News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-06-1979 

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED 

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 691-5902 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST) 

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Thursday, November 16, 2006 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: OCTOBER 2006 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.5 percent in October, before 

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

October level of 201.8 (1982-84=100) was 1.3 percent higher than in October 2005. 

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

percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment. The October level of 197.0 (1982-84=100) was 0.9 percent 

higher than in October 2005. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.3 percent in 

October on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The October level of 117.2 (December 1999=100) was 1.6 percent 

higher than in October 2005. Please note that the indexes for the post-2004 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U declined 0.5 percent in October, the same as in September. 

Energy prices, which declined 7.2 percent in September, fell 7.0 percent in October. Within energy, (cont.) 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2006 3-mos. Ended ended

 Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct.’06 Oct.’06

All Items .6 .4 .2 .4 .2 -.5 -.5 -2.9 1.3

 Food and beverages .0 .2 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 3.5 2.6 

 Housing .1 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .0 2.2 3.0 

 Apparel .6 .2 .0 -1.2 .9 .6 -.7 3.4 .5 

 Transportation 2.4 1.5 -.2 1.6 .2 -4.1 -3.1 -24.9 -5.0 

 Medical care .4 .3 .3 .2 .4 .3 .3 4.2 4.0 

 Recreation .3 .2 .1 .3 -.1 .0 .0 -.4 1.2 

 Education and 

 communication .3 .0 .3 .3 .3 .1 .2 2.4 3.0 

 Other goods and 

 services .0 .1 .6 -.2 .3 .5 .3 4.4 2.9 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 3.9 2.4 -.9 2.9 .3 -7.2 -7.0 -43.8 -11.3 

 Food .0 .1 .3 .2 .4 .3 .3 4.0 2.6 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 2.3 2.7 

Effective with release of the January 2007 CPI, BLS will publish index levels to three decimal places. 

Percent changes based on these indexes will continue to be published to one decimal place. See page 4 for 

more details. 
 the index for petroleum-based energy decreased 10.7 percent and the index for energy services declined 2.5 

percent. The food index increased 0.3 percent in October. The index for all items less food and energy rose 

0.1 percent in October, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the three preceding months. Declines in 

the indexes for apparel and for lodging while away from home were largely responsible for the smaller 

advance in October. 

During the first ten months of 2006, the CPI-U rose at a 2.4 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate 

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

increased 17.1 percent in 2005, decreased at a 1.5 percent SAAR in the first ten months of 2006. Petroleumbased energy costs were unchanged on average, while charges for energy services fell at a 3.1 percent annual 

rate. The food index has increased at a 2.7 percent rate thus far in 2006, following a 2.3 percent rise for all of 

2005. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.8 percent SAAR in the first ten months of 2006 

after increasing 2.2 percent in 2005. 

The food and beverages index increased 0.3 percent in October. The index for food at home rose 0.3 

percent in October, following a 0.5 percent increase in September. The index for fruits and vegetables, which 

increased 3.0 percent in September, was virtually unchanged in October. A 0.8 percent increase in the index 

for fresh vegetables was offset by declines in the indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and 

vegetables--down 0.7, and 0.2 percent, respectively. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.2 

percent in October. Beef prices increased 0.6 percent and the index for pork rose 0.3 percent. These increases 

were partially offset by declines in the indexes for poultry and for eggs. The index for dairy products rose 0.7 

percent, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase in the index for milk. Despite the advance in October, milk prices 

are 1.0 percent lower than in October 2005. The indexes for cereal and bakery products and for nonalcoholic 

beverages each rose 0.3 percent, and the index for other food at home increased 0.2 percent. The other two 

components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.3 

and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing was virtually unchanged in October. A decline in the index for fuels and 

utilities offset an increase in shelter costs; the index for household furnishings and operations was unchanged. 

The index for fuels and utilities registered its first decline in four months--down 2.2 percent. Each of the three 

major household fuels contributed to the decline. The index for natural gas decreased 7.7 percent in October 

and is 24.0 percent lower than a year ago. The index for fuel oil declined 6.1 percent in October and is 7.6 

percent lower than in October 2005. The index for electricity decreased 0.2 percent, but charges for electricity 

are 10.4 percent higher than a year earlier. The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent, the same as in September. 

Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.4 percent, while the index for 

lodging away from home declined 0.5 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from 

home increased 0.5 percent.) 

The transportation index declined 3.1 percent in October, reflecting price decreases for gasoline, for 

new and used motor vehicles, and for airline fares. The index for gasoline declined 11.1 percent, accounting 

for about 95 percent of the decline in the overall transportation group. The index for new vehicles declined 

0.1 percent in October. (As of October, about 42 percent of the new vehicle sample consisted of 2007 models. 

The 2007 models will continue to be phased in, with appropriate adjustments for quality change, over the next 

several months as they replace old models at dealerships. For a report on quality changes for the 2007 vehicles 

represented in the Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL-06-1973, dated November 14, 2006.) 

New vehicle prices are 0.2 percent lower than in October 2005. The index for used cars and trucks decreased 

1.2 percent in October and was 0.9 percent lower than in October 2005. The index for public transportation 

declined 1.0 percent, reflecting a 1.4 percent drop in airline fares. Airline fares have declined 5.5 percent in 

the last three months after advancing 12.6 percent in the first seven months of the year. 

The index for apparel, which rose 0.6 percent in September, decreased 0.7 percent in October. (Prior 

to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 1.3 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of fall-winter 

wear.) During the last 12 months, the index for apparel has increased 0.5 percent, with increases in prices for 

women’s and girls’ clothing more than offsetting declines in prices for men’s and boys’ clothing and for 

footwear. 

Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in October and were 4.0 percent higher than a year ago. The index 

for medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was 

unchanged. The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent in October. The indexes for professional 

services and for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, respectively. 
 

The index for recreation was unchanged in October. A 0.6 percent decline in the index for video and 

audio products and services was largely offset by increases in the indexes for admissions, for sporting goods, 

and for recreational reading materials. 

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

0.6 percent, while the index for communication declined 0.2 percent. Within the former group, the index for 

college textbooks rose 1.0 percent. Within the communication group, the index for telephone services rose 0.7 

percent, largely reflecting a 2.2 percent increase in charges for long distance land-line telephone services. 

This advance was more than offset by a 3.3 percent decline in the index for information technology, hardware, 

and services. The index for internet services and electronic information providers declined 6.6 percent. 

