News United States

Department 

of Labor

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-04-29

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED

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

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Thursday, January 15, 2004

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: DECEMBER 2003

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in December, before 

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

level of 184.3 (1982-84=100) was 1.9 percent higher than in December 2002.

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

December, prior to seasonal adjustment. The December level of 179.9 was 1.6 percent higher than in December 2002.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in December, following a decline of 0.2 

percent in November. The index for food rose 0.6 percent in December with prices for food at home up 0.8 percent, 

reflecting, in part, another large increase in beef prices. Energy costs rose 0.2 percent in December, following a 3.0 

percent drop in November. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in December, compared 

with a 0.1 percent decrease in November. Shelter costs, which were unchanged in November, increased 0.3 percent in 

December.

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 1

9

2003 3-mos. ended ended

June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. ’03 Dec. ’03 

All Items .2 .2 .3 .3 .0 -.2 .2 .0 ’98‘97Jan.’ 1.9

 Food and beverages .4 .1 .3 .2 .6 .4 .6 6.6 3.5

 Housing .1 .2 .1 .1 .3 -.1 .3 1.7 2.2

 Apparel .4 .0 .1 .5 .2 -.5 -.4 -2.6 -2.1

 Transportation .3 .2 1.1 .9 -1.6 -1.3 -.2 -11.7 .3

 Medical care .3 .5 .2 .5 .3 .3 .6 4.9 3.7

 Recreation .1 .0 .0 .2 .0 .1 .0 .4 1.1

 Education and

 communication -.1 .5 .5 .1 .0 .1 .4 1.8 1.6

 Other goods and

 services .0 .4 .1 .1 .1 -.1 .1 .4 1.5

 Special Indexes

 Energy .8 .4 2.7 3.0 -3.9 -3.0 .2 -23.8 6.9

 Food .4 .1 .3 .2 .6 .4 .6 6.6 3.6

 All Items less

 food and energy .0 .2 .1 .1 .2 -.1 .1 1.0 1.1

See pages 5 - 7 for notes on planned changes in the CPI in 2004.
At a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), consumer prices were unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2003. 

In the first three quarters changes were at annual rates of 5.2, -0.7, and 3.1 percent, respectively. For the 12 month 

period ended in December, the CPI rose 1.9 percent. In 2002 the increase was 2.4 percent. Although the index for 

energy oscillated markedly throughout the year--up at a 76.5 percent SAAR in the first quarter, down at a 24.5 percent 

rate in the second quarter, up at a 27.8 percent rate in the third quarter, and down at a 23.8 percent rate in the fourth 

quarter of 2003--the increase for the year of 6.9 percent was less than the 10.7 percent increase in 2002. The food 

index rose 3.6 percent in 2003. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 11.5 percent, accounting for about 

two-thirds of the 4.5 percent advance in the index for food at home,. Beef prices rose 23.5 percent in 2003, their 

largest annual advance since a 28.3 percent increase in 1978.

Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.0 percent SAAR in the fourth quarter, following 

increases at rates of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2003. The 1.1 percent advance in 2003

compares with a 1.9 percent rise in all of 2002. The principal reason for the smaller increase in 2003 was the smaller 

advance in shelter costs--up 2.2 percent in 2003 compared with a 3.1 percent rise in 2002. Also contributing to the 

moderation in 2003 were smaller increases in the indexes for motor vehicle insurance and medical care, a downturn in 

the index for cigarettes, coupled with a larger decline in used car prices. The annual rates for selected groups for the 

last eight years are shown below.

Percentage change 12 months

 ended in December

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

All items 3.3 1.7 1.6 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 1.9

 Food and beverages 4.2 1.6 2.3 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.5

 Housing 2.9 2.4 2.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 2.2

 Apparel -.2 1.0 -.7 -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -2.1

 Transportation 4.4 -1.4 -1.7 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 .3

 Medical care 3.0 2.8 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.7

 Recreation 3.0 1.5 1.2 .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.1

 Education and

 communication 3.4 3.0 .7 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 1.6

 Other goods and services 3.6 5.2 8.8 5.1 4.2 4.5 3.3 1.5

Special indexes

 Energy 8.6 -3.4 -8.8 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 6.9

 Energy commodities 13.8 -6.9 -15.1 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 6.9

 Energy services 3.8 .2 -3.3 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 6.9

 All items less energy 2.9 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.5

 Food 4.3 1.5 2.3 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.6

 All items less

 food and energy 2.6 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 1.1
The food and beverages index rose 0.6 percent in December. The index for food at home increased 0.8

percent, following increases of 0.7 percent in each of the preceding two months. Each of the six major grocery store 

food groups advanced in December, with the indexes for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, for dairy products, and for 

nonalcoholic beverages recording increases of more than 1.0 percent. Within the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs group, 

beef prices continued to advance, increasing 1.7 percent in December. Prices for poultry, eggs and other meats also 

increased substantially in December, more than offsetting a small decline in pork prices. The indexes for dairy products 

and for nonalcoholic beverages each turned up in December, reflecting price increases for ice cream and related 

products and for carbonated drinks, respectively, each of which had declined substantially in November. The indexes

for other food at home, for fruits and vegetables, and for cereals and bakery products increased 0.7, 0.3, and 0.2

percent, respectively. Within the fruits and vegetables group, a 1.5 percent increase in the index for fresh vegetables 

more than offset declines in the indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables. The other two

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

percent.

The index for housing, which declined 0.1 percent in November, increased 0.3 percent in December. Each of 

the three major housing groups contributed to the acceleration. Shelter costs, which were unchanged in November, 

increased 0.3 percent in December. Within shelter, the indexes for rent, for owners' equivalent rent, and for lodging 

away from home rose 0.2, 0.1, and 1.7 percent, respectively. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away 

from home declined 1.8 percent.). During the 12 month period ended in December, the indexes for rent and owners’ 

equivalent rent rose 2.7 and 2.0 percent, respectively. In 2002 these indexes increased 3.1 and 3.3 percent, 

respectively. The index for fuels and utilities, which declined 0.9 percent in November, increased 0.5 percent in 

December. Charges for natural gas and for electricity each turned up in December, advancing 1.9 and 0.1 percent, 

respectively, and the index for fuel oil rose 0.6 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fuel oil prices increased 2.1 

percent.) During the 12 month period ended in December, charges for natural gas and for electricity rose 17.4 and 2.6 

percent, respectively, and fuel oil prices increased 7.8 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations, 

turned up in December, increasing 0.2 percent, but fell 1.8 percent during the 12 month period ended in December. 

The transportation index decreased for the third consecutive month--down 0.2 percent in December. The index 

for gasoline declined 0.1 percent, after falling sharply in October and November. Despite the recent declines, gasoline

prices are still 6.8 percent higher than in December 2002. The index for new vehicles was unchanged in December. 

(As of December, about 72 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 2004 models. The 2004 models 

will continue to be phased in, with appropriate adjustments for quality change, over the next several months as they 

replace old models at dealerships. For a report on quality changes for the 2004 vehicles represented in the Producer 

Price Index sample, see news release USDL-03-721, dated November 14, 2003.) New vehicle prices are 1.8 percent 

lower than in December 2002. The index for used cars and trucks decreased 0.7 percent in December and this index 

has declined 11.8 percent in the last 12 months. The index for public transportation declined 1.1 percent in December, 

reflecting a 1.9 percent drop in airline fares. These fares fell 0.1 percent in all of 2003 after registering declines in 2001 

and 2002 of 3.9 and 2.4 percent, respectively. 

The index for apparel declined 0.4 percent in December. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.3

percent, reflecting pre-holiday discounting.) During the 12 month period ended in December, apparel prices declined 

2.1 percent, their sixth consecutive annual decline.

Medical care costs rose 0.6 percent in December and are 3.7 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 0.6 percent in December. The indexes for professional services and for

hospital and related services increased 0.5 and 0.6 percent, respectively. In the 12 month period ended in December, 

these indexes advanced 2.8 and 6.4 percent, respectively.

The index for recreation was unchanged in December. Increases in the indexes for admissions to movies, 

theaters, concerts, and sporting events and for pets, pet products and services were offset by decreases in the indexes 

for toys and for video and audio products and services. During the 12 months ended in December, the indexes for 

admissions and for pets increased 3.4 and 2.7 percent, respectively, while prices for toys, for sporting goods and 

equipment, and for photography all declined. The index for video and audio increased 0.1 percent as a 3.8 percent 

increase in cable television charges more than offset declines in each of the other components within that category.
The index for education and communication increased 0.4 percent in December. Educational costs increased 

0.7 percent, while communication costs were unchanged. Within the former category, the index for educational 

booksand supplies increased 2.6 percent During the 12 months ended in December, educational costs rose 7.2 

percent, largely as a result of a 9.8 percent rise in the index for college tuition and fees. The index for communication 

declined 3.9 percent during the last 12 months, reflecting declines in long distance telephone services and for prices of 

personal computers and peripheral equipment--down 10.0 and 17.8 percent, respectively.

The index for other goods and services increased 0.1 percent in December, reflecting a 0.3 percent increase in 

the index for tobacco and smoking products. These prices, however, declined 0.4 percent in all of 2003, their first 

decrease since a 5.9 percent drop in 1993. 

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 December.

