News United States

Department 

of Labor

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

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Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-04-875

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Friday, May 14, 2004

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: APRIL 2004

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in April, before seasonal 

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The April level of 188.0

(1982-84=100) was 2.3 percent higher than in April 2003.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also increased 0.3

percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The April level of 183.5 was 2.1 percent higher than in April 2003.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in April on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The April level of 109.7 (December 1999=100) was 1.9 percent higher than in April

2003. Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject to revision.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.5 percent increase in 

March. Energy costs, which advanced sharply in each of the first three months of the year, increased 0.1 percent in 

April. Within energy, the index for energy services increased 0.5 percent, while the index for petroleum-based energy 

decreased 0.3 percent. The index for food rose 0.2 percent in April, the same as in each of the preceding two 

months. The index for all items less food and energy, which increased 0.4 percent in March, advanced 0.3 percent in 

April. The index for apparel, which rose 0.9 percent in March, was unchanged in April. The index for lodging while 

away from home increased 1.6 percent in April, following a 3.8 percent rise in March.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound Adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2003 2004 3-mos. ended Ended

Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. ’04 Apr. ’04

All Items -.1 -.2 .2 .5 .3 .5 .2 3.9 2.3

 Food and beverages .4 .4 .5 -.1 .2 .2 .2 2.4 3.4

 Housing .2 -.1 .2 .4 .2 .3 .4 3.5 2.3

 Apparel .2 -.5 -.3 -.3 -.1 .9 .0 3.4 .3

 Transportation -1.4 -1.3 -.2 1.7 .7 1.1 .1 7.8 1.6

 Medical care .2 .3 .5 .2 .6 .6 .4 6.3 4.7

 Recreation -.1 .2 .1 .0 .3 .3 .2 3.0 1.5

 Education and

 communication .0 .2 .2 .1 .3 .1 .3 2.6 1.7

 Other goods and

 services .1 .0 .2 .3 .2 .2 .1 2.1 1.8

 Special Indexes

 Energy -3.5 -3.0 .3 4.7 1.7 1.9 .1 16.0 5.6

 Food .5 .4 .5 .0 .2 .2 .2 2.0 3.4

 All Items less

 food and energy .2 .0 .1 .2 .2 .4 .3 3.3 1.8
During the first four months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 4.4 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR). This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which increased 6.9 

percent in 2003, increased at a 28.3 percent SAAR in the first four months of 2004. Petroleum-based energy costs 

increased at a 55.8 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 4.8 percent annual rate. The food 

index has increased at a 1.5 percent SAAR thus far this year, following a 3.6 percent rise for all of 2003. Excluding 

food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 3.0 percent SAAR in the first four months, following a 1.1 percent rise in 

all of 2003.

The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in April. The index for food at home, which rose 0.2 

percent in March, increased 0.1 percent in April. The index for dairy products rose 1.6 percent in April, reflecting 

sharp increases in prices for milk and for cheese. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.2 percent. 

The index for beef and veal, which declined sharply in each of the first three months of 2004 after advancing 23.5 

percent in all of 2003, turned back up in April, advancing 0.8 percent. The index for other food at home increased 

0.1 percent in April. Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for 

nonalcoholic beverages, each down 0.6 percent. Declines in the indexes for fresh vegetables and for processed fruits 

and vegetables--down 1.9 and 0.6 percent, respectively--more than offset a 0.9 percent increase in the index for fresh 

fruits. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh vegetable prices fell 3.7 percent, while fresh fruit prices rose 2.3 percent.) 

The index for cereals and bakery products was virtually unchanged in April. The other two components of the food 

and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively.

The index for housing rose 0.4 percent in April. Shelter costs, which rose 0.6 percent in March, increased 0.5 

percent in April. The index for lodging away from home rose 1.6 percent, following a 3.8 percent rise in March. The 

indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, respectively. The index for fuels and

utilities, which declined 1.1 percent in March, rose 0.5 percent in April. The indexes for each of the three major 

household fuels turned up in April--the index for fuel oil increased 0.1 percent and the indexes for natural gas and for 

electricity each rose 0.5 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.2 percent in April, the 

same as in March. 

The transportation index increased 0.1 percent in April, following a 1.1 percent increase in March. The index 

for gasoline, which rose 5.5 percent in March, declined 0.3 percent in April. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline 

prices rose 3.7 percent and registered a new peak level.) The index for new vehicles declined 0.1 percent in April, 

the same as in March. During the last 12 months, new vehicle prices have fallen 0.8 percent. The index for used cars 

and trucks registered their third consecutive increase--up 0.1 percent in April--but during the last 12 months this index 

has declined 11.5 percent. Airline fares registered their fourth consecutive advance, up 1.0 percent in April, and are 

0.6 percent higher than a year ago. 

The index for apparel was unchanged in April, following a 0.9 percent increase in March. (Prior to seasonal 

adjustment, apparel prices rose 0.6 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of spring-summer wear.)

Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in April to a level 4.7 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.4 percent. 

The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in April. Charges for physician’s services and for hospital and 

related services increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation rose 0.2 percent in April. Increases in the indexes for cable and satellite television 

and radio service and for pets, pet products and services--up 1.0 and 1.1 percent, respectively--were partially offset 

by declines in the indexes for club membership dues and for photography--down 1.5 and 1.0 percent, respectively. 

The index for education and communication increased 0.3 percent in April. The education index rose 0.6

percent, while the index for communication costs was unchanged. Within the latter group, the index for telephone

services decreased 0.2 percent. The indexes for personal computers and peripheral equipment and for computer 

software and accessories turned up in April, each advancing 0.6 percent.

The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in April. Increases in the indexes for financial 

services, for legal services, and for funeral expenses--up 0.8, 0.3, and 0.4 percent, respectively--more than offset a 

0.1 percent decline in the index for tobacco and smoking products.
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 0.2 percent 

in April.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2003 2004 3-mos. ended ended

Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. ’04 Apr.’04

All Items -.2 -.3 .2 .6 .3 .5 .2 3.8 2.1

 Food and beverages .5 .5 .4 -.1 .2 .2 .2 2.2 3.5

 Housing .1 -.1 .2 .5 .2 .2 .3 2.9 2.2

 Apparel .2 -.4 -.3 -.1 .0 .8 -.1 3.0 .8

 Transportation -1.7 -1.6 -.2 1.8 .6 1.3 -.1 7.7 .9

 Medical care .3 .3 .4 .3 .7 .6 .4 6.5 4.8

 Recreation -.1 .2 .1 -.1 .4 .3 .0 2.7 1.2

 Education and 

 Communication .0 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 1.8 1.1

 Other goods and

 Services .1 -.1 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 2.1 1.6

Special Indexes

 Energy -3.6 -3.1 .3 4.9 1.6 2.2 -.1 16.0 6.0

 Food .5 .5 .5 -.1 .2 .2 .1 2.0 3.5

 All Items less

 food and energy .1 -.1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 2.8 1.3

Consumer Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at 8:30 A.M. 

(EDT). 

CPI (Old Weights)

For the first six months of 2004, BLS also will calculate Old Weights CPI-U and Old Weights CPI-W based 

on the 1999-2000 expenditure pattern used in the CPI from 2002 through 2003. These Old Weight data are 

contained in tables 1(OW)-4(OW). From March to April, the Old Weight CPI-U rose 0.3 percent and the Old 

Weight CPI-W rose 0.3 percent. Note these series are not seasonally adjusted.
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 establishmentsdepartment 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 CPIU and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two 

annual revisions.

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

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

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

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

from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000.
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. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977. 

Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1999 through 2003 were replaced 

at the end of 2003. 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: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.

