News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-05-304 

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/ Wednesday, February 23, 2005 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: JANUARY 2005 

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

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The January level of 190.7 (1982-

84=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in January 2004. 

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

prior to seasonal adjustment. The January level of 186.3 (1982-84=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in January 2004. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in January on a not 

seasonally adjusted basis. The January level of 111.1 (December 1999=100) was 2.6 percent higher than in January 2004. 

Please note that the indexes for the post-2003 period are subject to revision. Previously published and revised data for 2003 

and 2004 are shown on page 5. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U, which was unchanged in December, increased 0.1 percent in January. The 

food index also increased 0.1 percent in January after registering no change in December. A 0.2 percent decrease in the index 

for food at home was more than offset by a 0.5 percent increase in the index for food away from home. Energy costs declined 

1.1 percent, following a 1.3 percent drop in December. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy declined 2.2 

percent while the index for energy (cont. on page 2) 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan.’05 Jan.’05

All Items -.1 .1 .2 .6 .3 .0 .1 1.3 3.0

 Food and beverages .3 .0 .0 .5 .3 .0 .1 1.5 2.8 

 Housing .3 .1 .3 .2 .3 .2 .1 2.5 3.0 

 Apparel -.5 -.3 .0 .0 .2 -.4 .3 .7 .3 

 Transportation -1.1 -.3 .2 2.1 .2 -.7 -.2 -2.6 4.5 

 Medical care .3 .3 .3 .4 .3 .3 .4 3.9 4.3 

 Recreation -.1 -.2 .2 .1 .1 .0 .1 .7 .9 

 Education and 

 communication .1 .0 .4 -.2 .4 .1 .1 2.2 1.4 

 Other goods and 

 services .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .4 .4 3.6 2.6 

Special indexes: 

 Energy -2.4 -.3 -.3 4.0 1.0 -1.3 -1.1 -6.0 10.6 

 Food .3 .0 -.1 .6 .3 .0 .1 1.5 2.9 

 All items less 

 food and energy .1 .1 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 2.0 2.3 

Note: Seasonal factors have been recalculated to reflect developments during 2004. For this reason, some of the seasonally 

adjusted figures above and elsewhere in this report differ from those previously published. See the technical note on page 9 for 

details. 
services rose 0.1 percent. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in January, the 

same as in each of the preceding three months. 

The food and beverages index rose 0.1 percent in January. The index for food at home decreased for the 

second consecutive month--down 0.2 percent in January. A 4.6 percent decline in the index for fruits and 

vegetables more than offset increases in the other five major grocery store food groups. Within the fruits and 

vegetables group, the index for fresh vegetables declined 11.8 percent while the index for fresh fruits was 

virtually unchanged. The index for processed fruits and vegetables increased 1.0 percent. (Prior to seasonal 

adjustment, fresh vegetable and fresh fruit prices declined 8.2 and 1.0 percent, respectively, while prices for 

processed fruits and vegetables rose 3.2 percent.) The index for dairy products, which declined in each of the 

preceding six months after advancing sharply in the first half of 2004, increased 2.2 percent in January. Fresh 

whole milk prices rose 3.8 percent to a level 10.5 percent above their level in January 2004. The index for 

meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.2 percent in January. Price increases for pork, poultry, beef, and fish 

and seafood were partially offset by a decrease in egg prices. The index for eggs fell 3.2 percent in January and 

was 23.0 percent lower than a year ago. The index for other food at home rose 0.8 percent, reflecting increases 

in the indexes for spices, seasonings, condiments, and sauces and for butter and margarine. The indexes for 

nonalcoholic beverages and for cereal and bakery products increased 0.4 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The 

other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--

increased 0.5 and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing increased 0.1 percent in January, following a 0.2 percent rise in December. The 

index for shelter increased 0.2 percent in January, the same as in December. Within shelter, the indexes for rent 

and for owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.3 percent, while the index for lodging away from home fell 0.7 

percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home increased 3.3 percent.) The 

index for fuels and utilities, which increased 0.2 percent in December, declined 0.1 percent in January. The 

index for fuel oil declined sharply for the second consecutive month--down 5.2 percent in January. The index 

for energy services rose 0.1 percent, as a 3.0 percent decrease in the index for natural gas was more than offset 

by a 1.7 percent increase in the index for electricity. The index for water and sewerage maintenance rose 1.3 

percent in January. The index for household furnishings and operations, which was unchanged in December, 

rose 0.1 percent in January. 

The transportation index fell 0.2 percent in January as a decrease in gasoline prices more than offset an 

increase in prices for new and used vehicles. The gasoline index declined 2.1 percent in January. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices declined for the sixth time in the last seven months--down 3.0 percent in 

January to a level 9.9 percent lower than their peak level recorded in June 2004.) The index for new vehicles 

increased for the fourth consecutive month--up 0.7 percent in January. (As of January, about 80 percent of the 

new vehicle sample was represented by 2005 models. The 2005 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.) The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.1 percent in January. The index for public 

transportation decreased 0.8 percent in January, reflecting another decline in airline fares. Airline fares fell 0.9 

percent in January and were 3.2 percent lower than a year earlier. 

The index for apparel rose 0.3 percent in January, following a 0.4 percent decline in December. (Prior 

to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 2.3 percent, reflecting post-holiday discounting.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in January and are 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.3 

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

and for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.5 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation increased 0.1 percent in January. Increases in the indexes for sporting goods 

and for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events--up 0.7 and 0.8 percent, respectively--

more than offset declines in the indexes for most other recreational goods. 

The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in January. Educational costs 

increased 0.3 percent, while communication costs were unchanged. Within the latter group, an increase in the 

index for personal computers and peripheral equipment--up 0.7 percent--was offset by declines in the indexes 
for computer software and accessories and for telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information 

items--down 0.7 and 1.2 percent, respectively. 

The index for other goods and services increased 0.4 percent in January, reflecting a 1.9 percent increase 

in the index for tobacco and smoking products. Prices for cigarettes rose 2.0 percent, reflecting the pass 

through of a wholesale price increase, decreased discounting, and selected state tax increases. It was their 

largest increase since a 2.5 percent rise in August 2002. 

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 0.1 

percent in January. 