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 1

9

2003 3-mos. ended ended

June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. ’03 Dec. ’03 

All Items .2 .1 .4 .3 -.2 -.3 .2 -1.1 ’98‘97Jan.’ 1.6

 Food and beverages .4 .1 .3 .3 .6 .5 .5 6.6 3.7

 Housing .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 -.1 .3 1.3 2.3

 Apparel .4 -.5 .3 .7 .4 -.5 -.2 -1.3 -1.8

 Transportation .3 .1 1.1 .8 -1.8 -1.7 -.3 -14.1 -.3

 Medical care .3 .4 .2 .5 .4 .3 .6 5.5 3.7

 Recreation .0 .2 .0 .0 -.1 .3 -.1 .4 .8

 Education and

 communication -.2 .5 .4 -.1 .0 .1 .3 1.5 .8

 Other goods and

 services .0 .5 .2 .0 .1 -.2 .1 .3 1.0

 Special Indexes

 Energy 1.1 .4 3.0 3.3 -4.0 -3.2 .2 -25.0 6.9

 Food .4 .1 .3 .3 .6 .5 .6 7.1 3.7

 All Items less

 food and energy .1 .1 .1 .0 .1 -.1 .1 .2 .7

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)

The C-CPI-U declined 0.2 percent in December on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The December level of 

107.5 (December 1999=100) was 1.4 percent higher than in December 2002. Table 7 contains the most recent 

indexes for all items and the component series that are published. Data are published monthly in the CPI Detailed 

Report and are available on the CPI home page: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/. Please note that the indexes for the post2001 period are subject to revision. 

Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on Friday, February 20, 2004, at 8:30 A.M. 

(EST). 
Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 18, 2004

Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price movements 

from the just-completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions to seasonally adjusted 

indexes for the previous 5 years. BLS will make available recalculated seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as 

recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 1999 through December 2003, on Wednesday, 

February 18, 2004. This date is two working days before the scheduled release of the January 2004 CPI on Friday, 

February 20, 2004.

The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the internet. The address is http://www.bls.gov/cpi. Look 

under Tables Created by BLS and select Revised Seasonally Adjusted Data, 2003.

For further information please contact Dan Chow or Jeff Wilson on (202) 691-6968.
Planned Changes in the Consumer Price Index in 2004

Expenditure Weight Update

Effective with release of data for January 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will update the consumption 

expenditure weights in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and Consumer Price Index for 

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to the 2001-02 period. The updated expenditure weights for 

these indexes will replace the 1999-2000 weights that were introduced effective with the January 2002 CPI release. As 

originally announced by BLS in December 1998, CPI expenditure weights will continue to be updated at two-year 

intervals subsequent to the 2004 updating.

For the first six months of 2004, BLS will continue to calculate and publish selected CPI-U and CPI-W “overlap” 

indexes using the 1999-2000 expenditure pattern that was introduced into the CPI in 2002. These indexes will be 

compiled on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Comparison of these index series to the corresponding updated series will 

enable users of the CPI to observe the effects of the expenditure weight change. The subsequent expenditure updates 

scheduled in 2006 and every two years thereafter also will be accompanied by the publication of overlap indexes for a 

six-month period using the previous expenditure pattern. 

C-CPI-U Index Revisions

As scheduled, effective with release of data for January 2004, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban 

Consumers (C-CPI-U) will undergo its second annual index revision. C-CPI-U indexes for the 12 months of 2002 will 

be issued in final form and values for the 12 months of 2003 will be revised and issued as interim. Calculation of the 

preliminary versions of the C-CPI-U--the initial version for January and the subsequent months of 2004 and the interim 

(revised initial) indexes for 2003--will employ the 2001-02 expenditure weights also used in the CPI-U and CPI-W. 

Note that the final values of the C-CPI-U employ monthly expenditure weights corresponding to the price collection 

period in their calculation. Thus, in calculation of the final (revised interim) C-CPI-U values for the months of 2002, the 

biennial 1999-2000 expenditure weights will be replaced with separate monthly expenditure weights.

Elementary Index Formula Changes

Effective with release of data for January 2004, a geometric mean formula will replace the arithmetic mean formula 

in the calculation of the elementary indexes in the CPI-U, CPI-W, and C-CPI-U for (1) cable and satellite television 

and radio services (formerly cable TV) and for (2) eyeglasses and eye care. The geometric mean formula at the 

elementary index level is more appropriate for use in categories in which the consumer may alter his or her spending in 

response to changing prices within that category. Since the original decision to employ an arithmetic mean was made by 

BLS in 1998, changes in the markets for the above-mentioned categories have led to increased opportunity for 

consumer substitution behavior within those categories. The BLS introduced the geometric mean formula for calculating 

most of the basic components of the CPI-U and CPI-W with release of the CPI for January 1999. 

The BLS will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the formula used in the calculation of the elementary item 

indexes and on an annual basis may change or adjust the formula for constructing these indexes. A description of the 

1999 adoption of the geometric mean formula is available on the internet at 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1998/10/contents.htm 
Title Changes

The following index and average price series will have new titles beginning in January 2004. These series are 

continuous. The new titles serve to clarify the content of each series.

Index series with new titles

Item code Old title New title

SEHF02 Utility natural gas service Utility (piped) gas service

SERA02 Cable television Cable and satellite television and radio 

service

SEED01 Telephone services, local charges Land-line telephone services, local 

charges

SEED02 Telephone services, long distance 

charges

Land-line telephone services, long 

distance charges

SS27051 Interstate toll calls Land-line interstate toll calls

SS27061 Intrastate toll calls Land-line intrastate toll calls

SEED03 Cellular telephone services Wireless telephone services

SEEE Information and information 

processing other than telephone 

services

Information technology, hardware, and 

services

SEEE03 Computer information processing 

services

Internet services and electronic 

information providers

SEEE04 Other information processing 

equipment

Telephone hardware, calculators, and 

other consumer information items

Average price series with new titles

Item code Old title New title

72620 Utility natural gas per therm Utility (piped) gas per therm

72601 Utility natural gas – 40 therms Utility (piped) gas – 40 therms

72611 Utility natural gas – 100 therms Utility (piped) gas – 100 therms
Expanded Collection of Price Data

During the last year, the CPI program completed its conversion to Computer Assisted Data Collection (CADC). 

Due to the efficiencies gained from the conversion to CADC, BLS will extend data collection to cover the entire month, 

beginning with data for January 2004.

The new data collection process utilizes hand-held computers called penpads, along with software developed by 

BLS staff, to collect price and other item characteristic data in stores each month. Data collection instructions are 

transmitted electronically from Washington to each data collector's penpad. After completing collection the field staff 

transmit data back to Washington. This electronic collection provides numerous benefits. Many data edits can take 

place during collection. The accuracy and efficiency of data entry and review are improved by having field staff directly 

enter data rather than filling out paper survey forms by hand for later computer input by clerical staff. The progress of 

data collection also can be monitored more effectively throughout the month. 

Lastly, the introduction of CADC reduces the time required to transmit and process data. With electronic 

collection and transmission, the CPI will be able to eliminate the mailing and data entry functions, allowing the BLS to 

collect prices during the entire index month without compromising the timeliness of the CPI release, which takes place 

during the middle of the subsequent month.

CPI data collection is scheduled in terms of business days--weekdays excluding holidays. Currently, data 

collection covers three pricing periods, each comprising six business days in most months and five days in November 

and December. Consequently, the last day of scheduled data collection is usually the 18th business day of the month. 

This has allowed time during the end of the month for the mailing of paper schedules back to the Washington Office and 

the data entry of the information on these schedules. Starting in January 2004, the three pricing periods will have 

variable lengths, between six and eight business days long. The third pricing period now normally will end on the last 

business day of the month.
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 1998 through 2002 were replaced 

at the end of 2002. 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: 44 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.

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 a large increase in 

coffee prices due to adverse weather. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and 

decreases in milk supply 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. It was used to offset an 

increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to conserve supplies for Electricity. 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 a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled for 

them, or for a description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer 

Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to 

Chow_Dan@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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Nov.

2003

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 184.5 184.3 1.9 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 0.2 

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

 552.7 552.1 - - - - -

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.583 182.9 184.1 3.5 .7 .6 .4 .6 

Food ...................................................................................... 14.554 182.4 183.6 3.6 .7 .6 .4 .6 

Food at home ...................................................................... 8.338 182.4 184.1 4.5 .9 .7 .7 .8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 1.281 202.5 202.9 2.8 .2 -.2 .1 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 2.222 179.3 181.1 11.5 1.0 1.8 3.2 1.1 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. .876 171.2 173.0 3.4 1.1 .9 -.3 1.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 1.234 227.5 232.4 3.3 2.2 .9 .4 .3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. .954 137.9 139.3 -.4 1.0 .5 -1.6 1.7 

Other food at home ........................................................... 1.771 162.0 163.0 1.2 .6 .1 -.5 .7 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ .314 161.7 161.0 1.2 -.4 .3 .4 -.7 

Fats and oils .................................................................... .252 157.3 157.7 3.2 .3 1.0 -.6 .8 

Other foods ...................................................................... 1.205 177.9 179.6 .8 1.0 -.1 -.7 1.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .287 109.0 109.8 -.4 .7 -.3 -1.5 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.216 183.8 184.3 2.3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .388 122.7 122.9 2.6 .2 .4 .3 .4 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.029 188.6 188.7 2.1 .1 .1 .3 .3 

Housing ................................................................................... 40.854 185.1 185.1 2.2 .0 .3 -.1 .3 