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, natural 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, decreases in milk 

supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series. For the Water and sewerage 

maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California. For 

Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk production levels and higher demand for cheese. 
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 vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, 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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 187.4 188.0 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.2 

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

 561.5 563.2 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 184.9 185.0 3.4 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.383 184.4 184.5 3.4 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.256 184.3 184.1 3.8 -.1 .1 .2 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.202 204.8 205.5 1.8 .3 .0 .5 .0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.320 179.5 179.2 8.5 -.2 -.7 -.3 .2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .842 171.9 174.0 4.9 1.2 -.2 .5 1.6 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.221 230.1 228.3 3.2 -.8 1.0 .3 -.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .905 140.8 139.7 -.6 -.8 .1 -.2 -.6 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.765 165.1 165.0 1.8 -.1 .8 .6 .1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .305 163.3 162.6 .7 -.4 .8 -.3 -.1 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .251 166.2 166.2 6.5 .0 1.1 2.5 -.1 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.210 180.4 180.4 1.1 .0 .8 .4 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 111.7 110.5 .1 -1.1 .4 2.0 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.127 185.8 186.2 2.8 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 124.1 124.7 3.6 .5 .1 .2 .6 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.001 190.8 191.8 2.9 .5 .3 .5 .5 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.089 187.9 188.4 2.3 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.878 217.8 218.4 3.0 .3 .1 .6 .5 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.157 209.2 209.7 2.5 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.954 128.1 129.1 8.8 .8 -1.6 3.8 1.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.383 223.3 223.9 2.3 .3 .2 .3 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .385 115.1 115.7 1.3 .5 .2 .1 .5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.741 155.2 155.6 1.6 .3 .9 -1.1 .5 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 3.830 137.6 138.0 .9 .3 .9 -1.4 .5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .231 152.5 149.6 1.1 -1.9 1.0 -1.8 -.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.599 143.5 144.2 .8 .5 .9 -1.4 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .910 122.2 122.3 5.3 .1 1.1 .1 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.470 125.7 125.6 -1.3 -.1 .2 -.2 -.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .704 123.6 123.8 2.1 .2 .6 .2 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.975 123.5 124.3 .3 .6 -.1 .9 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.024 119.8 120.3 -.4 .4 .3 -.1 -.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.704 117.6 118.7 .8 .9 -.2 1.5 .1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .195 121.9 120.5 -2.4 -1.1 .3 .4 -.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ .778 120.1 121.0 .9 .7 .3 1.0 -.2 

Transportation .......................................................................... 16.881 160.5 161.8 1.6 .8 .7 1.1 .1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.817 156.6 157.9 1.5 .8 .7 1.2 .0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.912 94.2 94.1 -3.8 -.1 .2 -.2 .0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.817 137.9 137.6 -.8 -.2 .4 -.1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.007 131.2 131.3 -11.5 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.249 150.5 155.9 10.9 3.6 2.5 5.5 -.3 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.222 149.8 155.3 11.0 3.7 2.5 5.5 -.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .369 107.8 107.9 .2 .1 .0 -.2 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.349 198.5 198.6 2.1 .1 -.1 .3 .2 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.064 209.9 211.5 2.1 .8 .0 .3 .4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.074 307.5 308.3 4.7 .3 .6 .6 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.499 267.3 268.5 2.6 .4 .4 .2 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.575 318.4 319.2 5.3 .3 .7 .7 .3 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.749 269.7 270.6 4.2 .3 .8 .7 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.489 413.8 413.6 6.4 .0 .5 .5 .3 

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.872 108.8 109.0 1.5 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.736 104.3 104.7 .9 .4 .1 .3 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.948 111.1 110.9 1.7 -.2 .3 .1 .3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.841 140.6 140.7 7.2 .1 .5 .6 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .219 348.9 349.5 5.2 .2 .4 .6 .7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.623 404.7 404.9 7.4 .0 .4 .6 .6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.107 87.7 87.4 -3.4 -.3 .0 -.3 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.925 85.7 85.4 -3.6 -.4 .0 -.5 -.4 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.315 96.7 96.5 -2.2 -.2 .1 -.4 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .610 15.2 15.0 -10.2 -1.3 -.7 .0 -1.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .230 15.8 15.9 -15.0 .6 -1.2 -1.3 .6 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.776 303.1 303.6 1.8 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .806 473.6 473.3 1.2 -.1 -.1 .2 -.1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.970 180.9 181.3 2.0 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 154.5 154.5 .3 .0 .5 .0 .0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .650 195.8 196.1 1.9 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.448 291.6 292.7 3.8 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.117 153.7 154.3 1.4 .4 .5 .7 .0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 184.9 185.0 3.4 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.733 136.0 136.9 .1 .7 .5 1.0 .0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.458 155.3 157.2 3.2 1.2 .4 1.6 -.5 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.975 123.5 124.3 .3 .6 -.1 .9 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 9.483 179.1 181.7 4.5 1.5 1.1 2.5 -.4 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.275 115.1 115.0 -3.5 -.1 .4 -.2 -.2

Services ...................................................................................... 59.883 221.0 221.5 3.0 .2 .2 .4 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.494 226.8 227.4 3.0 .3 .2 .6 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .385 115.1 115.7 1.3 .5 .2 .1 .5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.599 143.5 144.2 .8 .5 .9 -1.4 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .910 122.2 122.3 5.3 .1 1.1 .1 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .704 123.6 123.8 2.1 .2 .6 .2 .2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.319 219.7 220.0 2.2 .1 .0 .0 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.575 318.4 319.2 5.3 .3 .7 .7 .3 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.896 259.5 259.7 2.9 .1 .3 .2 .3 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.617 188.0 188.6 2.1 .3 .3 .5 .3 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.122 177.6 178.2 2.0 .3 .5 .4 .1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.926 181.3 181.8 2.1 .3 .3 .4 .2 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.734 138.0 138.9 .2 .7 .6 1.0 -.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.459 157.5 159.3 3.2 1.1 .4 1.7 -.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 10.484 179.4 181.7 4.3 1.3 1.3 2.6 .0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.842 170.3 171.4 3.3 .6 .4 .8 -.1 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.389 230.7 231.1 2.9 .2 .4 -.1 .3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.308 212.7 213.2 2.7 .2 .1 .4 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.080 143.1 145.9 5.6 2.0 1.7 1.9 .1 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.920 193.7 194.1 2.1 .2 .2 .4 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.537 196.1 196.5 1.8 .2 .2 .4 .3 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.254 140.3 140.5 -1.4 .1 .2 .1 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 3.480 151.3 156.3 10.3 3.3 2.5 5.0 -.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.283 228.9 229.4 3.1 .2 .1 .5 .4 

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

 $ .534 $ .532 - - - - -

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

 $ .178 $ .178 - - - - -

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—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2003

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 185.8 186.3 187.2 187.6 0.9 2.4 2.0 3.9 1.6 2.9 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.9 184.3 184.7 185.0 3.2 4.3 3.6 2.4 3.7 3.0 

Food ....................................................................................... 183.5 183.8 184.1 184.4 3.2 4.5 3.8 2.0 3.8 2.9 

Food at home ....................................................................... 183.4 183.6 183.9 184.1 3.9 6.2 3.8 1.5 5.0 2.7 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 204.3 204.2 205.2 205.3 3.6 .0 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.8 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 180.5 179.3 178.8 179.2 7.7 14.3 15.8 -2.8 10.9 6.1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 171.6 171.3 172.2 174.9 -2.8 14.0 1.4 7.9 5.2 4.6 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 226.1 228.4 229.0 227.7 16.1 -.3 -4.8 2.9 7.6 -1.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.4 140.5 140.2 139.4 -5.9 6.2 .6 -2.8 .0 -1.1 

Other food at home ............................................................ 162.6 163.9 164.9 165.0 .5 1.7 -1.2 6.0 1.1 2.3 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.0 163.3 162.8 162.7 1.5 1.2 -1.7 1.7 1.4 .0 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 160.6 162.3 166.3 166.2 .3 5.2 6.2 14.7 2.7 10.4 

Other foods ....................................................................... 178.0 179.4 180.2 180.4 .4 1.1 -2.7 5.5 .8 1.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.1 109.5 111.7 110.5 3.3 -2.1 -5.7 5.2 .5 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 184.9 185.5 185.8 186.2 2.7 2.2 3.5 2.8 2.4 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 123.9 124.0 124.2 124.9 2.0 2.3 6.4 3.3 2.2 4.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 189.4 189.9 190.8 191.8 1.7 1.9 2.8 5.2 1.8 4.0 