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 2004 2005 3-mos. ended ended

 July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan.’05 Jan.’05

All Items -.1 .1 .2 .6 .3 -.1 .1 1.3 3.0

 Food and beverages .2 .1 -.1 .5 .3 .0 .1 1.3 2.8 

 Housing .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 2.8 2.9 

 Apparel -.4 -.3 .1 .0 .2 -.3 .5 1.3 .3 

 Transportation -1.0 -.2 .4 2.2 .1 -.5 -.3 -3.1 5.0 

 Medical care .3 .3 .4 .3 .3 .3 .3 3.9 4.5 

 Recreation -.3 -.1 .1 .1 .1 -.1 .2 .8 .9 

 Education and 

 communication .0 -.1 .4 -.3 .3 .1 .1 1.8 .7 

 Other goods and 

 services .4 .2 .2 .1 .2 .4 .5 4.5 2.8 

Special indexes: 

 Energy -2.4 -.5 -.3 4.2 .7 -1.3 -1.3 -7.2 10.6 

 Food .3 .0 -.1 .6 .3 .0 .1 1.3 2.8 

 All items less 

 food and energy .2 .1 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 2.1 2.2 

Consumer Price Index data for February are scheduled for release on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at 

8:30 A.M. (EST). 
NOTE ON REVISIONS TO C-CPI-U INDEXES 

In accordance with the previously-announced schedule, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revising the 

2003 and 2004 values of the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), effective 

with the release of January 2005 data. 

The C-CPI-U was introduced with release of July data on August 16, 2002. The index in its final form 

employs a Tornqvist formula and utilizes expenditure data in adjacent time periods in order to reflect the effect 

of any substitution that consumers make across item categories in response to changes in relative prices. The 

C-CPI-U was designed to be a closer approximation to a “cost-of-living” index than the CPI-U and CPI-W. 

The use of expenditure data for both a base period and a current period distinguishes the C-CPI-U from the 

other CPI measures, which use only a single expenditure base period to compute price change over time. 

Because the current expenditure data required for the calculation of the C-CPI-U are available only with 

a time lag, the index is issued first in preliminary form, using the latest available expenditure data at the time of 

publication, and is subject to two subsequent revisions. The preliminary values for each month of the preceding 

two years are revised annually with release of the January index. Expenditure data for the year 2003 are now 

available, and the C-CPI-U indexes for that year are now in final form. The initial indexes for 2004 are now 

revised interim indexes. The C-CPI-U U.S. All Items index values for 2003 and 2004 as originally published 

and revised are shown below. 

For more information on the C-CPI-U, write to: 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes 

2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3130 

Washington, DC 20212 

Or contact Patrick Jackman or Rob Cage either by telephone at (202) 691-6952 or by electronic mail at 

Jackman.Patrick@bls.gov or Cage.Rob@bls.gov . 
U.S. City Average C-CPI-U All Items 

2003 Interim Final

January 106.4 106.5

February 107.2 107.3

March 107.9 107.9

April 107.7 107.7

May 107.5 107.5

June 107.6 107.6

July 107.7 107.7

August 108.0 108.2

September 108.3 108.5

October 108.2 108.4

November 107.8 108.0

December 107.6 107.8

Annual average 107.7 107.8

2004 Initial Interim

January 108.1 108.3

February 108.7 108.9

March 109.4 109.6

April 109.7 109.9

May 110.1 110.3

June 110.4 110.6

July 110.3 110.5

August 110.3 110.5

September 110.6 110.8

October 111.1 111.3

November 111.1 111.3

December 110.7 110.9

Annual average n.a. 110.2
Over-the-month percent changes in the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers 

(CPI-U) for All Items and for All Items less food and energy, seasonally adjusted, using former and recalculated 

seasonal factors for 2004. 

All Items 

2004 Former Recalculated Difference 

 

January .5 .5 .0 

February .3 .3 .0 

March .5 .4 -.1 

April .2 .2 .0 

May .6 .6 .0 

June .3 .3 .0 

July -.1 -.1 .0 

August .1 .1 .0 

September .2 .2 .0 

October .6 .6 .0 

November .2 .3 .1 

December -.1 .0 .1 

All Items less food and energy 

2004 Former Recalculated Difference 

 

January .2 .2 .0 

February .2 .2 .0 

March .4 .3 -.1 

April .3 .2 -.1 

May .2 .2 .0 

June .1 .2 .1 

July .1 .1 .0 

August .1 .1 .0 

September .3 .3 .0 

October .2 .2 .0 

November .2 .2 .0 

December .2 .2 .0 
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 2000 through December 2004 

were replaced in January 2005. 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 2005. 

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 labor and supply problems for coffee. 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

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Dec.

2004

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 190.3 190.7 3.0 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.1 

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

 570.1 571.2 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 188.9 189.5 2.8 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.295 188.5 189.1 2.9 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.183 188.5 188.9 2.7 .2 .3 -.1 -.2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.185 206.4 207.6 1.8 .6 .3 -.1 .1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.272 183.1 183.4 1.9 .2 -.3 .5 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .849 180.1 183.3 6.3 1.8 -.3 -.5 2.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.276 250.8 242.9 4.5 -3.1 3.1 -.6 -4.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .884 140.6 142.2 1.1 1.1 .2 .2 .4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.716 163.6 165.6 1.7 1.2 -.3 -.4 .8 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .296 161.3 163.0 .0 1.1 1.0 -1.0 -.2 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .258 167.4 170.4 6.0 1.8 .1 .1 .6 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.163 178.3 180.3 1.3 1.1 -.7 -.3 1.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .301 110.8 110.1 .9 -.6 .5 .3 -.6 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.113 189.9 190.8 3.2 .5 .1 .2 .5 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 127.0 127.5 2.9 .4 .0 .3 .5 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ .996 193.9 194.3 2.6 .2 .2 -.1 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.993 190.7 191.8 3.0 .6 .3 .2 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.686 219.8 221.0 2.7 .5 .0 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.133 213.9 214.5 3.0 .3 .1 .3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 3.008 118.7 122.6 4.6 3.3 -.2 .3 -.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.158 227.2 227.8 2.3 .3 .1 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .387 118.7 118.5 3.2 -.2 1.2 .8 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.951 165.7 166.9 6.8 .7 2.4 .2 -.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.021 148.0 149.0 7.0 .7 3.0 .1 -.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .300 183.7 181.2 20.9 -1.4 4.8 -2.0 -4.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.722 153.0 154.3 6.0 .8 2.8 .3 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .930 126.3 127.6 5.8 1.0 .3 .2 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.355 125.5 126.1 .6 .5 -.2 .0 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .707 127.0 127.9 4.2 .7 .6 .0 .7 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.841 118.8 116.1 .3 -2.3 .2 -.4 .3

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ .977 116.3 115.0 -.4 -1.1 .0 .3 1.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.638 110.0 105.1 -.6 -4.5 .4 -1.6 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .188 118.6 117.5 -.2 -.9 .0 .2 1.1 

