News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Stephen B. Reed (202) 691-7000 USDL-09-0268 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, March 18, 2009 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: FEBRUARY 2009 

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

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

February level of 212.193 (1982-84=100) was 0.2 percent higher than in February 2008. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.5 

percent in February, prior to seasonal adjustment. The February level of 206.708 (1982-84=100) was 0.3 

percent lower than in February 2008. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent in 

February on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The February level of 121.901 (December 1999=100) was 0.3 

percent lower than in February 2008. Please note that the indexes for the post-2007 period are subject to 

revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.4 percent in February after rising 0.3 percent in 

January. The energy index rose 3.3 percent in February following a 1.7 percent increase in January as the 

gasoline index rose 8.3 percent in February after a 6.0 percent increase in January. In contrast, the indexes for 

fuel oil and natural gas both declined in February. About two-thirds of the all items increase was due to the rise 

in the gasoline index. Compared to the July 2008 peak, the energy index was 29.2 percent lower and the 

gasoline index was down 44.0 percent. The food index turned down slightly in February, falling 0.1 percent. 

The food at home index fell 0.4 percent with five of the six major grocery store food group indexes posting 

declines in February. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February, the same (cont.) 

 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Feb. 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Feb. 2009

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

All items ................................. 0.0 0.0 -0.8 -1.7 -0.8 0.3 0.4 -0.5 0.2 

Food and beverages ........... .6 .5 .4 .2 .1 .1 -.1 .1 4.7 

Housing ............................... .0 -.1 .0 -.1 .0 .0 .0 .0 1.9 

Apparel ................................ .4 -.3 -.7 .1 -.6 .3 1.3 3.9 .8 

Transportation ..................... -.9 -.1 -4.8 -9.7 -5.0 1.3 1.9 -7.4 -11.0 

Medical care ........................ .2 .3 .2 .2 .3 .4 .3 4.3 2.8 

Recreation ........................... .4 .2 .2 .0 -.2 .0 .4 1.0 1.9 

Education and

communication .............. .2 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 3.3 3.6 

Other goods and services ... .2 .2 .3 .0 .0 .3 .2 2.0 3.2 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -2.0 -1.0 -7.8 -16.9 -9.3 1.7 3.3 -17.4 -18.5 

Food .................................... .6 .5 .4 .2 .0 .1 -.1 .0 4.8 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .1 .0 .1 .0 .2 .2 1.5 1.8 
increase as in January. The indexes for new vehicles and apparel increased substantially in February, and the 

indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent rent increased slightly. Partly offsetting these increases were 

continuing declines in the indexes for lodging away from home and airline fares. 

The food and beverages index declined 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.1 percent in January. The 

food at home index, which declined 0.1 percent in January, fell 0.4 percent in February. Within food at home, 

the dairy and related products index fell 2.4 percent in February, with the milk index declining 5.7 percent. The 

milk index has declined 10.0 percent over the past year. The fruits and vegetables index was the only major 

grocery store food group to post an increase, rising 0.4 percent in February after declining in each of the past 

five months. The other four groups posted modest declines, from 0.1 percent for the meats, poultry, fish and 

eggs index to 0.5 percent for the cereals and bakery products index. Over the last year the food at home index 

has risen 4.8 percent. Among the major grocery store food groups, the cereals and bakery products index had 

the largest increase over the past year at 8.9 percent, while dairy and related products was the only index to 

decline, falling 1.7 percent. Among the other indexes within the food and beverages major group, the food 

away from home index rose 0.3 percent in February, while the index for alcoholic beverages declined 0.2 

percent, the first decline since December 2005. 

The housing index was virtually unchanged in February for the third straight month. The shelter index, 

which rose 0.2 percent in January, was virtually unchanged in February. The indexes for rent and owners’ 

equivalent rent both rose 0.1 percent in February after increasing 0.3 percent in January. The lodging away 

from home index fell 1.8 percent in February, the fifth straight monthly decline. It has declined 5.7 percent 

over the past year. The index for household energy fell 0.2 percent in February and was down 8.1 percent from 

its July peak. Within household energy, the index for fuel oil fell 3.8 percent and the index for natural gas 

declined 1.6 percent, while the electricity index rose 0.5 percent. The index for household furnishings and 

operations rose 0.2 percent in February after declining 0.1 percent in January. Over the past year, the housing 

index increased 1.9 percent, with the shelter index up 1.7 percent. 

The index for transportation rose 1.9 percent in February after a 1.3 percent increase in January. The 

new and used motor vehicles index rose 0.5 percent in February. The new vehicles index increased 0.8 percent 

in February, while the index for used cars and trucks declined 1.7 percent. The motor fuel index rose 7.6 

percent in February but was down 35.4 percent over the past year. The airline fare index fell in February for the 

sixth straight month, declining 2.6 percent, and has fallen 14.0 percent since August 2008. The transportation 

index has declined 11.0 percent over the past year. 

The apparel index rose 1.3 percent in February after increasing 0.3 percent in January. The index for 

men’s and boys’ apparel rose 2.8 percent and the index for women’s and girls’ apparel advanced 0.8 percent. 

(Before seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 3.5 percent in February and were up 0.8 percent over the past 

year.) 

Among other CPI groups, the medical care index rose 0.3 percent with the prescription drug index rising 

0.6 percent. The index for recreation rose 0.4 percent as the indexes for toys, for sporting goods, and for pets, 

pet products and services all increased. The education and communication index rose 0.2 percent, with the 

education index rising 0.4 percent and the communication index virtually unchanged. The index for other 

goods and services advanced 0.2 percent with the tobacco and smoking products index posting a 0.7 percent 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.4 

percent in February. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Feb. 2009

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Feb. 2009

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

All items ................................. 0.0 0.0 -1.0 -2.1 -1.0 0.3 0.4 -0.8 -0.3 

Food and beverages ........... .6 .5 .4 .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.2 4.8 

Housing ............................... .0 -.1 .0 .0 .0 .0 .1 .4 2.4 

Apparel ................................ .6 .0 -1.0 .0 -.6 .6 1.0 4.1 .7 

Transportation ..................... -1.1 -.1 -5.3 -10.9 -5.6 1.5 2.0 -8.9 -12.9 

Medical care ........................ .3 .3 .1 .2 .3 .4 .4 4.4 2.8 

Recreation ........................... .4 .2 .1 .0 -.1 .0 .4 1.3 1.8 

Education and

communication .............. .2 .0 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 2.8 3.4 

Other goods and services ... .2 .2 .3 .1 .1 .4 .2 3.0 3.8 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. -2.0 -.8 -8.2 -17.8 -9.7 1.9 3.6 -17.6 -19.5 

Food .................................... .6 .5 .4 .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.3 4.9 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .2 .1 .0 .1 .0 .2 .2 1.6 1.7 

Consumer Price Index data for March are scheduled for release on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 8:30 

A.M. (EDT). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

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

percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2004 through December 2008 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2009. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

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

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

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

 

 

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Feb. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Jan.

