Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-10-1281

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, September 17, 2010 

Technical information: (202) 691-7000 • Reed.Steve@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cpi 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – AUGUST 2010 

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

seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Before seasonal 

adjustment, the all items index increased 0.1 percent for the month.) Over the last 12 months, the all 

items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

The energy index rose in August and, as in July, was the primary factor in the seasonally adjusted all 

items increase. All major energy components posted increases, with the gasoline index being the main 

factor. The food index, which declined in July, rose in August. The food at home index was unchanged 

while the index for food away from home increased. 

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in August after increasing in each of the 

previous three months. This pattern mirrors the shelter index, which also was unchanged in August after 

rising in recent months. Posting increases in August were the indexes for medical care, used cars, and 

new vehicles, while the indexes for recreation and apparel declined. 

Over the last 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy rose 0.9 percent, though the shelter 

component posted a 0.7 percent decline. The food index increased at a similar rate, rising 1.0 percent, 

with grocery store food prices up 0.8 percent. The energy index posted a somewhat larger increase, 

rising 3.8 percent with gasoline up 4.4 percent. 

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Aug'09 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug'10

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Aug. 2009 - Aug. 2010

Percent change

 0.4

 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

 0.0

 0.1

 -0.1

 -0.2

 -0.1

 0.3 0.3
- 2 -

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Aug. 2009 - Aug. 2010

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Aug'09 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug'10
- 3 -

Consumer Price Index Data for August 2010 

Food 

The food index rose 0.2 percent in August after falling 0.1 percent in July. The index for food away 

from home, which was unchanged in July, increased 0.3 percent in August. The index for food at home 

was unchanged in August after declining each of the two previous months. The six major grocery store 

food groups were evenly split between increases and decreases. The fruits and vegetables index rose 0.4 

percent in August after a series of recent declines, and the indexes for cereals and bakery products and 

for other food at home also posted slight increases. In contrast, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and 

eggs fell 0.3 percent, ending a string of seven consecutive increases, and the indexes for dairy and 

related products and for nonalcoholic beverages both fell slightly. 

Energy 

The energy index rose 2.3 percent in August following a 2.6 percent increase in July. The gasoline index 

rose for the second month in a row after five straight declines, increasing 3.9 percent in August after a 

4.6 percent increase in July. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 0.4 percent in August and 

have risen 3.5 percent over the last six months.) The household energy index, which rose 0.6 percent in 

July, rose 0.5 percent in August as all of its components posted increases. The fuel oil index rose 0.9 

percent in August after declining in July. The index for electricity edged up 0.2 percent in August after a 

0.5 percent increase in July. The index for natural gas rose for the third month in a row, increasing 1.1 

percent. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in August after rising 0.1 percent in July. 

The shelter index, which rose 0.1 percent in each of the previous three months, was unchanged in 

August, as was the index for household furnishings and operations. Within the shelter component, the 

index for rent declined 0.1 percent, its first decline since November of last year. The index for owners’ 

equivalent rent was unchanged and the lodging away from home index fell 1.3 percent. The index for 

medical care rose 0.2 percent following a 0.1 percent decline in July, with both the medical care 

commodities index and the medical care services index rising 0.2 percent. The index for hospital 

services rose 0.5 percent in August after a 0.5 percent decline in July. The index for used cars and trucks 

continued to increase, rising 0.7 percent in August, and the index for new vehicles rose 0.3 percent. In 

contrast to these increases, the recreation index continued to decline, falling 0.2 percent after a 0.1 

percent decrease in July. The apparel index turned down in August, falling 0.1 percent after rising in 

each of the three previous months. 

The 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy has held steady at 0.9 percent for 

five months in a row. Indexes that contributed to the increase include used cars and trucks (up 15.5 

percent), medical care (up 3.2 percent), new vehicles (up 2.3 percent), airline fares (up 8.7 percent), and 

tobacco (up 7.7 percent). Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the indexes for shelter 

(down 0.7 percent), household furnishings and operations (down 2.6 percent), recreation (down 1.1 

percent), and apparel (down 0.4 percent). 
- 4 -

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.1 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 218.312 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.1 percent prior to 

seasonal adjustment. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.4 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 214.205 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

rose 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent over the 

last 12 months. For the month, the index rose 0.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note 

that the indexes for the post-2008 period are subject to revision. 

The Consumer Price Index for September 2010 is scheduled to be released on Friday, October 15, 

2010, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
- 5 -

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

groups: (1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households 

of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and 

(2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPIU), 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 each month in 87 urban areas across the country from about 4,000 housing 

units and approximately 25,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling 

stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the 

purchase and use of items are included in the index. Prices of fuels and a few other items are obtained 

every month in all 87 locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every 

month in the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas. Prices of most goods 

and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls of the Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

also published by size of city, by region of the country, for cross-classifications of regions and 

population-size classes, and for 27 local areas. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of 

prices among cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period. 

For the C-CPI-U data are issued only at the national level. It is important to note that the CPI-U and 

CPI-W are considered final when released, but the 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. 
- 6 -

Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 

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

These standard error estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For 

example, the estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.04 percent for the U.S. All 

Items Consumer Price Index. This means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail 

prices using the same methodology, and estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of 

these estimates would be within 0.08 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. 

For example, for a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 

95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between 0.12 and 

0.28 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the estimates of standard error, 

see “Variance Estimates for Price Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January-December 2009”. 

These data are available on the CPI home page (http://www.bls.gov/cpi), or by using the following link 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2009.pdf 

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation 

of index point and percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
- 7 -

Regions Defined 

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

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

and Vermont. 

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

and Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Washington, and Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

before adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

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

December 2009 were replaced in January 2010. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the 

updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January 2002, 

dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a 

change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see 

“Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series,” in the October 2001 issue of the 

CPI Detailed Report. 

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

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

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

from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the 

aggregation of the dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used 

before that period. Note: 46 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2010. 

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. 
- 8 -

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some 

CPI series. Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally 

adjusted data. Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are 

estimated and removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the 

calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis 

Seasonal Adjustment. 