Footwear ................................................................................ .765 120.3 119.4 3.0 -.7 .1 .4 1.4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.414 164.8 164.0 4.5 -.5 .2 -.7 -.2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.385 161.3 160.5 4.8 -.5 .0 -.6 -.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.744 95.4 95.8 1.6 .4 .4 .0 .4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.692 138.8 139.8 1.3 .7 .7 .3 .7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.037 137.3 137.5 5.1 .1 -.1 .4 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.969 161.2 156.4 14.4 -3.0 -.9 -2.8 -2.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.934 160.4 155.6 14.3 -3.0 -.9 -2.7 -2.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .364 109.9 110.6 2.4 .6 .4 .0 .6 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.341 203.3 204.0 2.9 .3 .4 .2 .4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.029 205.4 204.4 -.9 -.5 1.9 -1.0 -.8 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.132 314.9 316.8 4.3 .6 .3 .3 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.484 270.8 271.6 2.3 .3 -.1 -.1 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.649 327.3 329.5 5.0 .7 .4 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.767 274.6 276.2 4.0 .6 .3 .2 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.516 428.0 431.0 5.2 .7 .4 .7 .5 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Dec.

2004

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.733 108.5 108.9 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.691 103.9 104.2 .6 .3 -.2 .2 -.2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.846 112.6 112.7 1.4 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.931 148.5 148.8 6.2 .2 .6 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .220 355.9 357.4 3.5 .4 .8 .7 -.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.712 428.9 429.7 6.5 .2 .6 .5 .3 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 2.914 85.4 85.4 -3.1 .0 .1 -.2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.737 83.3 83.2 -3.4 -.1 .1 -.2 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.187 94.8 94.8 -2.3 .0 .3 -.1 .0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .550 14.2 14.2 -7.2 .0 -1.4 -.7 .0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .192 13.9 14.0 -13.6 .7 -2.7 -2.1 .7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.750 307.8 309.3 2.6 .5 .1 .4 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .804 484.8 493.9 4.4 1.9 -.1 .6 1.9 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.946 183.3 183.5 2.1 .1 .2 .3 -.1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .658 153.4 153.1 -.5 -.2 -.1 -.3 -.2 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .652 201.2 201.9 3.8 .3 .3 .6 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.454 297.7 298.5 3.4 .3 .2 .4 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.239 155.8 155.4 2.8 -.3 .1 -.3 .0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.291 188.9 189.5 2.8 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.948 137.2 136.4 2.9 -.6 .0 -.5 -.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.980 157.4 155.2 4.6 -1.4 .7 -.6 -1.2 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.841 118.8 116.1 .3 -2.3 .2 -.4 .3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.139 185.2 183.3 6.4 -1.0 -.2 -1.3 -1.3 

Durables ................................................................................. 10.967 115.5 116.0 .8 .4 .2 .1 .3 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.761 224.6 225.6 3.0 .4 .4 .2 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.300 228.9 230.1 2.7 .5 .0 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .387 118.7 118.5 3.2 -.2 1.2 .8 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.722 153.0 154.3 6.0 .8 2.8 .3 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .930 126.3 127.6 5.8 1.0 .3 .2 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .707 127.0 127.9 4.2 .7 .6 .0 .7 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.235 221.8 221.7 1.4 .0 .5 -.3 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.649 327.3 329.5 5.0 .7 .4 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.833 264.3 265.1 2.6 .3 .3 .3 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.705 190.6 190.9 2.9 .2 .3 -.1 .1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.314 180.9 180.9 3.0 .0 .3 -.1 .1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.868 183.9 184.2 2.8 .2 .2 .0 .1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.943 139.3 138.6 2.9 -.5 .0 -.5 -.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.976 159.5 157.5 4.4 -1.3 .7 -.5 -1.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.135 185.1 183.5 6.1 -.9 -.2 -1.2 -1.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.271 173.3 172.5 3.7 -.5 .4 -.2 -.5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.462 236.5 237.4 3.4 .4 .7 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.113 216.0 217.0 2.8 .5 .3 .2 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.991 153.7 151.9 10.6 -1.2 1.0 -1.3 -1.1 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.009 195.8 196.4 2.3 .3 .2 .1 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.714 197.8 198.4 2.3 .3 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 21.674 139.8 139.7 .9 -.1 .1 .0 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.269 163.4 158.7 14.8 -2.9 -.5 -2.7 -2.2 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.040 231.9 232.9 2.8 .4 .2 .2 .2 

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

 $ .525 $ .524 - - - - -

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

 $ .175 $ .175 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2005

July

2004

Jan.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 190.7 191.2 191.2 191.3 3.9 3.2 3.2 1.3 3.6 2.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.4 188.9 188.9 189.1 3.1 4.8 2.2 1.5 4.0 1.8 

Food ....................................................................................... 187.9 188.4 188.4 188.6 2.6 5.1 2.2 1.5 3.9 1.8 

Food at home ....................................................................... 187.9 188.5 188.4 188.0 2.6 6.4 1.3 .2 4.5 .7 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 207.4 208.0 207.8 208.0 2.0 1.6 2.5 1.2 1.8 1.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 182.7 182.2 183.2 183.5 -.4 9.0 -1.9 1.8 4.2 -.1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 180.7 180.1 179.2 183.1 5.0 39.1 -17.1 5.4 20.8 -6.5

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 241.3 248.7 247.3 235.9 6.4 -2.8 26.6 -8.7 1.7 7.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.6 140.9 141.2 141.7 -2.0 2.0 1.1 3.2 .0 2.2 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.3 164.8 164.2 165.5 5.8 2.2 -1.4 .5 4.0 -.5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.9 164.5 162.9 162.5 .7 1.0 -.7 -1.0 .9 -.9 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 169.0 169.2 169.3 170.3 15.0 13.9 -6.4 3.1 14.4 -1.7 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 180.1 178.9 178.3 180.3 5.5 -.2 -.4 .4 2.6 .0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.9 110.5 110.8 110.1 5.2 -3.9 1.8 .7 .6 1.3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 189.4 189.6 189.9 190.8 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.2 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 126.5 126.5 126.9 127.5 2.6 1.6 4.2 3.2 2.1 3.7 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 193.6 194.0 193.9 194.3 5.2 .8 2.9 1.5 3.0 2.2 