2009

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 211.143 212.193 0.2 0.5 -0.8 0.3 0.4 

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

 632.491 635.637 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 219.729 219.333 4.7 -.2 .1 .1 -.1 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.629 219.675 219.205 4.8 -.2 .0 .1 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.156 219.744 218.389 4.8 -.6 -.2 -.1 -.4 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.150 254.445 254.187 8.9 -.1 .5 .0 -.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.898 208.616 207.963 4.1 -.3 -.2 -.1 -.1 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .910 209.632 204.537 -1.7 -2.4 -1.1 -.6 -2.4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.194 282.601 278.721 2.4 -1.4 -1.6 -1.3 .4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .982 164.882 164.213 4.1 -.4 .1 -.1 -.4 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.022 192.492 192.404 8.2 .0 .7 .6 -.3 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .300 197.429 196.676 8.9 -.4 .9 1.5 .0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .241 206.886 205.359 11.1 -.7 1.0 -1.9 -1.1

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.481 206.343 206.621 7.6 .1 .6 .8 -.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .433 124.012 122.580 3.7 -1.2 .2 .2 -1.2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.474 221.319 221.968 4.8 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .314 153.402 154.726 4.3 .9 .1 -.4 .9 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.127 219.113 219.682 3.6 .3 .5 .2 -.2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 43.421 216.928 217.180 1.9 .1 .0 .0 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 33.200 248.292 248.878 1.7 .2 .0 .2 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.957 247.974 248.305 3.3 .1 .2 .3 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.478 133.559 135.809 -5.7 1.7 -.6 -1.1 -1.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 24.433 255.500 255.779 2.1 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .333 120.402 120.683 2.6 .2 -.2 .3 .2 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.431 215.232 213.520 3.8 -.8 -.4 -.7 -.1 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.460 194.149 192.168 3.3 -1.0 -.5 -.9 -.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .301 247.163 242.264 -21.4 -2.0 -8.4 -2.7 -1.8

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.159 199.791 197.886 5.6 -1.0 .1 -.8 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .971 157.275 157.638 5.8 .2 .3 .2 .1 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.790 128.761 129.170 1.9 .3 .1 -.1 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.438 150.156 4.6 -.2 .5 -.2 -.2 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.691 114.764 118.825 .8 3.5 -.6 .3 1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .923 110.797 115.202 2.0 4.0 -.5 1.6 2.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.541 100.638 105.777 -.5 5.1 -1.0 .2 .8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .183 112.321 113.544 -1.9 1.1 -.3 .5 -1.1 

Footwear .................................................................................. .688 122.363 124.301 1.6 1.6 -.4 -.2 .7 

Transportation ............................................................................ 15.314 166.738 169.542 -11.0 1.7 -5.0 1.3 1.9 

Private transportation ............................................................... 14.189 161.788 164.871 -11.6 1.9 -5.2 1.5 2.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.931 91.831 92.224 -2.5 .4 -.3 .2 .5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.480 133.273 134.186 -1.5 .7 -.3 .3 .8 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.628 124.863 122.837 -10.5 -1.6 -.7 -.8 -1.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 3.164 156.604 167.395 -35.4 6.9 -18.8 5.3 7.6 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 2.964 154.488 166.118 -35.6 7.5 -19.3 6.0 8.3

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .382 133.414 134.108 7.1 .5 .1 .3 .5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.188 241.076 241.689 5.7 .3 .1 .7 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.125 234.394 231.529 -1.8 -1.2 -1.4 -1.8 -1.9 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.390 369.830 372.405 2.8 .7 .3 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.625 299.998 302.184 2.0 .7 .4 .4 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.765 391.365 394.047 3.1 .7 .2 .5 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.702 315.603 316.992 2.9 .4 .2 .3 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.545 551.305 558.373 5.8 1.3 .5 .8 .8 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Feb. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Jan.

2009

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.741 113.822 114.461 1.9 0.6 -0.2 0.0 0.4 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.822 101.347 101.704 -1.4 .4 .1 -.5 .0 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.301 126.151 126.190 3.6 .0 .3 .3 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 187.175 187.256 5.5 .0 .5 .3 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .221 468.432 469.996 7.0 .3 .5 .3 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.886 538.765 538.878 5.4 .0 .5 .3 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.194 84.928 84.945 1.9 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.022 82.030 82.052 1.8 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.408 101.880 101.895 3.1 .0 .1 .2 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .614 9.919 9.926 -3.2 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .214 88.522 87.696 -12.8 -.9 -.5 .0 -.9 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.386 350.259 351.223 3.2 .3 .0 .3 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .776 607.403 611.549 6.3 .7 .5 .8 .7 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.610 203.080 203.391 2.4 .2 -.1 .1 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .651 162.588 162.508 3.1 .0 .2 .7 .0 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .647 225.734 225.895 2.3 .1 .0 -.2 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.074 340.608 341.188 2.2 .2 .0 .0 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.556 164.360 165.891 -3.3 .9 -2.1 .5 .9 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.757 219.729 219.333 4.7 -.2 .1 .1 -.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 23.799 136.427 138.702 -7.9 1.7 -3.5 .8 1.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 13.289 162.938 167.560 -11.5 2.8 -5.8 1.7 2.8 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.691 114.764 118.825 .8 3.5 -.6 .3 1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 9.598 196.490 201.554 -15.4 2.6 -7.5 2.3 3.3 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.510 109.025 109.221 -2.6 .2 -.4 -.1 .1 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.444 257.780 258.328 2.7 .2 .1 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.867 258.830 259.440 1.7 .2 .1 .2 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .333 120.402 120.683 2.6 .2 -.2 .3 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.159 199.791 197.886 5.6 -1.0 .1 -.8 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .971 157.275 157.638 5.8 .2 .3 .2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.438 150.156 4.6 -.2 .5 -.2 -.2 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.567 247.006 248.114 4.3 .4 .0 .3 .4 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.765 391.365 394.047 3.1 .7 .2 .5 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.002 300.614 301.471 3.5 .3 .2 .1 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.371 209.777 211.076 -.5 .6 -.9 .3 .5 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 66.800 198.936 200.184 -.5 .6 -1.2 .3 .6 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.610 203.281 204.265 .1 .5 -.9 .3 .4 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 24.926 139.258 141.491 -7.4 1.6 -3.3 .8 1.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 14.416 166.282 170.665 -10.5 2.6 -5.3 1.6 2.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 10.726 197.704 202.323 -13.8 2.3 -6.6 2.1 3.0 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.046 190.649 192.943 -3.5 1.2 -2.5 .8 1.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 27.577 276.227 276.739 4.0 .2 .3 .1 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.679 247.013 247.439 2.7 .2 .1 .1 .0 