Shelter ................................................................................... 31.728 214.2 214.1 2.2 .0 .4 .0 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.467 207.5 207.9 2.7 .2 .0 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 2.654 115.0 112.9 3.4 -1.8 2.3 -1.1 1.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 22.243 221.9 222.2 2.0 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .365 114.3 114.3 1.8 .0 .1 -1.5 .0 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.469 152.9 153.6 6.5 .5 -.8 -.9 .5 

Fuels .................................................................................... 3.604 135.7 136.5 7.1 .6 -1.1 -1.2 .6

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... .205 134.8 137.0 9.1 1.6 -1.3 1.1 -.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.399 142.6 143.3 6.9 .5 -1.1 -1.4 .6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .864 119.4 119.8 4.5 .3 .5 .6 .3 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 4.658 124.9 124.7 -1.8 -.2 .2 -.3 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .820 122.4 122.6 2.3 .2 .2 -.2 .2 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.220 123.1 119.0 -2.1 -3.3 .2 -.5 -.4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 1.065 121.4 118.0 -1.1 -2.8 .3 .3 -.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 1.738 115.7 110.9 -1.9 -4.1 1.0 -1.1 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ .193 123.0 119.2 -4.9 -3.1 -.9 -1.9 -1.6 

Footwear ............................................................................... .853 121.0 118.5 -1.8 -2.1 -.1 -.3 -.3 

Transportation ......................................................................... 17.293 155.7 154.7 .3 -.6 -1.6 -1.3 -.2

Private transportation ............................................................ 16.121 151.7 150.8 .3 -.6 -1.7 -1.4 -.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 8.170 94.6 94.4 -4.4 -.2 -.7 -.4 -.4 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 4.864 137.5 138.0 -1.8 .4 -.3 .0 .0 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 2.025 132.0 131.0 -11.8 -.8 -3.0 -2.3 -.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 3.119 131.2 127.8 6.8 -2.6 -6.8 -4.9 -.2

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 3.091 130.6 127.2 6.8 -2.6 -6.8 -5.0 -.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .416 107.9 107.7 .7 -.2 .2 .0 -.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 1.418 197.2 198.0 2.4 .4 .2 .3 .6 

Public transportation .............................................................. 1.172 207.9 205.6 1.3 -1.1 1.1 -.5 -1.1 

Medical care ............................................................................ 5.961 300.8 302.1 3.7 .4 .3 .3 .6 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.387 264.0 265.0 2.1 .4 .1 -.3 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 4.574 310.6 311.9 4.2 .4 .4 .5 .6 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 2.808 263.0 264.1 2.8 .4 .3 .1 .5 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.451 405.6 407.0 6.4 .3 .3 1.2 .6 

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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Nov.

2003

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.943 107.8 107.7 1.1 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.638 103.8 103.3 .1 -.5 .2 .1 -.3 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.798 110.8 110.9 1.6 .1 .0 .1 .4 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.835 139.0 139.4 7.2 .3 .4 .4 .7 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... .236 336.0 342.8 6.0 2.0 .5 -.7 2.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 2.599 401.2 401.7 7.4 .1 .4 .4 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 2.963 88.2 88.2 -3.9 .0 -.2 -.2 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.765 86.2 86.2 -4.2 .0 -.3 -.2 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.273 97.2 97.2 -2.7 .0 -.3 .1 .0 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ .492 15.4 15.3 -11.0 -.6 .0 -1.3 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .210 16.3 16.2 -17.8 -.6 1.2 -1.2 -.6 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.350 300.0 300.2 1.5 .1 .1 -.1 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .992 469.1 470.4 -.4 .3 .2 -.1 .3 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 3.358 179.0 179.0 2.1 .0 .1 -.1 .0 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 153.2 153.4 .0 .1 .1 -.3 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .897 194.2 194.3 2.3 .1 .1 -.7 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 1.573 287.0 287.1 3.7 .0 .1 .6 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 40.822 150.9 150.4 .5 -.3 -.6 -.5 .1 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.583 182.9 184.1 3.5 .7 .6 .4 .6 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 25.239 132.9 131.7 -1.4 -.9 -1.3 -1.0 -.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 13.824 149.0 146.7 1.0 -1.5 -1.4 -.5 .5 

Apparel ................................................................................ 4.220 123.1 119.0 -2.1 -3.3 .2 -.5 -.4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 9.604 169.1 167.7 2.3 -.8 -2.6 -1.6 -.2 

Durables ................................................................................ 11.416 115.1 115.0 -4.3 -.1 -.7 -.5 -.2 

Services ..................................................................................... 59.178 217.9 217.9 2.8 .0 .3 .0 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 31.364 223.0 222.9 2.2 .0 .4 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .365 114.3 114.3 1.8 .0 .1 -1.5 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.399 142.6 143.3 6.9 .5 -1.1 -1.4 .6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .864 119.4 119.8 4.5 .3 .5 .6 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .820 122.4 122.6 2.3 .2 .2 -.2 .2 

Transportation services ........................................................... 6.722 218.6 217.7 2.7 -.4 .8 -.2 -.3 

Medical care services .............................................................. 4.574 310.6 311.9 4.2 .4 .4 .5 .6 

Other services ......................................................................... 11.071 257.3 257.4 2.9 .0 .1 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 85.446 184.9 184.4 1.5 -.3 -.2 -.3 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 68.272 174.9 174.7 1.7 -.1 -.3 -.3 .2 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 94.039 178.5 178.2 1.8 -.2 -.1 -.3 .2 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 26.268 135.0 133.8 -1.3 -.9 -1.2 -1.0 -.1 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 14.853 151.3 149.2 1.1 -1.4 -1.3 -.5 .5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 10.633 170.0 168.8 2.3 -.7 -2.0 -1.6 .0 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 29.406 166.1 165.4 2.4 -.4 -.5 .1 .5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.815 228.2 228.4 3.6 .1 .1 .0 .2 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 54.604 209.9 209.9 2.7 .0 .3 .0 .1 

Energy ....................................................................................... 6.723 133.1 131.8 6.9 -1.0 -3.9 -3.0 .2 

All items less energy ................................................................. 93.277 191.6 191.5 1.5 -.1 .3 .0 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 78.724 193.9 193.6 1.1 -.2 .2 -.1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 22.945 139.9 139.0 -2.5 -.6 -.3 -.4 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 3.324 132.1 129.0 6.9 -2.3 -6.6 -4.4 -.2 

Services less energy services ............................................... 55.779 225.6 225.5 2.6 .0 .4 .0 .2 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ..... - $ .542 $ .543 - - - - -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .......... - $ .181 $ .181 - - - - -

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.

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—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2003

Sep.

2003

Dec.

2003

June

2003

Dec.

2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 185.0 185.0 184.6 185.0 5.2 -0.7 3.1 0.0 2.2 1.5 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 181.3 182.3 183.1 184.2 2.5 2.7 2.2 6.6 2.6 4.4 

Food ...................................................................................... 180.8 181.8 182.6 183.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 6.6 2.7 4.5 

Food at home ...................................................................... 180.3 181.6 182.8 184.3 3.0 3.4 2.7 9.2 3.2 5.9 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 203.5 203.1 203.3 203.7 9.6 .8 .8 .4 5.1 .6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 170.4 173.4 178.9 180.9 6.8 6.2 7.1 27.0 6.5 16.6 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. 170.3 171.8 171.2 173.0 -.5 -7.4 16.6 6.5 -4.0 11.4 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 227.0 229.0 230.0 230.7 -1.2 11.6 -3.1 6.7 5.0 1.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 139.5 140.2 138.0 140.3 -3.9 5.0 -4.2 2.3 .4 -1.0 

Other food at home ........................................................... 163.0 163.2 162.4 163.5 1.7 2.0 -.5 1.2 1.9 .4 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ 162.2 162.7 163.3 162.1 4.6 1.7 -1.5 -.2 3.1 -.9 

Fats and oils .................................................................... 157.3 158.9 157.9 159.1 9.4 -2.3 1.3 4.7 3.4 3.0 

Other foods ...................................................................... 179.4 179.2 177.9 179.8 -.2 2.9 -.7 .9 1.3 .1

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.0 110.7 109.0 109.8 -.4 5.2 -1.8 -4.3 2.4 -3.0 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 182.8 183.3 183.8 184.3 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.3 2.0 2.7 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 121.3 121.8 122.2 122.7 3.7 3.7 -1.6 4.7 3.7 1.5 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 188.0 188.1 188.6 189.1 2.8 1.1 1.9 2.4 2.0 2.1 

Housing ................................................................................... 185.4 185.9 185.7 186.2 4.2 1.5 1.3 1.7 2.9 1.5 

Shelter ................................................................................... 214.0 214.9 214.9 215.5 1.1 2.5 2.5 2.8 1.8 2.7 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 206.8 206.9 207.3 207.7 3.2 3.0 2.8 1.8 3.1 2.3 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 119.4 122.2 120.8 122.9 -11.3 14.6 .0 12.3 .8 5.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 220.7 221.4 221.7 222.0 2.2 .7 2.6 2.4 1.5 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 115.9 116.0 114.3 114.3 6.2 4.3 2.5 -5.4 5.2 -1.6 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 156.5 155.2 153.8 154.6 36.0 -1.3 .3 -4.8 15.9 -2.3 