Housing .................................................................................... 186.8 187.1 187.7 188.4 2.2 1.5 2.2 3.5 1.9 2.8 

Shelter .................................................................................... 215.6 215.8 217.1 218.1 2.9 2.7 1.7 4.7 2.8 3.2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 208.1 208.6 209.0 209.7 2.6 2.4 2.1 3.1 2.5 2.6 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 121.7 119.8 124.4 126.4 13.7 4.7 .7 16.4 9.1 8.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 222.2 222.7 223.3 224.1 1.7 2.6 1.6 3.5 2.1 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 114.8 115.0 115.1 115.7 5.0 1.4 -4.1 3.2 3.2 -.5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 157.5 158.9 157.1 157.9 1.8 -1.5 5.5 1.0 .1 3.2 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 140.5 141.8 139.8 140.5 1.2 -3.1 5.3 .0 -1.0 2.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 145.4 146.9 144.2 144.1 -16.1 -2.3 32.2 -3.5 -9.4 12.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 147.3 148.6 146.5 147.3 2.5 -3.2 3.9 .0 -.4 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 120.5 121.8 121.9 122.3 4.2 5.6 5.8 6.1 4.9 6.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 125.4 125.7 125.5 125.2 -2.8 -2.2 .6 -.6 -2.5 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 122.7 123.4 123.6 123.8 1.7 3.0 .3 3.6 2.3 2.0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.8 119.7 120.8 120.8 .3 2.0 -4.5 3.4 1.2 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.0 118.3 118.2 118.0 -4.6 3.1 .0 .0 -.8 .0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.7 111.5 113.2 113.3 1.1 3.2 -7.2 5.9 2.1 -.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 119.5 119.8 120.3 119.3 -1.6 2.0 -8.8 -.7 .2 -4.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ 118.0 118.3 119.5 119.3 3.8 1.3 -5.6 4.5 2.6 -.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 157.9 159.0 160.8 160.9 -4.7 3.1 .5 7.8 -.9 4.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 153.9 155.0 156.9 156.9 -5.8 3.5 .8 8.0 -1.3 4.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 93.9 94.1 93.9 93.9 -3.2 -7.6 -4.1 .0 -5.5 -2.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 136.9 137.5 137.3 137.2 -2.3 -.9 -.9 .9 -1.6 .0 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 130.8 131.0 131.2 131.3 -7.1 -26.1 -12.1 1.5 -17.1 -5.5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 141.5 145.1 153.1 152.7 -23.2 31.0 10.9 35.6 .3 22.6 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 141.0 144.5 152.4 151.9 -23.1 31.6 11.2 34.7 .6 22.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.0 108.0 107.8 107.9 -.4 1.1 .4 -.4 .4 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 198.0 197.8 198.3 198.6 3.5 .8 2.7 1.2 2.2 1.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 210.1 210.0 210.6 211.5 9.2 .4 -3.5 2.7 4.7 -.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 303.4 305.3 307.0 308.1 4.3 4.0 4.2 6.3 4.1 5.3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 265.7 266.7 267.3 268.5 2.3 2.9 1.2 4.3 2.6 2.7 

Medical care services ............................................................. 313.5 315.7 317.8 318.9 5.0 4.2 5.1 7.1 4.6 6.1 

Professional services ........................................................... 265.5 267.5 269.4 270.1 3.6 2.5 3.4 7.1 3.0 5.2

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 408.4 410.4 412.5 413.6 7.7 5.5 7.4 5.2 6.6 6.3 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2003

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.0 108.3 108.6 108.8 1.9 0.0 1.1 3.0 0.9 2.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.6 103.7 104.0 104.4 .8 .8 -1.1 3.1 .8 1.0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 110.7 111.0 111.1 111.4 .4 2.2 1.8 2.6 1.3 2.2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 139.5 140.2 141.0 141.8 6.2 8.9 6.9 6.8 7.5 6.8 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 344.0 345.5 347.5 349.9 4.6 2.2 7.0 7.0 3.4 7.0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 402.0 403.8 406.3 408.6 6.3 9.5 7.1 6.7 7.9 6.9 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.8 87.8 87.5 87.5 -5.2 -4.0 -3.1 -1.4 -4.6 -2.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 86.1 86.1 85.7 85.4 -4.9 -4.9 -1.4 -3.2 -4.9 -2.3 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.0 97.1 96.7 96.5 -2.4 -4.0 -.4 -2.0 -3.2 -1.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.3 15.2 15.2 15.0 -15.7 -9.6 -7.5 -7.6 -12.7 -7.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 16.2 16.0 15.8 15.9 -28.4 -15.3 -7.1 -7.2 -22.1 -7.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 301.7 302.3 302.9 303.3 1.6 1.5 2.0 2.1 1.6 2.1

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 473.0 472.6 473.6 473.3 1.0 .3 3.0 .3 .7 1.6 

Personal care ......................................................................... 179.9 180.4 180.7 181.1 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.7 1.8 2.2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.8 154.5 154.5 154.5 .3 -1.5 .5 1.8 -.6 1.2 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 194.6 195.2 195.8 196.1 1.5 5.1 -2.0 3.1 3.2 .5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 289.1 289.9 291.1 292.4 3.5 3.1 4.1 4.6 3.3 4.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 151.7 152.4 153.4 153.4 -2.4 1.9 1.3 4.6 -.3 2.9 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.9 184.3 184.7 185.0 3.2 4.3 3.6 2.4 3.7 3.0 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 133.7 134.4 135.7 135.7 -5.5 .6 -.3 6.1 -2.5 2.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 152.2 152.8 155.3 154.6 -5.5 6.1 6.3 6.5 .1 6.4 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.8 119.7 120.8 120.8 .3 2.0 -4.5 3.4 1.2 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 174.1 176.0 180.4 179.7 -8.3 9.3 4.5 13.5 .1 8.9 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.7 115.2 115.0 114.8 -4.9 -7.0 -2.4 .3 -6.0 -1.0 

Services ...................................................................................... 219.5 220.0 220.8 221.6 3.2 2.8 2.0 3.9 3.0 3.0 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 224.3 224.7 226.1 227.0 3.1 2.7 1.3 4.9 2.9 3.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 114.8 115.0 115.1 115.7 5.0 1.4 -4.1 3.2 3.2 -.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 147.3 148.6 146.5 147.3 2.5 -3.2 3.9 .0 -.4 1.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 120.5 121.8 121.9 122.3 4.2 5.6 5.8 6.1 4.9 6.0 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 122.7 123.4 123.6 123.8 1.7 3.0 .3 3.6 2.3 2.0 

Transportation services ............................................................ 219.2 219.2 219.3 219.7 4.7 3.4 .0 .9 4.0 .5

Medical care services ............................................................... 313.5 315.7 317.8 318.9 5.0 4.2 5.1 7.1 4.6 6.1 

Other services .......................................................................... 258.0 258.8 259.4 260.1 2.7 3.5 2.2 3.3 3.1 2.7 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 186.2 186.7 187.7 188.2 .4 2.2 1.5 4.4 1.3 2.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 176.1 176.9 177.6 177.8 .0 2.3 1.8 3.9 1.2 2.9 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 179.7 180.2 181.0 181.4 .7 2.5 1.6 3.8 1.6 2.7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 135.7 136.5 137.8 137.7 -5.1 .6 -.3 6.0 -2.3 2.8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 154.3 154.9 157.5 156.6 -4.4 5.4 5.9 6.1 .4 6.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 173.9 176.1 180.6 180.6 -8.5 8.3 2.6 16.3 -.5 9.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 168.2 168.8 170.2 170.0 -1.2 5.0 5.2 4.3 1.8 4.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 230.2 231.1 230.9 231.5 3.2 3.4 2.5 2.3 3.3 2.4 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 211.4 211.7 212.5 213.2 2.9 2.9 1.5 3.4 2.9 2.5 

Energy ........................................................................................ 140.4 142.8 145.5 145.7 -11.1 11.5 7.8 16.0 -.4 11.8 

All items less energy .................................................................. 192.2 192.5 193.2 193.7 1.9 1.7 1.5 3.2 1.8 2.3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 194.4 194.8 195.5 196.0 1.7 1.2 .8 3.3 1.5 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.1 139.4 139.6 139.6 -2.0 -3.4 -1.7 1.4 -2.7 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 142.4 146.0 153.3 152.9 -22.8 28.8 11.7 32.9 -.3 21.9 

Services less energy services ................................................ 226.9 227.2 228.3 229.2 3.3 3.1 2.0 4.1 3.2 3.0 

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

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

4 Indexes on a December 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

Apr.2004 from—

Percent change to

Mar.2004 from—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Mar.