The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in October. The index for miscellaneous 

personal services rose 0.5 percent, reflecting increases in the indexes for legal services and for financial 

services--each up 0.8 percent. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers declined 0.7 

percent in October. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2006 3-mos. ended ended

 Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Oct.’06 Oct.’06

All Items .6 .5 .2 .5 .4 -.7 -.7 -4.0 .9

 Food and beverages -.1 .2 .3 .2 .4 .3 .3 4.0 2.6 

 Housing .1 .3 .3 .3 .4 .3 -.1 2.2 2.8 

 Apparel .7 .1 -.2 -1.2 1.2 .8 -.7 5.2 1.0 

 Transportation 2.6 1.5 -.2 1.8 .2 -4.4 -3.5 -27.1 -5.4 

 Medical care .4 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 .3 4.2 4.0 

 Recreation .3 .2 .2 .2 -.2 .0 .1 -.4 1.0 

 Education and 

 communication .3 .0 .2 .3 .4 .1 .2 2.8 2.7 

 Other goods and 

 services -.1 .0 .6 -.1 .2 .3 .3 3.4 2.7 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 4.2 2.5 -.9 3.1 .3 -7.5 -7.3 -45.3 -11.8 

 Food -.1 .1 .3 .2 .4 .4 .3 4.2 2.5 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .2 .3 .3 .2 .3 .1 .1 2.4 2.6 

Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on Friday, December 15, 2006, at 

8:30 A.M. (EST). 
Consumer Price Index Levels to be Published to Three Decimal Places 

Effective with the release of the January 2007 Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics will display CPI index values to three decimal places in all paper and electronic publications. This 

change will apply to the All Items Consumer Price Index and all component indexes for the CPI-U, CPI-W, and 

C-CPI-U, for the U.S. City Average and for all other published areas. In addition, percent changes will be 

computed based upon the three decimal place indexes rather than the current one decimal place indexes. 

Percent changes will continue to be rounded to one decimal place. 

This change in procedure addresses a rounding issue that has resulted in published percent changes that 

are 0.1 percentage point higher or lower than the same percent changes based on unrounded index values (i.e., 

indexes to three or more decimal places). These differences can be particularly important when percent 

changes are very small. Publishing the index values to three decimal places, and using these values to compute 

percent changes, will essentially eliminate the rounding differences. This change will only affect the 

presentation of the index data. The index values will continue to be calculated from underlying price data in the 

same manner as in the past, and no systematic upward or downward effect on the data will be introduced. The 

levels of future indexes will be affected only in that they will be published to three decimal places rather than 

one. Official CPI data previously published will not be revised. 

For more information contact Patrick Jackman or Ken Stewart either by telephone at (202) 691-6952 and (202) 

691-6966, respectively, or by electronic mail at Jackman.Patrick@bls.gov or Stewart.Ken@bls.gov
Facilities for Sensory Impaired 

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

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

data, call (202) 691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7 

Less previous index 111.2 

Equals index point change 4.5 

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5 

Divided by the previous index 111.2 

Equals 0.040 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100 

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

for seasonal variation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adjusted for 2006. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Sep.

2006

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 202.9 201.8 1.3 -0.5 0.2 -0.5 -0.5 

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

 607.9 604.6 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.051 196.7 197.5 2.6 .4 .3 .4 .3 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.942 196.2 197.1 2.6 .5 .4 .3 .3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.988 194.1 195.1 2.3 .5 .4 .5 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.098 213.6 214.6 2.5 .5 .0 .1 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.133 188.0 188.1 1.9 .1 1.0 .5 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .852 179.9 182.0 -.3 1.2 -.8 .0 .7 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.219 258.2 261.6 6.5 1.3 1.0 3.0 .0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .910 147.5 148.3 1.9 .5 .8 .2 .3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.777 169.8 170.1 1.1 .2 -.2 -.5 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .302 172.1 172.5 3.7 .2 .2 -.6 .5 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .231 167.9 169.1 .3 .7 .1 -.2 .5 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.244 185.0 185.2 .7 .1 -.4 -.6 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .328 114.2 113.7 1.4 -.4 -1.0 .4 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 5.953 200.5 201.1 3.0 .3 .3 .1 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .277 137.6 138.0 3.4 .3 .4 .1 .1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.109 201.4 201.9 2.6 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.380 205.0 204.4 3.0 -.3 .2 .3 .0 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.260 233.9 234.8 4.0 .4 .2 .3 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 5.832 227.1 228.0 4.0 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.611 135.0 135.7 4.6 .5 -.4 .7 -.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.442 240.4 241.3 4.1 .4 .3 .3 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .375 116.4 116.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .2 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.371 199.6 190.1 -1.4 -4.8 .3 .7 -2.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.494 182.0 171.5 -2.7 -5.8 .3 .7 -2.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .339 237.1 227.9 -5.5 -3.9 1.7 -4.9 -5.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.155 187.4 176.4 -2.4 -5.9 .2 1.2 -2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .877 138.2 138.6 5.1 .3 .2 .4 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.749 127.1 127.4 1.2 .2 .2 .1 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .779 137.4 138.6 5.3 .9 .3 .3 .9 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.786 121.7 123.3 .5 1.3 .9 .6 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .915 114.4 116.4 -.7 1.7 .9 1.0 -1.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.612 114.6 116.4 1.1 1.6 1.6 1.0 -1.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .183 116.5 119.4 2.7 2.5 -.2 -1.9 1.4 

Footwear ................................................................................ .759 124.2 125.6 -.9 1.1 -.1 .0 .5 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.415 180.6 174.8 -5.0 -3.2 .2 -4.1 -3.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.329 176.5 170.7 -5.4 -3.3 .2 -4.3 -3.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.858 95.3 95.2 -.5 -.1 .0 -.3 -.3 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 5.155 136.3 136.8 -.2 .4 -.1 -.1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 1.799 141.0 139.3 -.9 -1.2 .2 -1.0 -1.2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 4.191 220.1 193.8 -18.3 -11.9 .3 -13.4 -11.1 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 4.148 219.0 192.7 -18.3 -12.0 .2 -13.5 -11.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .362 118.7 118.9 5.2 .2 .3 .4 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.131 217.0 218.5 4.1 .7 -.1 .2 .6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.087 229.5 226.9 1.9 -1.1 .3 -.7 -1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.220 338.3 339.3 4.0 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.457 288.1 288.1 3.3 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.764 352.7 354.0 4.2 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.815 290.6 291.4 2.6 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.576 472.0 474.2 6.9 .5 .8 .3 .4 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Sep.

