476 4.5 3.8 1.3 -1.4 4.1 .0 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 227.607 227.572 227.325 227.580 3.7 -.5 3.1 .0 1.6 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.763 343.178 344.739 345.448 -.2 .4 .3 4.4 .1 2.3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 166.959 169.920 169.875 171.236 -21.8 -2.9 -.6 10.6 -12.9 4.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.965 218.094 217.638 217.829 4.6 .1 -2.0 -.2 2.3 -1.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 140.736 144.765 144.891 146.689 -34.2 -4.8 .4 18.0 -20.9 8.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 170.782 179.090 179.986 185.567 -49.9 -5.8 -4.8 39.4 -31.3 15.2 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.345 120.183 120.865 120.756 -3.5 3.9 -2.3 4.8 .1 1.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 206.581 220.257 220.790 230.120 -59.4 -8.7 -5.3 54.0 -39.1 20.8 

Durables .......................................................................... 109.576 109.957 109.926 109.238 -5.5 -1.3 2.2 -1.2 -3.4 .5 

Services .............................................................................. 258.637 258.780 258.833 259.344 .4 1.3 .0 1.1 .8 .5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 260.188 260.267 259.779 260.033 2.1 .6 1.1 -.2 1.4 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.728 121.083 121.298 121.830 5.8 1.5 .1 3.7 3.6 1.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 191.671 189.362 188.839 188.839 -15.5 -2.9 -19.0 -5.8 -9.4 -12.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 159.821 160.401 161.408 162.756 6.5 2.4 7.0 7.6 4.4 7.3 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 149.468 149.995 149.983 150.494 2.2 .4 -1.8 2.8 1.3 .5 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.944 248.652 249.855 251.455 -1.6 2.7 .6 4.1 .5 2.3 

Medical care services ....................................................... 395.884 396.846 397.947 398.742 2.5 3.8 3.5 2.9 3.2 3.2 

Other services ................................................................... 302.653 303.902 304.916 305.733 2.2 2.8 1.5 4.1 2.5 2.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 212.111 213.936 214.037 215.123 -11.5 -.6 .1 5.8 -6.2 2.9 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 200.829 202.989 203.183 204.437 -14.3 -1.0 -1.0 7.4 -7.9 3.1 

All items less medical care .................................................. 204.892 206.490 206.476 207.422 -10.1 -.8 -.5 5.0 -5.6 2.2 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 143.471 147.413 147.555 149.315 -32.9 -4.6 .4 17.3 -20.0 8.5 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 173.715 181.572 182.401 187.699 -47.5 -5.0 -4.4 36.3 -29.4 14.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 206.725 219.267 219.772 228.214 -56.1 -7.2 -5.1 48.5 -36.2 18.7 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 193.862 198.515 198.640 201.800 -27.8 -2.0 -4.0 17.4 -15.9 6.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.222 276.247 276.955 277.946 -1.0 2.1 -2.0 2.5 .5 .2 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.547 247.530 247.503 248.063 .5 1.1 -.6 .8 .8 .1 

Energy ................................................................................. 178.340 191.584 190.905 199.667 -67.0 -17.4 -18.9 57.1 -47.8 12.9 

All items less energy ........................................................... 218.126 218.507 218.588 218.743 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.1 1.2 1.4 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 218.910 219.344 219.543 219.692 .6 1.5 2.3 1.4 1.1 1.9 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 141.817 142.300 142.612 142.179 -2.2 1.2 4.4 1.0 -.5 2.7 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 177.449 206.131 205.261 222.805 -83.9 -29.4 -18.7 148.5 -66.3 42.2 

Services less energy services ......................................... 265.491 265.873 265.982 266.543 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 