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2010, BLS adjusted 30 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact David 

Levin at (202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Levin.David@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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Aug. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

July

2010

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 218.011 218.312 1.1 0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.3 

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

 653.066 653.966 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.539 219.877 1.0 .2 .0 .0 .1 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.738 219.121 219.491 1.0 .2 .0 -.1 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.801 215.256 215.382 .8 .1 -.1 -.1 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.108 250.172 249.736 -1.0 -.2 -.6 -.3 .1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.745 208.989 208.854 2.9 -.1 1.0 .3 -.3 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .820 198.991 198.712 3.3 -.1 .1 .5 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.153 265.967 265.914 -.5 .0 -1.3 -1.9 .4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .952 161.121 161.764 -.7 .4 -.2 .6 -.1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.023 191.529 192.026 .4 .3 -.3 .2 .2 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .295 201.180 200.335 2.5 -.4 -1.2 .6 -.1 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 200.506 201.764 .6 .6 .0 .0 .7 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.496 205.166 205.857 -.1 .3 -.2 .1 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .439 122.052 121.787 -.1 -.2 .8 .4 -.2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 5.937 225.710 226.422 1.2 .3 .1 .0 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .326 159.338 159.517 1.8 .1 .5 .0 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.056 223.639 223.536 1.2 .0 .1 .5 .0 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.960 217.076 216.976 -.4 .0 -.1 .1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.289 248.677 248.595 -.7 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.966 249.126 249.024 .0 .0 .1 .1 -.1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .769 143.358 139.999 1.9 -2.3 1.3 .2 -1.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 25.206 256.395 256.509 -.3 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 23.593 256.387 256.503 -.3 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .347 125.865 126.463 3.8 .5 .2 .5 .5 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.081 219.614 219.602 3.3 .0 -1.2 .6 .4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.028 195.268 194.865 2.7 -.2 -1.6 .6 .5 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .276 261.257 263.196 10.8 .7 -2.6 -1.6 .7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.752 200.177 199.632 2.1 -.3 -1.6 .8 .4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.052 171.156 172.491 5.7 .8 .2 .4 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.590 125.239 125.005 -2.6 -.2 -.4 -.1 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.747 150.630 .1 -.1 .0 .1 -.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.695 115.248 116.667 -.4 1.2 .8 .6 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .903 109.670 110.229 -.5 .5 2.3 -.2 -.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.580 100.659 102.702 -1.2 2.0 .2 1.4 -.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .196 112.882 113.245 -.4 .3 .8 2.2 -1.3 

Footwear .................................................................................. .721 125.212 125.656 .3 .4 .6 .2 -.5 

Transportation ............................................................................ 16.685 193.038 193.454 4.9 .2 -1.0 1.3 1.2 

Private transportation ............................................................... 15.497 188.028 188.616 4.8 .3 -1.0 1.4 1.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.386 97.620 97.891 5.1 .3 .3 .3 .4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.573 137.323 137.119 2.3 -.1 .1 .1 .3 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.012 146.379 147.909 15.5 1.0 .9 .8 .7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.525 234.642 235.690 4.7 .4 -4.1 4.4 3.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 4.337 234.091 235.110 4.4 .4 -4.5 4.6 3.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .401 137.236 137.646 3.1 .3 .4 .4 .3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.167 247.536 248.390 2.0 .3 .1 .0 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.187 257.337 254.717 6.6 -1.0 -.5 -.8 -.2

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.513 387.898 388.467 3.2 .1 .3 -.1 .2 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.611 314.113 314.881 3.0 .2 .0 -.2 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.902 410.710 411.182 3.2 .1 .4 .0 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.796 328.899 329.318 2.8 .1 .4 .3 .2 

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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Aug. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

July

2010

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.619 604.291 605.859 6.3 0.3 0.6 -0.4 0.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.437 113.689 113.521 -1.1 -.1 .1 -.1 -.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.894 99.244 98.852 -2.6 -.4 .4 -.4 -.5 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.434 129.586 130.599 1.9 .8 .1 .2 .0 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.035 198.206 201.476 4.3 1.6 .4 .4 .0 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .200 504.856 504.635 3.0 .0 .8 -.2 -1.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.835 569.750 579.833 4.4 1.8 .4 .4 .1 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.399 84.703 84.699 -.3 .0 -.2 .1 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.225 81.535 81.532 -.4 .0 -.2 .1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.392 102.471 102.534 -.1 .1 -.1 .2 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .833 9.399 9.381 -1.2 -.2 -.5 -.2 -.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .246 75.912 75.798 -3.5 -.2 -.4 .4 .2 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.483 383.247 383.685 2.9 .1 .4 .7 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .871 819.214 822.662 7.7 .4 1.0 1.6 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.612 207.025 207.042 1.3 .0 .2 .4 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .688 161.372 161.337 -.7 .0 -.2 .8 .0 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .642 230.519 230.354 1.2 -.1 .1 .1 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.048 354.533 355.429 3.0 .3 .1 .5 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.816 173.503 173.925 1.7 .2 -.4 .5 .5 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.539 219.877 1.0 .2 .0 .0 .1 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.021 149.116 149.558 2.1 .3 -.6 .9 .8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.044 187.006 187.890 1.9 .5 -.8 1.3 1.4 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.695 115.248 116.667 -.4 1.2 .8 .6 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.349 235.935 236.498 2.6 .2 -1.7 1.9 2.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.978 111.555 111.587 2.3 .0 .1 .1 .4 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.184 262.241 262.421 .8 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 31.942 259.115 259.015 -.7 .0 .0 -.1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .347 125.865 126.463 3.8 .5 .2 .5 .5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.752 200.177 199.632 2.1 -.3 -1.6 .8 .4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.052 171.156 172.491 5.7 .8 .2 .4 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.747 150.630 .1 -.1 .0 .1 -.1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 6.060 261.054 260.944 3.5 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.902 410.710 411.182 3.2 .1 .4 .0 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.347 310.033 311.443 1.8 .5 .2 .3 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.262 217.857 218.147 1.2 .1 -.2 .4 .3 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.711 208.469 208.925 2.0 .2 -.3 .4 .4 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.487 209.664 209.952 1.0 .1 -.2 .3 .3 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.078 151.754 152.182 2.0 .3 -.6 .9 .7 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.100 189.196 190.025 1.9 .4 -1.0 1.4 1.3 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.405 233.710 234.212 2.5 .2 -1.6 1.7 1.8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.838 203.471 204.111 1.5 .3 -.9 .8 .9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 28.243 286.238 286.775 2.5 .2 -.1 .1 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.282 250.605 250.766 .6 .1 -.1 .0 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 8.553 212.372 212.663 3.8 .1 -2.9 2.6 2.3 