2006

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.637 111.1 111.2 1.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.783 104.5 104.1 -.3 -.4 -.2 -.1 -.6 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 6.047 118.4 118.5 3.0 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.967 166.6 167.1 6.2 .3 .7 .2 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .196 393.9 398.4 6.6 1.1 1.2 -.1 1.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.771 481.7 482.9 6.2 .2 .7 .2 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.080 84.2 84.0 -.2 -.2 .0 -.1 -.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.895 81.7 81.5 -.6 -.2 -.1 -.1 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.245 96.1 96.8 2.3 .7 .3 .2 .7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .650 12.3 11.9 -10.5 -3.3 -1.6 -1.6 -3.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .236 10.5 10.4 -14.8 -1.0 .0 -.9 -1.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.463 323.3 324.3 2.9 .3 .3 .5 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .710 520.8 521.1 2.3 .1 -.1 -.1 .1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.752 191.3 192.0 3.0 .4 .4 .6 .4 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .710 156.4 156.6 1.0 .1 -.1 1.0 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .675 210.7 211.7 3.4 .5 .3 .3 .5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.172 316.4 317.6 4.1 .4 .6 .7 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.790 164.4 162.5 -1.6 -1.2 .2 -1.7 -1.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.051 196.7 197.5 2.6 .4 .3 .4 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 25.739 146.0 143.0 -4.0 -2.1 .2 -2.9 -2.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.163 177.7 171.2 -5.9 -3.7 -.4 -5.8 -3.4 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.786 121.7 123.3 .5 1.3 .9 .6 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.377 216.6 205.0 -8.0 -5.4 .4 -6.9 -4.8 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.576 113.8 113.8 -1.0 .0 .0 -.5 -.2 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.210 241.1 240.9 3.4 -.1 .3 .4 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 31.884 243.8 244.7 4.1 .4 .2 .3 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .375 116.4 116.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .2 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.155 187.4 176.4 -2.4 -5.9 .2 1.2 -2.5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .877 138.2 138.6 5.1 .3 .2 .4 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .779 137.4 138.6 5.3 .9 .3 .3 .9 

Transportation services ............................................................ 5.707 231.7 232.3 2.1 .3 .3 .1 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.764 352.7 354.0 4.2 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.669 280.8 281.2 3.6 .1 .3 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 86.058 204.1 202.6 1.1 -.7 .2 -.6 -.6 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.740 193.1 191.2 .1 -1.0 .3 -.9 -.9 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.780 196.0 194.9 1.2 -.6 .3 -.6 -.6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 26.848 148.0 145.1 -3.8 -2.0 .3 -2.8 -2.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.272 179.1 173.1 -5.4 -3.4 -.3 -5.4 -3.3

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.486 214.2 203.8 -7.2 -4.9 .4 -6.2 -4.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.214 187.8 184.8 -1.7 -1.6 .0 -2.7 -1.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.325 256.2 254.4 2.5 -.7 .2 .3 -.4 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 54.446 231.8 231.5 3.3 -.1 .3 .3 .0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.685 199.1 181.3 -11.3 -8.9 .3 -7.2 -7.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.315 204.9 205.6 2.7 .3 .2 .2 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.373 207.2 207.8 2.7 .3 .2 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.319 140.9 141.2 .1 .2 .2 -.1 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.530 222.3 196.9 -17.5 -11.4 .4 -12.9 -10.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 55.055 246.6 247.5 3.8 .4 .2 .3 .3 

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

 $ .493 $ .495 - - - - -

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

 $ .165 $ .165 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Jan.

2006

Apr.

2006

July

2006

Oct.

2006

Apr.

2006

Oct.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 203.2 203.7 202.7 201.7 -0.2 4.1 4.5 -2.9 1.9 0.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 195.7 196.2 196.9 197.4 3.4 .8 2.7 3.5 2.1 3.1 

Food ....................................................................................... 195.1 195.8 196.4 197.0 3.4 .6 2.5 4.0 2.0 3.2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 192.8 193.5 194.5 195.0 3.6 -1.0 1.9 4.6 1.3 3.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 213.8 213.8 214.1 214.8 2.5 -1.1 6.6 1.9 .7 4.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 184.9 186.8 187.7 188.0 2.8 .9 -2.8 6.9 1.9 1.9 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 181.3 179.8 179.8 181.1 3.8 -3.0 -1.5 -.4 .3 -1.0 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 251.7 254.1 261.7 261.6 10.0 -4.5 5.1 16.7 2.5 10.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 146.3 147.5 147.8 148.3 2.5 -1.1 .5 5.6 .7 3.0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 171.0 170.6 169.7 170.0 1.9 -.7 5.6 -2.3 .6 1.5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 172.7 173.1 172.1 172.9 6.4 4.6 3.6 .5 5.5 2.0 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 167.4 167.5 167.1 168.0 4.6 -10.6 6.7 1.4 -3.3 4.0 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 186.9 186.1 185.0 185.2 .7 .0 5.8 -3.6 .3 1.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 115.0 113.8 114.2 113.7 1.8 2.1 6.5 -4.4 2.0 .9 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 199.7 200.2 200.5 201.1 2.9 2.9 3.5 2.8 2.9 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 136.8 137.3 137.5 137.7 3.0 5.2 2.7 2.7 4.1 2.7 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 201.3 201.2 201.4 201.9 2.5 4.3 2.4 1.2 3.4 1.8 

Housing .................................................................................... 203.5 204.0 204.7 204.6 4.1 2.0 3.8 2.2 3.0 3.0 

Shelter .................................................................................... 232.9 233.4 234.2 234.9 2.9 4.7 5.1 3.5 3.8 4.3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 225.4 226.2 227.1 228.0 2.4 4.0 4.6 4.7 3.2 4.6 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 136.6 136.1 137.1 136.4 9.5 5.8 3.9 -.6 7.7 1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 239.0 239.7 240.4 241.3 2.8 4.5 5.5 3.9 3.7 4.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.4 116.2 116.4 116.2 .3 1.0 .7 -.7 .7 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 193.3 193.9 195.2 191.0 13.7 -10.7 -2.2 -4.7 .7 -3.5 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 175.4 176.0 177.2 172.5 15.2 -13.4 -3.8 -6.5 -.1 -5.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 248.9 253.2 240.9 228.9 -21.5 6.1 34.1 -28.5 -8.7 -2.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 179.4 179.7 181.9 177.4 18.8 -14.7 -6.4 -4.4 .7 -5.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 137.2 137.5 138.1 138.7 6.5 3.9 5.7 4.4 5.2 5.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 127.1 127.4 127.5 127.5 1.0 .3 1.9 1.3 .6 1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 136.6 137.0 137.4 138.6 7.8 3.3 4.2 6.0 5.5 5.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 118.6 119.7 120.4 119.6 .7 2.4 -3.9 3.4 1.5 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 113.3 114.3 115.4 114.3 -1.0 1.4 -6.4 3.6 .2 -1.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 109.4 111.1 112.2 110.8 .0 6.0 -6.0 5.2 2.9 -.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 118.2 118.0 115.8 117.4 2.5 3.9 7.4 -2.7 3.2 2.3