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

Aug.2009 from—

Percent change to

July2009 from—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

June

2009

July

2009

July

2008

May

2009

June

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 213.856 215.693 215.351 215.834 -1.5 0.1 0.2 -2.1 0.7 -0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 228.136 229.930 230.154 230.883 -1.2 .4 .3 -1.9 .9 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 230.611 232.058 232.416 233.314 -1.2 .5 .4 -1.7 .8 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.857 136.488 136.417 136.598 -1.4 .1 .1 -2.3 1.2 -.1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 203.195 205.350 204.814 205.632 -1.8 .1 .4 -2.5 .8 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.443 206.308 205.656 206.591 -1.8 .1 .5 -2.5 .6 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.967 131.640 131.366 131.748 -1.7 .1 .3 -2.4 1.1 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 198.911 201.157 200.908 201.823 -2.1 .3 .5 -2.7 1.0 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 207.265 209.343 208.819 209.000 -1.6 -.2 .1 -2.1 .7 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 209.235 211.390 211.034 211.436 -1.4 .0 .2 -2.0 .9 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.777 133.056 132.736 132.729 -1.7 -.2 .0 -2.1 .7 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 209.563 211.815 210.491 210.899 -1.7 -.4 .2 -2.2 .4 -.6 

West urban ..................................................... M 218.567 219.865 219.484 219.884 -1.3 .0 .2 -2.0 .4 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 222.659 223.908 223.498 224.072 -1.1 .1 .3 -1.8 .4 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.990 132.952 132.774 132.756 -1.8 -.1 .0 -2.4 .6 -.1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 195.745 197.214 196.987 197.614 -1.3 .2 .3 -2.0 .6 -.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 131.876 133.220 132.975 133.069 -1.7 -.1 .1 -2.3 .8 -.2 

D ................................................................. M 206.717 208.543 207.784 208.369 -1.8 -.1 .3 -2.2 .5 -.4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 209.809 211.010 210.906 211.441 -2.1 .2 .3 -3.0 .5 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 222.522 223.906 224.010 224.507 -1.7 .3 .2 -2.6 .7 .0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 235.975 237.172 237.600 238.282 -.9 .5 .3 -1.1 .7 .2 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 231.891 -

 233.018 - - - - -3.4 .5 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 200.196 - 200.558 - - - - -3.1 .2 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 199.311 -

 200.663 - - - - -2.8 .7 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 139.311 - 140.810 - - - - -.9 1.1 -

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

 203.585 - 203.351 -3.8 -.1 - - - -

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

 204.537 - 204.673 -2.3 .1 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 192.325 - 191.687 -.5 -.3 - - - -

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

 221.485 - 221.306 -1.8 -.1 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 223.810 - 226.039 -1.0 1.0 - - - -

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

 225.692 - 225.801 .2 .0 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 227.257 - 227.138 -.3 -.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 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

Aug. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

July

2009

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 210.526 211.156 -1.9 0.3 0.9 0.0 0.6 

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

 627.093 628.970 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 216.805 216.957 .5 .1 .0 -.2 .1 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.865 216.384 216.539 .3 .1 .0 -.3 .1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.201 212.628 212.623 -1.7 .0 .0 -.5 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.249 253.969 252.932 .8 -.4 .0 -.1 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.315 201.261 202.483 -2.3 .6 -.3 -1.3 .4 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .992 191.783 191.048 -10.8 -.4 -.9 -.6 -.4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.266 269.316 265.730 -5.8 -1.3 1.3 -.1 -.9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.167 161.650 162.433 2.1 .5 .0 -.4 .3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.212 190.235 190.704 2.3 .2 .0 -.3 .3 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .304 194.005 194.511 4.1 .3 .5 -1.4 .5 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .274 201.666 201.199 -1.2 -.2 .7 -.4 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.634 205.549 206.210 2.5 .3 -.2 -.1 .3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 122.119 122.217 .6 .1 -.5 -.3 .1 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.664 223.408 223.789 3.1 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .233 156.904 156.769 4.3 -.1 .4 1.2 -.1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.077 221.517 221.618 3.1 .0 .2 .4 .2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.313 214.029 213.824 -.4 -.1 -.1 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.224 243.248 243.279 1.4 .0 .1 -.1 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.279 247.573 247.601 1.9 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.209 140.873 138.543 -6.6 -1.7 .4 -1.6 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 21.430 232.723 232.977 1.6 .1 .0 .0 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 121.765 122.254 2.8 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 6.030 212.276 211.808 -9.2 -.2 -.7 -.1 .3 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.996 189.082 188.125 -12.0 -.5 -.9 -.3 .1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .283 233.018 239.435 -34.1 2.8 1.4 -1.1 3.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.713 195.547 194.211 -10.3 -.7 -1.0 -.2 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.035 161.790 163.567 5.9 1.1 .4 .6 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.059 125.160 124.219 .2 -.8 -.1 -.1 -.6 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .360 152.577 153.667 1.0 .7 .4 -.1 .7 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.979 115.516 117.095 .8 1.4 .7 .6 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.024 110.558 111.629 1.0 1.0 -.6 -.4 .7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 101.289 103.727 -.8 2.4 1.6 1.3 -.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .249 113.744 116.482 4.4 2.4 2.3 -.6 .8 