All items less energy .................................................................... 91.447 220.316 220.619 .9 .1 .1 .1 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.708 221.258 221.551 .9 .1 .2 .1 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.276 142.864 143.206 1.3 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.801 237.602 238.702 5.1 .5 -4.1 4.0 3.8 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.432 268.655 268.903 .7 .1 .1 .1 .0 

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

 $ .459 $ .458 - - - - -

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

 $ .153 $ .153 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2010 Feb.

2010

Aug.

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 217.224 216.929 217.597 218.150 2.4 1.4 -0.7 1.7 1.9 0.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.764 219.696 219.641 219.961 .3 1.6 1.7 .4 1.0 1.0 

Food ................................................................................ 219.459 219.369 219.222 219.563 .1 1.9 1.8 .2 1.0 1.0 

Food at home ................................................................ 215.939 215.622 215.430 215.506 -1.2 2.7 2.5 -.8 .7 .8 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 250.615 249.216 248.561 248.746 .7 -.7 -1.2 -2.9 .0 -2.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 206.622 208.669 209.196 208.537 -3.4 3.2 8.4 3.8 -.2 6.0 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 197.749 197.947 198.991 198.712 3.2 10.5 -2.1 2.0 6.8 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 278.110 274.549 269.266 270.413 -4.9 6.5 8.4 -10.6 .6 -1.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 161.177 160.840 161.755 161.588 -1.5 -.7 -1.7 1.0 -1.1 -.4 

Other food at home ..................................................... 191.270 190.613 190.968 191.436 .3 .7 .1 .3 .5 .2 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 202.040 199.608 200.816 200.610 6.8 5.5 .8 -2.8 6.2 -1.0 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 199.880 199.817 199.743 201.077 -4.0 3.0 1.1 2.4 -.5 1.7 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.717 204.265 204.548 205.055 -.3 -.6 -.1 .7 -.5 .3

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 120.607 121.551 122.052 121.787 -2.0 -.3 -1.9 4.0 -1.2 1.0 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.573 225.797 225.710 226.422 1.7 .8 .9 1.5 1.3 1.2 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 158.529 159.271 159.338 159.517 .8 4.0 -.1 2.5 2.4 1.2 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 222.354 222.582 223.758 223.789 2.8 -1.4 .7 2.6 .7 1.7 

Housing ............................................................................. 216.172 215.933 216.192 216.277 .1 -1.3 .0 .2 -.6 .1 

Shelter ............................................................................. 248.080 248.360 248.533 248.475 -.8 -1.9 .2 .6 -1.3 .4 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 249.015 249.201 249.381 249.213 -.7 .0 .3 .3 -.3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 135.330 137.144 137.410 135.651 -.9 -7.5 18.2 1.0 -4.3 9.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 256.166 256.370 256.521 256.580 -.8 -.4 -.4 .6 -.6 .1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 256.161 256.365 256.513 256.575 -.8 -.4 -.4 .6 -.6 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 125.036 125.289 125.865 126.463 1.4 7.4 1.9 4.6 4.3 3.3 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 214.885 212.218 213.471 214.372 8.8 3.6 2.1 -1.0 6.2 .6 

Household energy ......................................................... 190.232 187.134 188.333 189.216 9.7 2.7 1.0 -2.1 6.1 -.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 272.606 265.521 261.257 263.196 44.1 28.9 -6.6 -13.1 36.3 -9.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 194.056 191.036 192.576 193.441 7.5 .9 1.6 -1.3 4.2 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 170.317 170.723 171.409 171.833 5.1 7.9 6.4 3.6 6.5 5.0 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.708 125.203 125.135 125.193 -2.7 -2.3 -3.6 -1.6 -2.5 -2.6 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 150.575 150.560 150.747 150.630 -1.0 -1.1 2.3 .1 -1.0 1.2 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.740 119.705 120.373 120.205 -1.2 -1.4 -3.5 5.0 -1.3 .7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 110.897 113.432 113.220 113.094 -4.6 -2.2 -3.0 8.2 -3.4 2.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 106.381 106.627 108.074 107.759 -3.5 .5 -6.8 5.3 -1.5 -.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.803 114.727 117.212 115.667 -7.2 -1.4 .9 6.7 -4.4 3.8 

Footwear ......................................................................... 127.334 128.153 128.465 127.882 3.8 -.2 -4.0 1.7 1.8 -1.2 

Transportation ................................................................... 189.994 188.135 190.544 192.909 12.8 8.0 -6.7 6.3 10.4 -.4 

Private transportation ...................................................... 185.021 183.147 185.797 188.302 12.2 8.9 -8.3 7.3 10.5 -.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 97.011 97.307 97.557 97.908 11.8 3.4 .9 3.8 7.5 2.3 

New vehicles ............................................................... 137.840 137.939 138.139 138.529 9.4 -2.5 .6 2.0 3.3 1.3 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 142.691 143.950 145.088 146.093 29.9 18.8 5.0 9.9 24.3 7.4 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 224.806 215.489 224.977 233.847 18.2 22.2 -28.9 17.1 20.2 -8.8 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 224.391 214.321 224.135 232.965 17.2 22.9 -29.0 16.2 20.0 -9.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 136.135 136.686 137.236 137.646 2.1 4.3 1.4 4.5 3.2 3.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 247.311 247.635 247.536 248.390 3.4 .7 2.2 1.8 2.0 2.0 

Public transportation ....................................................... 254.009 252.626 250.567 250.191 21.6 -2.9 16.1 -5.9 8.7 4.5 

Medical care ...................................................................... 387.136 388.254 387.933 388.842 3.6 4.8 2.6 1.8 4.2 2.2 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 314.923 314.888 314.113 314.881 3.6 5.7 2.7 -.1 4.7 1.3 

Medical care services ..................................................... 409.293 410.880 410.759 411.709 3.5 4.5 2.5 2.4 4.0 2.5 

Professional services .................................................... 326.207 327.522 328.610 329.413 2.8 3.6 1.0 4.0 3.2 2.5 

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—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2010 Feb.