2003

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 185.2 186.2 187.4 188.0 2.3 1.0 0.3 1.7 1.2 0.6 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 195.9 196.8 198.6 199.4 3.5 1.3 .4 2.9 1.4 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 197.9 198.8 200.7 201.4 3.6 1.3 .3 3.1 1.4 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.0 116.6 117.4 118.1 3.2 1.3 .6 2.1 1.2 .7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 179.4 180.2 181.0 181.5 2.1 .7 .3 1.3 .9 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 181.8 182.5 183.1 183.7 2.2 .7 .3 1.3 .7 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.1 114.7 115.2 115.6 2.1 .8 .3 1.4 1.0 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 171.8 173.0 174.1 173.9 1.3 .5 -.1 .6 1.3 .6 

South urban .................................................... M 178.2 179.1 180.1 180.9 2.0 1.0 .4 1.5 1.1 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 179.8 180.8 181.8 182.5 2.0 .9 .4 1.5 1.1 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.8 114.3 114.9 115.6 2.0 1.1 .6 1.4 1.0 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 175.3 176.8 177.7 178.7 1.8 1.1 .6 1.3 1.4 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 189.4 190.8 192.2 192.3 1.9 .8 .1 1.5 1.5 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.7 193.2 194.5 194.6 1.5 .7 .1 1.2 1.5 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.0 117.0 117.9 117.8 2.5 .7 -.1 2.2 1.6 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 169.4 170.4 171.5 172.0 2.4 .9 .3 1.8 1.2 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 114.6 115.2 115.9 116.3 2.3 1.0 .3 1.7 1.1 .6 

D ................................................................. M 176.9 177.9 178.9 179.3 1.7 .8 .2 1.1 1.1 .6 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 185.4 186.4 186.3 187.2 2.1 .4 .5 .8 .5 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 188.5 190.1 191.5 191.9 2.3 .9 .2 1.8 1.6 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 199.9 201.1 203.4 204.0 3.7 1.4 .3 3.2 1.8 1.1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 208.4 -

 208.7 - - - - 2.9 .1 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 178.4 - 180.0 - - - - 2.6 .9 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 175.7 -

 177.7 - - - - .5 1.1 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 117.1 - 118.1 - - - - 1.9 .9 -

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

 180.8 - 182.3 .1 .8 - - - -

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

 183.4 - 184.7 1.4 .7 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 168.5 - 169.7 4.4 .7 - - - -

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

 183.6 - 185.2 2.5 .9 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 191.4 - 194.8 4.1 1.8 - - - -

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

 198.1 - 198.3 .5 .1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 193.5 - 194.3 1.0 .4 - - - -

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 182.9 183.5 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.2 

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

 544.8 546.5 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 184.4 184.5 3.5 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 16.061 183.8 183.9 3.5 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.637 183.5 183.3 3.9 -.1 .1 .2 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.364 204.9 205.5 1.8 .3 .1 .4 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.908 179.6 179.1 8.4 -.3 -.6 -.2 .1 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .955 171.3 173.6 4.8 1.3 -.3 .4 1.7 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.344 227.8 225.5 2.5 -1.0 1.3 .1 -.8 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.076 140.1 139.1 -.4 -.7 .1 -.4 -.4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.991 164.7 164.6 1.8 -.1 .7 .7 -.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .321 162.6 161.9 .6 -.4 .6 -.2 -.1 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .303 166.0 166.1 6.3 .1 .9 2.4 .2 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.366 180.8 180.8 1.0 .0 .7 .5 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .350 112.2 111.0 .1 -1.1 .5 1.9 -1.1 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.424 185.6 186.1 2.8 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .252 123.8 124.3 2.9 .4 .2 .1 .4 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.090 191.2 192.1 2.9 .5 .3 .6 .5 

Housing .................................................................................... 39.114 183.2 183.6 2.2 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.151 211.0 211.5 2.7 .2 .0 .4 .4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.065 208.4 208.9 2.6 .2 .3 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.722 128.8 129.8 9.1 .8 -1.9 3.6 1.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.026 202.7 203.1 2.2 .2 .1 .3 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .337 115.2 116.0 1.8 .7 .2 .1 .7 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.079 154.7 155.1 1.8 .3 .9 -1.0 .4 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.146 136.6 137.0 1.0 .3 .9 -1.3 .5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .216 152.0 148.9 1.4 -2.0 .8 -1.9 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.930 142.9 143.5 .8 .4 .8 -1.2 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .933 122.4 122.5 5.4 .1 1.1 .2 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.884 121.4 121.3 -1.2 -.1 .2 .0 -.3 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .318 125.4 125.6 2.8 .2 1.0 .4 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.357 122.9 123.8 .8 .7 .0 .8 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.120 120.0 120.6 .2 .5 .3 -.1 -.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.727 117.4 118.4 1.7 .9 -.4 1.9 .1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .250 125.2 123.4 -1.7 -1.4 .7 .4 -1.5 

Footwear ................................................................................ 1.011 118.6 119.6 -.2 .8 .2 .3 -.4 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.145 158.5 159.9 .9 .9 .6 1.3 -.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.348 155.7 157.1 .8 .9 .7 1.3 -.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.305 92.6 92.6 -5.2 .0 .1 -.1 .0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.864 139.0 138.7 -.7 -.2 .4 -.2 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.487 132.0 132.1 -11.5 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.967 150.9 156.5 11.2 3.7 2.5 5.4 -.5 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.936 150.3 155.8 11.1 3.7 2.5 5.4 -.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .456 107.4 107.5 .4 .1 .0 -.2 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.365 200.3 200.4 2.1 .0 .0 .2 .1 

Public transportation ............................................................... .797 208.0 209.4 3.2 .7 .1 .3 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 4.969 306.9 307.7 4.8 .3 .7 .6 .4 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.142 261.5 262.5 2.5 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.827 318.6 319.4 5.4 .3 .8 .6 .3 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.256 272.3 273.2 4.3 .3 .8 .7 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.254 409.9 409.8 6.5 .0 .4 .5 .3 

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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.697 106.5 106.7 1.2 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.5 103.9 .9 .4 .1 .4 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.645 109.8 109.6 1.1 -.2 .2 .1 .2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.299 139.6 139.7 6.7 .1 .4 .6 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .215 349.9 350.4 5.1 .1 .7 .5 .7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.084 393.8 394.1 6.9 .1 .4 .5 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.345 89.3 89.0 -3.3 -.3 .1 -.3 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.194 87.9 87.5 -3.5 -.5 .0 -.3 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.622 96.9 96.7 -2.2 -.2 .1 -.4 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .572 15.7 15.5 -10.9 -1.3 .0 -.6 -1.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .205 15.5 15.6 -15.7 .6 -.6 -1.3 .6 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.923 310.8 311.3 1.6 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.248 474.2 474.1 .9 .0 -.1 .2 .0 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.675 179.7 180.1 1.9 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .737 155.0 155.1 .3 .1 .5 .0 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .610 196.3 196.6 1.8 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.152 291.6 292.9 4.0 .4 .3 .4 .7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.582 154.1 154.8 1.2 .5 .4 .7 .0 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 184.4 184.5 3.5 .1 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.430 137.0 138.0 -.1 .7 .5 1.0 -.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.671 158.4 160.5 3.7 1.3 .4 1.9 -.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.357 122.9 123.8 .8 .7 .0 .8 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.315 184.1 187.0 4.9 1.6 1.3 2.8 -.6 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.759 114.0 113.9 -4.6 -.1 .4 -.2 -.2