Housing .................................................................................... 191.1 191.7 192.1 192.3 3.2 3.4 2.3 2.5 3.3 2.4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 220.7 220.8 221.3 221.7 3.8 2.8 2.4 1.8 3.3 2.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 212.9 213.1 213.7 214.3 3.1 3.3 2.9 2.7 3.2 2.8 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 128.5 128.3 128.7 127.8 12.0 3.9 5.1 -2.2 7.8 1.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 226.4 226.6 227.0 227.6 2.9 2.5 1.8 2.1 2.7 2.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.3 117.7 118.7 118.5 3.2 1.4 .7 7.8 2.3 4.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 163.4 167.4 167.7 167.6 3.6 10.8 2.0 10.7 7.1 6.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 145.6 149.9 150.1 149.7 3.2 11.8 1.4 11.7 7.4 6.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 180.3 189.0 185.2 176.1 3.1 30.8 73.9 -9.0 16.1 25.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 150.6 154.8 155.3 155.4 3.0 10.7 -2.6 13.4 6.8 5.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 125.9 126.3 126.5 127.7 5.1 7.4 4.6 5.8 6.2 5.2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 126.2 126.0 126.0 126.1 -.6 -.3 3.6 -.3 -.5 1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 126.2 127.0 127.0 127.9 3.6 5.6 2.2 5.5 4.6 3.9 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 120.1 120.4 119.9 120.3 2.4 -1.0 -1.3 .7 .7 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 116.0 116.0 116.4 117.6 -.7 1.0 -7.2 5.6 .2 -1.0

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 113.3 113.7 111.9 111.5 4.3 -1.1 .7 -6.2 1.6 -2.8

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 117.9 117.9 118.1 119.4 -1.0 -4.0 -.7 5.2 -2.5 2.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ 119.7 119.8 120.3 122.0 2.4 -5.3 7.7 7.9 -1.5 7.8 

Transportation .......................................................................... 166.4 166.7 165.6 165.3 8.3 4.8 8.1 -2.6 6.6 2.6 

Private transportation ............................................................. 162.9 162.9 162.0 161.7 8.8 5.2 9.1 -2.9 7.0 2.9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 94.6 95.0 95.0 95.4 .0 -.4 3.5 3.4 -.2 3.4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 136.5 137.4 137.8 138.8 .6 -1.4 -.6 6.9 -.4 3.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 136.8 136.7 137.3 137.5 1.5 2.5 15.0 2.1 2.0 8.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 171.9 170.4 165.7 162.4 41.6 18.5 28.0 -20.3 29.5 1.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 171.0 169.5 165.0 161.6 41.4 18.3 27.9 -20.2 29.3 1.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 109.5 109.9 109.9 110.6 -.4 3.4 2.6 4.1 1.5 3.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 201.7 202.6 203.0 203.8 1.6 3.5 2.4 4.2 2.5 3.3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 207.7 211.6 209.5 207.9 1.5 -3.4 -2.5 .4 -1.0 -1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 313.9 314.7 315.6 316.9 5.8 3.8 4.0 3.9 4.8 4.0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 271.8 271.6 271.2 272.1 3.7 1.7 3.6 .4 2.6 2.0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 325.5 326.7 328.1 329.5 6.4 4.6 4.2 5.0 5.5 4.6 

Professional services ........................................................... 274.2 275.0 275.5 276.2 6.8 3.1 3.1 2.9 5.0 3.0

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 423.3 424.9 427.7 429.7 5.4 6.3 3.1 6.2 5.9 4.6 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2005

July

2004

Jan.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.8 108.9 108.9 109.0 2.6 0.0 0.4 0.7 1.3 0.6 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.5 104.3 104.5 104.3 2.7 -.4 .8 -.8 1.2 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.8 112.2 112.3 112.4 1.5 1.1 .7 2.2 1.3 1.4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 146.2 147.1 147.9 148.3 6.8 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.6 6.1 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 353.4 356.4 358.9 357.1 4.2 2.3 3.1 4.3 3.3 3.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 422.0 424.4 426.6 428.0 6.8 6.7 6.6 5.8 6.8 6.2 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 85.5 85.6 85.4 85.4 -3.1 -4.1 -4.5 -.5 -3.6 -2.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 83.4 83.5 83.3 83.2 -3.2 -4.1 -5.1 -1.0 -3.7 -3.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 94.6 94.9 94.8 94.8 -2.0 -3.7 -4.1 .8 -2.9 -1.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 14.5 14.3 14.2 14.2 -7.6 -5.2 -7.9 -8.0 -6.4 -7.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 14.6 14.2 13.9 14.0 -7.2 -14.3 -17.1 -15.5 -10.8 -16.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 306.9 307.3 308.5 309.6 1.9 2.5 2.5 3.6 2.2 3.0

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 482.3 481.7 484.8 493.9 .3 6.2 1.5 10.0 3.2 5.7 

Personal care ......................................................................... 182.9 183.2 183.8 183.7 2.2 1.6 2.9 1.8 1.9 2.3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.0 153.8 153.4 153.1 1.8 -2.8 1.6 -2.3 -.5 -.4 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 199.4 200.0 201.2 201.9 3.1 2.9 3.9 5.1 3.0 4.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 296.8 297.5 298.8 298.8 4.5 2.9 3.4 2.7 3.7 3.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 156.6 156.7 156.2 156.2 5.1 3.2 4.5 -1.0 4.1 1.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 188.4 188.9 188.9 189.1 3.1 4.8 2.2 1.5 4.0 1.8 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 138.6 138.6 137.9 137.8 6.7 2.1 5.7 -2.3 4.4 1.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 161.1 162.3 161.4 159.4 6.2 9.6 7.5 -4.2 7.9 1.5 

Apparel ................................................................................. 120.1 120.4 119.9 120.3 2.4 -1.0 -1.3 .7 .7 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 190.4 190.0 187.6 185.2 16.8 7.3 14.4 -10.5 11.9 1.2 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.0 115.2 115.3 115.7 -.3 -1.4 2.5 2.5 -.9 2.5 

Services ...................................................................................... 224.5 225.3 225.7 226.2 3.5 3.3 2.2 3.1 3.4 2.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 229.8 229.9 230.4 230.8 4.0 2.9 2.3 1.8 3.4 2.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.3 117.7 118.7 118.5 3.2 1.4 .7 7.8 2.3 4.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 150.6 154.8 155.3 155.4 3.0 10.7 -2.6 13.4 6.8 5.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 125.9 126.3 126.5 127.7 5.1 7.4 4.6 5.8 6.2 5.2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 126.2 127.0 127.0 127.9 3.6 5.6 2.2 5.5 4.6 3.9 

Transportation services ............................................................ 221.8 222.8 222.2 222.3 .7 2.0 1.8 .9 1.4 1.4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 325.5 326.7 328.1 329.5 6.4 4.6 4.2 5.0 5.5 4.6 