Energy .......................................................................................... 7.624 174.622 178.741 -18.5 2.4 -9.3 1.7 3.3 

All items less energy .................................................................... 92.376 216.586 217.325 2.2 .3 .0 .2 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.746 216.719 217.685 1.8 .4 .0 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.461 139.111 140.270 .0 .8 -.2 .1 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 3.465 162.395 172.428 -34.6 6.2 -18.0 4.6 6.9 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.285 263.759 264.547 2.5 .3 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .474 $ .471 - - - - -

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

 $ .158 $ .157 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009 Aug.

2008

Feb.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 213.263 211.577 212.174 213.007 4.2 6.7 -9.4 -0.5 5.4 -5.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.023 219.181 219.309 219.076 5.7 8.7 4.6 .1 7.2 2.3 

Food ................................................................................ 218.988 219.082 219.193 218.970 6.0 9.0 4.5 .0 7.5 2.2 

Food at home ................................................................ 219.515 219.179 218.879 217.968 7.5 11.6 3.6 -2.8 9.5 .4 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 254.287 255.655 255.719 254.347 17.5 9.5 9.2 .1 13.5 4.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 209.204 208.726 208.536 208.389 3.9 10.9 3.9 -1.5 7.3 1.1 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 213.102 210.838 209.632 204.537 -.7 14.1 -3.0 -15.1 6.4 -9.3 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 282.374 277.783 274.270 275.374 9.9 23.1 -10.1 -9.6 16.3 -9.8 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 163.799 164.038 163.804 163.173 4.1 4.4 9.5 -1.5 4.3 3.9 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.551 191.809 192.914 192.419 10.1 9.1 9.7 4.0 9.6 6.8

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 192.364 194.164 197.086 196.990 9.5 5.2 11.0 10.0 7.3 10.5

Fats and oils .............................................................. 207.855 209.848 205.904 203.729 21.3 23.7 9.9 -7.7 22.5 .7 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.429 205.566 207.193 206.838 8.5 7.6 9.4 4.8 8.1 7.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 123.543 123.791 124.012 122.580 1.9 7.9 8.6 -3.1 4.9 2.6 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 220.043 220.684 221.319 221.968 4.0 5.9 5.6 3.5 5.0 4.6 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 153.978 154.062 153.402 154.726 3.5 4.0 7.7 2.0 3.7 4.8 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 218.167 219.154 219.504 219.141 3.1 4.0 5.6 1.8 3.5 3.7 

Housing ............................................................................. 217.622 217.592 217.646 217.621 4.6 4.1 -.7 .0 4.3 -.4 

Shelter ............................................................................. 248.455 248.519 248.938 248.881 1.9 2.3 1.8 .7 2.1 1.3 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 246.480 246.928 247.744 248.087 3.1 4.1 3.4 2.6 3.6 3.0 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 141.484 140.600 139.122 136.561 -2.6 -.9 -5.9 -13.2 -1.7 -9.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 254.522 254.683 255.349 255.687 2.1 2.2 2.3 1.8 2.2 2.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.232 120.019 120.402 120.683 2.7 .5 5.8 1.5 1.6 3.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 219.934 219.092 217.515 217.260 24.5 16.6 -16.1 -4.8 20.5 -10.6 

Household energy ......................................................... 199.606 198.564 196.727 196.415 29.0 18.1 -20.1 -6.2 23.4 -13.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 287.529 263.242 256.210 251.478 53.3 1.9 -58.3 -41.5 25.0 -50.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 203.527 203.746 202.120 202.043 26.8 19.8 -15.5 -2.9 23.3 -9.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 156.219 156.646 157.027 157.141 4.8 9.4 6.5 2.4 7.1 4.4 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 128.735 128.910 128.759 129.008 2.5 2.6 1.7 .9 2.5 1.3 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 149.998 150.689 150.438 150.156 10.0 6.2 2.2 .4 8.1 1.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.905 118.221 118.523 120.039 -2.3 5.6 -3.5 3.9 1.6 .1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.064 111.478 113.210 116.328 -.4 -2.2 -4.2 16.1 -1.3 5.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.286 106.214 106.470 107.374 -7.2 14.6 -8.2 .3 3.1 -4.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.858 113.474 114.014 112.796 -4.8 -5.4 6.7 -3.7 -5.1 1.4 

Footwear ......................................................................... 125.046 124.534 124.325 125.209 3.1 -.3 3.0 .5 1.4 1.7 

Transportation ................................................................... 176.111 167.353 169.489 172.759 4.8 15.6 -45.7 -7.4 10.1 -29.1 

Private transportation ...................................................... 170.921 161.950 164.414 168.067 3.8 15.2 -47.1 -6.5 9.3 -29.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 91.614 91.321 91.534 91.997 -2.2 -2.4 -6.9 1.7 -2.3 -2.7 