Services ...................................................................................... 55.418 216.7 217.1 2.7 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.813 203.2 203.7 2.7 .2 .1 .5 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .337 115.2 116.0 1.8 .7 .2 .1 .7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.930 142.9 143.5 .8 .4 .8 -1.2 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .933 122.4 122.5 5.4 .1 1.1 .2 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .318 125.4 125.6 2.8 .2 1.0 .4 .2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.241 220.0 220.2 2.4 .1 .0 .1 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.827 318.6 319.4 5.4 .3 .8 .6 .3 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.020 252.9 253.0 2.5 .0 .3 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 83.939 182.6 183.2 1.8 .3 .3 .5 .2 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.849 174.7 175.3 1.8 .3 .5 .4 .1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 95.031 177.6 178.2 1.9 .3 .3 .5 .1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.520 138.9 139.9 -.1 .7 .6 .9 -.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.761 160.4 162.4 3.6 1.2 .4 1.8 -.6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.405 184.0 186.6 4.6 1.4 1.4 2.8 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 31.823 171.8 173.0 3.5 .7 .4 .9 -.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.605 204.9 205.2 2.8 .1 .4 -.1 .3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.592 208.8 209.2 2.5 .2 .1 .3 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.114 143.0 146.0 6.0 2.1 1.6 2.2 -.1 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.886 188.7 189.0 1.7 .2 .2 .3 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 75.825 190.1 190.4 1.3 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 24.337 140.0 140.1 -2.0 .1 .2 .1 .0 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.183 151.5 156.7 10.6 3.4 2.4 5.1 -.5 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.488 224.9 225.3 2.9 .2 .1 .4 .3 

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

 $ .547 $ .545 - - - - -

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

 $ .184 $ .183 - - - - -

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—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2003

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 181.4 181.9 182.8 183.1 0.4 2.2 1.8 3.8 1.3 2.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.4 183.8 184.1 184.4 3.2 4.8 3.6 2.2 4.0 2.9 

Food ....................................................................................... 182.9 183.3 183.6 183.8 3.4 4.8 3.6 2.0 4.1 2.8 

Food at home ....................................................................... 182.6 182.8 183.1 183.2 3.9 6.4 3.8 1.3 5.2 2.6 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 204.0 204.2 205.1 205.5 3.8 -.4 1.2 3.0 1.7 2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 180.4 179.3 178.9 179.1 7.7 13.7 16.1 -2.9 10.7 6.2 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 171.4 170.9 171.5 174.5 -2.9 14.3 1.4 7.4 5.4 4.4 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 223.6 226.4 226.7 224.8 15.6 -.4 -6.2 2.2 7.3 -2.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.7 139.9 139.4 138.8 -5.6 6.6 .6 -2.6 .3 -1.0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 162.2 163.4 164.5 164.4 1.0 1.7 -1.2 5.5 1.4 2.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 161.5 162.5 162.2 162.1 1.7 1.5 -2.2 1.5 1.6 -.4 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 160.6 162.1 166.0 166.3 .0 4.7 6.5 15.0 2.3 10.6 

Other foods ....................................................................... 178.4 179.7 180.6 180.4 .9 1.1 -2.6 4.6 1.0 .9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.6 110.1 112.2 111.0 2.5 -1.4 -5.6 5.2 .5 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 184.8 185.3 185.6 186.1 2.5 2.7 3.3 2.8 2.6 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 123.7 123.9 124.0 124.5 2.0 2.0 5.3 2.6 2.0 4.0 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 189.5 190.0 191.2 192.1 .9 2.4 3.0 5.6 1.6 4.3 

Housing .................................................................................... 182.5 182.8 183.2 183.8 1.8 1.6 2.4 2.9 1.7 2.7 

Shelter .................................................................................... 209.5 209.6 210.5 211.3 2.4 2.5 2.3 3.5 2.4 2.9 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 207.2 207.8 208.2 208.9 2.6 2.4 2.0 3.3 2.5 2.6 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 123.2 120.9 125.2 127.4 11.8 5.8 4.0 14.3 8.7 9.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 201.9 202.1 202.7 203.1 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 2.0 2.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 114.9 115.1 115.2 116.0 5.0 2.1 -3.7 3.9 3.5 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 156.9 158.3 156.7 157.4 1.6 -1.3 5.3 1.3 .1 3.3 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 139.4 140.6 138.8 139.5 1.2 -2.6 5.0 .3 -.7 2.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 144.7 145.8 143.0 143.4 -15.2 -1.2 30.4 -3.5 -8.4 12.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 146.5 147.7 145.9 146.7 1.9 -2.7 3.9 .5 -.4 2.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 120.6 121.9 122.2 122.4 4.2 5.6 5.8 6.1 4.9 6.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.2 121.4 121.4 121.0 -2.6 -2.3 .7 -.7 -2.4 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 123.7 124.9 125.4 125.6 1.6 3.3 .0 6.3 2.5 3.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.5 119.5 120.5 120.4 .3 3.0 -3.0 3.0 1.7 .0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.1 118.5 118.4 118.3 -5.3 3.5 2.1 .7 -1.0 1.4

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.4 111.0 113.1 113.2 1.8 5.1 -5.9 6.6 3.4 .2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 122.4 123.2 123.7 121.9 -.3 2.6 -7.2 -1.6 1.1 -4.4 

Footwear ................................................................................ 117.7 117.9 118.2 117.7 2.7 1.4 -4.6 .0 2.0 -2.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 155.9 156.9 158.9 158.8 -5.2 1.6 .0 7.7 -1.9 3.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 153.0 154.1 156.1 155.9 -5.8 1.6 .0 7.8 -2.2 3.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 92.4 92.5 92.4 92.4 -4.0 -11.1 -5.4 .0 -7.6 -2.8 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.1 138.7 138.4 138.3 -2.3 -.3 -.9 .6 -1.3 -.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 131.6 131.7 132.0 132.1 -7.3 -25.7 -12.1 1.5 -17.0 -5.5 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 141.9 145.5 153.3 152.5 -20.6 30.1 10.8 33.4 1.6 21.6 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 141.4 144.9 152.7 152.0 -20.9 30.2 10.9 33.5 1.5 21.7 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.6 107.6 107.4 107.5 -.4 1.9 .4 -.4 .7 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 199.7 199.7 200.1 200.4 3.3 1.0 2.6 1.4 2.2 2.0 

Public transportation ............................................................... 207.9 208.1 208.8 209.8 10.4 1.5 -2.6 3.7 5.9 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 302.7 304.7 306.4 307.5 4.3 4.1 4.2 6.5 4.2 5.3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 260.0 260.9 261.5 262.5 2.4 2.8 .9 3.9 2.6 2.4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 313.5 315.9 317.9 319.0 4.8 4.4 5.1 7.2 4.6 6.2 

Professional services ........................................................... 267.8 270.0 272.0 272.7 3.7 2.4 3.5 7.5 3.1 5.5

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 405.1 406.7 408.7 409.8 7.7 6.0 7.4 4.7 6.9 6.1 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2003

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

Oct.