Other services .......................................................................... 262.9 263.8 264.5 265.0 2.5 2.3 2.3 3.2 2.4 2.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 191.2 191.7 191.6 191.8 4.4 2.8 3.4 1.3 3.6 2.3 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 181.1 181.7 181.5 181.6 4.1 3.4 3.6 1.1 3.8 2.4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 184.4 184.8 184.8 184.9 3.8 3.3 3.1 1.1 3.6 2.1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 140.7 140.7 140.0 139.8 6.3 2.0 5.9 -2.5 4.2 1.6 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 163.1 164.2 163.3 161.4 6.1 9.0 7.4 -4.1 7.5 1.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 189.9 189.5 187.2 185.0 15.8 7.3 13.2 -9.9 11.4 1.0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 175.0 175.7 175.3 174.4 4.3 7.0 4.7 -1.4 5.7 1.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 235.2 236.9 237.6 237.9 2.6 3.9 2.2 4.7 3.2 3.4 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 216.1 216.7 217.2 217.6 3.1 3.2 2.3 2.8 3.1 2.5 

Energy ........................................................................................ 157.5 159.0 156.9 155.1 20.5 14.9 14.4 -6.0 17.7 3.7 

All items less energy .................................................................. 195.8 196.2 196.4 196.8 2.7 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.5 2.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 197.9 198.2 198.5 198.9 2.7 1.9 2.3 2.0 2.3 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.8 140.0 140.0 140.4 1.2 -.9 1.4 1.7 .1 1.6 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 173.3 172.4 167.7 164.0 39.1 19.0 30.6 -19.8 28.7 2.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 232.0 232.5 232.9 233.4 3.4 2.8 2.5 2.4 3.1 2.4 

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

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

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

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

Jan.2005 from—

Percent change to

Dec.2004 from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Dec.

2003

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 190.9 191.0 190.3 190.7 3.0 -0.2 0.2 3.3 -0.3 -0.4 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 202.5 202.6 201.9 202.6 3.4 .0 .3 3.6 -.3 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 204.5 204.6 204.1 205.0 3.6 .2 .4 3.6 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.1 120.1 119.2 119.4 2.9 -.6 .2 3.7 -.7 -.7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 184.5 184.8 183.8 184.1 2.6 -.4 .2 3.0 -.4 -.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 186.8 186.9 185.7 185.9 2.3 -.5 .1 2.7 -.6 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.4 117.7 117.3 117.3 2.8 -.3 .0 3.5 -.1 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 177.1 177.7 177.2 178.2 3.7 .3 .6 3.3 .1 -.3 

South urban .................................................... M 183.7 183.7 183.3 183.6 3.0 -.1 .2 3.3 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.0 185.0 184.9 185.2 3.0 .1 .2 3.2 -.1 -.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.4 117.4 117.1 117.1 2.9 -.3 .0 3.4 -.3 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 182.8 182.5 181.9 182.3 4.0 -.1 .2 3.9 -.5 -.3 

West urban ..................................................... M 195.0 195.1 194.2 194.5 2.7 -.3 .2 3.1 -.4 -.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 197.5 197.6 196.5 196.7 2.6 -.5 .1 3.1 -.5 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 119.2 119.3 119.0 119.5 3.0 .2 .4 3.3 -.2 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 174.6 174.6 174.0 174.3 2.9 -.2 .2 3.1 -.3 -.3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 118.1 118.2 117.7 117.9 2.9 -.3 .2 3.4 -.3 -.4 

D ................................................................. M 182.9 183.0 182.4 183.0 3.4 .0 .3 3.3 -.3 -.3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 190.8 190.7 189.6 189.9 2.4 -.4 .2 2.2 -.6 -.6 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 196.3 196.9 195.2 195.4 3.7 -.8 .1 4.4 -.6 -.9 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 207.3 207.2 206.8 208.1 4.1 .4 .6 3.8 -.2 -.2 

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

 211.7 - 211.3 1.4 -.2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 183.2 - 183.3 2.7 .1 - - - -

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

 179.9 - 180.0 2.4 .1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 120.9 - 121.3 3.6 .3 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 183.9 -

 183.2 - - - - 2.3 -.4 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 187.6 -

 185.3 - - - - 2.2 -1.2 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 171.8 - 170.0 - - - - 3.6 -1.0 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 187.0 -

 188.6 - - - - 3.9 .9 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 200.2 -

 197.8 - - - - 4.7 -1.2 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 200.3 -

 199.5 - - - - 2.2 -.4 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 196.5 - 195.1 - - - - 2.1 -.7 -

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

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Dec.

2004

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 186.0 186.3 3.0 0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.1 

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

 554.2 554.9 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 188.4 189.0 2.8 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 15.940 187.9 188.5 2.8 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.540 187.6 188.0 2.6 .2 .4 -.1 -.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.342 206.3 207.6 1.9 .6 .4 -.1 .0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.845 183.2 183.4 1.9 .1 -.3 .5 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .962 179.9 183.2 6.4 1.8 -.2 -.6 2.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.407 248.6 240.1 4.5 -3.4 3.4 -.7 -5.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.051 140.0 141.6 1.1 1.1 .1 .4 .4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.934 163.2 165.3 1.8 1.3 -.3 -.4 .9 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .311 160.6 162.2 -.1 1.0 .5 -.8 -.3 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .311 167.3 170.4 6.0 1.9 .1 .0 .7 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 1.312 178.6 180.8 1.3 1.2 -.6 -.3 1.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .341 111.3 110.7 1.0 -.5 .7 .2 -.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.400 189.7 190.6 3.1 .5 .1 .1 .5 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .251 127.0 127.3 3.0 .2 .1 .3 .3 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.084 194.2 194.4 2.6 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Housing .................................................................................... 38.973 186.4 187.3 2.9 .5 .3 .2 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 29.902 213.5 214.4 2.5 .4 .1 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.025 213.0 213.7 3.0 .3 .1 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.742 118.6 122.2 3.1 3.0 -.5 .5 -.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 19.795 206.1 206.6 2.2 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .339 118.9 118.8 3.4 -.1 1.4 .7 -.1 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.288 164.7 166.0 6.7 .8 2.3 .2 -.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.336 146.4 147.4 6.8 .7 2.7 .3 -.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .281 183.4 180.9 20.9 -1.4 5.0 -1.7 -5.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 4.055 152.0 153.3 5.9 .9 2.6 .4 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .952 126.5 127.9 6.0 1.1 .2 .3 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.783 121.3 121.9 .7 .5 -.2 .2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .321 129.3 130.3 5.3 .8 1.0 .1 .8 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.208 118.6 116.1 .3 -2.1 .2 -.3 .5