2010

Aug.

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 604.503 607.995 605.466 608.304 6.6 8.7 7.4 2.5 7.6 4.9 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.557 113.695 113.599 113.375 -2.2 -1.9 .5 -.6 -2.1 -.1

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.212 99.598 99.240 98.747 -3.1 -3.9 -1.4 -1.9 -3.5 -1.6 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 129.932 130.083 130.355 130.369 1.1 2.8 2.5 1.4 2.0 1.9 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 199.041 199.925 200.686 200.746 3.0 5.0 5.8 3.5 4.0 4.6 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 505.738 509.604 508.430 501.521 6.5 6.1 2.9 -3.3 6.3 -.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 572.249 574.662 577.097 577.834 2.7 5.0 6.0 4.0 3.8 5.0 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.811 84.657 84.702 84.695 -.6 .6 -.4 -.5 .0 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.641 81.487 81.535 81.532 -.7 .3 -.5 -.5 -.2 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.369 102.303 102.471 102.534 -.6 -.9 .3 .6 -.8 .5 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.473 9.422 9.399 9.381 -1.3 3.1 -2.8 -3.8 .9 -3.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 76.179 75.891 76.160 76.281 -1.5 -6.3 -6.7 .5 -3.9 -3.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 379.027 380.603 383.432 384.493 3.8 1.2 1.0 5.9 2.5 3.4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 798.192 806.154 819.214 822.662 9.7 2.2 6.5 12.8 5.9 9.6 

Personal care .................................................................. 205.796 206.246 207.160 207.630 1.6 .9 -.8 3.6 1.3 1.4 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.351 160.061 161.372 161.337 -1.8 .7 -4.1 2.5 -.5 -.9 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 230.013 230.225 230.519 230.354 1.4 -.4 3.4 .6 .5 2.0 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 352.658 353.072 354.973 355.528 4.8 2.1 1.8 3.3 3.4 2.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 173.127 172.440 173.368 174.304 4.2 3.7 -3.9 2.7 4.0 -.7 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.764 219.696 219.641 219.961 .3 1.6 1.7 .4 1.0 1.0 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 148.511 147.598 148.890 150.042 6.6 5.0 -7.1 4.2 5.8 -1.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 185.316 183.771 186.102 188.620 7.3 8.3 -13.6 7.3 7.8 -3.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.740 119.705 120.373 120.205 -1.2 -1.4 -3.5 5.0 -1.3 .7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 231.178 227.173 231.395 235.953 8.8 11.5 -15.6 8.5 10.1 -4.3 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.315 111.381 111.465 111.895 6.9 .9 -.7 2.1 3.8 .7 

Services .............................................................................. 261.066 261.169 261.549 261.680 1.2 -.1 1.6 .9 .6 1.3 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 258.334 258.297 257.998 258.276 -.4 -2.0 -.3 -.1 -1.2 -.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 125.036 125.289 125.865 126.463 1.4 7.4 1.9 4.6 4.3 3.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 194.056 191.036 192.576 193.441 7.5 .9 1.6 -1.3 4.2 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 170.317 170.723 171.409 171.833 5.1 7.9 6.4 3.6 6.5 5.0 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 150.575 150.560 150.747 150.630 -1.0 -1.1 2.3 .1 -1.0 1.2 

Transportation services ..................................................... 259.890 259.909 259.852 260.059 7.3 1.5 5.1 .3 4.3 2.7 

Medical care services ....................................................... 409.293 410.880 410.759 411.709 3.5 4.5 2.5 2.4 4.0 2.5 

Other services ................................................................... 309.426 310.105 310.990 311.046 .9 1.4 2.8 2.1 1.2 2.5 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 216.892 216.564 217.361 217.947 2.8 1.3 -1.1 2.0 2.0 .4 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 207.597 207.070 207.943 208.744 4.0 2.9 -1.1 2.2 3.5 .6 

All items less medical care .................................................. 208.883 208.536 209.236 209.770 2.3 1.1 -.9 1.7 1.7 .4 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 151.127 150.242 151.537 152.662 6.4 4.7 -6.8 4.1 5.6 -1.5 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 187.713 185.878 188.502 190.950 6.2 7.9 -12.3 7.1 7.1 -3.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 229.400 225.675 229.614 233.855 8.0 10.2 -14.1 8.0 9.1 -3.7 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 202.850 201.106 202.701 204.516 4.2 4.2 -5.6 3.3 4.2 -1.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 284.374 284.147 284.537 284.979 3.7 2.3 3.2 .9 3.0 2.0 

Services less medical care services ................................... 249.394 249.234 249.251 249.511 1.4 -.6 1.4 .2 .4 .8 

Energy ................................................................................. 205.093 199.059 204.195 208.874 14.2 12.8 -16.2 7.6 13.5 -5.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 220.179 220.463 220.684 220.823 1.3 .3 1.0 1.2 .8 1.1 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 221.037 221.388 221.676 221.779 1.6 .1 .8 1.3 .8 1.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 143.357 143.626 143.923 144.079 3.6 .7 -1.1 2.0 2.1 .4 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 228.758 219.487 228.353 236.938 19.6 22.6 -27.8 15.1 21.1 -8.8 

Services less energy services ......................................... 267.941 268.337 268.610 268.672 .8 -.2 1.6 1.1 .3 1.3 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Aug.2010 from—