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 105.7 106.1 106.4 106.4 1.5 -0.4 0.8 2.7 0.6 1.7 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 102.7 102.8 103.2 103.6 .8 1.2 -1.9 3.6 1.0 .8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.5 109.7 109.8 110.0 .0 1.5 1.1 1.8 .7 1.5 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 138.7 139.3 140.1 140.8 6.2 7.7 6.9 6.2 6.9 6.6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 344.4 346.7 348.5 350.8 4.9 2.3 5.9 7.6 3.6 6.8 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 391.6 393.3 395.4 397.3 6.3 8.3 7.0 6.0 7.3 6.5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 89.3 89.4 89.1 89.1 -5.1 -3.5 -3.5 -.9 -4.3 -2.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 88.2 88.2 87.9 87.5 -4.8 -4.8 -1.3 -3.1 -4.8 -2.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.2 97.3 96.9 96.7 -2.4 -4.0 -.4 -2.0 -3.2 -1.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.8 15.8 15.7 15.5 -19.1 -7.1 -9.5 -7.4 -13.3 -8.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.8 15.7 15.5 15.6 -30.4 -15.6 -9.5 -5.0 -23.3 -7.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 309.5 310.0 310.6 311.1 1.4 .9 2.0 2.1 1.2 2.0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 473.8 473.2 474.2 474.1 .6 .2 2.7 .3 .4 1.4 

Personal care ......................................................................... 178.6 179.1 179.5 179.9 1.8 1.4 1.6 2.9 1.6 2.3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.3 155.0 155.0 155.1 .5 -1.8 .5 2.1 -.6 1.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 195.1 195.7 196.3 196.6 1.5 5.0 -2.4 3.1 3.2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 288.6 289.6 290.7 292.6 3.8 3.0 3.8 5.7 3.4 4.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 152.2 152.8 153.9 153.9 -2.3 1.6 1.1 4.5 -.4 2.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.4 183.8 184.1 184.4 3.2 4.8 3.6 2.2 4.0 2.9 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 134.7 135.4 136.8 136.6 -5.7 .0 -.6 5.8 -2.9 2.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 155.1 155.7 158.6 157.7 -6.2 7.1 7.6 6.9 .3 7.2 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.5 119.5 120.5 120.4 .3 3.0 -3.0 3.0 1.7 .0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 178.3 180.7 185.8 184.6 -8.4 10.4 4.1 14.9 .6 9.4 

Durables ................................................................................. 113.8 114.2 114.0 113.8 -5.6 -8.9 -3.8 .0 -7.2 -1.9 

Services ...................................................................................... 215.6 216.1 216.6 217.3 3.1 2.5 2.3 3.2 2.8 2.7 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 201.6 201.8 202.8 203.5 2.4 2.4 2.0 3.8 2.4 2.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 114.9 115.1 115.2 116.0 5.0 2.1 -3.7 3.9 3.5 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 146.5 147.7 145.9 146.7 1.9 -2.7 3.9 .5 -.4 2.2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 120.6 121.9 122.2 122.4 4.2 5.6 5.8 6.1 4.9 6.0 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 123.7 124.9 125.4 125.6 1.6 3.3 .0 6.3 2.5 3.1 

Transportation services ............................................................ 219.4 219.4 219.6 220.0 4.7 3.7 .4 1.1 4.2 .7 

Medical care services ............................................................... 313.5 315.9 317.9 319.0 4.8 4.4 5.1 7.2 4.6 6.2 

Other services .......................................................................... 251.5 252.2 252.7 253.3 2.5 2.8 2.1 2.9 2.6 2.5 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 180.9 181.5 182.4 182.7 .0 1.6 1.3 4.0 .8 2.7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 173.1 173.9 174.6 174.8 -.2 1.9 1.6 4.0 .8 2.8 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 176.2 176.7 177.5 177.7 .5 2.1 1.6 3.4 1.3 2.5 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 136.6 137.4 138.7 138.6 -5.4 -.3 -.3 6.0 -2.9 2.8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 157.1 157.8 160.7 159.7 -5.6 7.0 6.6 6.8 .5 6.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 177.9 180.4 185.4 185.3 -9.6 9.6 2.5 17.7 -.5 9.8 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 169.6 170.2 171.8 171.4 -1.4 5.7 5.4 4.3 2.1 4.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 204.5 205.3 205.1 205.8 3.2 3.0 2.4 2.6 3.1 2.5 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 208.0 208.2 208.8 209.5 2.8 2.6 2.1 2.9 2.7 2.5 

Energy ........................................................................................ 140.0 142.3 145.4 145.3 -10.1 12.2 8.1 16.0 .4 12.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 187.4 187.7 188.2 188.6 1.5 1.3 1.3 2.6 1.4 1.9 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 188.7 189.0 189.6 190.0 1.3 .4 .9 2.8 .9 1.8 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 138.8 139.1 139.3 139.3 -2.2 -4.7 -2.3 1.4 -3.5 -.4 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 142.6 146.0 153.4 152.6 -20.5 28.4 11.7 31.1 1.0 21.0 

Services less energy services ................................................ 223.3 223.6 224.5 225.1 3.0 2.9 2.2 3.3 2.9 2.7 

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

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

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

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

Apr.2004 from—

Percent change to

Mar.2004 from—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Mar.

2003

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 180.9 181.9 182.9 183.5 2.1 0.9 0.3 1.4 1.1 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 192.6 193.6 195.1 195.7 3.3 1.1 .3 2.8 1.3 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.3 194.3 195.9 196.3 3.4 1.0 .2 3.1 1.3 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.1 116.7 117.5 118.1 3.1 1.2 .5 2.0 1.2 .7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 174.5 175.3 175.8 176.3 1.8 .6 .3 1.0 .7 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 176.2 176.9 177.2 177.9 2.1 .6 .4 1.0 .6 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.3 113.8 114.2 114.6 1.8 .7 .4 1.0 .8 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 169.4 170.6 171.4 171.2 1.1 .4 -.1 .5 1.2 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 175.0 175.8 176.7 177.6 1.7 1.0 .5 1.0 1.0 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 177.1 178.0 178.9 179.7 1.9 1.0 .4 1.4 1.0 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.3 112.7 113.4 114.0 1.5 1.2 .5 .8 1.0 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 174.6 176.0 176.9 177.8 1.4 1.0 .5 .7 1.3 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 184.3 185.7 187.1 187.3 1.7 .9 .1 1.3 1.5 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.0 186.5 187.9 188.2 1.5 .9 .2 1.1 1.6 .8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.4 116.4 117.2 117.2 2.2 .7 .0 1.8 1.6 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 167.6 168.6 169.6 170.0 2.2 .8 .2 1.7 1.2 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 113.6 114.2 114.9 115.3 1.9 1.0 .3 1.2 1.1 .6 

D ................................................................. M 174.8 175.8 176.7 177.2 1.3 .8 .3 .6 1.1 .5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 179.0 179.9 179.7 180.6 1.8 .4 .5 .4 .4 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 181.7 183.4 184.9 185.2 2.4 1.0 .2 1.8 1.8 .8 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 194.9 196.3 198.2 198.5 3.5 1.1 .2 3.2 1.7 1.0 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 206.8 -

 207.4 - - - - 2.5 .3 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 169.8 - 171.0 - - - - 2.3 .7 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 175.7 -

 177.6 - - - - .6 1.1 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 116.5 - 117.6 - - - - 1.8 .9 -

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

 178.7 - 180.0 .4 .7 - - - -

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

 178.1 - 179.3 1.6 .7 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 165.7 - 166.8 3.7 .7 - - - -

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

 180.8 - 182.6 2.4 1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 191.2 - 194.0 4.1 1.5 - - - -

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

 194.1 - 194.7 .6 .3 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 187.8 - 189.1 1.1 .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 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

 Apr. 2004 from—

 Mar.

 2004

 Apr.

 2004

 Apr.

 2003

 Mar.