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.063 115.7 114.6 -.9 -1.0 -.1 .3 .9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.664 110.2 105.3 -.2 -4.4 .2 -1.4 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .242 121.4 120.5 .3 -.7 .0 .2 1.7 

Footwear ................................................................................ .991 119.4 118.8 2.8 -.5 .1 .6 1.4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.845 163.4 162.6 5.0 -.5 .1 -.5 -.3 

Private transportation ............................................................. 19.072 160.9 160.0 5.1 -.6 -.1 -.6 -.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.146 94.3 94.6 2.0 .3 .4 .1 .3 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.725 139.8 140.7 1.1 .6 .8 .2 .6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.536 138.1 138.3 5.1 .1 -.1 .4 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 4.843 161.7 156.9 14.4 -3.0 -1.0 -2.6 -2.1 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 4.803 160.9 156.1 14.3 -3.0 -1.0 -2.7 -2.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .449 109.3 110.1 2.3 .7 .5 -.1 .7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.357 205.3 206.0 3.1 .3 .5 .1 .4 

Public transportation ............................................................... .773 204.2 203.4 -.6 -.4 2.1 -.9 -.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.014 314.4 316.3 4.5 .6 .3 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.126 264.4 265.2 2.1 .3 .0 -.2 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.888 327.7 330.0 5.2 .7 .4 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.270 277.2 278.9 4.1 .6 .4 .1 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.276 424.2 427.4 5.3 .8 .4 .7 .6 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2004

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2005 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Dec.

2004

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.546 106.1 106.5 0.9 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.878 103.2 103.4 .7 .2 -.2 .1 -.2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.498 110.5 110.6 .7 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.361 147.0 147.3 5.9 .2 .6 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .217 357.6 359.0 3.7 .4 .8 .7 -.5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.145 415.8 416.8 6.1 .2 .5 .5 .3 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.137 87.0 87.0 -2.9 .0 .1 -.2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.990 85.5 85.5 -3.1 .0 .1 -.2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.473 95.0 94.9 -2.4 -.1 .3 -.1 -.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .517 14.8 14.8 -6.3 .0 -.7 -.7 .0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .171 13.7 13.7 -13.3 .0 -2.8 -1.4 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.891 315.9 318.0 2.8 .7 .2 .4 .5 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.244 485.7 494.9 4.5 1.9 -.1 .7 1.9 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.648 181.9 182.1 2.1 .1 .3 .3 -.1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .712 153.8 153.3 -.6 -.3 .0 -.3 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .611 201.8 202.4 3.7 .3 .4 .6 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.160 298.4 299.2 3.7 .3 .3 .5 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.809 156.6 156.3 3.2 -.2 .1 -.3 -.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.024 188.4 189.0 2.8 .3 .3 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.786 138.8 138.0 3.4 -.6 -.1 -.5 -.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 15.322 160.9 158.8 5.2 -1.3 .8 -.6 -1.3 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.208 118.6 116.1 .3 -2.1 .2 -.3 .5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 11.113 190.8 188.8 7.0 -1.0 -.2 -1.4 -1.4 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.464 115.1 115.5 1.3 .3 .3 .1 .3 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.191 220.5 221.5 2.9 .5 .4 .2 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.562 205.6 206.5 2.5 .4 .0 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .339 118.9 118.8 3.4 -.1 1.4 .7 -.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 4.055 152.0 153.3 5.9 .9 2.6 .4 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .952 126.5 127.9 6.0 1.1 .2 .3 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .321 129.3 130.3 5.3 .8 1.0 .1 .8 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.166 222.7 222.8 1.7 .0 .4 -.1 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.888 327.7 330.0 5.2 .7 .4 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 9.907 256.5 257.2 2.1 .3 .4 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 84.060 185.5 185.7 3.1 .1 .3 -.1 .1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 70.098 178.0 178.0 3.2 .0 .3 -.1 .0 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 94.986 180.6 180.8 3.0 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.870 140.7 140.0 3.3 -.5 -.1 -.4 -.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 16.406 162.9 160.9 5.0 -1.2 .7 -.5 -1.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 12.197 190.3 188.5 6.6 -.9 -.3 -1.2 -1.3 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 32.346 175.1 174.3 3.9 -.5 .5 -.2 -.6

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.628 209.9 210.8 3.3 .4 .7 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.303 212.4 213.2 2.7 .4 .3 .2 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.179 153.3 151.4 10.6 -1.2 .7 -1.3 -1.3 

All items less energy .................................................................. 90.821 191.0 191.5 2.3 .3 .2 .1 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 74.881 192.0 192.4 2.2 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 23.745 139.9 139.9 1.2 .0 .1 .1 .4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 5.124 163.4 158.7 14.8 -2.9 -.6 -2.6 -2.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.136 228.1 229.0 2.6 .4 .2 .2 .2 

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

 $ .537 $ .537 - - - - -

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

 $ .180 $ .180 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2005

July

2004

Jan.

2005

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 186.3 186.8 186.7 186.9 4.0 3.5 3.3 1.3 3.8 2.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.9 188.4 188.4 188.5 2.9 5.1 2.2 1.3 4.0 1.7 

Food ....................................................................................... 187.4 187.9 187.9 188.0 2.7 5.5 1.9 1.3 4.1 1.6 

Food at home ....................................................................... 187.0 187.7 187.6 187.1 2.4 6.9 .9 .2 4.7 .5

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 207.2 208.0 207.7 207.8 2.4 1.8 2.0 1.2 2.1 1.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 182.8 182.3 183.2 183.5 -.9 9.5 -1.7 1.5 4.2 -.1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 180.4 180.0 179.0 183.0 4.7 40.4 -17.7 5.9 21.3 -6.6

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 239.2 247.4 245.6 233.1 6.2 -2.6 28.0 -9.8 1.7 7.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.9 140.1 140.6 141.1 -1.1 1.7 .9 3.5 .3 2.2 

Other food at home ............................................................ 164.8 164.3 163.7 165.1 6.3 2.0 -1.7 .7 4.1 -.5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.5 163.3 162.0 161.5 1.0 .5 .2 -2.4 .7 -1.1 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 168.9 169.1 169.1 170.2 15.3 14.2 -6.8 3.1 14.7 -2.0 