Percent change to

July2010 from—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

June

2010

July

2010

July

2009

May

2010

June

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 218.178 217.965 218.011 218.312 1.1 0.2 0.1 1.2 -0.1 0.0 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 234.130 233.834 233.885 234.150 1.4 .1 .1 1.6 -.1 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 236.054 235.769 235.770 236.089 1.2 .1 .1 1.4 -.1 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.362 139.163 139.274 139.348 2.0 .1 .1 2.1 -.1 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 207.987 207.886 208.211 208.639 1.5 .4 .2 1.7 .1 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 208.489 208.289 208.556 208.912 1.1 .3 .2 1.4 .0 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.772 133.845 134.130 134.375 2.0 .4 .2 2.1 .3 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.026 203.749 203.992 204.985 1.6 .6 .5 1.5 .0 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 211.423 211.232 210.988 211.308 1.1 .0 .2 1.0 -.2 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.101 213.121 212.696 212.947 .7 -.1 .1 .8 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.500 134.173 134.130 134.335 1.2 .1 .2 1.1 -.3 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 214.336 215.216 214.639 215.266 2.1 .0 .3 2.0 .1 -.3 

West urban ..................................................... M 221.417 221.147 221.331 221.523 .7 .2 .1 .8 .0 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 225.571 225.291 225.574 225.790 .8 .2 .1 .9 .0 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.889 133.635 133.685 133.704 .7 .1 .0 .7 -.2 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 199.358 199.183 199.224 199.477 .9 .1 .1 1.1 -.1 .0 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 134.909 134.692 134.753 134.908 1.4 .2 .1 1.3 -.1 .0 

D ................................................................. M 210.739 211.094 210.882 211.606 1.6 .2 .3 1.5 .1 -.1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 212.984 212.186 212.535 212.784 .6 .3 .1 .8 -.2 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 226.438 225.877 225.991 226.373 .8 .2 .2 .9 -.2 .1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 241.075 240.817 241.147 241.569 1.4 .3 .2 1.5 .0 .1 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 238.083 -

 236.132 - - - - 1.3 -.8 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 204.024 - 203.989 - - - - 1.7 .0 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 202.108 -

 200.227 - - - - -.2 -.9 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 142.025 - 141.966 - - - - .8 .0 -

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

 204.725 - 204.511 .6 -.1 - - - -

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

 204.891 - 205.412 .4 .3 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 194.734 - 195.165 1.8 .2 - - - -

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

 222.390 - 222.803 .7 .2 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 228.074 - 228.500 1.1 .2 - - - -

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

 228.110 - 227.954 1.0 -.1 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 226.118 - 227.645 .2 .7 - - - -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Aug. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

July

2010

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 213.898 214.205 1.4 0.1 -0.2 0.4 0.3 

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

 637.138 638.052 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 218.784 219.175 1.0 .2 .0 .0 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.333 218.276 218.696 1.0 .2 -.1 .0 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.900 214.212 214.392 .8 .1 -.2 .0 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.257 250.670 250.327 -1.0 -.1 -.6 -.2 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.144 208.784 208.676 3.1 -.1 1.1 .3 -.3 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .898 197.782 197.651 3.5 -.1 .1 .6 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.223 263.715 263.946 -.7 .1 -1.5 -1.8 .4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.123 160.862 161.353 -.7 .3 -.3 .7 -.2 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.254 190.675 191.226 .3 .3 -.4 .2 .3 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .321 199.857 198.872 2.2 -.5 -1.2 .4 -.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .259 200.656 201.786 .3 .6 -.1 .0 .6 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.674 205.206 206.021 -.1 .4 -.2 .2 .3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 122.217 121.804 -.3 -.3 .8 .3 -.3 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.433 225.707 226.481 1.2 .3 .1 -.1 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .321 159.725 159.866 2.0 .1 .4 .1 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.092 224.772 224.749 1.4 .0 .1 .7 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.753 213.743 213.603 -.1 -.1 -.1 .1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.171 242.396 242.295 -.4 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.476 247.442 247.250 -.1 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .432 145.768 140.967 1.7 -3.3 1.8 .3 -2.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 20.959 232.271 232.373 -.3 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 20.218 232.272 232.374 -.3 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .303 126.950 127.526 4.3 .5 .2 .5 .5 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.632 218.770 218.703 3.3 .0 -1.2 .6 .6 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.517 193.671 193.259 2.7 -.2 -1.5 .6 .7 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .271 263.269 264.904 10.6 .6 -2.5 -1.6 .6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.246 199.162 198.640 2.3 -.3 -1.5 .8 .7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.114 171.690 172.934 5.7 .7 .2 .4 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.950 121.273 120.912 -2.7 -.3 -.3 -.2 -.1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .369 153.634 153.542 -.1 -.1 .0 .3 -.1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.788 114.464 115.600 -1.3 1.0 .8 .4 -.4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .945 109.313 110.005 -1.5 .6 2.1 -.5 .1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 99.600 101.483 -2.2 1.9 .2 .8 -.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .285 116.291 116.066 -.4 -.2 .8 2.0 -2.1 

Footwear .................................................................................. .781 125.317 125.535 -.3 .2 .5 .3 -.5

Transportation ............................................................................ 18.647 192.051 192.657 5.5 .3 -1.1 1.5 1.6 

Private transportation ............................................................... 17.881 188.577 189.261 5.5 .4 -1.1 1.6 1.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.952 97.003 97.389 6.9 .4 .4 .3 .4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.385 138.387 138.152 2.2 -.2 .1 .1 .2 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.944 147.247 148.782 15.5 1.0 .9 .8 .7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.774 235.399 236.436 4.7 .4 -4.2 4.4 4.7 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.530 234.959 235.966 4.4 .4 -4.6 4.6 3.9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .472 137.218 137.612 3.0 .3 .4 .4 .3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.180 250.143 251.084 2.1 .4 .1 .0 .4 

Public transportation ................................................................ .766 253.625 251.634 6.2 -.8 -.6 -.6 .0 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.261 389.335 389.905 3.4 .1 .3 .0 .2 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.301 305.764 306.541 3.1 .3 .0 -.2 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.961 413.883 414.344 3.5 .1 .4 .0 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.195 332.219 332.656 3.0 .1 .4 .3 .2 

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

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Aug. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