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 109.4 109.7 1.9 0.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 110.2 110.3 3.2 .1 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 110.2 110.3 3.3 .1 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 109.2 109.2 3.5 .0 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 111.4 111.7 2.9 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 110.6 111.1 2.9 .5 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 113.1 113.4 2.2 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 115.1 115.5 2.8 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 119.3 119.6 1.7 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 95.9 95.9 -1.5 .0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 93.4 94.1 .4 .7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 106.3 107.0 .6 .7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 106.4 107.1 .5 .7 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 104.3 105.1 2.0 .8 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 120.3 120.7 4.5 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 113.9 114.4 2.5 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 122.6 122.9 5.2 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 104.2 104.0 .6 -.2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 99.3 99.1 .1 -.2 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 129.5 129.6 7.2 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 80.6 80.2 -5.0 -.5 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 113.5 113.6 1.7 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 115.3 115.5 2.7 .2 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 101.8 102.2 .8 .4 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 87.1 87.0 -4.3 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 108.7 109.3 2.9 .6 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 107.9 108.1 1.3 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 125.5 127.8 5.4 1.8 

Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 187.5 188.0 2.3 0.3 

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

 561.6 563.2 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.832 184.9 185.0 3.4 .1 

Food ................................................................................................ 14.801 184.4 184.4 3.4 .0 

Food at home ................................................................................ 8.558 184.3 184.1 3.8 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.293 204.9 205.6 1.8 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 2.433 179.2 179.0 8.4 -.1 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .889 171.9 173.9 4.9 1.2 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.252 230.8 228.3 3.2 -1.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ .933 140.6 139.6 -.6 -.7 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.759 165.1 165.1 1.9 .0 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .311 163.2 162.6 .7 -.4 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .255 166.0 166.5 6.7 .3 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.192 180.4 180.5 1.1 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .280 111.6 110.3 -.1 -1.2 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.243 185.8 186.3 2.9 .3 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .391 124.4 125.0 3.8 .5 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ 1.031 190.8 191.7 2.8 .5 

Housing ............................................................................................. 40.998 187.9 188.3 2.3 .2 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 31.834 217.7 218.2 2.9 .2 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 6.516 209.2 209.7 2.5 .2 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 2.693 128.8 128.9 8.6 .1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 22.261 223.4 223.9 2.3 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .364 115.0 115.6 1.2 .5 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 4.674 155.2 155.6 1.6 .3 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 3.787 137.6 138.0 .9 .3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .220 152.7 149.9 1.4 -1.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 3.568 143.5 144.2 .8 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .887 122.2 122.4 5.4 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 4.489 125.7 125.6 -1.3 -.1 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .822 123.9 124.1 2.4 .2 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 4.058 123.6 124.6 .6 .8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. 1.034 119.2 120.5 -.2 1.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.673 118.0 119.0 1.0 .8 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .180 121.5 120.1 -2.7 -1.2 

Footwear .......................................................................................... .822 120.1 120.8 .8 .6 

Transportation ................................................................................... 17.035 160.6 161.9 1.6 .8 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 15.870 156.7 158.0 1.6 .8 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 7.674 94.1 94.0 -3.9 -.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.686 137.9 137.7 -.7 -.1 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 1.753 131.2 131.3 -11.5 .1 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 3.269 150.6 156.0 11.0 3.6 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 3.241 149.9 155.3 11.0 3.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .411 107.9 107.9 .2 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.426 198.5 198.6 2.1 .1 

Public transportation ........................................................................ 1.165 209.7 211.3 2.0 .8 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 6.067 307.6 308.5 4.7 .3 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.390 267.3 268.4 2.6 .4 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 4.677 318.5 319.3 5.3 .3 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.833 269.8 270.8 4.2 .4 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.515 414.0 413.8 6.5 .0 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.897 108.8 109.1 1.6 0.3 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.609 104.5 105.0 1.2 .5 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.780 111.1 111.0 1.8 -.1 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 2.985 140.6 140.7 7.2 .1 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .246 349.3 349.8 5.3 .1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.740 404.8 405.1 7.4 .1 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 2.794 87.7 87.4 -3.4 -.3 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.600 85.6 85.4 -3.6 -.2 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.171 96.7 96.5 -2.2 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .429 15.1 15.0 -10.2 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .169 15.8 15.9 -15.0 .6 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 4.333 303.3 303.6 1.8 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... .969 473.2 472.8 1.0 -.1 

Personal care .................................................................................. 3.364 181.1 181.4 2.1 .2 

Personal care products .................................................................. .668 154.5 154.5 .3 .0 

Personal care services .................................................................. .901 195.8 196.1 1.9 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.601 292.1 293.1 3.9 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 40.254 153.7 154.4 1.4 .5 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.832 184.9 185.0 3.4 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 24.422 136.2 137.1 .3 .7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 13.706 155.4 157.2 3.2 1.2 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 4.058 123.6 124.6 .6 .8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 9.648 179.1 181.6 4.4 1.4 

Durables .......................................................................................... 10.716 115.1 115.0 -3.5 -.1 

Services ............................................................................................... 59.746 221.0 221.4 2.9 .2 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 31.470 226.8 227.2 2.9 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .364 115.0 115.6 1.2 .5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 3.568 143.5 144.2 .8 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .887 122.2 122.4 5.4 .2 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .822 123.9 124.1 2.4 .2 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.774 219.8 220.1 2.2 .1 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 4.677 318.5 319.3 5.3 .3 

Other services ................................................................................... 11.183 259.7 260.0 3.0 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 85.199 188.0 188.7 2.2 .4 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 68.166 177.7 178.3 2.1 .3 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 93.933 181.3 181.8 2.1 .3 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 25.453 138.2 139.1 .4 .7 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 14.737 157.5 159.3 3.2 1.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 10.679 179.3 181.6 4.2 1.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 29.538 170.3 171.4 3.3 .6 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 28.276 230.8 231.2 2.9 .2 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 55.068 212.7 213.1 2.7 .2 

Energy ................................................................................................. 7.056 143.3 146.1 5.8 2.0 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 92.944 193.8 194.1 2.1 .2 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 78.143 196.2 196.5 1.8 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 21.965 140.4 140.7 -1.3 .2 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 3.488 151.5 156.4 10.4 3.2 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 56.178 228.9 229.3 3.1 .2 

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

 $ .533 $ .532 - -

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

 $ .178 $ .178 - -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. 

All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 4 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 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 182.9 183.5 2.1 0.3 

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

 544.8 546.6 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 17.410 184.4 184.5 3.5 .1 

Food ................................................................................................ 16.404 183.8 183.9 3.5 .1 

Food at home ................................................................................ 9.937 183.5 183.3 3.9 -.1 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.467 204.9 205.5 1.8 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 3.043 179.2 179.0 8.4 -.1 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .993 171.5 173.7 4.9 1.3 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.355 228.6 225.8 2.6 -1.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ 1.096 140.1 138.9 -.5 -.9 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.982 164.7 164.7 1.9 .0 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .335 162.8 162.1 .7 -.4 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .306 165.9 166.4 6.5 .3 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.341 180.7 180.8 1.0 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .302 112.0 110.8 -.1 -1.1 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.466 185.7 186.2 2.9 .3 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .280 124.4 124.8 3.3 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ 1.007 191.0 192.2 3.0 .6 

Housing ............................................................................................. 38.367 183.1 183.5 2.1 .2 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 29.566 210.8 211.3 2.6 .2 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 8.532 208.4 208.8 2.5 .2 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 1.525 128.6 129.3 8.7 .5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 19.185 202.7 203.2 2.2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .324 115.0 115.8 1.6 .7 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 5.017 154.7 155.1 1.8 .3 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 4.111 136.5 137.0 1.0 .4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .206 152.1 148.9 1.4 -2.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 3.905 142.9 143.6 .9 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .906 122.4 122.5 5.4 .1 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 3.784 121.4 121.3 -1.2 -.1 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .360 125.6 125.9 3.0 .2 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 4.483 122.4 123.3 .4 .7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. 1.147 118.9 119.7 -.6 .7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.744 116.8 118.0 1.4 1.0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .230 122.9 122.2 -2.6 -.6 

Footwear .......................................................................................... 1.090 118.9 119.8 .0 .8 

Transportation ................................................................................... 19.281 158.7 160.1 1.0 .9 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 18.361 156.0 157.3 .9 .8 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 8.868 92.6 92.5 -5.3 -.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.524 139.1 138.8 -.6 -.2 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 3.283 132.0 132.1 -11.5 .1 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 4.029 151.0 156.4 11.1 3.6 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 3.995 150.4 155.8 11.1 3.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .521 107.4 107.5 .4 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.469 200.2 200.4 2.1 .1 

Public transportation ........................................................................ .920 207.5 208.8 2.9 .6 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 4.844 307.1 308.0 4.9 .3 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.017 261.6 262.6 2.5 .4 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 3.827 318.7 319.6 5.5 .3 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.290 272.2 273.3 4.4 .4 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.232 410.7 410.5 6.7 .0 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2 (OW). Old Weight 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)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Apr. 2004 from—