Other foods 1 .................................................................... 180.3 179.2 178.6 180.8 5.5 -.2 -.9 1.1 2.6 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.3 111.1 111.3 110.7 5.2 -4.6 2.2 1.5 .2 1.8 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 189.3 189.5 189.7 190.6 2.8 3.3 3.7 2.8 3.1 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 126.4 126.5 126.9 127.3 2.6 2.3 4.2 2.9 2.4 3.5 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 193.9 194.2 194.2 194.4 5.6 .2 3.6 1.0 2.9 2.3 

Housing .................................................................................... 186.4 187.0 187.4 187.7 3.1 3.3 2.4 2.8 3.2 2.6 

Shelter .................................................................................... 213.8 214.0 214.4 214.8 3.3 2.7 2.3 1.9 3.0 2.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 212.1 212.4 212.9 213.5 3.1 3.1 3.1 2.7 3.1 2.9 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 128.5 127.9 128.5 127.3 10.8 3.2 3.2 -3.7 6.9 -.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 205.4 205.6 205.9 206.4 2.8 2.6 1.8 2.0 2.7 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.5 118.1 118.9 118.8 3.9 1.0 .7 8.1 2.5 4.3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 162.7 166.4 166.8 166.7 3.4 11.1 1.5 10.2 7.1 5.8 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 144.3 148.2 148.6 148.2 2.9 11.9 .8 11.3 7.3 5.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 180.2 189.3 186.1 175.1 2.5 32.8 76.2 -10.8 16.7 25.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 149.8 153.7 154.3 154.5 3.0 10.7 -2.9 13.2 6.8 4.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 126.1 126.4 126.8 128.0 5.4 7.4 4.9 6.2 6.4 5.5 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.8 121.6 121.8 121.9 -.3 -1.3 4.0 .3 -.8 2.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 127.9 129.2 129.3 130.3 6.3 6.2 1.3 7.7 6.2 4.4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.7 119.9 119.5 120.1 2.0 -1.0 -1.0 1.3 .5 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 115.8 115.7 116.0 117.1 -.3 .3 -7.6 4.6 .0 -1.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 113.3 113.5 111.9 111.5 5.9 -1.1 1.1 -6.2 2.3 -2.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 120.7 120.7 120.9 123.0 -1.9 -3.9 .0 7.8 -2.9 3.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ 118.4 118.5 119.2 120.9 .3 -3.0 5.2 8.7 -1.4 7.0 

Transportation .......................................................................... 165.2 165.3 164.4 163.9 9.3 5.1 9.5 -3.1 7.2 3.0 

Private transportation ............................................................. 162.7 162.6 161.7 161.2 9.2 5.7 10.2 -3.6 7.4 3.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 93.5 93.9 94.0 94.3 .0 -.4 5.3 3.5 -.2 4.4 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.4 138.5 138.8 139.7 .3 -1.7 -.9 6.9 -.7 2.9 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 137.6 137.5 138.1 138.3 1.5 2.8 14.6 2.1 2.1 8.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 172.6 170.9 166.4 162.9 41.5 19.0 28.2 -20.7 29.7 .9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 171.9 170.2 165.6 162.1 41.3 19.4 28.0 -20.9 29.9 .6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.9 109.4 109.3 110.1 -.4 2.6 2.6 4.5 1.1 3.5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 203.7 204.7 205.0 205.8 1.6 3.6 2.8 4.2 2.6 3.5 

Public transportation ............................................................... 205.5 209.8 207.9 206.7 2.1 -3.2 -3.4 2.4 -.6 -.6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 313.2 314.2 315.1 316.2 6.1 3.7 4.1 3.9 4.9 4.0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 265.5 265.4 264.9 265.7 3.4 1.2 3.5 .3 2.3 1.9 

Medical care services ............................................................. 325.7 327.0 328.4 329.6 6.8 4.5 4.3 4.9 5.6 4.6 

Professional services ........................................................... 276.8 277.9 278.3 279.1 6.6 3.0 3.4 3.4 4.8 3.4

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 419.2 420.8 423.6 426.1 5.4 6.1 3.0 6.7 5.8 4.9 

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—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2004

Jan.

2005

July

2004

Jan.

2005

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.4 106.5 106.4 106.6 2.7 -0.4 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.6 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.8 103.6 103.7 103.5 2.8 .4 .8 -1.2 1.6 -.2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.9 110.2 110.3 110.4 .7 .0 .0 1.8 .4 .9 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 144.9 145.7 146.4 146.8 5.9 5.8 6.3 5.3 5.9 5.8 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 355.2 357.9 360.3 358.6 4.8 2.2 4.0 3.9 3.5 4.0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 409.7 411.9 413.8 415.2 6.3 6.2 6.5 5.5 6.2 6.0 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.1 87.2 87.0 87.0 -2.7 -4.0 -4.5 -.5 -3.3 -2.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 85.6 85.7 85.5 85.5 -3.1 -3.6 -5.0 -.5 -3.4 -2.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 94.8 95.1 95.0 94.9 -2.0 -3.7 -4.1 .4 -2.9 -1.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.0 14.9 14.8 14.8 -7.4 -5.1 -7.6 -5.2 -6.2 -6.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 14.3 13.9 13.7 13.7 -5.0 -14.5 -17.4 -15.8 -9.9 -16.6 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 314.7 315.2 316.5 318.2 1.8 2.7 2.2 4.5 2.3 3.4

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 483.0 482.5 485.7 494.9 .3 6.5 1.2 10.2 3.3 5.6 

Personal care ......................................................................... 181.4 181.9 182.4 182.3 2.5 1.1 2.7 2.0 1.8 2.3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.3 154.3 153.8 153.3 2.1 -3.1 1.0 -2.6 -.5 -.8 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 199.9 200.6 201.8 202.4 3.1 3.1 3.7 5.1 3.1 4.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 297.1 298.0 299.5 299.5 5.2 2.9 3.6 3.3 4.1 3.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 157.5 157.6 157.2 157.1 5.4 3.7 5.0 -1.0 4.5 1.9 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 187.9 188.4 188.4 188.5 2.9 5.1 2.2 1.3 4.0 1.7 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 140.3 140.2 139.5 139.4 7.0 2.4 7.1 -2.5 4.7 2.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 165.0 166.3 165.3 163.2 6.9 10.8 7.9 -4.3 8.8 1.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.7 119.9 119.5 120.1 2.0 -1.0 -1.0 1.3 .5 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 196.7 196.3 193.6 190.9 17.9 9.1 14.9 -11.3 13.4 .9 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.5 114.9 115.0 115.3 -.4 -1.4 4.3 2.8 -.9 3.6 