Footwear .................................................................................. .840 125.046 125.880 3.2 .7 .5 1.0 -.2 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.067 180.419 182.541 -12.2 1.2 4.8 .1 2.7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.284 177.197 179.368 -12.2 1.2 5.1 .0 2.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.627 90.973 91.129 -1.3 .2 .6 .2 .1 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.057 137.082 135.130 .4 -1.4 .8 .5 -1.3 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.863 125.817 128.781 -5.4 2.4 .9 .0 1.9 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.029 218.560 225.797 -30.5 3.3 17.2 -.5 8.8 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 3.770 218.757 226.007 -30.0 3.3 17.4 -.9 9.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .482 133.787 133.587 2.6 -.1 -.1 -.4 -.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.242 245.421 245.871 3.1 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Public transportation ................................................................ .784 236.963 237.029 -10.5 .0 -.2 2.0 1.2 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 376.161 377.007 3.4 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.320 295.871 297.379 3.7 .5 .1 -.2 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.035 399.677 400.204 3.3 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.234 322.759 322.964 2.6 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.338 565.448 567.545 6.7 .4 .4 .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

Aug. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

July

2009

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.454 111.416 111.453 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.982 101.982 101.867 -.8 -.1 .5 -.1 -.2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.221 122.699 123.579 2.3 .7 .1 .3 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.527 186.596 190.222 5.2 1.9 .4 .6 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .219 485.218 493.615 7.1 1.7 1.3 1.3 .4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.308 524.523 534.825 5.0 2.0 .3 .5 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.694 87.780 87.667 .3 -.1 -.1 .1 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.568 85.653 85.532 .2 -.1 -.1 .2 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.965 102.587 102.613 1.3 .0 -.1 .4 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .604 10.113 10.012 -4.9 -1.0 -.3 -1.2 -1.0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .202 80.736 78.480 -15.6 -2.8 -.9 -3.1 -2.8 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.668 398.448 398.228 10.6 -.1 .3 1.0 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.267 768.005 768.483 28.1 .1 .8 2.1 .1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.401 202.490 202.221 1.4 -.1 .0 .2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .662 162.767 162.415 1.9 -.2 -.6 .4 -.2 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .580 227.512 227.751 1.5 .1 .0 -.1 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .947 346.525 347.402 1.3 .3 .3 .4 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.689 172.493 173.379 -5.2 .5 2.1 .0 1.0 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 216.805 216.957 .5 .1 .0 -.2 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.747 149.046 150.209 -8.3 .8 3.3 .1 1.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 14.587 189.436 192.365 -11.9 1.5 5.8 .3 3.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.979 115.516 117.095 .8 1.4 .7 .6 .0