New vehicles ............................................................... 132.190 131.766 132.132 133.199 -1.4 -1.3 -6.3 3.1 -1.4 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 127.738 126.872 125.893 123.757 -5.1 -8.6 -16.0 -11.9 -6.9 -14.0 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 197.861 160.675 169.176 182.030 10.9 45.5 -85.0 -28.4 27.0 -67.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 195.185 157.460 166.839 180.685 9.9 45.7 -85.4 -26.6 26.5 -67.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 132.947 133.077 133.414 134.108 5.2 11.5 8.3 3.5 8.3 5.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 239.048 239.356 241.076 241.689 5.3 7.8 5.0 4.5 6.6 4.8 

Public transportation ....................................................... 246.856 243.444 239.071 234.648 21.6 21.4 -22.7 -18.4 21.5 -20.6 

Medical care ...................................................................... 367.299 368.302 369.914 371.175 2.0 2.3 2.7 4.3 2.2 3.5 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 297.631 298.814 299.887 301.710 -1.4 .8 3.3 5.6 -.3 4.4 

Medical care services ..................................................... 388.825 389.723 391.533 392.512 3.2 2.8 2.5 3.8 3.0 3.2 

Professional services .................................................... 314.450 315.052 316.115 316.299 3.8 3.0 2.6 2.4 3.4 2.5 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 543.141 545.921 550.035 554.315 5.0 5.5 4.2 8.5 5.2 6.3 

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—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009 Aug.

2008

Feb.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.196 114.002 114.022 114.492 1.3 3.6 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.3 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.128 102.189 101.677 101.630 -2.2 .3 -1.8 -1.9 -1.0 -1.9 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 125.166 125.567 125.900 126.187 4.2 4.9 2.2 3.3 4.5 2.7 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 184.945 185.829 186.426 187.249 5.9 6.2 4.9 5.1 6.0 5.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 462.974 465.315 466.752 468.101 6.9 12.8 4.2 4.5 9.8 4.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 532.337 534.870 536.592 539.023 5.8 5.7 5.0 5.1 5.8 5.1 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.604 84.746 84.926 84.944 2.6 3.7 -.4 1.6 3.2 .6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.723 81.886 82.030 82.052 2.2 3.7 -.4 1.6 2.9 .6 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.538 101.688 101.880 101.895 4.3 5.8 .9 1.4 5.0 1.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.867 9.906 9.919 9.926 -5.2 -4.1 -5.7 2.4 -4.6 -1.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 88.984 88.529 88.522 87.696 -13.3 -15.9 -15.9 -5.7 -14.6 -10.9 

Other goods and services ................................................. 349.385 349.529 350.529 351.139 4.7 4.3 1.9 2.0 4.5 2.0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 599.820 602.644 607.403 611.549 4.2 11.6 1.7 8.1 7.8 4.8 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.181 203.007 203.284 203.328 4.9 2.3 2.0 .3 3.6 1.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 161.000 161.397 162.588 162.508 2.9 1.2 4.5 3.8 2.0 4.1 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 226.197 226.281 225.734 225.895 5.2 .9 3.7 -.5 3.0 1.6 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 341.188 341.063 341.123 341.519 5.4 3.4 -.2 .4 4.4 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 168.455 164.891 165.772 167.199 3.6 9.6 -21.8 -2.9 6.5 -12.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.023 219.181 219.309 219.076 5.7 8.7 4.6 .1 7.2 2.3 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 142.365 137.385 138.547 140.611 2.4 10.1 -34.2 -4.8 6.2 -20.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 175.495 165.287 168.119 172.896 9.7 18.3 -49.9 -5.8 13.9 -31.3 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.905 118.221 118.523 120.039 -2.3 5.6 -3.5 3.9 1.6 .1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 214.232 198.177 202.707 209.390 12.9 22.4 -59.4 -8.7 17.6 -39.1 

Durables .......................................................................... 109.345 108.961 108.857 108.993 -2.0 -1.4 -5.5 -1.3 -1.7 -3.4 

Services .............................................................................. 257.841 258.073 258.406 258.654 4.6 4.7 .4 1.3 4.6 .8 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 259.074 259.268 259.773 259.487 1.7 2.2 2.1 .6 2.0 1.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.232 120.019 120.402 120.683 2.7 .5 5.8 1.5 1.6 3.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 203.527 203.746 202.120 202.043 26.8 19.8 -15.5 -2.9 23.3 -9.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 156.219 156.646 157.027 157.141 4.8 9.4 6.5 2.4 7.1 4.4 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 149.998 150.689 150.438 150.156 10.0 6.2 2.2 .4 8.1 1.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 246.922 246.912 247.648 248.567 7.3 9.0 -1.6 2.7 8.2 .5 

Medical care services ....................................................... 388.825 389.723 391.533 392.512 3.2 2.8 2.5 3.8 3.0 3.2 

Other services ................................................................... 299.430 300.093 300.534 301.506 4.2 4.6 2.2 2.8 4.4 2.5 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 212.356 210.379 211.055 212.061 3.9 6.4 -11.5 -.6 5.1 -6.2 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 201.862 199.458 200.133 201.331 5.3 8.9 -14.3 -1.0 7.1 -7.9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 205.557 203.785 204.338 205.148 4.3 7.0 -10.1 -.8 5.7 -5.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 145.017 140.192 141.335 143.336 2.4 9.9 -32.9 -4.6 6.0 -20.0 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 177.942 168.525 171.218 175.672 9.6 17.1 -47.5 -5.0 13.3 -29.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 213.399 199.276 203.422 209.425 12.3 20.7 -56.1 -7.2 16.5 -36.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 196.837 191.854 193.462 195.833 8.4 12.9 -27.8 -2.0 10.6 -15.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.182 276.902 277.056 277.608 7.6 7.5 -1.0 2.1 7.5 .5 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.277 247.630 247.839 247.947 4.4 4.7 .5 1.1 4.6 .8 

Energy ................................................................................. 197.086 178.835 181.938 187.901 18.3 33.2 -67.0 -17.4 25.5 -47.8 

All items less energy ........................................................... 216.604 216.630 216.970 217.276 2.6 3.9 1.2 1.2 3.3 1.2 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 216.868 216.882 217.265 217.670 2.1 3.0 .6 1.5 2.5 1.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 139.870 139.578 139.745 140.300 -.6 1.4 -2.2 1.2 .4 -.5 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 203.872 167.125 174.862 186.872 13.1 42.3 -83.9 -29.4 26.9 -66.3 