Footwear ................................................................................ 122.4 122.3 122.3 122.9 2.9 -1.6 -6.0 1.6 .6 -2.2 

Transportation .......................................................................... 188.2 188.5 180.8 175.2 -14.7 13.3 12.4 -24.9 -1.7 -8.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 184.4 184.7 176.8 171.0 -15.6 14.1 12.4 -26.0 -1.9 -8.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 96.1 96.1 95.8 95.5 -.8 .4 1.3 -2.5 -.2 -.6 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.8 137.7 137.5 137.3 1.5 -.3 -.9 -1.4 .6 -1.2 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 142.1 142.4 141.0 139.3 -3.6 3.2 4.9 -7.7 -.3 -1.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 251.6 252.3 218.4 194.2 -43.2 55.6 42.5 -64.5 -6.0 -28.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 250.6 251.2 217.3 193.1 -43.0 54.8 43.2 -64.7 -6.1 -29.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 117.9 118.2 118.7 118.9 5.0 5.0 7.5 3.4 5.0 5.4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 216.9 216.6 217.0 218.2 2.3 6.4 5.3 2.4 4.3 3.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 230.5 231.1 229.5 227.3 3.6 -1.2 11.3 -5.4 1.2 2.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 336.6 338.0 339.1 340.1 3.5 5.2 3.2 4.2 4.3 3.7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 286.8 287.6 288.1 288.1 5.0 4.3 2.1 1.8 4.6 2.0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 350.9 352.4 353.8 355.1 3.1 5.3 3.6 4.9 4.2 4.2 

Professional services ........................................................... 289.3 290.2 291.2 292.0 1.0 2.8 2.8 3.8 1.9 3.3

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 469.3 473.0 474.4 476.1 6.7 10.6 4.5 5.9 8.6 5.2 

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—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Jan.

2006

Apr.

2006

July

2006

Oct.

2006

Apr.

2006

Oct.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 111.4 111.3 111.3 111.3 0.0 2.9 2.2 -0.4 1.5 0.9 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 105.1 104.9 104.8 104.2 -1.5 4.3 -.8 -3.4 1.3 -2.1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 117.0 117.4 117.5 117.7 4.3 2.8 2.4 2.4 3.5 2.4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 162.4 163.6 164.0 165.0 6.9 5.2 6.4 6.6 6.0 6.5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 388.2 392.9 392.4 396.9 7.2 3.7 6.2 9.3 5.4 7.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 469.0 472.5 473.6 476.2 6.9 5.4 6.4 6.3 6.1 6.3 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 84.3 84.3 84.2 84.0 1.4 .0 -.9 -1.4 .7 -1.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 81.9 81.8 81.7 81.5 .5 .0 -1.0 -1.9 .2 -1.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.6 95.9 96.1 96.8 2.6 .8 .8 5.1 1.7 3.0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 12.7 12.5 12.3 11.9 -8.7 -3.0 -6.1 -22.9 -5.9 -14.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 10.6 10.6 10.5 10.4 -18.3 -16.2 -16.8 -7.3 -17.2 -12.2 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 321.0 322.0 323.6 324.5 4.0 1.3 1.9 4.4 2.6 3.2

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 521.5 521.1 520.8 521.1 4.6 2.4 2.7 -.3 3.4 1.2 

Personal care ......................................................................... 189.5 190.3 191.5 192.2 3.9 .9 1.7 5.8 2.4 3.7 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.0 154.9 156.4 156.6 2.1 -2.0 .0 4.2 .0 2.1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 209.5 210.1 210.7 211.7 3.2 4.1 1.9 4.3 3.6 3.1 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 312.6 314.4 316.7 318.3 3.9 3.1 2.2 7.5 3.5 4.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 166.9 167.3 164.4 162.1 -6.4 6.3 5.7 -11.0 -.2 -3.0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 195.7 196.2 196.9 197.4 3.4 .8 2.7 3.5 2.1 3.1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 149.9 150.2 145.9 142.5 -11.6 9.5 7.5 -18.3 -1.6 -6.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 185.7 185.0 174.2 168.2 -10.5 10.8 17.4 -32.7 -.4 -11.1 

Apparel ................................................................................. 118.6 119.7 120.4 119.6 .7 2.4 -3.9 3.4 1.5 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 230.4 231.4 215.5 205.2 -23.6 24.6 19.6 -37.1 -2.4 -13.2 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.9 114.9 114.3 114.1 -1.0 -.7 .7 -2.8 -.9 -1.0 

Services ...................................................................................... 239.2 239.9 240.8 241.0 4.2 2.6 3.8 3.0 3.4 3.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 242.7 243.3 244.0 244.7 2.9 4.8 5.1 3.3 3.9 4.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.4 116.2 116.4 116.2 .3 1.0 .7 -.7 .7 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 179.4 179.7 181.9 177.4 18.8 -14.7 -6.4 -4.4 .7 -5.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 137.2 137.5 138.1 138.7 6.5 3.9 5.7 4.4 5.2 5.1 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 136.6 137.0 137.4 138.6 7.8 3.3 4.2 6.0 5.5 5.1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 231.5 232.2 232.5 232.6 2.5 .3 3.9 1.9 1.4 2.9 

Medical care services ............................................................... 350.9 352.4 353.8 355.1 3.1 5.3 3.6 4.9 4.2 4.2 

Other services .......................................................................... 278.2 279.1 279.7 280.3 3.7 4.0 3.5 3.1 3.9 3.3 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 204.6 205.1 203.8 202.5 -.8 4.5 5.0 -4.0 1.8 .4 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 193.9 194.4 192.7 191.0 -1.7 3.8 4.2 -5.8 1.1 -.9 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 196.4 196.9 195.8 194.7 -.4 4.0 4.6 -3.4 1.8 .5 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 151.8 152.2 147.9 144.7 -11.0 9.1 7.2 -17.4 -1.5 -5.9 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 186.6 186.0 176.0 170.2 -9.8 10.2 16.3 -30.8 -.3 -10.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 226.7 227.5 213.4 204.0 -21.9 22.4 18.5 -34.4 -2.3 -11.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 191.4 191.4 186.3 183.1 -3.6 6.2 8.8 -16.2 1.2 -4.5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 253.8 254.4 255.2 254.2 6.1 .2 3.2 .6 3.1 1.9 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 230.1 230.7 231.4 231.5 4.4 2.1 4.1 2.5 3.2 3.3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 210.2 210.8 195.7 182.0 -20.6 16.9 19.1 -43.8 -3.7 -18.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 204.1 204.6 205.1 205.4 2.4 2.8 3.2 2.6 2.6 2.9 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 206.4 206.9 207.4 207.6 2.4 3.2 3.2 2.3 2.8 2.8 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 140.8 141.1 141.0 140.6 .6 .9 .0 -.6 .7 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 252.7 253.6 220.9 197.3 -42.0 51.7 42.0 -62.8 -6.2 -27.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 245.4 246.0 246.8 247.5 3.1 4.1 4.7 3.5 3.6 4.1 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Oct.2006 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2006 from—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Sep.