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.609 239.626 243.461 -15.2 1.6 7.4 .2 4.7 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.160 109.432 109.039 -2.1 -.4 .5 .0 -.3 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.311 255.003 255.342 .8 .1 .0 .1 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.918 234.515 234.537 1.3 .0 .0 -.1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 121.765 122.254 2.8 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.713 195.547 194.211 -10.3 -.7 -1.0 -.2 -.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.035 161.790 163.567 5.9 1.1 .4 .6 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .360 152.577 153.667 1.0 .7 .4 -.1 .7 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.512 250.811 251.880 2.4 .4 .0 .4 .6 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.035 399.677 400.204 3.3 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.432 291.573 293.266 2.4 .6 .4 .4 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.135 209.308 210.021 -2.3 .3 1.1 .1 .6 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.776 200.871 201.726 -3.3 .4 1.3 .1 .8 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 203.723 204.341 -2.2 .3 1.0 .0 .6 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.824 151.466 152.606 -7.9 .8 3.2 .1 1.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 15.664 191.387 194.170 -11.2 1.5 5.4 .3 3.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 11.686 237.011 240.515 -14.0 1.5 6.9 .2 4.3 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 31.530 203.377 205.017 -6.2 .8 2.9 .0 1.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.392 246.622 247.308 .2 .3 .0 .2 .4 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.275 244.531 244.857 .6 .1 .0 .0 .2 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.024 201.967 205.144 -23.3 1.6 8.1 -.4 4.8 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.976 212.505 212.823 1.5 .1 .2 .1 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 75.111 212.097 212.449 1.7 .2 .2 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.513 142.526 142.634 1.3 .1 .4 .3 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.311 220.264 227.506 -30.7 3.3 16.4 -.5 8.6 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.598 261.425 261.960 1.9 .2 .1 .1 .2 

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

 $ .475 $ .474 - - - - -

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

 $ .159 $ .159 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2009 Feb.

2009

Aug.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 207.624 209.534 209.598 210.758 -11.8 -0.8 -0.1 6.2 -6.5 3.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.225 217.312 216.821 217.045 4.7 -.2 -2.1 -.3 2.2 -1.2 

Food ................................................................................ 216.912 216.977 216.395 216.610 4.6 -.3 -2.4 -.6 2.1 -1.5 

Food at home ................................................................ 213.768 213.806 212.646 212.744 3.8 -3.1 -5.3 -1.9 .3 -3.6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 252.282 252.211 251.916 251.677 9.2 -.5 -3.9 -1.0 4.2 -2.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 204.374 203.845 201.245 202.128 3.9 -1.4 -7.1 -4.3 1.2 -5.7 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 194.694 192.898 191.783 191.048 -3.6 -16.2 -15.4 -7.3 -10.1 -11.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 270.352 273.813 273.468 270.988 -10.4 -10.5 -3.1 .9 -10.5 -1.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 162.650 162.608 161.977 162.465 11.3 -1.7 -.1 -.5 4.6 -.3 

Other food at home ..................................................... 189.923 190.000 189.366 189.945 9.4 3.6 -3.5 .0 6.5 -1.7 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 194.731 195.695 193.001 194.039 11.2 8.8 -1.5 -1.4 10.0 -1.5 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 200.498 201.926 201.077 201.203 10.6 -7.8 -8.0 1.4 1.0 -3.4 

Other foods ............................................................... 205.144 204.831 204.578 205.196 8.9 4.7 -3.1 .1 6.8 -1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 123.126 122.537 122.119 122.217 8.1 -2.7 .4 -2.9 2.6 -1.3 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 223.082 223.186 223.408 223.789 5.8 3.7 1.8 1.3 4.8 1.5 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 154.409 155.091 156.904 156.769 8.7 2.8 -.3 6.3 5.7 2.9 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 220.348 220.755 221.612 221.978 5.9 1.7 2.0 3.0 3.8 2.5 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.097 212.972 212.765 212.823 -.5 .4 -1.1 -.5 .0 -.8 

Shelter ............................................................................. 242.963 243.100 242.884 243.044 2.4 1.4 1.6 .1 1.9 .9 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 247.874 247.966 247.880 247.869 3.2 2.5 1.9 .0 2.9 .9 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 134.706 135.271 133.136 133.451 -3.4 -12.0 -7.0 -3.7 -7.8 -5.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 232.851 232.942 232.879 233.061 2.3 1.8 2.0 .4 2.1 1.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 121.160 121.529 121.765 122.254 5.8 1.2 .7 3.7 3.5 2.2 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 206.844 205.493 205.268 205.839 -14.9 -4.3 -16.0 -1.9 -9.8 -9.3 