Services less energy services ......................................... 263.463 263.696 264.221 264.500 3.1 3.6 1.7 1.6 3.4 1.6 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Feb.2009 from—

Percent change to

Jan.2009 from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 212.425 210.228 211.143 212.193 0.2 0.9 0.5 0.0 -0.6 0.4 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 227.236 225.091 225.436 226.754 .7 .7 .6 .5 -.8 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 229.625 227.681 227.852 229.262 .8 .7 .6 .7 -.8 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.445 132.830 133.308 133.967 .3 .9 .5 .0 -.8 .4 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 201.737 199.582 200.815 201.453 -.2 .9 .3 -.3 -.5 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 202.922 200.465 202.001 202.639 -.3 1.1 .3 -.4 -.5 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 129.018 128.018 128.636 129.057 .1 .8 .3 -.1 -.3 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 197.883 195.383 195.843 196.421 -.6 .5 .3 -.4 -1.0 .2 

South urban .................................................... M 205.559 203.501 204.288 205.343 .1 .9 .5 -.1 -.6 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 208.644 206.414 207.035 207.929 .2 .7 .4 -.1 -.8 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.324 129.099 129.615 130.380 .0 1.0 .6 -.2 -.5 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 206.659 204.428 205.766 206.671 .7 1.1 .4 .6 -.4 .7 

West urban ..................................................... M 217.113 214.685 215.923 217.095 .3 1.1 .5 .1 -.5 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.925 218.698 219.806 220.955 .5 1.0 .5 .4 -.5 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 131.440 129.725 130.682 131.636 .1 1.5 .7 -.5 -.6 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 194.628 192.646 193.412 194.354 .3 .9 .5 .2 -.6 .4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 130.857 129.519 130.135 130.855 .1 1.0 .6 -.2 -.6 .5 

D ................................................................. M 204.856 202.359 203.409 203.999 .1 .8 .3 .1 -.7 .5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 209.053 205.959 207.616 207.367 -1.0 .7 -.1 -.5 -.7 .8 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 222.229 219.620 220.719 221.439 .0 .8 .3 -.1 -.7 .5 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 234.498 233.012 233.402 234.663 1.6 .7 .5 1.5 -.5 .2 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 232.354 -

 230.806 - - - - -.5 -.7 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 198.187 - 198.232 - - - - -.7 .0 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 200.051 -

 198.623 - - - - .8 -.7 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 138.547 - 137.598 - - - - 1.0 -.7 -

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

 196.961 - 199.190 -2.4 1.1 - - - -

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

 197.991 - 201.913 -.2 2.0 - - - -

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

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

 218.324 - 220.589 .7 1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 218.186 - 220.262 -.3 1.0 - - - -

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

 218.528 - 222.166 1.2 1.7 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 222.580 - 224.737 1.4 1.0 - - - -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Feb. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Jan.

2009

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 205.700 206.708 -0.3 0.5 -1.0 0.3 0.4 

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

 612.719 615.719 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 219.123 218.645 4.8 -.2 .1 .0 -.2 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.865 218.998 218.449 4.9 -.3 .1 .0 -.2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.201 218.485 217.111 4.8 -.6 -.1 -.2 -.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.249 255.055 254.775 8.9 -.1 .5 .0 -.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.315 208.161 207.656 4.3 -.2 -.2 -.2 .0 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .992 208.530 203.023 -2.3 -2.6 -1.1 -.7 -2.6 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.266 279.906 275.884 2.6 -1.4 -1.6 -1.3 .2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.167 164.514 163.821 4.0 -.4 .1 -.2 -.3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.212 191.782 191.620 8.0 -.1 .6 .6 -.3 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .304 195.867 195.395 8.7 -.2 .9 1.2 .0 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .274 207.400 206.185 11.3 -.6 .8 -2.0 -.9 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.634 206.490 206.547 7.3 .0 .5 .9 -.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 124.477 122.994 3.5 -1.2 .2 .3 -1.2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.664 221.497 222.101 5.0 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .233 153.397 154.520 5.2 .7 .1 -.2 .7 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.077 219.458 220.029 3.5 .3 .5 .1 -.2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.313 213.078 213.192 2.4 .1 .0 .0 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.224 241.651 242.051 2.1 .2 .1 .2 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.279 246.696 246.991 3.2 .1 .2 .3 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.209 134.235 136.255 -4.7 1.5 -.5 -1.1 -1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 21.430 231.503 231.746 2.1 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 120.715 120.960 2.6 .2 -.2 .3 .2 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 6.030 213.882 212.353 4.3 -.7 -.3 -.8 .0 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.996 191.852 190.110 4.0 -.9 -.4 -1.0 .0 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .283 251.976 246.781 -19.8 -2.1 -7.8 -2.1 -2.3

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.713 197.703 196.040 5.8 -.8 .1 -1.0 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.035 157.733 158.069 5.9 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.059 124.454 124.865 1.9 .3 .0 -.1 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .360 152.273 152.168 4.3 -.1 .4 -.4 -.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.979 114.969 118.766 .7 3.3 -.6 .6 1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.024 111.879 116.332 2.4 4.0 -.5 2.0 2.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 100.751 105.538 -.9 4.8 -1.1 .6 .4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .249 114.775 116.001 -2.1 1.1 -.5 .5 -.8 

Footwear .................................................................................. .840 122.753 124.494 1.7 1.4 -.2 .0 .6 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.067 163.215 165.976 -12.9 1.7 -5.6 1.5 2.0 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.284 159.719 162.645 -13.4 1.8 -5.8 1.6 2.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.627 89.774 89.728 -4.2 -.1 -.4 .1 .0 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.057 134.490 135.248 -1.6 .6 -.3 .4 .7 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.863 125.485 123.443 -10.6 -1.6 -.6 -.8 -1.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.029 157.265 168.028 -35.5 6.8 -18.7 5.3 7.5 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 3.770 155.204 166.831 -35.6 7.5 -19.1 6.0 8.2

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .482 133.645 134.264 7.2 .5 .1 .3 .5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.242 243.594 244.219 5.6 .3 .1 .7 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .784 232.422 229.404 -2.0 -1.3 -1.4 -1.5 -2.0 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 370.001 372.630 2.8 .7 .3 .4 .4 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.320 291.710 293.917 1.9 .8 .4 .3 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.035 392.831 395.563 3.1 .7 .2 .5 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.234 318.110 319.663 3.0 .5 .2 .3 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.338 547.655 554.390 5.9 1.2 .5 .8 .7 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2008

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Feb. 2009 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Jan.