2005

July

2006

Aug.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 203.5 203.9 202.9 201.8 1.3 -1.0 -0.5 2.1 -0.3 -0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 217.5 218.1 216.3 215.2 1.7 -1.3 -.5 2.6 -.6 -.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.1 220.7 219.1 217.7 1.8 -1.4 -.6 2.8 -.5 -.7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.2 128.5 127.2 126.9 1.4 -1.2 -.2 2.2 -.8 -1.0 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 194.6 195.1 193.7 192.3 .1 -1.4 -.7 .6 -.5 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.3 196.9 195.7 194.1 .2 -1.4 -.8 1.0 -.3 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 124.1 124.1 123.2 122.6 .0 -1.2 -.5 .1 -.7 -.7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 190.1 190.9 189.1 187.1 .2 -2.0 -1.1 1.0 -.5 -.9 

South urban .................................................... M 197.0 197.1 195.8 194.7 1.1 -1.2 -.6 2.0 -.6 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.9 199.2 198.3 197.2 1.4 -1.0 -.6 2.3 -.3 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 125.5 125.4 124.4 123.7 1.0 -1.4 -.6 1.7 -.9 -.8 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 198.0 198.3 197.1 195.7 1.1 -1.3 -.7 2.7 -.5 -.6 

West urban ..................................................... M 206.7 207.5 207.8 207.1 2.2 -.2 -.3 3.0 .5 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 210.0 210.7 211.3 210.5 2.5 -.1 -.4 3.3 .6 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 125.6 126.2 125.9 125.5 1.5 -.6 -.3 2.3 .2 -.2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 186.2 186.7 186.1 185.0 1.6 -.9 -.6 2.4 -.1 -.3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 125.6 125.7 124.8 124.2 .9 -1.2 -.5 1.5 -.6 -.7 

D ................................................................. M 196.0 196.6 195.6 194.3 1.1 -1.2 -.7 2.1 -.2 -.5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 199.3 200.4 199.6 197.5 -.2 -1.4 -1.1 .7 .2 -.4 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 211.4 211.9 212.9 211.4 2.2 -.2 -.7 3.4 .7 .5 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 223.1 224.1 222.9 221.7 2.4 -1.1 -.5 3.3 -.1 -.5 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 225.1 -

 224.5 - - - - 2.0 -.3 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 193.1 - 190.7 - - - - -.5 -1.2 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 191.7 -

 192.0 - - - - 1.6 .2 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 130.7 - 130.2 - - - - 2.8 -.4 -

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

 197.3 - 192.7 -.6 -2.3 - - - -

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

 198.6 - 196.6 .8 -1.0 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 182.5 - 180.4 .7 -1.2 - - - -

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

 205.6 - 204.8 3.0 -.4 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 216.4 - 211.6 2.0 -2.2 - - - -

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

 210.7 - 211.0 2.5 .1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 209.6 - 209.8 3.2 .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

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Sep.

2006

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 198.4 197.0 0.9 -0.7 0.4 -0.7 -0.7 

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

 591.0 586.7 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 16.537 195.9 196.7 2.6 .4 .4 .3 .3 

Food ....................................................................................... 15.519 195.5 196.2 2.5 .4 .4 .4 .3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.347 193.3 194.2 2.3 .5 .5 .5 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.275 214.1 214.9 2.7 .4 .1 .2 .4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.653 187.5 187.5 1.6 .0 1.1 .4 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .965 179.4 181.4 -.5 1.1 -.9 .0 .7 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.338 257.3 260.8 7.1 1.4 1.4 3.0 .2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.087 146.8 147.7 1.9 .6 .9 .1 .4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 2.030 169.3 169.5 1.1 .1 -.2 -.5 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .337 171.3 171.4 3.5 .1 .2 -.7 .3 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .287 168.6 169.8 .7 .7 -.1 -.1 .5 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.406 185.3 185.3 .7 .0 -.4 -.5 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .370 114.5 113.8 1.2 -.6 -.9 .3 -.6 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.172 200.2 200.8 2.9 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .275 137.1 137.5 3.2 .3 .3 .1 .2 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.018 200.9 201.8 2.7 .4 .0 .1 .4 

Housing .................................................................................... 40.161 200.4 199.6 2.8 -.4 .4 .3 -.1

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.069 226.6 227.5 4.0 .4 .4 .2 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 7.880 226.2 227.1 4.0 .4 .4 .4 .4 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.412 134.0 134.7 4.3 .5 .1 -.3 -.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.429 218.0 218.8 4.1 .4 .4 .2 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .348 116.8 116.6 .5 -.2 -.1 .2 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.900 197.7 188.1 -1.5 -4.9 .3 .7 -2.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.984 179.0 168.7 -2.8 -5.8 .2 .8 -2.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .347 235.8 226.6 -6.1 -3.9 1.6 -4.9 -5.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.637 185.3 174.3 -2.5 -5.9 .2 1.2 -2.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .916 138.5 139.0 5.1 .4 .2 .5 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.193 122.7 122.8 .8 .1 .1 .2 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .363 139.8 140.6 4.5 .6 .3 .1 .6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.090 121.4 123.1 1.0 1.4 1.2 .8 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .982 114.5 116.4 -.2 1.7 .9 1.3 -1.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.689 114.3 115.9 1.4 1.4 2.5 1.2 -1.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .242 118.5 121.8 2.6 2.8 .4 -1.8 1.7 

Footwear ................................................................................ .964 123.9 125.2 -.2 1.0 -.2 .4 .3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.669 180.1 173.7 -5.4 -3.6 .2 -4.4 -3.5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.931 177.1 170.7 -5.7 -3.6 .2 -4.6 -3.6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 8.944 94.5 94.3 -.6 -.2 .0 -.3 -.5 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 5.380 137.4 137.8 -.3 .3 -.1 -.1 -.2 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.801 141.9 140.1 -.9 -1.3 .1 -.9 -1.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 5.244 220.8 194.4 -18.3 -12.0 .2 -13.4 -11.1 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 5.193 219.7 193.4 -18.3 -12.0 .2 -13.4 -11.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .434 118.4 118.6 5.3 .2 .3 .5 .2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.130 219.4 221.1 4.1 .8 -.1 .1 .7 

Public transportation ............................................................... .738 227.8 225.6 2.1 -1.0 .2 -.2 -.7 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.171 337.8 338.9 4.0 .3 .4 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.140 281.1 281.0 3.4 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.030 353.1 354.6 4.2 .4 .5 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.336 292.8 293.6 2.4 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.332 467.5 469.9 6.8 .5 .7 .3 .4 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2005

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Oct. 2006 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Sep.