Fuels .................................................................................... 140.0 138.4 136.7 137.5 44.5 -2.0 -1.1 -7.0 19.0 -4.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... 135.0 133.3 134.8 134.2 215.3 -54.4 .9 -2.3 19.9 -.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 147.4 145.8 143.7 144.6 37.4 3.0 -1.3 -7.4 19.0 -4.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 118.3 118.9 119.6 120.0 3.2 3.5 6.0 5.9 3.3 5.9 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 125.0 125.3 124.9 125.1 -.9 -3.1 -3.4 .3 -2.0 -1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 122.3 122.6 122.4 122.6 5.8 .7 1.7 1.0 3.2 1.3 

Apparel .................................................................................... 121.2 121.5 120.9 120.4 -5.7 -2.0 2.3 -2.6 -3.9 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 117.9 118.3 118.7 118.5 2.4 -12.3 4.9 2.1 -5.3 3.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 113.1 114.2 113.0 112.6 -7.1 1.1 .0 -1.8 -3.1 -.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ 124.5 123.4 121.1 119.2 -8.9 -.7 7.7 -16.0 -4.9 -4.8 

Footwear ............................................................................... 120.1 120.0 119.6 119.2 -8.6 2.4 2.4 -3.0 -3.3 -.3 

Transportation ......................................................................... 160.0 157.5 155.4 155.1 17.6 -10.3 9.0 -11.7 2.7 -1.9 

Private transportation ............................................................ 156.0 153.3 151.2 151.0 19.3 -11.7 9.5 -12.2 2.7 -2.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 95.5 94.8 94.4 94.0 -1.2 -3.6 -6.4 -6.1 -2.4 -6.3 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 137.6 137.2 137.2 137.2 -3.1 -3.1 .0 -1.2 -3.1 -.6 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 138.6 134.5 131.4 130.5 5.0 -5.8 -22.0 -21.4 -.5 -21.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 147.2 137.2 130.5 130.3 120.0 -43.5 70.1 -38.6 11.4 2.2 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 146.7 136.7 129.9 129.8 120.8 -43.7 70.9 -38.7 11.5 2.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.7 107.9 107.9 107.7 3.4 -.7 .0 .0 1.3 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 196.2 196.5 197.0 198.2 1.2 2.5 1.9 4.1 1.9 3.0 

Public transportation .............................................................. 210.3 212.6 211.5 209.2 -1.9 12.8 -2.8 -2.1 5.2 -2.4 

Medical care ............................................................................ 299.5 300.5 301.4 303.1 1.7 3.6 4.7 4.9 2.6 4.8 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 264.9 265.2 264.5 265.5 2.2 .3 5.1 .9 1.2 3.0 

Medical care services ............................................................ 308.5 309.7 311.2 313.2 1.5 4.7 4.4 6.2 3.1 5.3 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 262.6 263.5 263.8 265.2 .9 3.8 2.5 4.0 2.3 3.2 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 400.0 401.1 406.0 408.6 3.8 5.4 7.8 8.9 4.6 8.3 

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—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2003

Sep.

2003

Dec.

2003

June

2003

Dec.

2003

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 107.8 107.8 107.9 107.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 0.4 1.7 0.6 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.9 104.1 104.2 103.9 -1.9 .8 1.6 .0 -.6 .8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 110.2 110.2 110.3 110.7 2.2 -1.8 4.1 1.8 .2 3.0 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 136.9 137.4 137.9 138.8 6.7 5.9 10.9 5.7 6.3 8.3 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... 336.5 338.3 336.0 344.6 8.9 4.8 1.0 10.0 6.8 5.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 394.5 396.0 397.6 399.7 6.6 6.1 11.9 5.4 6.3 8.6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 88.6 88.4 88.2 88.2 -2.2 -8.9 -2.7 -1.8 -5.6 -2.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 86.7 86.4 86.2 86.2 -2.2 -9.9 -2.3 -2.3 -6.1 -2.3 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.4 97.1 97.2 97.2 -.8 -8.5 -.4 -.8 -4.7 -.6 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ 15.6 15.6 15.4 15.3 -9.0 -13.5 -14.0 -7.5 -11.3 -10.8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 16.3 16.5 16.3 16.2 -13.5 -28.0 -24.7 -2.4 -21.1 -14.3 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 299.9 300.2 300.0 300.2 2.0 1.1 2.4 .4 1.6 1.4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 468.7 469.5 469.1 470.4 -4.4 -3.1 4.6 1.5 -3.8 3.0 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 179.0 179.1 179.0 179.0 4.2 2.3 1.8 .0 3.2 .9 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.4 153.6 153.2 153.4 -.3 1.3 -1.0 .0 .5 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 195.4 195.6 194.2 194.3 3.8 2.3 5.5 -2.2 3.1 1.6 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 285.5 285.8 287.6 288.0 4.4 4.3 2.4 3.5 4.4 3.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 152.1 151.2 150.5 150.7 7.7 -5.9 4.3 -3.6 .7 .3 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 181.3 182.3 183.1 184.2 2.5 2.7 2.2 6.6 2.6 4.4 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 135.5 133.7 132.4 132.1 10.9 -10.6 5.5 -9.7 -.4 -2.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 151.8 149.7 148.9 149.7 18.4 -21.1 18.2 -5.4 -3.3 5.7 

Apparel ................................................................................ 121.2 121.5 120.9 120.4 -5.7 -2.0 2.3 -2.6 -3.9 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 176.4 171.9 169.2 168.9 37.9 -21.7 21.0 -16.0 3.9 .8 

Durables ................................................................................ 116.1 115.3 114.7 114.5 -1.0 -4.0 -6.9 -5.4 -2.5 -6.2 

Services ..................................................................................... 217.8 218.5 218.4 218.9 3.8 2.8 2.6 2.0 3.3 2.3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 222.8 223.7 223.9 224.3 1.5 2.4 2.4 2.7 1.9 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 115.9 116.0 114.3 114.3 6.2 4.3 2.5 -5.4 5.2 -1.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 147.4 145.8 143.7 144.6 37.4 3.0 -1.3 -7.4 19.0 -4.4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 118.3 118.9 119.6 120.0 3.2 3.5 6.0 5.9 3.3 5.9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 122.3 122.6 122.4 122.6 5.8 .7 1.7 1.0 3.2 1.3 

Transportation services ........................................................... 217.5 219.3 218.8 218.1 2.5 5.9 1.3 1.1 4.2 1.2 

Medical care services .............................................................. 308.5 309.7 311.2 313.2 1.5 4.7 4.4 6.2 3.1 5.3 

Other services ......................................................................... 256.3 256.6 257.0 257.5 3.7 1.6 4.3 1.9 2.7 3.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 185.8 185.5 184.9 185.2 5.8 -1.3 3.3 -1.3 2.2 1.0 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 175.8 175.3 174.8 175.1 7.2 -2.3 3.7 -1.6 2.3 1.0 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 179.1 179.0 178.5 178.9 5.6 -1.1 3.2 -.4 2.2 1.4 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 137.4 135.7 134.4 134.2 10.7 -10.2 5.1 -9.0 -.3 -2.2 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 154.0 152.0 151.2 151.9 17.2 -19.8 16.9 -5.3 -3.0 5.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 176.4 172.8 170.0 170.0 33.4 -20.0 19.0 -13.7 3.3 1.3 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 166.8 166.0 166.1 166.9 10.7 -9.5 9.4 .2 .1 4.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 228.5 228.7 228.7 229.1 6.5 3.8 3.0 1.1 5.1 2.0 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 210.1 210.7 210.6 210.9 3.8 2.9 2.7 1.5 3.3 2.1 

Energy ....................................................................................... 142.9 137.3 133.2 133.5 76.5 -24.5 27.8 -23.8 15.4 -1.3 

All items less energy ................................................................. 191.1 191.6 191.6 192.0 1.1 1.5 1.5 1.9 1.3 1.7 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 193.7 194.1 194.0 194.2 .8 1.0 1.5 1.0 .9 1.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 140.2 139.8 139.3 139.2 -1.7 -3.1 -2.3 -2.8 -2.4 -2.5 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 147.3 137.6 131.5 131.2 125.0 -44.4 65.3 -37.1 11.9 2.0 

Services less energy services ............................................... 225.0 225.9 226.0 226.5 1.8 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.4 2.8 

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999. 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

Dec.2003 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2003 from—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Nov.