2009

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.454 110.630 111.257 1.8 0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.4 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.982 101.488 101.857 -1.1 .4 .1 -.5 .1 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.221 122.025 122.092 3.4 .1 .3 .2 .2 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.527 184.642 184.765 5.5 .1 .5 .2 .4 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .219 471.061 473.012 7.0 .4 .5 .2 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.308 519.987 520.159 5.4 .0 .5 .2 .4 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.694 87.599 87.640 2.0 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.568 85.581 85.624 1.9 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.965 101.876 101.890 3.0 .0 .2 .2 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .604 10.418 10.442 -2.9 .2 .4 .1 .2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .202 88.178 87.622 -12.9 -.6 -.5 .0 -.6 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.668 364.333 365.522 3.8 .3 .1 .4 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.267 610.503 615.012 6.5 .7 .5 .8 .7 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.401 201.209 201.426 2.5 .1 .0 .1 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .662 162.683 162.543 3.0 -.1 .2 .9 -.1 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .580 225.951 226.088 2.1 .1 .1 -.3 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .947 343.022 343.443 2.6 .1 .1 -.1 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.689 165.151 166.673 -4.3 .9 -2.4 .6 .8 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.942 219.123 218.645 4.8 -.2 .1 .0 -.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.747 137.932 140.235 -9.3 1.7 -4.0 1.1 1.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 14.587 166.694 171.698 -13.1 3.0 -6.3 2.2 3.1 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.979 114.969 118.766 .7 3.3 -.6 .6 1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 10.609 202.400 208.255 -17.2 2.9 -8.3 2.8 3.7 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.160 108.689 108.592 -3.5 -.1 -.4 -.1 -.1 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.311 253.033 253.456 3.0 .2 .1 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.918 232.981 233.365 2.1 .2 .1 .2 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 120.715 120.960 2.6 .2 -.2 .3 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.713 197.703 196.040 5.8 -.8 .1 -1.0 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.035 157.733 158.069 5.9 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .360 152.273 152.168 4.3 -.1 .4 -.4 -.1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.512 246.931 248.029 4.5 .4 .1 .5 .4 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.035 392.831 395.563 3.1 .7 .2 .5 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.432 288.627 289.432 3.3 .3 .2 .1 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.135 203.186 204.465 -1.2 .6 -1.2 .4 .6 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.776 194.811 196.052 -1.3 .6 -1.4 .4 .6 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 198.978 199.928 -.4 .5 -1.0 .3 .4 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.824 140.543 142.809 -8.8 1.6 -3.8 1.0 1.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 15.664 169.708 174.484 -12.2 2.8 -5.9 2.1 2.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 11.686 202.906 208.291 -15.7 2.7 -7.5 2.6 3.4 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 31.530 192.284 194.740 -4.5 1.3 -2.9 1.1 1.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.392 244.376 244.791 4.1 .2 .3 .0 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.275 242.819 243.128 3.0 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.024 172.463 177.033 -19.5 2.6 -9.7 1.9 3.6 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.976 210.707 211.279 2.3 .3 .0 .2 .1

All items less food and energy ................................................... 75.111 209.404 210.203 1.7 .4 .0 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.513 139.614 140.554 -.5 .7 -.2 .2 .2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.311 161.781 171.978 -34.8 6.3 -18.1 4.9 7.0 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.598 258.976 259.643 2.7 .3 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .486 $ .484 - - - - -

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

 $ .163 $ .162 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009 Aug.

2008

Feb.

2009

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 208.101 206.067 206.778 207.692 4.3 7.5 -11.8 -0.8 5.9 -6.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.475 218.667 218.714 218.371 5.8 9.0 4.7 -.2 7.4 2.2 

Food ................................................................................ 218.380 218.504 218.536 218.207 6.0 9.4 4.6 -.3 7.7 2.1 

Food at home ................................................................ 218.414 218.100 217.690 216.694 7.4 11.7 3.8 -3.1 9.5 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 255.122 256.440 256.432 254.813 17.4 10.3 9.2 -.5 13.8 4.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.861 208.532 208.092 208.151 4.1 11.1 3.9 -1.4 7.5 1.2 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 212.184 209.922 208.530 203.023 -1.3 14.3 -3.6 -16.2 6.2 -10.1 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 280.199 275.625 272.072 272.522 11.1 24.2 -10.4 -10.5 17.5 -10.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 163.379 163.589 163.227 162.689 2.8 4.1 11.3 -1.7 3.5 4.6 

Other food at home ..................................................... 189.935 191.118 192.226 191.629 10.1 8.9 9.4 3.6 9.5 6.5

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 191.411 193.170 195.556 195.485 9.5 5.5 11.2 8.8 7.5 10.0 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 208.914 210.685 206.547 204.738 21.8 23.4 10.6 -7.8 22.6 1.0 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.430 205.514 207.338 206.781 8.5 7.4 8.9 4.7 7.9 6.8 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 123.837 124.144 124.477 122.994 1.4 7.6 8.1 -2.7 4.4 2.6 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 220.107 220.847 221.497 222.101 4.2 6.3 5.8 3.7 5.3 4.8 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 153.464 153.646 153.397 154.520 4.4 4.9 8.7 2.8 4.6 5.7 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 218.369 219.567 219.832 219.285 2.5 4.1 5.9 1.7 3.3 3.8 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.447 213.500 213.570 213.680 5.1 4.6 -.5 .4 4.9 .0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 241.167 241.355 241.879 242.000 2.1 2.4 2.4 1.4 2.3 1.9 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 245.224 245.683 246.440 246.739 3.0 3.9 3.2 2.5 3.5 2.9 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 141.612 140.971 139.451 137.170 -1.6 -1.6 -3.4 -12.0 -1.6 -7.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 230.625 230.792 231.392 231.675 2.0 2.1 2.3 1.8 2.0 2.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.589 120.360 120.715 120.960 2.4 .9 5.8 1.2 1.7 3.5 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 218.484 217.920 216.117 216.077 24.4 17.1 -14.9 -4.3 20.7 -9.8 