Services ...................................................................................... 220.1 220.9 221.4 221.8 3.2 3.2 2.0 3.1 3.2 2.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 205.8 205.9 206.3 206.7 3.8 2.6 2.0 1.8 3.2 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.5 118.1 118.9 118.8 3.9 1.0 .7 8.1 2.5 4.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 149.8 153.7 154.3 154.5 3.0 10.7 -2.9 13.2 6.8 4.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 126.1 126.4 126.8 128.0 5.4 7.4 4.9 6.2 6.4 5.5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 127.9 129.2 129.3 130.3 6.3 6.2 1.3 7.7 6.2 4.4 

Transportation services ............................................................ 222.3 223.2 222.9 223.2 .9 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.6 1.8 

Medical care services ............................................................... 325.7 327.0 328.4 329.6 6.8 4.5 4.3 4.9 5.6 4.6 

Other services .......................................................................... 255.3 256.2 256.7 257.1 2.2 1.6 1.9 2.9 1.9 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 185.9 186.4 186.3 186.5 4.3 3.1 3.5 1.3 3.7 2.4 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 178.3 178.9 178.7 178.7 4.2 3.7 3.9 .9 4.0 2.4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 180.9 181.3 181.3 181.4 3.9 3.4 3.4 1.1 3.7 2.2 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 142.2 142.1 141.5 141.3 6.9 2.6 6.7 -2.5 4.7 2.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 166.8 168.0 167.1 165.0 6.5 10.1 7.8 -4.2 8.3 1.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 195.7 195.2 192.9 190.4 16.4 8.7 14.0 -10.4 12.5 1.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 176.9 177.7 177.3 176.2 4.8 7.4 4.9 -1.6 6.1 1.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 208.8 210.3 210.9 211.2 2.6 3.9 1.9 4.7 3.3 3.3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 212.1 212.8 213.3 213.6 2.7 3.3 1.9 2.9 3.0 2.4 

Energy ........................................................................................ 157.7 158.8 156.8 154.8 21.2 15.8 14.7 -7.2 18.5 3.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 190.7 191.1 191.3 191.7 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 191.8 192.1 192.4 192.8 2.6 1.7 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.8 140.0 140.1 140.6 .9 -.6 2.3 2.3 .1 2.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 173.6 172.5 168.0 164.1 39.1 19.6 30.3 -20.2 29.0 2.0 

Services less energy services ................................................ 227.9 228.3 228.7 229.2 3.3 2.7 2.3 2.3 3.0 2.3 

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

Jan.2005 from—

Percent change to

Dec.2004 from—

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Jan.

2005

Jan.

2004

Nov.

2004

Dec.

2004

Dec.

2003

Oct.

2004

Nov.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 186.5 186.8 186.0 186.3 3.0 -0.3 0.2 3.4 -0.3 -0.4 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 199.0 199.4 198.7 199.0 3.3 -.2 .2 3.7 -.2 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 199.7 200.2 199.6 200.1 3.5 .0 .3 3.6 -.1 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 120.1 120.2 119.4 119.6 3.0 -.5 .2 3.6 -.6 -.7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 179.5 179.8 178.8 179.1 2.6 -.4 .2 3.1 -.4 -.6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 181.1 181.2 180.1 180.4 2.4 -.4 .2 2.9 -.6 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.6 116.9 116.4 116.4 2.7 -.4 .0 3.6 -.2 -.4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 174.4 175.2 174.9 175.7 3.7 .3 .5 3.4 .3 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 180.6 180.7 180.3 180.5 3.1 -.1 .1 3.5 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.5 182.5 182.4 182.6 3.1 .1 .1 3.4 -.1 -.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.9 116.0 115.6 115.7 3.0 -.3 .1 3.4 -.3 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 182.3 182.2 181.5 181.9 4.2 -.2 .2 4.2 -.4 -.4 

West urban ..................................................... M 190.0 190.2 189.4 189.5 2.8 -.4 .1 3.3 -.3 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.0 191.2 190.2 190.1 2.8 -.6 -.1 3.4 -.4 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.7 118.9 118.6 118.9 3.0 .0 .3 3.3 -.1 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 172.8 173.0 172.4 172.6 3.0 -.2 .1 3.4 -.2 -.3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 117.2 117.3 116.9 117.0 3.0 -.3 .1 3.5 -.3 -.3 

D ................................................................. M 180.8 181.1 180.6 181.0 3.5 -.1 .2 3.6 -.1 -.3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 184.0 184.2 183.1 183.5 2.5 -.4 .2 2.4 -.5 -.6 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 189.8 190.3 188.5 188.5 3.7 -.9 .0 4.6 -.7 -.9 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 201.9 202.2 201.8 202.6 4.0 .2 .4 3.7 .0 -.2 

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

 211.0 - 210.3 1.7 -.3 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 173.9 - 174.5 2.8 .3 - - - -

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

 180.5 - 180.3 2.6 -.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 120.4 - 120.7 3.6 .2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 181.7 -

 181.5 - - - - 2.8 -.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 183.0 -

 180.7 - - - - 2.7 -1.3 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 169.5 - 167.7 - - - - 3.4 -1.1 -

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

 186.6 - - - - 4.3 .8 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 199.8 -

 197.9 - - - - 4.7 -1.0 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 196.4 -

 195.9 - - - - 2.5 -.3 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 191.6 - 190.3 - - - - 2.7 -.7 -

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,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Jan. 2005 from—

 Dec.

 2004

 Jan.

 2005

 Jan.

 2004

 Dec.

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 110.9 111.1 2.6 0.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 112.2 112.6 2.7 .4 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 112.2 112.7 2.7 .4 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 110.9 111.3 2.5 .4 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 113.9 114.5 3.2 .5 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 111.9 112.1 2.5 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 114.8 115.4 2.8 .5 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 115.9 116.5 2.6 .5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 128.1 129.2 6.3 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 96.2 96.6 .2 .4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 89.7 87.4 -.1 -2.6 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 109.4 109.0 4.0 -.4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 110.0 109.6 4.4 -.4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 101.5 101.0 -1.2 -.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 123.2 123.9 4.2 .6 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 115.1 115.4 2.1 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 126.0 126.8 4.9 .6 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.3 103.5 -.1 .2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 100.2 100.3 .2 .1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 136.8 137.1 6.0 .2 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 78.1 78.0 -4.1 -.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 114.9 115.4 2.4 .4 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 117.1 117.6 2.7 .4 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 103.1 102.9 2.4 -.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 88.1 88.5 .5 .5 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 110.3 109.8 3.2 -.5 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 108.7 108.9 1.9 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 134.6 133.3 10.0 -1.0 

Indexes for 2005 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2004 are interim adjustments.

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