Household energy ......................................................... 183.586 181.978 181.483 181.747 -18.6 -5.6 -20.3 -3.9 -12.3 -12.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 224.548 227.677 225.175 233.552 -55.7 -39.6 -40.0 17.0 -48.2 -16.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 189.940 188.044 187.619 187.525 -15.0 -3.0 -19.0 -5.0 -9.2 -12.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 160.241 160.813 161.801 163.201 6.8 2.2 7.1 7.6 4.5 7.3 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.430 125.313 125.131 124.347 1.7 .5 2.2 -3.4 1.1 -.7 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.001 152.658 152.577 153.667 .4 -.2 -.4 4.5 .1 2.0 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.078 119.963 120.666 120.672 -3.7 4.1 -2.6 5.5 .1 1.4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 115.184 114.537 114.086 114.936 -4.5 18.0 -6.9 -.9 6.2 -3.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 105.873 107.602 109.019 108.852 -9.0 -.5 -4.3 11.7 -4.8 3.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 116.074 118.686 117.941 118.857 8.7 -3.2 2.6 9.9 2.6 6.2 

Footwear ......................................................................... 126.469 127.062 128.313 128.063 2.4 1.6 3.6 5.1 2.0 4.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 168.145 176.300 176.456 181.285 -49.6 -8.9 -3.4 35.1 -32.2 14.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 164.963 173.329 173.340 178.196 -50.5 -8.5 -3.2 36.2 -32.7 14.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 90.153 90.664 90.888 90.936 -9.0 -1.1 2.2 3.5 -5.2 2.9 

New vehicles ............................................................... 136.199 137.234 137.855 136.112 -6.6 3.2 5.8 -.3 -1.8 2.8 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 123.465 124.559 124.569 126.950 -16.3 -12.0 -2.8 11.8 -14.2 4.2 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 174.513 204.503 203.579 221.467 -85.0 -28.1 -16.7 159.4 -67.2 46.9 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 174.723 205.099 203.341 221.758 -85.5 -25.8 -14.0 159.5 -67.2 49.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 134.439 134.273 133.787 133.587 9.2 3.5 .5 -2.5 6.3 -1.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 245.036 245.129 245.421 245.871 5.0 4.6 1.3 1.4 4.8 1.4 

Public transportation ....................................................... 226.424 226.048 230.677 233.494 -23.9 -17.7 -9.3 13.1 -20.9 1.3 

Medical care ...................................................................... 374.834 375.650 376.321 377.444 2.6 4.4 3.8 2.8 3.5 3.3 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 296.120 296.547 296.084 297.712 3.2 5.5 3.8 2.2 4.3 3.0 

Medical care services ..................................................... 397.699 398.660 399.808 400.673 2.5 4.0 3.7 3.0 3.2 3.4 

Professional services .................................................... 321.250 322.098 322.537 322.955 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.1 2.6 2.5 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 560.587 562.806 566.848 570.031 3.7 8.6 7.5 6.9 6.1 7.2 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009

May

2009

Aug.

2009 Feb.

2009

Aug.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.947 111.423 111.418 111.415 1.0 1.3 -1.3 1.7 1.2 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 101.761 102.220 102.121 101.924 -1.8 -1.5 -.4 .6 -1.6 .1 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 122.797 122.940 123.348 123.479 1.7 2.8 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.3 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 187.168 187.894 189.018 189.859 4.8 4.5 5.5 5.9 4.7 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 477.376 483.813 490.109 491.859 5.6 4.9 5.2 12.7 5.2 8.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 527.111 528.674 531.480 533.890 4.8 4.5 5.6 5.2 4.6 5.4 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.712 87.650 87.778 87.664 -.3 1.6 .3 -.2 .6 .1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.624 85.524 85.653 85.532 -.3 1.6 .0 -.4 .6 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.231 102.153 102.587 102.613 .9 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.1 1.4 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.271 10.238 10.113 10.012 -5.9 2.9 -6.4 -9.7 -1.6 -8.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 84.017 83.278 80.736 78.480 -17.3 -4.5 -15.5 -23.9 -11.1 -19.8 

Other goods and services ................................................. 393.500 394.708 398.522 398.801 2.4 3.0 34.4 5.5 2.7 19.1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 746.009 752.078 768.005 768.483 2.1 8.3 116.5 12.6 5.1 56.1 