2006

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Sep. to

Oct.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.097 108.3 108.4 1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.9 103.5 -.2 -.4 -.2 .0 -.6 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.635 115.3 115.4 2.7 .1 .4 .1 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.243 164.7 165.2 6.4 .3 .9 .4 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .199 395.4 400.9 6.9 1.4 1.3 -.2 1.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.044 466.6 467.4 6.3 .2 .8 .4 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.392 86.2 86.1 .2 -.1 .0 .0 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.244 84.4 84.4 .0 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.653 96.2 96.9 2.2 .7 .3 .2 .7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .590 12.9 12.4 -10.1 -3.9 -1.5 -1.5 -3.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .208 10.3 10.2 -15.0 -1.0 1.0 -1.9 -1.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.640 332.2 333.1 2.7 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.137 522.4 522.7 2.2 .1 -.1 -.1 .1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.504 189.2 189.9 2.8 .4 .4 .5 .4 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .774 156.3 156.5 1.0 .1 .0 .8 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .616 210.8 211.9 3.4 .5 .2 .3 .5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... .949 316.8 317.9 4.1 .3 .5 .5 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.601 166.1 163.8 -1.8 -1.4 .2 -1.9 -1.6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 16.537 195.9 196.7 2.6 .4 .4 .3 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 28.064 148.9 145.3 -4.3 -2.4 .3 -3.2 -2.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 15.599 183.6 176.0 -6.5 -4.1 -.3 -6.5 -3.9 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.090 121.4 123.1 1.0 1.4 1.2 .8 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 11.509 226.2 212.7 -8.9 -6.0 .3 -7.7 -5.1 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.465 114.0 113.9 -1.0 -.1 .0 -.5 -.3

Services ...................................................................................... 55.399 236.3 235.8 3.1 -.2 .3 .3 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.721 218.4 219.3 4.0 .4 .3 .3 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .348 116.8 116.6 .5 -.2 -.1 .2 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.637 185.3 174.3 -2.5 -5.9 .2 1.2 -2.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .916 138.5 139.0 5.1 .4 .2 .5 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .363 139.8 140.6 4.5 .6 .3 .1 .6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 5.659 231.3 232.2 2.1 .4 .3 .3 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.030 353.1 354.6 4.2 .4 .5 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 9.726 271.0 271.4 3.4 .1 .3 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 84.481 198.8 196.9 .6 -1.0 .3 -.8 -.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.931 190.3 188.0 -.4 -1.2 .3 -1.1 -1.1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 94.829 192.5 191.0 .7 -.8 .3 -.7 -.7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 29.082 150.8 147.3 -4.0 -2.3 .3 -3.1 -2.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 16.617 184.7 177.6 -6.0 -3.8 -.4 -6.1 -3.5

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 12.527 223.1 210.9 -8.0 -5.5 .4 -7.1 -4.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 32.136 190.5 186.9 -2.1 -1.9 .1 -3.2 -1.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.679 227.2 225.2 2.2 -.9 .2 .4 -.5 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.369 227.4 226.9 3.1 -.2 .3 .3 .0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 10.228 198.7 180.6 -11.8 -9.1 .3 -7.5 -7.3 

All items less energy .................................................................. 89.772 199.2 199.9 2.6 .4 .4 .2 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 74.253 200.4 201.0 2.6 .3 .3 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 23.491 141.4 141.7 .3 .2 .2 .0 -.4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 5.591 222.3 196.7 -17.7 -11.5 .3 -12.9 -10.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 50.762 241.7 242.6 3.7 .4 .4 .2 .3 

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

 $ .504 $ .508 - - - - -

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

 $ .169 $ .170 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Jan.

2006

Apr.

2006

July

2006

Oct.

2006

Apr.

2006

Oct.

2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 198.9 199.6 198.2 196.9 -1.0 4.4 4.5 -4.0 1.6 0.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 194.7 195.4 196.0 196.6 3.4 .6 2.3 4.0 2.0 3.1 

Food ....................................................................................... 194.2 194.9 195.6 196.2 3.4 .4 2.3 4.2 1.9 3.2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 191.7 192.6 193.5 194.0 3.8 -1.2 1.7 4.9 1.3 3.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 213.8 214.0 214.5 215.3 3.5 -.6 5.4 2.8 1.4 4.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 184.4 186.4 187.1 187.4 2.2 .4 -2.6 6.7 1.3 1.9 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 180.8 179.2 179.2 180.5 3.1 -2.8 -1.8 -.7 .1 -1.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 249.2 252.6 260.1 260.6 10.1 -4.4 5.0 19.6 2.6 12.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 145.6 146.9 147.1 147.7 3.1 -1.1 .0 5.9 1.0 2.9 

Other food at home ............................................................ 170.4 170.0 169.1 169.4 2.2 -.5 5.3 -2.3 .8 1.4 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 172.0 172.3 171.1 171.6 6.2 4.6 4.3 -.9 5.4 1.7 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 168.2 168.0 167.9 168.8 5.6 -10.0 6.7 1.4 -2.5 4.0 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 187.0 186.2 185.3 185.3 .7 .2 5.5 -3.6 .4 .9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 115.2 114.2 114.5 113.8 1.8 1.4 6.5 -4.8 1.6 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 199.4 199.9 200.2 200.8 2.7 2.9 3.3 2.8 2.8 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 136.3 136.7 136.9 137.2 2.7 5.5 1.8 2.7 4.1 2.2 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 200.8 200.7 200.9 201.8 3.1 4.7 1.0 2.0 3.9 1.5 

Housing .................................................................................... 198.7 199.4 199.9 199.8 4.0 1.6 3.5 2.2 2.8 2.9 