July

2010

May to

June

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.339 605.634 607.181 7.0 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.031 110.076 109.967 -1.3 -.1 .1 -.2 -.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 2.046 99.660 99.385 -2.4 -.3 .3 -.3 -.4 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.175 124.687 125.425 1.5 .6 .1 .2 .0 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.327 195.550 198.537 4.4 1.5 .5 .4 .0 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .196 506.799 508.150 2.9 .3 .7 -.3 -1.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.131 549.874 558.909 4.5 1.6 .4 .4 .1 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.848 87.376 87.391 -.3 .0 -.2 .1 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.715 85.186 85.201 -.4 .0 -.2 .1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.906 102.185 102.239 -.4 .1 -.1 .2 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .809 9.957 9.947 -.6 -.1 -.5 -.2 -.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .225 75.929 75.848 -3.4 -.1 -.6 .5 .2 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.919 411.793 412.453 3.6 .2 .5 .9 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.397 824.198 827.609 7.7 .4 1.0 1.6 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.522 204.575 204.604 1.2 .0 .2 .5 .2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .733 161.416 161.376 -.6 .0 -.2 .9 .0 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .577 230.769 230.625 1.3 -.1 .1 .1 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.019 355.667 356.582 2.6 .3 .0 .4 .2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 43.589 176.554 177.003 2.1 .3 -.5 .6 .7 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 218.784 219.175 1.0 .2 .0 .0 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 27.164 153.847 154.309 2.7 .3 -.7 1.0 1.0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 16.703 195.484 196.297 2.0 .4 -1.5 1.7 1.5 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.788 114.464 115.600 -1.3 1.0 .8 .4 -.4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 12.915 250.103 250.745 3.0 .3 -1.9 2.1 2.2 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.461 112.995 113.125 3.7 .1 .3 .1 .3 

Services ....................................................................................... 56.411 257.595 257.745 .9 .1 .0 .2 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 29.868 233.588 233.478 -.5 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .303 126.950 127.526 4.3 .5 .2 .5 .5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.246 199.162 198.640 2.3 -.3 -1.5 .8 .7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.114 171.690 172.934 5.7 .7 .2 .4 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .369 153.634 153.542 -.1 -.1 .0 .3 -.1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.918 260.674 260.904 3.6 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.961 413.883 414.344 3.5 .1 .4 .0 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.631 296.475 297.576 1.5 .4 .2 .2 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.667 212.937 213.224 1.5 .1 -.2 .4 .4 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.829 205.817 206.276 2.3 .2 -.3 .5 .5 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.739 206.771 207.068 1.3 .1 -.2 .4 .4 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 28.256 156.245 156.695 2.7 .3 -.7 1.0 1.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 17.795 197.295 198.064 2.0 .4 -1.4 1.6 1.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.007 246.832 247.415 2.9 .2 -1.8 2.0 2.0 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.128 207.547 208.167 1.5 .3 -.8 .9 .9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.543 253.109 253.551 2.5 .2 -.1 .2 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 52.450 246.547 246.681 .7 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 10.291 212.674 212.996 3.8 .2 -3.0 2.7 2.9 

All items less energy .................................................................... 89.709 215.005 215.312 1.2 .1 .1 .1 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 74.376 214.724 215.009 1.2 .1 .2 .1 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.211 145.205 145.557 2.0 .2 .3 .2 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 6.045 237.720 238.785 5.0 .4 -4.1 4.1 4.5 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.165 263.922 264.149 .8 .1 .1 .1 .0 

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

 $ .468 $ .467 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .157 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2010 Feb.

2010

Aug.

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 212.882 212.487 213.275 214.019 2.8 2.3 -1.4 2.2 2.6 0.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.938 218.830 218.851 219.203 .2 1.7 1.7 .5 1.0 1.1 

Food ................................................................................ 218.546 218.416 218.336 218.696 .0 1.9 1.8 .3 1.0 1.0 

Food at home ................................................................ 214.701 214.353 214.312 214.392 -1.4 2.9 2.4 -.6 .7 .9 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.275 249.676 249.053 249.429 .9 -1.4 -.7 -2.9 -.3 -1.8 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 206.203 208.396 208.949 208.288 -3.6 4.1 7.7 4.1 .2 5.9 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 196.490 196.663 197.782 197.651 3.5 10.5 -2.2 2.4 7.0 .1 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 275.416 271.241 266.463 267.571 -5.0 6.5 8.2 -10.9 .6 -1.8 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 160.946 160.429 161.496 161.246 -1.8 -.1 -1.5 .7 -1.0 -.4 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.471 189.767 190.144 190.637 .0 .8 .0 .3 .4 .2 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 200.989 198.514 199.386 199.065 6.7 5.3 1.0 -3.8 6.0 -1.4 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 200.344 200.054 199.998 201.168 -3.8 3.2 .2 1.7 -.3 .9 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.735 204.250 204.633 205.225 -.6 -.4 -.3 1.0 -.5 .3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 120.869 121.830 122.217 121.804 -1.9 -.5 -2.0 3.1 -1.2 .5 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.657 225.846 225.707 226.481 1.8 .6 .9 1.5 1.2 1.2 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 158.901 159.601 159.725 159.866 .2 5.1 .2 2.5 2.6 1.3 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 223.245 223.450 224.936 225.179 3.2 -1.3 .3 3.5 1.0 1.9 

Housing ............................................................................. 212.781 212.526 212.756 212.842 .4 -.7 .0 .1 -.1 .1 

Shelter ............................................................................. 241.982 242.233 242.390 242.282 -.7 -1.2 .1 .5 -.9 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 247.434 247.585 247.705 247.460 -.9 -.1 .4 .0 -.5 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 136.433 138.894 139.345 136.626 .0 -6.7 15.8 .6 -3.4 7.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 232.086 232.272 232.411 232.443 -.7 -.6 -.3 .6 -.7 .1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 232.088 232.275 232.411 232.444 -.7 -.6 -.3 .6 -.7 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 126.051 126.345 126.950 127.526 1.9 8.5 2.2 4.8 5.2 3.5 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 213.520 211.014 212.231 213.407 7.9 3.0 2.6 -.2 5.4 1.2 