Household energy ......................................................... 197.108 196.397 194.348 194.282 28.7 18.5 -18.6 -5.6 23.5 -12.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 289.361 266.721 261.002 255.111 50.1 3.1 -55.7 -39.6 24.4 -48.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 201.730 201.987 200.013 200.210 27.1 19.8 -15.0 -3.0 23.4 -9.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 156.679 157.070 157.447 157.531 4.9 9.7 6.8 2.2 7.3 4.5 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 124.600 124.653 124.546 124.754 2.3 3.1 1.7 .5 2.7 1.1 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.247 152.814 152.273 152.168 11.4 6.2 .4 -.2 8.8 .1 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.644 117.923 118.677 119.854 -2.8 5.7 -3.7 4.1 1.4 .1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 112.498 111.922 114.105 117.255 -1.2 -1.2 -4.5 18.0 -1.2 6.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 107.198 106.026 106.642 107.054 -7.9 15.6 -9.0 -.5 3.2 -4.8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 116.261 115.672 116.306 115.319 -4.6 -8.3 8.7 -3.2 -6.5 2.6 

Footwear ......................................................................... 124.867 124.559 124.556 125.352 2.5 .4 2.4 1.6 1.5 2.0 

Transportation ................................................................... 173.617 163.954 166.362 169.627 4.4 16.0 -49.6 -8.9 10.1 -32.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 170.016 160.223 162.806 166.302 3.8 15.8 -50.5 -8.5 9.6 -32.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 89.915 89.570 89.682 89.662 -2.8 -3.8 -9.0 -1.1 -3.3 -5.2 

New vehicles ............................................................... 133.231 132.783 133.378 134.277 -1.3 -1.5 -6.6 3.2 -1.4 -1.8 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 128.402 127.590 126.534 124.356 -5.2 -8.6 -16.3 -12.0 -6.9 -14.2 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 198.375 161.274 169.900 182.697 10.8 45.2 -85.0 -28.1 26.8 -67.2 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 195.487 158.198 167.678 181.433 9.9 45.5 -85.5 -25.8 26.4 -67.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 133.125 133.295 133.645 134.264 4.9 11.5 9.2 3.5 8.1 6.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 241.509 241.855 243.594 244.219 5.1 7.7 5.0 4.6 6.4 4.8 

Public transportation ....................................................... 243.594 240.296 236.685 231.991 20.9 22.1 -23.9 -17.7 21.5 -20.9 

Medical care ...................................................................... 367.450 368.451 370.068 371.397 2.0 2.4 2.6 4.4 2.2 3.5 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 289.453 290.504 291.485 293.339 -1.7 1.0 3.2 5.5 -.4 4.3 

Medical care services ..................................................... 390.230 391.178 393.024 394.081 3.2 2.9 2.5 4.0 3.1 3.2 

Professional services .................................................... 316.894 317.551 318.623 318.961 3.6 3.1 2.6 2.6 3.3 2.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 539.315 541.934 546.425 550.509 5.4 5.8 3.7 8.6 5.6 6.1 

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—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

May

2008

Aug.

2008

Nov.

2008

Feb.

2009 Aug.

2008

Feb.

2009

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.939 110.795 110.813 111.309 1.1 3.7 1.0 1.3 2.4 1.2 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.240 102.323 101.794 101.852 -2.0 .8 -1.8 -1.5 -.6 -1.6 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 121.236 121.592 121.817 122.064 4.0 5.1 1.7 2.8 4.6 2.3 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 182.620 183.489 183.869 184.662 6.0 6.7 4.8 4.5 6.3 4.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 465.758 468.077 469.011 471.367 6.5 11.2 5.6 4.9 8.8 5.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 514.306 516.743 517.817 520.014 5.9 6.3 4.8 4.5 6.1 4.6 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.301 87.450 87.598 87.639 2.7 4.1 -.3 1.6 3.4 .6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.292 85.454 85.581 85.624 2.5 4.1 -.3 1.6 3.3 .6 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.564 101.720 101.876 101.890 4.1 5.7 .9 1.3 4.9 1.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.367 10.406 10.418 10.442 -4.9 -3.6 -5.9 2.9 -4.2 -1.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 88.631 88.176 88.178 87.622 -13.5 -15.8 -17.3 -4.5 -14.6 -11.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 362.805 363.328 364.631 365.470 4.7 5.4 2.4 3.0 5.0 2.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 602.881 605.662 610.503 615.012 4.2 11.8 2.1 8.3 7.9 5.1 

Personal care .................................................................. 201.251 201.207 201.461 201.381 4.9 2.2 2.6 .3 3.5 1.4 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.994 161.295 162.683 162.543 2.9 .9 4.2 3.9 1.9 4.1 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 226.433 226.578 225.951 226.088 4.8 1.0 3.6 -.6 2.8 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.491 343.848 343.462 343.601 6.5 3.5 .3 .1 5.0 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 169.885 165.761 166.831 168.242 3.6 10.6 -25.1 -3.8 7.1 -15.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.475 218.667 218.714 218.371 5.8 9.0 4.7 -.2 7.4 2.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 144.748 138.964 140.426 142.519 2.4 11.5 -38.4 -6.0 6.9 -23.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 180.093 168.682 172.433 177.755 11.0 20.2 -55.0 -5.1 15.5 -34.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.644 117.923 118.677 119.854 -2.8 5.7 -3.7 4.1 1.4 .1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 222.275 203.893 209.548 217.299 14.3 24.8 -64.0 -8.7 19.4 -42.6 

Durables .......................................................................... 109.240 108.798 108.637 108.475 -2.4 -1.6 -7.2 -2.8 -2.0 -5.0 

Services .............................................................................. 252.766 253.092 253.417 253.785 4.9 4.9 .5 1.6 4.9 1.1 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 232.611 232.887 233.312 233.328 2.0 2.3 2.7 1.2 2.2 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.589 120.360 120.715 120.960 2.4 .9 5.8 1.2 1.7 3.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 201.730 201.987 200.013 200.210 27.1 19.8 -15.0 -3.0 23.4 -9.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 156.679 157.070 157.447 157.531 4.9 9.7 6.8 2.2 7.3 4.5 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.247 152.814 152.273 152.168 11.4 6.2 .4 -.2 8.8 .1 