Shelter .................................................................................... 225.5 226.3 226.8 227.5 2.6 4.6 5.1 3.6 3.6 4.4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 224.5 225.3 226.2 227.1 2.8 3.9 4.6 4.7 3.3 4.6 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 135.9 136.1 135.7 135.5 6.6 9.7 2.7 -1.2 8.2 .7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 216.7 217.6 218.0 218.8 2.7 4.6 5.3 3.9 3.7 4.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.7 116.6 116.8 116.6 .7 1.0 .7 -.3 .9 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 191.5 192.0 193.3 189.1 14.2 -10.8 -3.1 -4.9 .9 -4.0 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 172.7 173.1 174.4 169.8 15.7 -13.4 -4.5 -6.5 .1 -5.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 248.7 252.6 240.2 227.5 -23.0 6.7 35.5 -30.0 -9.4 -2.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 177.4 177.7 179.8 175.4 19.5 -14.8 -7.1 -4.4 .9 -5.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 137.5 137.8 138.5 139.1 6.5 4.2 5.4 4.7 5.4 5.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 122.8 122.9 123.1 122.9 .0 1.0 2.0 .3 .5 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 139.3 139.7 139.8 140.6 6.7 3.0 4.7 3.8 4.8 4.3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 118.0 119.4 120.4 119.5 -1.0 4.5 -4.9 5.2 1.7 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 113.4 114.4 115.9 114.6 -1.7 1.1 -4.1 4.3 -.3 .0

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 108.3 111.0 112.3 110.5 -2.5 9.2 -8.7 8.4 3.1 -.5

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 119.6 120.1 117.9 119.9 2.8 1.4 5.5 1.0 2.1 3.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ 122.2 121.9 122.4 122.8 2.3 .0 -4.8 2.0 1.1 -1.4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 188.3 188.6 180.3 174.0 -15.5 14.6 13.3 -27.1 -1.6 -9.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 185.5 185.8 177.3 171.0 -16.3 15.1 13.5 -27.8 -1.9 -9.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.3 95.3 95.0 94.5 -1.3 .8 1.3 -3.3 -.2 -1.0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.9 138.8 138.7 138.4 1.4 .0 -.9 -1.4 .7 -1.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 143.0 143.2 141.9 140.1 -3.6 3.5 4.9 -7.9 -.1 -1.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 252.2 252.8 219.0 194.8 -43.1 54.2 42.6 -64.4 -6.4 -28.8 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 251.2 251.8 218.0 193.8 -43.1 54.8 42.5 -64.6 -6.1 -28.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 117.5 117.8 118.4 118.6 4.7 5.0 7.9 3.8 4.9 5.8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 219.3 219.1 219.4 220.9 2.5 5.9 5.3 3.0 4.2 4.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 228.0 228.5 228.0 226.3 3.7 -.5 8.7 -2.9 1.5 2.7 

Medical care ............................................................................. 336.2 337.5 338.6 339.7 3.5 4.8 3.4 4.2 4.1 3.8 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 280.0 280.6 281.1 281.0 5.3 4.6 2.3 1.4 4.9 1.9 

Medical care services ............................................................. 351.3 352.9 354.2 355.7 3.0 4.9 3.7 5.1 3.9 4.4 

Professional services ........................................................... 291.8 292.5 293.4 294.2 .7 3.2 2.5 3.3 2.0 2.9 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 465.3 468.6 469.9 471.8 6.4 9.9 5.2 5.7 8.1 5.5 

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—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Jan.

2006

Apr.

2006

July

2006

Oct.

2006

Apr.

2006

Oct.

2006

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.7 108.5 108.5 108.6 -0.7 3.0 2.2 -0.4 1.1 0.9 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.4 104.2 104.2 103.6 -1.5 4.3 -.4 -3.0 1.4 -1.7 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 114.0 114.5 114.6 114.8 4.0 2.1 1.8 2.8 3.1 2.3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 160.3 161.7 162.3 163.2 7.5 4.7 6.0 7.4 6.1 6.7 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 389.5 394.5 393.9 399.7 6.9 4.1 5.9 10.9 5.5 8.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 453.5 457.2 459.2 461.4 7.6 4.7 5.8 7.2 6.1 6.5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 86.2 86.2 86.2 86.1 1.9 .0 -.5 -.5 .9 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 84.5 84.5 84.4 84.4 1.0 .0 -.5 -.5 .5 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 95.7 96.0 96.2 96.9 2.1 1.3 .4 5.1 1.7 2.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 13.3 13.1 12.9 12.4 -5.7 -2.9 -5.8 -24.4 -4.3 -15.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 10.4 10.5 10.3 10.2 -18.5 -13.3 -20.1 -7.5 -16.0 -14.0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 330.5 331.3 332.4 333.3 4.0 1.2 2.1 3.4 2.6 2.8

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 523.3 522.9 522.4 522.7 4.6 2.2 2.6 -.5 3.4 1.1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 187.7 188.4 189.4 190.1 3.7 .6 1.9 5.2 2.2 3.6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.0 155.0 156.3 156.5 2.1 -2.0 .0 3.9 .0 1.9 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 209.7 210.2 210.8 211.9 3.2 3.9 2.1 4.3 3.5 3.2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 313.6 315.1 316.8 318.5 4.0 3.4 2.7 6.4 3.7 4.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 168.9 169.3 166.0 163.4 -7.0 7.0 6.4 -12.4 -.2 -3.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 194.7 195.4 196.0 196.6 3.4 .6 2.3 4.0 2.0 3.1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 153.3 153.7 148.8 144.8 -12.6 11.1 8.5 -20.4 -1.4 -7.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 192.8 192.2 179.8 172.7 -11.4 13.1 18.2 -35.6 .1 -12.8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 118.0 119.4 120.4 119.5 -1.0 4.5 -4.9 5.2 1.7 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 242.6 243.4 224.7 213.2 -25.6 27.3 22.3 -40.4 -2.7 -14.6 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.0 115.0 114.4 114.1 -.7 -.3 .3 -3.1 -.5 -1.4 

Services ...................................................................................... 234.3 235.1 235.8 236.0 4.1 2.3 3.3 2.9 3.2 3.1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 217.2 217.9 218.6 219.3 2.5 4.8 4.9 3.9 3.6 4.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.7 116.6 116.8 116.6 .7 1.0 .7 -.3 .9 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 177.4 177.7 179.8 175.4 19.5 -14.8 -7.1 -4.4 .9 -5.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 137.5 137.8 138.5 139.1 6.5 4.2 5.4 4.7 5.4 5.1 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 139.3 139.7 139.8 140.6 6.7 3.0 4.7 3.8 4.8 4.3 