Household energy ......................................................... 188.088 185.237 186.400 187.614 8.5 1.9 1.7 -1.0 5.2 .4 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 274.630 267.671 263.269 264.904 44.1 31.9 -9.0 -13.4 37.9 -11.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 192.568 189.775 191.240 192.489 6.7 .2 2.5 -.2 3.4 1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 171.010 171.367 172.010 172.296 5.1 8.4 6.3 3.0 6.8 4.7 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 121.712 121.367 121.071 121.001 -1.7 -2.1 -4.5 -2.3 -1.9 -3.4 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 153.176 153.235 153.634 153.542 -2.4 -3.1 4.4 1.0 -2.8 2.7 

Apparel .............................................................................. 118.204 119.096 119.544 119.017 -1.9 -1.3 -4.2 2.8 -1.6 -.8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 111.040 113.393 112.845 112.965 -5.9 -3.8 -2.8 7.1 -4.8 2.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 105.741 105.953 106.821 106.111 -3.4 1.7 -8.1 1.4 -.9 -3.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 117.581 118.487 120.885 118.376 -7.0 1.3 1.8 2.7 -2.9 2.3 

Footwear ......................................................................... 127.277 127.913 128.294 127.689 2.6 -.5 -4.4 1.3 1.0 -1.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 188.273 186.209 189.020 192.130 13.5 11.0 -9.3 8.4 12.2 -.8 

Private transportation ...................................................... 184.801 182.732 185.661 188.845 13.2 11.6 -10.2 9.0 12.4 -1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 96.087 96.497 96.827 97.221 15.5 5.5 1.6 4.8 10.4 3.2 

New vehicles ............................................................... 138.877 139.038 139.218 139.526 9.7 -2.6 .4 1.9 3.4 1.1 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 143.528 144.773 145.889 146.935 30.2 19.0 4.7 9.8 24.4 7.3 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 224.388 214.902 224.320 234.907 16.2 25.9 -31.6 20.1 20.9 -9.3 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 225.380 215.031 224.891 233.750 17.7 23.0 -29.1 15.7 20.3 -9.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 136.182 136.719 137.218 137.612 2.3 4.1 1.4 4.3 3.2 2.8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 249.841 250.142 250.143 251.084 3.5 .8 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1 

Public transportation ....................................................... 250.693 249.252 247.744 247.825 20.5 -3.0 13.9 -4.5 8.1 4.3 

Medical care ...................................................................... 388.456 389.639 389.453 390.299 3.7 5.2 2.9 1.9 4.5 2.4 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 306.458 306.440 305.764 306.541 3.5 5.9 2.8 .1 4.7 1.5 

Medical care services ..................................................... 412.337 414.012 414.049 414.900 3.8 5.0 2.9 2.5 4.4 2.7 

Professional services .................................................... 329.497 330.959 331.963 332.739 2.9 3.8 1.4 4.0 3.3 2.7 

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—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Nov.

2009

Feb.

2010

May

2010

Aug.

2010 Feb.

2010

Aug.

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 604.958 608.514 606.994 609.797 7.0 10.1 7.8 3.2 8.5 5.5 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.072 110.196 109.992 109.813 -2.7 -1.4 -.4 -.9 -2.0 -.7 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.656 99.980 99.646 99.260 -2.8 -3.3 -2.0 -1.6 -3.1 -1.8 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 124.929 125.018 125.256 125.272 .9 2.2 1.9 1.1 1.5 1.5 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 196.263 197.168 197.893 197.914 3.4 5.2 5.5 3.4 4.3 4.4 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 508.525 512.033 510.490 504.799 6.1 5.6 3.2 -2.9 5.9 .1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 551.888 554.317 556.699 557.331 3.1 5.2 5.7 4.0 4.2 4.9 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.454 87.306 87.375 87.388 -.9 .1 -.2 -.3 -.4 -.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.263 85.115 85.186 85.201 -.9 -.1 -.2 -.3 -.5 -.3 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.101 102.021 102.185 102.239 -.8 -1.5 .2 .5 -1.1 .4 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.028 9.976 9.957 9.947 -1.7 4.4 -1.9 -3.2 1.3 -2.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 76.229 75.763 76.168 76.335 -1.6 -6.4 -5.9 .6 -4.0 -2.7 

Other goods and services ................................................. 406.288 408.314 411.916 413.142 4.6 1.4 1.5 6.9 3.0 4.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 803.019 811.325 824.198 827.609 9.7 2.1 6.4 12.8 5.9 9.6 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.291 203.690 204.671 205.143 1.3 1.0 -1.2 3.7 1.1 1.2 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.289 159.900 161.416 161.376 -1.5 .7 -4.3 2.7 -.4 -.9 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 230.263 230.472 230.769 230.625 1.5 -.8 3.7 .6 .4 2.2 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 354.133 354.233 355.713 356.397 3.7 2.9 1.5 2.6 3.3 2.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 175.718 174.912 176.029 177.262 4.9 5.1 -5.0 3.6 5.0 -.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.938 218.830 218.851 219.203 .2 1.7 1.7 .5 1.0 1.1 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 152.614 151.534 153.086 154.660 7.8 7.1 -8.8 5.5 7.5 -1.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 193.425 190.600 193.805 196.796 8.6 9.7 -15.0 7.2 9.1 -4.6 

Apparel .......................................................................... 118.204 119.096 119.544 119.017 -1.9 -1.3 -4.2 2.8 -1.6 -.8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 244.252 239.549 244.635 249.977 10.3 12.1 -17.0 9.7 11.2 -4.6 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.426 112.718 112.840 113.188 10.0 2.7 -.1 2.7 6.3 1.3 

Services .............................................................................. 256.389 256.454 256.860 257.025 1.2 .3 1.5 1.0 .8 1.2 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 233.081 233.089 233.052 233.137 -.3 -1.3 -.3 .1 -.8 -.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 126.051 126.345 126.950 127.526 1.9 8.5 2.2 4.8 5.2 3.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 192.568 189.775 191.240 192.489 6.7 .2 2.5 -.2 3.4 1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 171.010 171.367 172.010 172.296 5.1 8.4 6.3 3.0 6.8 4.7 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 153.176 153.235 153.634 153.542 -2.4 -3.1 4.4 1.0 -2.8 2.7 

Transportation services ..................................................... 259.637 259.839 260.234 260.588 6.6 2.0 4.7 1.5 4.2 3.1 