Personal care .................................................................. 202.156 202.115 202.553 202.705 2.6 .3 1.5 1.1 1.4 1.3 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 163.119 162.165 162.767 162.415 4.2 3.9 1.4 -1.7 4.1 -.2 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 227.829 227.800 227.512 227.751 3.6 -.6 3.1 -.1 1.5 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 344.423 345.423 346.809 347.691 .3 .1 1.0 3.8 .2 2.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 168.137 171.618 171.568 173.366 -25.1 -3.8 -.2 13.0 -15.1 6.2 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.225 217.312 216.821 217.045 4.7 -.2 -2.1 -.3 2.2 -1.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 142.846 147.626 147.760 150.154 -38.4 -6.0 .9 22.1 -23.9 11.0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 176.429 186.685 187.184 193.645 -55.0 -5.1 -3.0 45.1 -34.7 18.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.078 119.963 120.666 120.672 -3.7 4.1 -2.6 5.5 .1 1.4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 215.822 231.872 232.430 243.283 -64.0 -8.7 -2.7 61.5 -42.6 25.3 

Durables .......................................................................... 108.846 109.361 109.321 108.994 -7.2 -2.8 1.4 .5 -5.0 1.0 

Services .............................................................................. 253.765 253.882 254.063 254.480 .5 1.6 .0 1.1 1.1 .5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 234.196 234.253 234.008 234.179 2.7 1.2 1.5 .0 1.9 .7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 121.160 121.529 121.765 122.254 5.8 1.2 .7 3.7 3.5 2.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 189.940 188.044 187.619 187.525 -15.0 -3.0 -19.0 -5.0 -9.2 -12.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 160.241 160.813 161.801 163.201 6.8 2.2 7.1 7.6 4.5 7.3 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.001 152.658 152.577 153.667 .4 -.2 -.4 4.5 .1 2.0 

Transportation services ..................................................... 249.130 249.202 250.263 251.654 -.1 3.9 1.7 4.1 1.9 2.9 

Medical care services ....................................................... 397.699 398.660 399.808 400.673 2.5 4.0 3.7 3.0 3.2 3.4 

Other services ................................................................... 290.444 291.473 292.500 293.179 2.0 2.4 1.4 3.8 2.2 2.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 205.809 208.040 208.216 209.541 -14.5 -.9 .3 7.5 -7.9 3.8 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 196.980 199.559 199.725 201.265 -17.3 -1.7 -.9 9.0 -9.9 3.9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 200.797 202.725 202.769 203.921 -12.5 -1.1 -.3 6.4 -7.0 3.0 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 145.372 150.057 150.211 152.561 -37.2 -5.7 1.0 21.3 -23.1 10.7 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 178.973 188.704 189.232 195.417 -52.8 -4.4 -2.8 42.1 -32.9 17.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 215.042 229.919 230.427 240.380 -61.1 -7.6 -2.8 56.1 -40.0 23.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 196.393 202.033 201.960 205.614 -31.8 -2.1 -3.2 20.1 -18.3 7.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 244.177 244.247 244.854 245.730 -1.4 2.0 -2.3 2.6 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ................................... 243.221 243.257 243.332 243.823 .7 1.3 -.6 1.0 1.0 .2 

Energy ................................................................................. 177.124 191.437 190.731 199.863 -68.6 -17.6 -18.5 62.1 -49.1 14.9 

All items less energy ........................................................... 212.301 212.687 212.846 213.027 1.2 1.3 2.1 1.4 1.3 1.7 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 211.745 212.196 212.505 212.680 .5 1.6 3.0 1.8 1.1 2.4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 142.656 143.218 143.589 143.376 -3.1 .7 5.8 2.0 -1.2 3.9 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 177.375 206.474 205.483 223.093 -84.2 -28.7 -18.1 150.3 -66.4 43.1 

Services less energy services ......................................... 260.701 261.053 261.304 261.781 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.7 2.1 1.7 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 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

Aug.2009 from—

Percent change to

July2009 from—

May

2009

June

2009

July

2009

Aug.