Transportation services ............................................................ 230.8 231.5 232.2 232.5 2.3 .3 2.8 3.0 1.3 2.9 

Medical care services ............................................................... 351.3 352.9 354.2 355.7 3.0 4.9 3.7 5.1 3.9 4.4 

Other services .......................................................................... 268.8 269.6 270.2 270.8 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.0 3.5 3.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 199.6 200.2 198.5 196.8 -1.6 5.0 5.0 -5.5 1.6 -.4 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 191.4 192.0 189.9 187.8 -2.3 4.1 4.5 -7.3 .9 -1.6 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 193.1 193.7 192.3 190.9 -1.3 4.3 4.7 -4.5 1.5 .0 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 155.1 155.5 150.7 146.8 -12.0 10.9 8.1 -19.7 -1.2 -6.8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 193.6 192.9 181.1 174.7 -10.7 12.8 17.4 -33.7 .3 -11.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 238.1 239.0 222.0 211.1 -23.7 25.0 21.3 -38.2 -2.3 -13.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 194.7 194.8 188.6 185.3 -4.8 7.7 9.3 -18.0 1.3 -5.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 224.9 225.4 226.2 225.0 6.9 -.9 2.7 .2 2.9 1.4 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 225.7 226.4 227.0 226.9 4.8 1.8 3.8 2.1 3.3 3.0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 210.8 211.4 195.5 181.3 -22.3 18.3 20.0 -45.3 -4.1 -19.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 198.3 199.0 199.4 199.7 2.3 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.5 2.8 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 199.6 200.2 200.5 200.8 1.9 3.1 3.1 2.4 2.5 2.7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 141.3 141.6 141.6 141.1 .0 1.7 .0 -.6 .9 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 252.8 253.6 220.8 197.1 -42.3 51.1 42.2 -63.0 -6.6 -27.5 

Services less energy services ................................................ 240.4 241.3 241.9 242.6 2.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.4 4.0 

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.

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

Oct.2006 from—

Percent change to

Sep.2006 from—

July

2006

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Oct.

2006

Oct.

2005

Aug.

2006

Sep.

2006

Sep.

2005

July

2006

Aug.

2006

U.S. city average ............................................ M 199.2 199.6 198.4 197.0 0.9 -1.3 -0.7 1.7 -0.4 -0.6 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 213.5 214.2 212.7 211.1 1.4 -1.4 -.8 2.3 -.4 -.7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 214.3 215.1 214.0 212.1 1.5 -1.4 -.9 2.4 -.1 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.6 128.9 127.5 127.0 1.3 -1.5 -.4 2.2 -.9 -1.1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 190.0 190.4 188.7 187.0 -.3 -1.8 -.9 .3 -.7 -.9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 190.7 191.3 189.8 187.9 -.3 -1.8 -1.0 .6 -.5 -.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 123.8 123.8 122.5 121.7 -.4 -1.7 -.7 -.3 -1.1 -1.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 188.6 189.3 187.3 185.1 .1 -2.2 -1.2 .9 -.7 -1.1 

South urban .................................................... M 194.3 194.5 192.9 191.5 .7 -1.5 -.7 1.6 -.7 -.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 197.1 197.5 196.4 195.0 .9 -1.3 -.7 2.0 -.4 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 124.2 124.2 122.9 122.1 .6 -1.7 -.7 1.3 -1.0 -1.0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 198.1 198.5 196.9 195.2 .4 -1.7 -.9 2.2 -.6 -.8 

West urban ..................................................... M 201.7 202.5 202.4 201.3 1.8 -.6 -.5 2.7 .3 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.3 204.0 204.3 203.0 2.0 -.5 -.6 3.0 .5 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 125.5 126.0 125.6 125.0 1.5 -.8 -.5 2.3 .1 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 184.5 185.1 184.3 182.8 1.1 -1.2 -.8 2.0 -.1 -.4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 125.0 125.1 124.0 123.3 .7 -1.4 -.6 1.3 -.8 -.9 

D ................................................................. M 194.8 195.4 194.1 192.5 .6 -1.5 -.8 1.8 -.4 -.7 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 192.8 193.8 192.8 190.3 -.8 -1.8 -1.3 .3 .0 -.5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 204.5 205.0 205.3 203.5 1.8 -.7 -.9 3.2 .4 .1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 216.8 217.8 216.9 215.3 2.0 -1.1 -.7 2.8 .0 -.4 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 223.9 -

 224.3 - - - - 1.9 .2 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 184.3 - 181.7 - - - - -.8 -1.4 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 193.9 -

 193.7 - - - - 1.5 -.1 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 129.8 - 129.9 - - - - 2.1 .1 -

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

 195.8 - 190.9 -1.1 -2.5 - - - -

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

 194.0 - 191.2 .4 -1.4 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 182.0 - 178.9 .3 -1.7 - - - -

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

 204.6 - 203.1 2.9 -.7 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 215.8 - 211.1 1.7 -2.2 - - - -

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

 206.7 - 206.2 1.8 -.2 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 205.1 - 203.9 2.7 -.6 - - - -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2003-2004

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Oct. 2006 from—

 Sep.

 2006

 Oct.

 2006

 Oct.

 2005

 Sep.

 2006

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 117.6 117.2 1.6 -0.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.072 116.1 116.6 2.6 .4 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.943 116.1 116.6 2.5 .4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.029 113.2 113.7 2.1 .4 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.914 120.2 120.6 3.1 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.130 115.9 116.2 2.6 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.173 123.1 122.8 3.2 -.2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.495 123.7 124.2 4.1 .4 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.702 153.7 146.1 -.6 -4.9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.977 96.8 97.0 .5 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.076 90.8 92.2 .0 1.5 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.095 119.0 116.0 -3.4 -2.5 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.988 119.5 116.4 -3.8 -2.6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.107 112.8 111.6 1.7 -1.1 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.055 132.1 132.5 3.8 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.458 121.8 121.9 3.2 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.597 135.6 136.1 4.1 .4 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.863 105.7 105.7 .5 .0 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.190 104.6 104.5 2.0 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.751 154.7 155.1 6.2 .3 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.439 75.7 75.4 -1.3 -.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.475 120.2 120.6 2.7 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.763 125.7 125.6 3.4 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.237 107.5 106.7 -.9 -.7 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.340 86.6 86.6 -1.5 .0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.897 117.9 116.5 -.9 -1.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.707 113.6 113.9 2.5 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.351 172.9 157.5 -9.9 -8.9 

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

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