Medical care services ....................................................... 412.337 414.012 414.049 414.900 3.8 5.0 2.9 2.5 4.4 2.7 

Other services ................................................................... 295.891 296.522 297.141 297.236 .5 1.4 2.2 1.8 .9 2.0 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 211.695 211.254 212.194 213.004 3.3 2.4 -2.0 2.5 2.9 .2 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 204.572 203.939 204.964 206.024 4.4 3.9 -2.1 2.9 4.1 .4 

All items less medical care .................................................. 205.759 205.321 206.132 206.865 2.8 2.2 -1.7 2.2 2.5 .2 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 155.000 153.951 155.506 157.049 7.7 6.8 -8.5 5.4 7.2 -1.8 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 195.285 192.563 195.686 198.552 8.2 9.1 -14.2 6.9 8.6 -4.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 241.419 237.103 241.864 246.763 9.7 11.1 -15.8 9.2 10.4 -4.1 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 206.172 204.622 206.494 208.421 4.3 5.4 -7.4 4.4 4.8 -1.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 251.154 250.979 251.382 251.873 3.6 2.3 3.1 1.2 3.0 2.1 

Services less medical care services ................................... 245.348 245.258 245.438 245.645 1.3 -.1 1.3 .5 .6 .9 

Energy ................................................................................. 204.416 198.255 203.561 209.481 12.8 14.9 -18.7 10.3 13.9 -5.3 

All items less energy ........................................................... 214.861 215.163 215.408 215.528 1.7 .9 .9 1.2 1.3 1.0 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 214.496 214.887 215.198 215.269 2.1 .7 .7 1.4 1.4 1.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 145.455 145.835 146.172 146.280 5.2 1.7 -1.1 2.3 3.4 .6 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 227.514 218.075 227.010 237.307 17.3 26.1 -30.7 18.4 21.6 -9.4 

Services less energy services ......................................... 263.332 263.722 264.007 264.048 .7 .3 1.4 1.1 .5 1.3 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Aug.2010 from—

Percent change to

July2010 from—

May

2010

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

June

2010

July

2010

July

2009

May

2010

June

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 214.124 213.839 213.898 214.205 1.4 0.2 0.1 1.6 -0.1 0.0 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 231.661 231.308 231.380 231.694 1.8 .2 .1 2.1 -.1 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 231.851 231.552 231.615 231.995 1.5 .2 .2 1.8 -.1 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.510 140.227 140.283 140.390 2.4 .1 .1 2.7 -.2 .0 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 203.674 203.524 203.877 204.273 1.8 .4 .2 2.0 .1 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.330 203.063 203.363 203.593 1.4 .3 .1 1.9 .0 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.797 133.845 134.136 134.426 2.2 .4 .2 2.3 .3 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 201.974 201.654 201.950 202.896 1.8 .6 .5 1.8 .0 .1 

South urban .................................................... M 208.920 208.640 208.440 208.740 1.4 .0 .1 1.5 -.2 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.065 210.985 210.592 210.831 .9 -.1 .1 1.0 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.621 133.227 133.227 133.420 1.6 .1 .1 1.7 -.3 .0 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 214.679 215.416 214.840 215.354 2.0 .0 .2 2.1 .1 -.3 

West urban ..................................................... M 216.044 215.681 215.824 216.048 1.0 .2 .1 1.1 -.1 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 218.605 218.238 218.499 218.784 1.0 .3 .1 1.2 .0 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.764 133.448 133.471 133.480 .8 .0 .0 .9 -.2 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 198.087 197.852 197.908 198.168 1.2 .2 .1 1.4 -.1 .0 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 134.624 134.349 134.420 134.581 1.7 .2 .1 1.8 -.2 .1 

D ................................................................. M 209.097 209.374 209.161 209.863 1.7 .2 .3 1.8 .0 -.1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 206.774 205.834 206.307 206.338 1.0 .2 .0 1.4 -.2 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 218.787 218.222 218.367 218.752 1.0 .2 .2 1.0 -.2 .1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 236.144 235.916 236.330 236.820 1.7 .4 .2 1.8 .1 .2 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 238.863 -

 236.657 - - - - 1.8 -.9 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 195.574 - 195.477 - - - - 2.1 .0 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 205.263 -

 203.537 - - - - .2 -.8 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 142.064 - 141.926 - - - - 1.1 -.1 -

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

 204.084 - 203.745 .7 -.2 - - - -

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

 200.703 - 201.359 .6 .3 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 192.696 - 193.276 2.0 .3 - - - -

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

 220.384 - 220.790 .8 .2 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 228.175 - 228.523 1.3 .2 - - - -

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

 224.185 - 224.195 1.3 .0 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 221.857 - 223.444 .7 .7 - - - -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2007-2008

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Aug. 2010 from—

 July

 2010

 Aug.

 2010

 Aug.

 2009

 July

 2010

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 126.203 126.353 0.9 0.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.519 127.917 128.118 .8 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.493 127.842 128.064 .7 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.780 122.904 122.994 .7 .1 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.712 134.569 134.987 .8 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.027 129.360 129.286 1.0 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.074 128.838 128.757 -.5 -.1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.119 131.179 131.134 -.7 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.231 163.131 163.017 3.4 -.1 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.724 92.841 92.604 -3.0 -.3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.772 85.643 86.736 -.8 1.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.199 131.791 132.073 4.9 .2 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.013 132.187 132.593 4.8 .3 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.186 126.345 125.033 6.6 -1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.294 150.224 150.417 2.9 .1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.570 132.328 132.621 2.8 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.723 156.795 156.948 3.0 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 6.625 103.294 103.042 -2.4 -.2 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.288 112.088 112.876 1.4 .7 

Education ............................................................................... 2.804 182.870 185.792 4.2 1.6 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.484 73.043 73.034 -.7 .0 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.229 138.653 138.760 2.4 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 59.383 135.963 136.031 .7 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.617 114.215 114.467 1.2 .2 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.376 81.171 81.114 1.2 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 30.241 131.416 131.837 1.2 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 76.901 119.755 119.885 .6 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.606 188.248 188.497 3.9 .1 

Indexes for 2010 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2009 are interim adjustments.

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