2002

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

U.S. city average ........................................... M 185.2 185.0 184.5 184.3 1.9 -0.4 -0.1 1.8 -0.4 -0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban ............................................. M 195.0 195.4 195.1 194.9 2.8 -.3 -.1 2.6 .1 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 197.3 197.7 197.3 197.1 3.0 -.3 -.1 2.9 .0 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.0 115.2 115.3 115.0 2.1 -.2 -.3 1.9 .3 .1 

Midwest urban ............................................... M 179.5 179.1 178.9 178.4 1.7 -.4 -.3 1.6 -.3 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 182.0 181.7 181.4 180.9 1.7 -.4 -.3 1.7 -.3 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.9 113.6 113.6 113.3 1.7 -.3 -.3 1.7 -.3 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 172.3 171.8 171.4 171.5 1.2 -.2 .1 .6 -.5 -.2 

South urban ................................................... M 178.3 178.1 177.5 177.5 1.7 -.3 .0 1.5 -.4 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 180.1 180.1 179.1 179.2 1.9 -.5 .1 1.7 -.6 -.6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ............... M 113.8 113.6 113.3 113.3 1.5 -.3 .0 1.3 -.4 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 176.3 175.6 175.4 175.1 1.6 -.3 -.2 1.4 -.5 -.1 

West urban .................................................... M 189.6 189.4 188.5 188.3 1.5 -.6 -.1 1.5 -.6 -.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 192.3 191.9 191.0 190.6 1.4 -.7 -.2 1.4 -.7 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.6 115.5 114.9 115.2 1.9 -.3 .3 1.6 -.6 -.5 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 169.6 169.5 168.9 168.7 2.0 -.5 -.1 1.9 -.4 -.4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 114.3 114.1 113.9 113.8 1.7 -.3 -.1 1.5 -.3 -.2 

D ................................................................ M 177.4 176.9 176.6 176.5 1.6 -.2 -.1 1.2 -.5 -.2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .................. M 186.1 185.8 185.6 185.5 1.7 -.2 -.1 1.3 -.3 -.1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .. M 188.2 187.8 187.1 187.0 1.8 -.4 -.1 1.7 -.6 -.4 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ........................................ M 199.6 200.0 199.4 199.3 3.2 -.4 -.1 3.1 -.1 -.3 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .... 1 206.8 - 206.5 - - - - 3.0 -.1 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ..................................... 1 178.5 -

 177.6 - - - - 2.4 -.5 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................................... 1 177.0 - 175.9 - - - - 1.3 -.6 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 117.2 -

 116.7 - - - - 2.4 -.4 -

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

 180.1 - 179.0 1.0 -.6 - - - -

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

 183.3 - 181.3 .9 -1.1 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ................... 2 - 166.1 - 164.1 2.7 -1.2 - - - -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................ 2 - 181.6 - 181.6 2.1 .0 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ....................................... 2 - 190.3 - 189.0 2.0 -.7 - - - -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 196.3 - 195.3 1.1 -.5 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................... 2 -

 193.7 - 191.0 .5 -1.4 - - - -

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

 

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. 
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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Nov.

2003

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 180.2 179.9 1.6 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 0.2 

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

 536.7 536.0 - - - - -

Food and beverages ............................................................... 17.072 182.4 183.6 3.7 .7 .6 .5 .5 

Food ...................................................................................... 16.071 181.9 183.1 3.7 .7 .6 .5 .6 

Food at home ...................................................................... 9.646 181.6 183.3 4.7 .9 .7 .7 .8 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 1.449 202.4 202.9 2.9 .2 -.2 .0 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 2.773 179.2 181.0 11.5 1.0 1.8 3.2 1.2 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. .977 171.0 172.7 3.3 1.0 .9 -.4 1.0 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 1.337 225.3 229.7 3.1 2.0 .9 .2 .2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 1.118 137.3 138.6 -.4 .9 .4 -1.4 1.5 

Other food at home ........................................................... 1.992 161.6 162.5 1.2 .6 .1 -.6 .7 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ .337 161.4 160.5 1.0 -.6 .3 .4 -.9 

Fats and oils .................................................................... .302 157.3 157.7 3.1 .3 1.1 -.6 .6 

Other foods ...................................................................... 1.353 178.3 180.0 .8 1.0 -.3 -.8 1.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 109.5 110.3 -.4 .7 -.1 -1.5 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.425 183.7 184.2 2.3 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .278 122.9 123.1 2.5 .2 .5 .3 .4 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.001 188.8 188.9 2.3 .1 .2 .3 .2 

Housing ................................................................................... 38.134 180.9 181.0 2.3 .1 .2 -.1 .3 

Shelter ................................................................................... 29.422 208.2 208.2 2.1 .0 .3 .0 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.456 206.6 207.0 2.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 1.499 116.2 113.4 3.5 -2.4 1.8 -.9 1.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 19.144 201.4 201.7 1.9 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .323 114.4 114.4 1.9 .0 .2 -1.4 .0 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.783 152.3 153.0 6.6 .5 -.8 -.9 .5 

Fuels .................................................................................... 3.902 134.7 135.4 7.1 .5 -1.2 -1.2 .6

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... .192 134.4 136.2 9.0 1.3 -1.0 1.4 -.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.710 141.9 142.5 7.0 .4 -1.2 -1.3 .6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .880 119.5 119.9 4.6 .3 .5 .5 .3 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 3.929 120.7 120.4 -2.1 -.2 .1 -.2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .357 123.7 123.8 2.5 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.638 122.6 118.7 -1.8 -3.2 .4 -.5 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 1.176 121.1 117.8 -.8 -2.7 .3 .8 -.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 1.801 115.3 110.5 -1.6 -4.2 1.1 -1.0 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ .244 125.0 121.4 -4.6 -2.9 -.7 -2.5 -1.1 

Footwear ............................................................................... 1.136 120.4 117.8 -2.5 -2.2 .0 -.6 -.4 

Transportation ......................................................................... 19.666 153.6 152.5 -.3 -.7 -1.8 -1.7 -.3 

Private transportation ............................................................ 18.751 150.8 149.7 -.5 -.7 -2.0 -1.7 -.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.568 93.1 92.8 -5.8 -.3 -1.3 -.7 -.4 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 4.682 138.7 139.2 -1.8 .4 -.4 .1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 3.783 132.8 131.7 -11.8 -.8 -2.9 -2.4 -.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 3.836 131.5 128.1 6.8 -2.6 -6.6 -5.2 -.2

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 3.803 130.9 127.6 6.9 -2.5 -6.6 -5.2 -.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .524 107.5 107.3 .9 -.2 .3 .0 -.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 1.458 198.9 199.8 2.5 .5 .3 .2 .7 

Public transportation .............................................................. .915 205.8 203.6 2.2 -1.1 1.1 -.5 -1.1 

Medical care ............................................................................ 4.747 300.1 301.4 3.7 .4 .4 .3 .6 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.012 258.5 259.4 2.1 .3 .1 -.3 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 3.735 310.6 311.9 4.1 .4 .5 .5 .6 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 2.265 265.2 266.5 2.8 .5 .4 .1 .6 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.177 402.4 403.4 6.4 .2 .5 1.2 .4 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Nov.

2003

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.567 105.6 105.5 0.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 -0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.795 103.0 102.5 .1 -.5 .2 .2 -.3 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.604 109.6 109.7 .8 .1 .0 .1 .3 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.472 138.0 138.4 6.7 .3 .3 .3 .7 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... .217 337.5 343.8 5.9 1.9 .4 -.3 2.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 2.256 390.2 390.7 6.7 .1 .3 .3 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.132 89.8 89.7 -3.8 -.1 -.3 -.1 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.972 88.4 88.3 -4.0 -.1 -.3 -.1 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.536 97.4 97.4 -2.7 .0 -.3 .1 .0 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ .436 15.9 15.8 -11.2 -.6 .6 -1.9 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .191 16.0 15.9 -17.6 -.6 1.3 -1.2 -.6 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.571 307.7 308.1 1.0 .1 .1 -.2 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.542 470.2 471.5 -.6 .3 .2 -.1 .3 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 3.030 177.7 177.8 1.8 .1 .1 -.2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .786 153.8 154.0 -.1 .1 .1 -.2 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .896 194.8 194.9 2.2 .1 .1 -.8 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 1.170 286.7 286.6 3.6 .0 .1 .4 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 45.066 151.3 150.7 .3 -.4 -.7 -.5 .1 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 17.072 182.4 183.6 3.7 .7 .6 .5 .5 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 27.994 133.8 132.5 -1.9 -1.0 -1.5 -1.2 -.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 15.152 151.4 149.0 1.2 -1.6 -1.4 -.6 .7 

Apparel ................................................................................ 4.638 122.6 118.7 -1.8 -3.2 .4 -.5 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 10.514 172.9 171.3 2.5 -.9 -2.7 -1.9 -.1 

Durables ................................................................................ 12.842 114.2 114.0 -5.3 -.2 -1.0 -.7 -.4 

Services ..................................................................................... 54.934 214.1 214.2 2.8 .0 .2 .0 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.099 200.5 200.6 2.2 .0 .2 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .323 114.4 114.4 1.9 .0 .2 -1.4 .0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.710 141.9 142.5 7.0 .4 -1.2 -1.3 .6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .880 119.5 119.9 4.6 .3 .5 .5 .3 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .357 123.7 123.8 2.5 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Transportation services ........................................................... 6.706 218.8 218.0 3.0 -.4 .9 -.3 -.2 

Medical care services .............................................................. 3.735 310.6 311.9 4.1 .4 .5 .5 .6 

Other services ......................................................................... 10.123 250.7 250.9 2.4 .1 .1 .1 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 83.929 179.7 179.2 1.2 -.3 -.3 -.4 .1 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 70.578 171.9 171.6 1.5 -.2 -.4 -.4 .2 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 95.253 175.0 174.7 1.5 -.2 -.2 -.3 .2 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 28.995 135.8 134.5 -1.7 -1.0 -1.4 -1.2 -.1 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 16.153 153.7 151.4 1.2 -1.5 -1.3 -.6 .7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 11.514 173.6 172.1 2.4 -.9 -2.3 -1.7 .1 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 32.224 167.3 166.6 2.5 -.4 -.3 -.1 .6

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.835 202.7 202.9 3.6 .1 .1 -.1 .2 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 51.199 206.5 206.6 2.7 .0 .1 .0 .1 

Energy ....................................................................................... 7.738 132.4 131.1 6.9 -1.0 -4.0 -3.2 .2 

All items less energy ................................................................. 92.262 187.0 186.9 1.2 -.1 .2 .0 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 76.191 188.4 188.0 .7 -.2 .1 -.1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 24.967 139.7 138.7 -3.1 -.7 -.4 -.4 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 4.028 132.1 129.0 6.9 -2.3 -6.3 -5.0 -.2 

Services less energy services ............................................... 51.224 222.1 222.1 2.5 .0 .4 .0 .2 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ..... - $ .555 $ .556 - - - - -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .......... - $ .186 $ .187 - - - - -

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.