Transportation services ..................................................... 245.719 245.957 247.099 248.087 6.1 8.1 -.1 3.9 7.1 1.9 

Medical care services ....................................................... 390.230 391.178 393.024 394.081 3.2 2.9 2.5 4.0 3.1 3.2 

Other services ................................................................... 287.718 288.397 288.590 289.415 4.1 4.7 2.0 2.4 4.4 2.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 206.112 203.702 204.532 205.662 4.0 7.2 -14.5 -.9 5.6 -7.9 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 198.293 195.424 196.211 197.425 5.3 9.8 -17.3 -1.7 7.5 -9.9 

All items less medical care .................................................. 201.510 199.400 200.078 200.971 4.4 7.8 -12.5 -1.1 6.1 -7.0 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 147.181 141.555 142.991 145.025 2.4 11.3 -37.2 -5.7 6.7 -23.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 182.304 171.591 175.208 180.246 10.8 19.2 -52.8 -4.4 14.9 -32.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 220.873 204.294 209.514 216.564 13.6 23.3 -61.1 -7.6 18.4 -40.0 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 199.078 193.307 195.377 198.015 9.3 14.0 -31.8 -2.1 11.6 -18.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 244.382 245.083 245.075 245.607 7.9 8.0 -1.4 2.0 8.0 .3 

Services less medical care services ................................... 242.767 243.176 243.374 243.578 4.8 5.0 .7 1.3 4.9 1.0 

Energy ................................................................................. 195.711 176.692 180.037 186.446 17.5 34.1 -68.6 -17.6 25.5 -49.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 210.543 210.598 210.987 211.226 2.6 4.0 1.2 1.3 3.3 1.3 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 209.331 209.372 209.834 210.188 1.9 2.9 .5 1.6 2.4 1.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.424 140.094 140.375 140.675 -.9 1.4 -3.1 .7 .2 -1.2 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 202.960 166.230 174.341 186.476 12.3 43.0 -84.2 -28.7 26.7 -66.4 

Services less energy services ......................................... 258.207 258.541 259.134 259.521 3.1 3.6 2.1 2.1 3.4 2.1 

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Feb.2009 from—

Percent change to

Jan.2009 from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2008

Dec.

2008

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 207.296 204.813 205.700 206.708 -0.3 0.9 0.5 -0.5 -0.8 0.4 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 223.741 221.446 221.704 222.945 .6 .7 .6 .3 -.9 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 224.621 222.628 222.707 224.084 .8 .7 .6 .5 -.9 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.757 132.938 133.345 133.908 .0 .7 .4 -.3 -1.0 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 196.346 193.987 195.245 195.813 -.7 .9 .3 -.7 -.6 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.770 194.120 195.621 196.147 -.7 1.0 .3 -.7 -.6 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.186 127.005 127.768 128.167 -.4 .9 .3 -.6 -.3 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 195.114 192.391 192.907 193.527 -1.1 .6 .3 -1.0 -1.1 .3 

South urban .................................................... M 201.821 199.399 200.067 201.150 -.6 .9 .5 -.9 -.9 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 205.753 203.121 203.519 204.501 -.5 .7 .5 -.9 -1.1 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 128.504 127.055 127.529 128.276 -.7 1.0 .6 -1.0 -.8 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 205.777 203.054 204.316 205.337 -.1 1.1 .5 -.3 -.7 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 210.870 208.088 209.367 210.492 -.2 1.2 .5 -.5 -.7 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.143 210.637 211.857 212.890 .1 1.1 .5 -.1 -.6 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 130.684 128.641 129.639 130.649 -.4 1.6 .8 -1.0 -.8 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 192.508 190.272 191.023 191.927 .0 .9 .5 -.2 -.8 .4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 129.723 128.157 128.783 129.488 -.5 1.0 .5 -.8 -.7 .5 

D ................................................................. M 202.041 199.228 200.057 200.681 -.8 .7 .3 -.8 -1.0 .4 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 202.022 198.434 200.222 199.944 -1.3 .8 -.1 -.6 -.9 .9 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 214.083 211.007 212.454 213.234 -.5 1.1 .4 -.6 -.8 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 228.727 227.223 227.503 228.653 1.5 .6 .5 1.3 -.5 .1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 231.854 -

 230.095 - - - - -.5 -.8 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 188.860 - 188.798 - - - - -.7 .0 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 201.479 -

 199.416 - - - - .0 -1.0 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 137.700 - 136.359 - - - - .4 -1.0 -

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

 195.310 - 197.528 -2.9 1.1 - - - -

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

 192.808 - 196.191 -.7 1.8 - - - -

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

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

 215.867 - 217.635 .3 .8 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 217.610 - 219.356 -.6 .8 - - - -

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

 213.685 - 216.797 .9 1.5 - - - -

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

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Feb. 2009 from—

 Jan.

 2009

 Feb.

 2009

 Feb.

 2008

 Jan.

 2009

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 121.208 121.901 -0.3 0.6

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 128.877 128.622 4.6 -.2 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 129.049 128.747 4.7 -.2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 126.363 125.539 4.6 -.7 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 132.469 132.849 4.7 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 127.069 127.399 3.5 .3 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 128.626 128.765 1.8 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 130.787 131.107 1.6 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 159.345 157.776 3.5 -1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 95.606 95.917 1.2 .3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 84.775 87.673 .2 3.4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 111.132 113.341 -11.3 2.0 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 110.987 113.448 -11.9 2.2 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 114.670 113.167 -2.1 -1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 143.725 144.662 2.6 .7 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 126.833 127.740 1.9 .7 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 149.960 150.904 2.9 .6 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.210 105.707 .7 .5 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.680 109.693 3.1 .0 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 173.075 173.166 5.5 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.235 74.219 1.2 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 126.949 127.284 .7 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 133.356 133.617 2.4 .2 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 106.544 107.718 -3.9 1.1 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 80.775 80.865 -3.2 .1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 119.615 121.408 -4.2 1.5 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 117.453 117.964 1.3 .4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 146.297 150.780 -19.6 3.1 

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

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