2009

Aug.

2008

June

2009

July

2009

July

2008

May

2009

June

2009

U.S. city average ............................................ M 208.774 210.972 210.526 211.156 -1.9 0.1 0.3 -2.7 0.8 -0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 224.748 226.695 226.714 227.598 -1.4 .4 .4 -2.1 .9 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 225.657 227.337 227.550 228.472 -1.3 .5 .4 -1.8 .8 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.329 136.888 136.626 137.109 -1.6 .2 .4 -2.6 1.0 -.2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 197.971 200.487 199.824 200.723 -2.1 .1 .4 -3.0 .9 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.271 200.356 199.611 200.710 -2.1 .2 .6 -3.0 .7 -.4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.524 131.554 131.096 131.481 -2.1 -.1 .3 -2.9 1.2 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 196.047 198.674 198.455 199.404 -2.6 .4 .5 -3.4 1.2 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 203.500 205.968 205.415 205.867 -2.1 .0 .2 -2.8 .9 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 206.271 208.909 208.492 208.995 -2.1 .0 .2 -2.7 1.1 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.885 131.382 131.063 131.302 -2.1 -.1 .2 -2.9 .9 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 208.989 211.721 210.341 211.088 -2.3 -.3 .4 -3.0 .6 -.7 

West urban ..................................................... M 212.263 213.973 213.541 213.988 -1.8 .0 .2 -2.6 .6 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 214.734 216.395 215.955 216.539 -1.5 .1 .3 -2.4 .6 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.389 132.517 132.314 132.407 -2.3 -.1 .1 -3.1 .7 -.2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 193.597 195.414 195.096 195.796 -1.7 .2 .4 -2.5 .8 -.2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 130.847 132.384 132.069 132.341 -2.1 .0 .2 -2.9 .9 -.2 

D ................................................................. M 203.883 206.327 205.504 206.271 -2.3 .0 .4 -3.0 .8 -.4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 202.464 203.691 203.554 204.246 -2.5 .3 .3 -3.5 .5 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 214.446 216.145 216.128 216.628 -2.1 .2 .2 -3.2 .8 .0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 230.307 231.916 232.177 232.841 -1.1 .4 .3 -1.4 .8 .1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 231.420 -

 232.535 - - - - -3.3 .5 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 191.297 - 191.494 - - - - -3.3 .1 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 200.955 -

 203.075 - - - - -3.7 1.1 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 138.510 - 140.434 - - - - -.8 1.4 -

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

 202.632 - 202.276 -4.2 -.2 - - - -

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

 199.977 - 200.169 -2.6 .1 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 189.979 - 189.503 -1.9 -.3 - - - -

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

 219.091 - 219.000 -2.5 .0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 223.361 - 225.481 -1.2 .9 - - - -

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

 220.996 - 221.279 .0 .1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 221.993 - 221.873 -.6 -.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

 Aug. 2009 from—

 July

 2009

 Aug.

 2009

 Aug.

 2008

 July

 2009

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 123.711 123.955 -1.5 0.2

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 127.541 127.588 .5 .0 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 127.532 127.577 .3 .0 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 122.844 122.743 -1.7 -.1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 133.605 133.847 3.0 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 128.009 128.076 2.7 .1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 129.087 128.915 -.7 -.1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 131.820 131.803 .9 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 155.640 155.255 -10.8 -.2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.877 95.121 -.3 -.8 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 85.167 86.232 .4 1.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 122.843 123.872 -9.3 .8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 123.365 124.468 -9.2 .9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 116.845 116.847 -11.0 .0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 145.844 146.130 3.1 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 128.494 129.138 3.5 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 152.260 152.392 2.9 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.259 105.236 -.5 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 110.001 110.825 2.1 .7 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 174.898 178.469 5.3 2.0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 73.998 73.787 -.5 -.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 133.960 133.832 4.2 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 134.299 134.454 .4 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 110.811 111.158 -4.0 .3 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 81.143 80.544 -2.2 -.7 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 126.133 127.059 -4.8 .7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 118.668 118.763 1.0 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 171.687 174.258 -23.2 1.5 

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.