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—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2003

Sep.

2003

Dec.

2003

June

2003

Dec.

2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 180.9 180.6 180.1 180.4 6.2 -1.5 3.2 -1.1 2.3 1.0 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 180.8 181.8 182.7 183.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 6.6 2.7 4.6 

Food ...................................................................................... 180.2 181.3 182.2 183.3 2.5 2.7 2.7 7.1 2.6 4.9 

Food at home ...................................................................... 179.5 180.8 182.0 183.5 3.0 3.4 3.2 9.2 3.2 6.2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 203.7 203.2 203.2 203.7 9.6 1.0 1.4 .0 5.2 .7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 170.2 173.2 178.8 180.9 6.8 5.7 7.4 27.6 6.3 17.1 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. 170.2 171.7 171.0 172.7 -1.2 -7.5 17.4 6.0 -4.4 11.6 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 225.5 227.5 227.9 228.4 -.5 10.7 -2.8 5.2 4.9 1.1

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 139.0 139.5 137.6 139.6 -5.0 5.9 -3.7 1.7 .3 -1.0 

Other food at home ........................................................... 162.8 162.9 162.0 163.2 2.0 2.0 .0 1.0 2.0 .5 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ 162.0 162.5 163.2 161.7 4.1 1.7 -1.0 -.7 2.9 -.9 

Fats and oils .................................................................... 157.2 159.0 158.1 159.1 9.4 -2.5 1.0 4.9 3.3 3.0 

Other foods ...................................................................... 180.2 179.7 178.3 180.3 -.2 3.2 .2 .2 1.5 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.3 111.2 109.5 110.3 -.7 5.9 -2.8 -3.5 2.5 -3.2 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 182.7 183.3 183.7 184.2 2.2 1.6 2.2 3.3 1.9 2.8 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 121.4 122.0 122.4 122.9 3.0 3.0 -1.3 5.0 3.0 1.8 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 187.9 188.3 188.8 189.1 3.9 .0 2.4 2.6 2.0 2.5 

Housing ................................................................................... 181.1 181.4 181.2 181.7 5.0 1.1 1.6 1.3 3.1 1.4 

Shelter ................................................................................... 207.7 208.4 208.5 209.0 1.6 2.2 2.3 2.5 1.9 2.4 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 205.8 206.1 206.4 206.8 3.0 2.8 2.4 2.0 2.9 2.2 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 120.4 122.6 121.5 123.0 -8.8 12.6 2.4 8.9 1.4 5.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 200.4 201.0 201.2 201.5 2.0 .8 2.4 2.2 1.4 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 115.8 116.0 114.4 114.4 5.5 4.3 2.8 -4.7 4.9 -1.0 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 155.9 154.6 153.2 154.0 35.5 -.5 .3 -4.8 16.1 -2.3 

Fuels .................................................................................... 138.9 137.3 135.7 136.5 43.3 -1.1 -.9 -6.7 19.0 -3.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... 134.4 133.0 134.9 134.1 202.4 -53.6 1.5 -.9 18.5 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 146.5 144.8 142.9 143.8 37.7 2.8 -.8 -7.2 18.9 -4.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 118.4 119.0 119.6 120.0 3.9 3.1 6.0 5.5 3.5 5.7 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 120.8 120.9 120.7 120.8 -1.9 -3.2 -3.2 .0 -2.6 -1.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 123.4 123.7 123.7 123.8 5.7 .7 2.3 1.3 3.2 1.8 

Apparel .................................................................................... 120.3 120.8 120.2 119.9 -5.5 -2.0 2.0 -1.3 -3.7 .3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 117.2 117.6 118.5 118.4 2.0 -11.8 3.1 4.2 -5.1 3.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 112.4 113.6 112.5 112.1 -7.8 2.5 .4 -1.1 -2.8 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ 126.8 125.9 122.8 121.4 -9.1 .6 7.9 -16.0 -4.4 -4.8 

Footwear ............................................................................... 119.4 119.4 118.7 118.2 -5.8 -1.7 1.7 -4.0 -3.8 -1.2 

Transportation ......................................................................... 158.7 155.8 153.2 152.8 19.9 -11.4 8.2 -14.1 3.0 -3.6 

Private transportation ............................................................ 155.9 152.8 150.2 149.9 21.2 -12.5 8.6 -14.5 2.9 -3.6 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 94.7 93.5 92.8 92.4 .0 -4.0 -9.5 -9.4 -2.0 -9.4 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 138.8 138.3 138.5 138.4 -3.1 -3.4 .6 -1.1 -3.2 -.3 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 139.3 135.2 132.0 131.2 4.9 -5.7 -22.2 -21.3 -.5 -21.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 147.8 138.0 130.8 130.6 119.7 -43.0 70.2 -39.0 11.9 1.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 147.2 137.5 130.3 130.0 118.6 -43.0 71.1 -39.2 11.7 2.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.2 107.5 107.5 107.3 3.4 -.4 .4 .4 1.5 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 197.9 198.4 198.7 200.0 1.4 2.5 1.8 4.3 2.0 3.1 

Public transportation .............................................................. 207.6 209.9 208.9 206.7 -1.2 15.3 -2.5 -1.7 6.7 -2.1 

Medical care ............................................................................ 298.5 299.7 300.7 302.5 1.7 3.5 4.4 5.5 2.6 4.9 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 259.4 259.7 259.0 260.0 2.5 .0 5.3 .9 1.3 3.1 

Medical care services ............................................................ 308.2 309.7 311.2 313.2 1.5 4.4 4.1 6.6 2.9 5.4 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 264.7 265.7 266.0 267.5 .8 3.9 2.1 4.3 2.3 3.2 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 396.1 397.9 402.8 404.6 3.9 5.1 7.6 8.9 4.5 8.2 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2003

Sep.

2003

Dec.

2003

June

2003

Dec.

2003

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 105.6 105.5 105.8 105.7 1.1 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.6 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.0 103.2 103.4 103.1 -1.5 .4 1.2 .4 -.6 .8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.1 109.1 109.2 109.5 1.5 -2.5 3.0 1.5 -.6 2.2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 136.1 136.5 136.9 137.8 6.0 5.9 9.7 5.1 6.0 7.3 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... 337.6 339.0 337.9 345.5 8.7 4.6 1.0 9.7 6.7 5.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 384.2 385.5 386.7 388.8 5.8 6.0 10.4 4.9 5.9 7.6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 90.2 89.9 89.8 89.7 -1.7 -8.7 -2.2 -2.2 -5.3 -2.2 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 88.8 88.5 88.4 88.3 -1.7 -9.7 -2.2 -2.2 -5.8 -2.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.6 97.3 97.4 97.4 -.8 -8.5 -.4 -.8 -4.7 -.6 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ 16.1 16.2 15.9 15.8 -8.7 -13.1 -15.7 -7.2 -10.9 -11.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 16.0 16.2 16.0 15.9 -13.7 -26.9 -25.1 -2.5 -20.6 -14.5 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 307.9 308.2 307.7 308.1 .7 .5 2.5 .3 .6 1.4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 469.9 470.7 470.2 471.5 -4.3 -3.6 4.5 1.4 -4.0 2.9 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 177.9 178.0 177.7 177.8 3.2 2.5 1.6 -.2 2.9 .7 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.0 154.1 153.8 154.0 -1.0 1.6 -1.0 .0 .3 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 196.1 196.3 194.8 194.9 3.6 2.3 5.5 -2.4 3.0 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 285.5 285.9 287.0 287.5 4.1 4.9 2.3 2.8 4.5 2.6 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 152.8 151.7 150.9 151.0 8.8 -6.6 4.3 -4.6 .8 -.3 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 180.8 181.8 182.7 183.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 6.6 2.7 4.6 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 136.8 134.8 133.2 132.9 12.4 -11.5 5.1 -10.9 -.3 -3.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 154.4 152.2 151.3 152.4 19.9 -23.7 20.4 -5.1 -4.3 6.9 

Apparel ................................................................................ 120.3 120.8 120.2 119.9 -5.5 -2.0 2.0 -1.3 -3.7 .3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 181.0 176.2 172.9 172.7 41.9 -24.0 23.5 -17.1 3.8 1.2 

Durables ................................................................................ 115.9 114.7 113.9 113.5 -.3 -4.6 -8.2 -8.0 -2.5 -8.1 

Services ..................................................................................... 213.9 214.4 214.3 214.8 4.3 2.7 2.5 1.7 3.5 2.1 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 200.1 200.6 200.9 201.2 1.8 1.6 2.8 2.2 1.7 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 115.8 116.0 114.4 114.4 5.5 4.3 2.8 -4.7 4.9 -1.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 146.5 144.8 142.9 143.8 37.7 2.8 -.8 -7.2 18.9 -4.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 118.4 119.0 119.6 120.0 3.9 3.1 6.0 5.5 3.5 5.7 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 123.4 123.7 123.7 123.8 5.7 .7 2.3 1.3 3.2 1.8 

Transportation services ........................................................... 217.5 219.4 218.7 218.2 3.1 6.5 1.3 1.3 4.8 1.3 

Medical care services .............................................................. 308.2 309.7 311.2 313.2 1.5 4.4 4.1 6.6 2.9 5.4 