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Mar.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.515 106.7 107.1 1.6 0.4 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.766 103.7 104.2 1.2 .5 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.559 109.8 109.6 1.1 -.2 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 2.595 139.6 139.7 6.7 .1 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .226 349.9 350.3 5.1 .1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.369 393.7 394.0 6.8 .1 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 2.965 89.2 88.9 -3.4 -.3 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.807 87.8 87.5 -3.5 -.3 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.427 96.9 96.7 -2.2 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .381 15.6 15.4 -11.5 -1.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .154 15.5 15.5 -16.2 .0 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 4.540 310.8 311.1 1.5 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... 1.508 474.1 473.8 .9 -.1 

Personal care .................................................................................. 3.033 179.6 180.0 1.9 .2 

Personal care products .................................................................. .772 155.3 155.4 .5 .1 

Personal care services .................................................................. .901 196.4 196.7 1.8 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.193 291.4 292.5 3.9 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 44.446 154.2 154.9 1.2 .5 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 17.410 184.4 184.5 3.5 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 27.036 137.2 138.1 -.1 .7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 15.078 158.2 160.3 3.6 1.3 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 4.483 122.4 123.3 .4 .7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 10.596 184.1 186.9 4.8 1.5 

Durables .......................................................................................... 11.957 114.1 114.0 -4.5 -.1 

Services ............................................................................................... 55.554 216.6 217.1 2.7 .2 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 29.242 203.0 203.5 2.6 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .324 115.0 115.8 1.6 .7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 3.905 142.9 143.6 .9 .5 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .906 122.4 122.5 5.4 .1 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .360 125.6 125.9 3.0 .2 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.796 220.1 220.4 2.5 .1 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 3.827 318.7 319.6 5.5 .3 

Other services ................................................................................... 10.194 252.8 253.1 2.6 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 83.596 182.6 183.3 1.8 .4 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 70.434 174.7 175.3 1.8 .3 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 95.156 177.6 178.2 1.9 .3 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 28.042 139.1 140.0 .0 .6 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 16.085 160.2 162.3 3.5 1.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 11.602 184.0 186.7 4.7 1.5 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 32.489 171.8 172.9 3.5 .6 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 26.312 204.9 205.3 2.8 .2 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 51.727 208.7 209.2 2.5 .2 

Energy ................................................................................................. 8.139 143.2 146.2 6.2 2.1 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 91.861 188.7 189.0 1.7 .2 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 75.457 190.1 190.4 1.3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 23.808 140.0 140.2 -2.0 .1 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 4.234 151.6 156.7 10.6 3.4 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 51.649 224.8 225.2 2.8 .2 

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

 $ .547 $ .545 - -

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

 $ .184 $ .183 - -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. 

All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 4 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 3 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

Apr. 2004 from—

Percent change to 

Mar. 2004 from—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Mar.

2003

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 185.3 186.3 187.5 188.0 2.3 0.9 0.3 1.8 1.2 0.6 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 195.9 196.7 198.3 199.1 3.4 1.2 .4 2.7 1.2 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 197.9 198.7 200.4 201.1 3.4 1.2 .3 3.0 1.3 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.9 116.5 117.3 117.9 3.1 1.2 .5 2.0 1.2 .7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 179.5 180.3 181.0 181.5 2.1 .7 .3 1.3 .8 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.0 182.5 183.1 183.7 2.2 .7 .3 1.3 .6 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.1 114.7 115.2 115.6 2.1 .8 .3 1.4 1.0 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 171.7 173.1 174.3 174.0 1.3 .5 -.2 .8 1.5 .7 

South urban .................................................... M 178.2 179.2 180.1 181.0 2.0 1.0 .5 1.5 1.1 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 179.9 181.0 181.9 182.7 2.1 .9 .4 1.6 1.1 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.8 114.3 115.0 115.5 1.9 1.0 .4 1.5 1.1 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 175.4 176.8 177.6 178.5 1.7 1.0 .5 1.3 1.3 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 189.5 191.1 192.4 192.5 2.0 .7 .1 1.6 1.5 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 191.9 193.6 194.9 195.0 1.7 .7 .1 1.5 1.6 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.0 117.0 117.9 117.8 2.5 .7 -.1 2.2 1.6 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 169.6 170.5 171.6 172.0 2.4 .9 .2 1.9 1.2 .6 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 114.6 115.2 115.9 116.3 2.3 1.0 .3 1.7 1.1 .6 

D ................................................................. M 176.9 177.9 179.0 179.3 1.7 .8 .2 1.2 1.2 .6 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 185.3 186.3 186.3 187.2 2.1 .5 .5 .8 .5 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 188.6 190.5 191.9 192.2 2.5 .9 .2 2.0 1.7 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 200.0 201.2 203.1 203.7 3.6 1.2 .3 3.0 1.6 .9 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 208.0 -

 208.7 - - - - 2.9 .3 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 178.3 -

 180.2 - - - - 2.7 1.1 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 176.1 - 178.2 - - - - .8 1.2 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 117.2 -

 118.2 - - - - 2.0 .9 -

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

 181.1 - 182.4 .2 .7 - - - -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 - 183.3 - 184.5 1.3 .7 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 -

 168.5 - 169.6 4.4 .7 - - - -

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

 183.5 - 185.3 2.6 1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 191.1 - 194.3 3.8 1.7 - - - -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 - 199.0 - 198.9 .8 -.1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 -

 193.9 - 194.8 1.3 .5 - - - -

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 map in 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 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items

index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

Apr. 2004 from—

Percent change to 

Mar. 2004 from—

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Mar.

2003

Jan.

2004

Feb.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 180.9 181.9 182.9 183.5 2.1 0.9 0.3 1.4 1.1 0.5 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 192.5 193.5 194.9 195.5 3.2 1.0 .3 2.7 1.2 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.2 194.1 195.5 196.1 3.3 1.0 .3 2.9 1.2 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.2 116.8 117.6 118.2 3.2 1.2 .5 2.1 1.2 .7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 174.4 175.2 175.8 176.3 1.8 .6 .3 1.0 .8 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 176.1 176.7 177.1 177.8 2.0 .6 .4 1.0 .6 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.3 113.8 114.2 114.6 1.8 .7 .4 1.0 .8 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 169.3 170.6 171.6 171.4 1.2 .5 -.1 .6 1.4 .6 

South urban .................................................... M 175.0 175.8 176.8 177.6 1.7 1.0 .5 1.0 1.0 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 177.2 178.2 179.0 179.8 2.0 .9 .4 1.4 1.0 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.3 112.7 113.4 113.9 1.4 1.1 .4 .8 1.0 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 174.5 175.9 176.9 177.5 1.2 .9 .3 .7 1.4 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 184.3 185.9 187.2 187.5 1.8 .9 .2 1.4 1.6 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 185.1 186.7 188.1 188.4 1.6 .9 .2 1.2 1.6 .7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.4 116.3 117.2 117.4 2.4 .9 .2 1.8 1.6 .8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 167.6 168.6 169.5 170.0 2.2 .8 .3 1.6 1.1 .5 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 113.6 114.2 114.9 115.3 1.9 1.0 .3 1.2 1.1 .6 

D ................................................................. M 174.7 175.8 176.8 177.2 1.3 .8 .2 .7 1.2 .6 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 178.9 180.0 179.9 180.8 1.9 .4 .5 .5 .6 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 181.6 183.5 185.0 185.5 2.5 1.1 .3 1.9 1.9 .8 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 195.0 196.2 197.9 198.3 3.4 1.1 .2 3.0 1.5 .9 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 206.3 -

 207.4 - - - - 2.5 .5 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 169.4 - 170.6 - - - - 2.1 .7 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 175.8 -

 178.2 - - - - 1.0 1.4 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 116.6 -

 117.5 - - - - 1.7 .8 -

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

 178.6 - 179.7 .3 .6 - - - -

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

 177.8 - 178.9 1.4 .6 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 -

 166.1 - 166.9 3.7 .5 - - - -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 - 181.0 - 182.9 2.5 1.0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 190.7 - 193.2 3.7 1.3 - - - -

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

 194.8 - 195.1 .8 .2 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 187.7 - 189.4 1.3 .9 - - - -

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 map in 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.