Other services ......................................................................... 250.0 250.2 250.4 251.0 3.1 1.0 3.8 1.6 2.0 2.7 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 180.9 180.3 179.5 179.7 6.9 -2.4 3.4 -2.6 2.2 .3 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 173.1 172.4 171.7 172.0 8.3 -3.0 3.5 -2.5 2.5 .5 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 175.8 175.4 174.9 175.2 6.4 -1.8 3.2 -1.4 2.2 .9 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 138.7 136.7 135.1 134.9 12.2 -11.1 5.1 -10.5 -.1 -3.0 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 156.5 154.5 153.5 154.6 19.3 -23.0 19.8 -4.8 -4.1 6.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 180.7 176.6 173.6 173.7 37.7 -22.8 21.5 -14.6 3.1 1.9 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 167.9 167.4 167.3 168.3 10.9 -10.9 10.4 1.0 -.6 5.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 203.1 203.4 203.1 203.5 7.1 3.4 3.0 .8 5.3 1.9 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 206.6 206.9 206.9 207.2 4.4 2.4 2.8 1.2 3.4 2.0 

Energy ....................................................................................... 142.7 137.0 132.6 132.8 78.6 -25.3 30.2 -25.0 15.5 -1.2 

All items less energy ................................................................. 186.5 186.8 186.8 187.2 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.5 1.2 1.3 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 188.2 188.4 188.2 188.3 .9 .9 .6 .2 .9 .4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 140.2 139.6 139.0 138.8 -1.4 -3.3 -3.6 -3.9 -2.4 -3.8 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 147.7 138.4 131.5 131.3 123.8 -43.7 66.1 -37.5 12.2 1.9 

Services less energy services ............................................... 221.3 222.2 222.3 222.7 2.2 2.4 2.8 2.6 2.3 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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999. 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

Dec.2003 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2003 from—

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Dec.

2003

Dec.

2002

Oct.

2003

Nov.

2003

Nov.

2002

Sep.

2003

Oct.

2003

U.S. city average ........................................... M 181.0 180.7 180.2 179.9 1.6 -0.4 -0.2 1.6 -0.4 -0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban ............................................. M 191.9 192.1 191.9 191.7 2.7 -.2 -.1 2.7 .0 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................... M 193.0 193.2 192.8 192.7 3.0 -.3 -.1 2.9 -.1 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.1 115.3 115.4 115.2 2.2 -.1 -.2 2.0 .3 .1 

Midwest urban ............................................... M 174.6 174.1 173.9 173.4 1.4 -.4 -.3 1.3 -.4 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................... M 176.4 176.0 175.7 175.1 1.6 -.5 -.3 1.6 -.4 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.2 112.7 112.7 112.4 1.3 -.3 -.3 1.3 -.4 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 170.0 169.3 169.1 169.1 1.1 -.1 .0 .5 -.5 -.1 

South urban ................................................... M 175.3 174.9 174.3 174.2 1.3 -.4 -.1 1.1 -.6 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................... M 177.5 177.3 176.4 176.4 1.9 -.5 .0 1.8 -.6 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.4 112.1 111.9 111.8 .9 -.3 -.1 .7 -.4 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 175.9 174.8 174.5 174.2 .9 -.3 -.2 .6 -.8 -.2 

West urban .................................................... M 185.0 184.4 183.5 183.3 1.4 -.6 -.1 1.4 -.8 -.5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................... M 186.1 185.4 184.4 183.9 1.3 -.8 -.3 1.4 -.9 -.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.3 115.0 114.6 114.8 1.7 -.2 .2 1.5 -.6 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 168.0 167.7 167.1 166.8 1.9 -.5 -.2 1.9 -.5 -.4 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 113.5 113.2 113.0 112.9 1.3 -.3 -.1 1.2 -.4 -.2 

D ................................................................ M 175.6 174.9 174.5 174.3 1.0 -.3 -.1 .8 -.6 -.2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .................. M 179.8 179.1 179.1 178.8 1.6 -.2 -.2 1.2 -.4 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .. M 181.9 181.2 180.5 180.2 2.0 -.6 -.2 2.0 -.8 -.4 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ........................................ M 195.0 195.2 194.7 194.6 3.1 -.3 -.1 3.1 -.2 -.3 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .... 1 206.2 - 205.6 - - - - 3.2 -.3 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ..................................... 1 169.5 -

 168.3 - - - - 2.1 -.7 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .................................... 1 176.7 - 175.6 - - - - 1.5 -.6 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 116.9 -

 116.1 - - - - 2.3 -.7 -

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

 177.6 - 176.6 1.1 -.6 - - - -

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

 178.2 - 175.9 .9 -1.3 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ................... 2 - 164.0 - 162.2 2.7 -1.1 - - - -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................ 2 - 179.0 - 178.9 2.1 -.1 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ....................................... 2 - 190.2 - 189.0 2.2 -.6 - - - -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 - 191.9 - 191.1 .8 -.4 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................... 2 -

 187.8 - 185.3 .4 -1.3 - - - -

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

 

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. 
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,

1999-2000

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Dec. 2003 from—

 Nov.

 2003

 Dec.

 2003

 Dec.

 2002

 Nov.

 2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 107.7 107.5 1.4 -0.2 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.451 109.3 110.0 3.3 .6 

Food ...................................................................................... 14.432 109.3 110.0 3.4 .6 

Food at home ...................................................................... 8.335 108.5 109.6 4.2 1.0 

Food away from home ......................................................... 6.096 110.2 110.5 2.3 .3 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.019 109.1 109.2 2.0 .1 

Housing ................................................................................... 40.040 111.4 111.4 2.1 .0 

Shelter ................................................................................... 30.643 113.2 113.2 2.3 .0 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.376 117.9 118.5 6.3 .5 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 5.020 95.4 95.2 -2.3 -.2 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.819 93.9 90.7 -2.5 -3.4 

Transportation ......................................................................... 17.770 104.1 103.5 -.1 -.6 

Private transportation ............................................................ 16.520 104.2 103.6 -.2 -.6 

Public transportation .............................................................. 1.250 102.9 101.7 .9 -1.2 

Medical care ............................................................................ 5.563 117.6 118.1 3.5 .4 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.330 112.4 112.8 2.0 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 4.233 119.3 119.8 4.0 .4 

Recreation ............................................................................... 6.124 103.0 102.8 .4 -.2 

Education and communication ................................................ 6.068 97.0 97.0 -1.0 .0 

Education .............................................................................. 2.546 127.6 127.9 7.1 .2 

Communication ..................................................................... 3.522 79.0 78.8 -6.5 -.3 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.164 112.2 112.2 1.3 .0 

Commodity and service group

Services ..................................................................................... 57.098 113.6 113.5 2.6 -.1 

Commodities ............................................................................. 42.902 100.3 99.9 -.3 -.4 

Durables .................................................................................. 12.953 87.0 86.9 -5.0 -.1 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 29.949 106.5 105.9 1.8 -.6 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 78.851 106.5 106.2 .6 -.3 

Energy ....................................................................................... 6.717 118.2 117.0 6.7 -1.0 

Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1A. 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 Annual

average

2002

Annual

average

2003

Percent

change

from 2002

to 2003

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................................... 179.9 184.0 2.3 

All items (1967=100) ....................................................................................... 538.8 551.1 -

Food and beverages ...................................................................................... 176.8 180.5 2.1 

Food ............................................................................................................ 176.2 180.0 2.2 

Food at home ............................................................................................ 175.6 179.4 2.2 

Cereals and bakery products ................................................................... 198.0 202.8 2.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................................................................. 162.1 169.3 4.4 

Dairy and related products ...................................................................... 168.1 167.9 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables .............................................................................. 220.9 225.9 2.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .................................... 139.2 139.8 .4 

Other food at home .................................................................................. 160.8 162.6 1.1 

Sugar and sweets .................................................................................. 159.0 162.0 1.9 

Fats and oils .......................................................................................... 155.4 157.4 1.3 

Other foods ............................................................................................ 177.1 178.8 1.0 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ............................................................... 109.2 110.3 1.0 

Food away from home ............................................................................... 178.3 182.1 2.1 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 117.7 121.3 3.1 

Alcoholic beverages .................................................................................... 183.6 187.2 2.0 

Housing ......................................................................................................... 180.3 184.8 2.5 

Shelter ......................................................................................................... 208.1 213.1 2.4 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................................ 199.7 205.5 2.9 

Lodging away from home 1 2 ...................................................................... 118.3 119.3 .8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 ....................................... 214.7 219.9 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ......................................................... 108.7 114.8 5.6 

Fuels and utilities ......................................................................................... 143.6 154.5 7.6 

Fuels .......................................................................................................... 127.2 138.2 8.6

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................ 115.5 139.5 20.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ..................................................................... 134.4 145.0 7.9 

Household furnishings and operations ........................................................ 128.3 126.1 -1.7 

Apparel .......................................................................................................... 124.0 120.9 -2.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .............................................................................. 121.7 118.0 -3.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ......................................................................... 115.8 113.1 -2.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ...................................................................... 126.4 122.1 -3.4 

Footwear ...................................................................................................... 121.4 119.6 -1.5

Transportation ............................................................................................... 152.9 157.6 3.1 

Private transportation .................................................................................. 148.8 153.6 3.2 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 99.2 96.5 -2.7 

New vehicles ........................................................................................... 140.0 137.9 -1.5 

Used cars and trucks ............................................................................... 152.0 142.9 -6.0 

Motor fuel ................................................................................................... 116.6 135.8 16.5 

Gasoline (all types) .................................................................................. 116.0 135.1 16.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........................................................... 106.9 107.8 .8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ...................................................... 190.2 195.6 2.8 

Public transportation .................................................................................... 207.4 209.3 .9 

Medical care .................................................................................................. 285.6 297.1 4.0 

Medical care commodities ........................................................................... 256.4 262.8 2.5 

Medical care services .................................................................................. 292.9 306.0 4.5 

Professional services 2 ............................................................................... 253.9 261.2 2.9 

Hospital and related services 2 ................................................................... 367.8 394.8 7.3 

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 106.2 107.5 1.2 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 102.8 103.6 .8 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1A. 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 Annual

average

2002

Annual

average

2003

Percent

change

from 2002

to 2003

Expenditure category

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 107.9 109.8 1.8 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 126.0 134.4 6.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................ 317.6 335.4 5.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................................... 362.1 386.7 6.8 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 92.3 89.7 -2.8 

Information and information processing 1 .................................................. 90.8 87.8 -3.3 

Telephone services 1 ............................................................................... 99.7 98.3 -1.4 

Information and information processing other than telephone services 4 18.3 16.1 -12.0 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 .................................. 22.2 17.6 -20.7 

Other goods and services .............................................................................. 293.2 298.7 1.9 

Tobacco and smoking products ................................................................... 461.5 469.0 1.6 

Personal care .............................................................................................. 174.7 178.0 1.9 

Personal care products .............................................................................. 154.7 153.5 -.8 

Personal care services .............................................................................. 188.4 193.2 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services ............................................................... 274.4 283.5 3.3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .................................................................................................... 149.7 151.2 1.0

Food and beverages ...................................................................................... 176.8 180.5 2.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ......................................................... 134.2 134.5 .2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................................................ 145.1 149.7 3.2 

Apparel ...................................................................................................... 124.0 120.9 -2.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ....................................... 162.2 171.5 5.7 

Durables ...................................................................................................... 121.4 117.5 -3.2

Services ........................................................................................................... 209.8 216.5 3.2 

Rent of shelter 3 ............................................................................................. 216.7 221.9 2.4 

Transportation services ................................................................................. 209.1 216.3 3.4 

Other services ............................................................................................... 246.4 254.4 3.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................ 180.5 184.7 2.3

All items less shelter ........................................................................................ 170.8 174.6 2.2 

All items less medical care .............................................................................. 174.3 178.1 2.2 

Commodities less food .................................................................................... 136.0 136.5 .4 

Nondurables less food ..................................................................................... 147.4 151.9 3.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ................................................................. 163.3 172.1 5.4 

Nondurables .................................................................................................... 161.1 165.3 2.6

Services less rent of shelter 3 ........................................................................... 217.5 226.4 4.1 

Services less medical care services ................................................................ 202.5 208.7 3.1 

Energy ............................................................................................................. 121.7 136.5 12.2 

All items less energy ........................................................................................ 187.7 190.6 1.5 

All items less food and energy ....................................................................... 190.5 193.2 1.4 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................................ 143.7 140.9 -1.9 

Energy commodities .................................................................................. 117.1 136.7 16.7 

Services less energy services ..................................................................... 217.5 223.8 2.9 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ........................... $ .556 $ .544 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ................................. $ .186 $ .182 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a

geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.
Table 4A. 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 Annual

average

2002

Annual

average

2003

Percent

change

from 2002

to 2003

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................................... 175.9 179.8 2.2 

All items (1967=100) ....................................................................................... 523.9 535.6 -

Food and beverages ...................................................................................... 176.1 179.9 2.2 

Food ............................................................................................................ 175.5 179.4 2.2 

Food at home ............................................................................................ 174.7 178.5 2.2 

Cereals and bakery products ................................................................... 198.0 202.8 2.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................................................................. 162.0 169.2 4.4 

Dairy and related products ...................................................................... 167.9 167.6 -.2 

Fruits and vegetables .............................................................................. 219.6 224.3 2.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .................................... 138.6 139.1 .4 

Other food at home .................................................................................. 160.4 162.2 1.1 

Sugar and sweets .................................................................................. 158.8 161.6 1.8 

Fats and oils .......................................................................................... 155.3 157.4 1.4 

Other foods ............................................................................................ 177.6 179.2 .9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ............................................................... 109.7 110.8 1.0 

Food away from home ............................................................................... 178.2 182.0 2.1 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 118.1 121.5 2.9 

Alcoholic beverages .................................................................................... 183.3 187.1 2.1 

Housing ......................................................................................................... 175.7 180.4 2.7 

Shelter ......................................................................................................... 201.9 206.9 2.5 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................................ 199.0 204.7 2.9 

Lodging away from home 1 2 ...................................................................... 118.4 119.8 1.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 ....................................... 195.1 199.7 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ......................................................... 108.7 114.7 5.5 

Fuels and utilities ......................................................................................... 142.9 153.9 7.7 

Fuels .......................................................................................................... 126.1 137.0 8.6

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................ 115.0 138.7 20.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ..................................................................... 133.4 144.1 8.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ....................................... 113.1 117.3 3.7 

Household furnishings and operations ........................................................ 124.4 121.9 -2.0 

Household operations 1 ............................................................................. 119.7 122.9 2.7 

Apparel .......................................................................................................... 123.1 120.0 -2.5 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .............................................................................. 121.7 117.5 -3.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ......................................................................... 114.6 112.1 -2.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ...................................................................... 128.6 124.1 -3.5 

Footwear ...................................................................................................... 121.2 119.1 -1.7

Transportation ............................................................................................... 151.8 156.3 3.0 

Private transportation .................................................................................. 149.0 153.5 3.0 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 99.4 96.0 -3.4 

New vehicles ........................................................................................... 141.1 139.0 -1.5 

Used cars and trucks ............................................................................... 152.8 143.7 -6.0 

Motor fuel ................................................................................................... 117.0 136.1 16.3 

Gasoline (all types) .................................................................................. 116.4 135.5 16.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........................................................... 106.1 107.3 1.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ...................................................... 191.7 197.3 2.9 

Public transportation .................................................................................... 202.6 206.0 1.7 

Medical care .................................................................................................. 284.6 296.3 4.1 

Medical care commodities ........................................................................... 251.1 257.4 2.5 

Medical care services .................................................................................. 292.5 305.9 4.6 

Professional services 2 ............................................................................... 256.0 263.4 2.9 

Hospital and related services 2 ................................................................... 363.2 391.2 7.7 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4A. 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 Annual

average

2002

Annual

average

2003

Percent

change

from 2002

to 2003

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 104.6 105.5 0.9 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 102.0 102.9 .9 

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 107.6 109.0 1.3 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 125.9 133.8 6.3 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................ 318.5 336.5 5.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................................... 354.8 377.3 6.3 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 93.7 91.2 -2.7 

Information and information processing 1 .................................................. 92.7 89.9 -3.0 

Telephone services 1 ............................................................................... 99.9 98.5 -1.4 

Information and information processing other than telephone services 4 19.0 16.7 -12.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 .................................. 21.8 17.3 -20.6 

Other goods and services .............................................................................. 302.0 307.0 1.7 

Tobacco and smoking products ................................................................... 463.2 470.5 1.6 

Personal care .............................................................................................. 174.1 177.0 1.7 

Personal care products .............................................................................. 155.5 154.2 -.8 

Personal care services .............................................................................. 189.1 193.9 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services ............................................................... 274.0 283.3 3.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .................................................................................................... 150.4 151.8 .9 

Food and beverages ...................................................................................... 176.1 179.9 2.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ......................................................... 135.5 135.8 .2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................................................ 147.0 152.1 3.5 

Apparel ...................................................................................................... 123.1 120.0 -2.5 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ....................................... 165.3 175.6 6.2 

Durables ...................................................................................................... 121.8 117.4 -3.6

Services ........................................................................................................... 205.9 212.6 3.3 

Rent of shelter 3 ............................................................................................. 194.5 199.2 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................................. 108.7 114.7 5.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................................... 133.4 144.1 8.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ........................................... 113.1 117.3 3.7 

Household operations 1 ................................................................................. 119.7 122.9 2.7 

Transportation services ................................................................................. 207.7 216.2 4.1 

Medical care services .................................................................................... 292.5 305.9 4.6 

Other services ............................................................................................... 241.6 248.5 2.9 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................ 175.8 179.7 2.2

All items less shelter ........................................................................................ 168.3 171.9 2.1 

All items less medical care .............................................................................. 171.1 174.8 2.2 

Commodities less food .................................................................................... 137.3 137.7 .3 

Nondurables less food ..................................................................................... 149.2 154.2 3.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ................................................................. 166.1 175.9 5.9 

Nondurables .................................................................................................... 161.9 166.4 2.8

Services less rent of shelter 3 ........................................................................... 193.1 201.3 4.2 

Services less medical care services ................................................................ 198.9 205.2 3.2 

Energy ............................................................................................................. 120.9 135.9 12.4 

All items less energy ........................................................................................ 183.6 186.1 1.4 

All items less food and energy ....................................................................... 185.6 187.9 1.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........................................ 144.4 141.1 -2.3 

Energy commodities .................................................................................. 117.3 136.8 16.6 

Services less energy services ..................................................................... 213.9 220.2 2.9 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ........................... $ .569 $ .556 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ................................. $ .191 $ .187 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series converted to a

geometric means estimator in January, 1999. 3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. - Data not available.