News United States

Department 

of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

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Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-04-1069

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Tuesday, June 15, 2004

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MAY 2004

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent in May, before seasonal 

adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The May level of 189.1

(1982-84=100) was 3.1 percent higher than in May 2003.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.7 percent in 

May, prior to seasonal adjustment. The May level of 184.7 was 3.0 percent higher than in May 2003.

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in May on a not 

seasonally adjusted basis. The May level of 110.1 (December 1999=100) was 2.4 percent higher than in May 2003. 

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

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.6 percent in May, following a 0.2 percent increase in April. 

Energy costs advanced sharply in May--up 4.6 percent. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy increased 

7.7 percent and the index for energy services increased 1.1 percent. The index for food rose 0.9 percent in May, 

following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the three preceding months. Prices for dairy products rose 6.8 percent,

accounting for about half of the 1.4 percent rise in the index for food at home. The index for all items less food and 

energy, which increased 0.3 percent in April, rose 0.2 percent in May. A deceleration in shelter costs--up 0.2 percent in 

May after advancing 0.5 percent in April--was responsible for the smaller May advance. 

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2003 2004 3-mos. ended ended

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

All Items -.2 .2 .5 .3 .5 .2 .6 5.5 3.1

 Food and beverages .4 .5 -.1 .2 .2 .2 .9 5.1 4.0

 Housing -.1 .2 .4 .2 .3 .4 .4 4.3 2.4

 Apparel -.5 -.3 -.3 -.1 .9 .0 .3 5.1 .7

 Transportation -1.3 -.2 1.7 .7 1.1 .1 1.7 12.4 5.1

 Medical care .3 .5 .2 .6 .6 .4 .3 4.9 4.6

 Recreation .2 .1 .0 .3 .3 .2 -.2 1.1 1.1

 Education and

 communication .2 .2 .1 .3 .1 .3 .0 1.4 1.8

 Other goods and

 services .0 .2 .3 .2 .2 .1 .1 1.7 1.9

 Special Indexes

 Energy -3.0 .3 4.7 1.7 1.9 .1 4.6 29.7 15.0

 Food .4 .5 .0 .2 .2 .2 .9 5.1 4.1

 All Items less

 food and energy .0 .1 .2 .2 .4 .3 .2 3.3 1.7
For the first three months of 2004, consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 

5.1 percent. This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which rose 6.9

percent in 2003, accelerated in the first quarter of 2004, advancing at a 38.6 percent SAAR and accounting for about 

half of the first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at an 82.5 percent 

annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 4.2 percent annual rate. The food index rose at a 1.3 percent 

SAAR in the first quarter of 2004. The index for grocery store food prices decreased at a 0.2 percent annual rate, 

reflecting declines in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for fruits and vegetables--down at annual rates 

of 3.7 and 2.2 percent, respectively.

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.9 percent SAAR in the first quarter, following a 1.1

percent rise in all of 2003. While many categories advanced at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2004 than in all of 

2003, most of the acceleration was accounted for by larger increases in the indexes for shelter and for medical care, 

and an upturn in the index for apparel. The annual rates for selected groups for the last seven and one-quarter years 

are shown below.

Percentage change 12 months SAAR 3

 ended in December mos. ended

in March

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

All items 1.7 1.6 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 1.9 5.1

 Food and beverages 1.6 2.3 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.5 1.5

 Housing 2.4 2.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.5

 Apparel 1.0 -.7 -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 2.0

 Transportation -1.4 -1.7 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 .3 14.9

 Medical care 2.8 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.7 5.8

 Recreation 1.5 1.2 .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.1 2.2

 Education and

 communication 3.0 .7 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.8

 Other goods and services 5.2 8.8 5.1 4.2 4.5 3.3 1.5 2.8

Special indexes

 Energy -3.4 -8.8 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 6.9 38.6

 Energy commodities -6.9 -15.1 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 6.9 82.5

 Energy services .2 -3.3 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 6.9 4.2

 All items less energy 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.5 2.7

 Food 1.5 2.3 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 3.6 1.3

 All items less

 food and energy 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.9
During the first five months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 5.1 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). 

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

2003, increased at a 35.9 percent SAAR in the first five months of 2004. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at 

a 70.4 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 6.6 percent annual rate. The food index has 

increased at a 3.4 percent SAAR thus far this year, compared with an increase of 3.6 percent for all of 2003. 

Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.9 percent SAAR in the first five months, following a 1.1

percent rise in all of 2003.

The food and beverages index increased 0.9 percent in May. The index for food at home, which rose 0.1 

percent in April, advanced 1.4 percent in May. The index for dairy products rose 6.8 percent in May, following a 1.6 

percent rise in April, and accounted for about one-half of the May grocery store food increase. Fresh whole milk 

prices rose 14.7 percent, its largest advance since a 15.5 percent rise in July 1946 after the end of World War II price 

controls. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 1.6 percent in May. The index for beef and veal, 

which declined sharply in each of the first three months of 2004, before turning back up in April, increased 2.8 

percent. The indexes for pork and for poultry also rose sharply, increasing 2.0 and 2.6 percent, respectively. The 

index for fruits and vegetables, which declined 0.6 percent in April, rose 0.7 percent in May. The indexes for fresh 

vegetables and for fresh fruits increased 1.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh 

vegetable prices fell 0.3 percent, while fresh fruit prices rose 3.2 percent.) Among the other major food at home

groups, the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages and for other food at home each increased 0.4 percent in May. The 

index for cereal and bakery product rose 0.2 percent. The other two components of the food and beverage index--

food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 percent and declined 0.1 percent, respectively.

The index for housing rose 0.4 percent in May, the same as in April. Shelter costs, which advanced sharply in 

March and April, increased 0.2 percent in May. After registering increases of 3.8 and 1.6 percent in March and 

April, respectively, the index for lodging away from home rose 0.2 percent in May. The indexes for rent and for 

owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively. The index for fuels and utilities advanced 1.1 

percent, following a 0.5 percent increase in April. Each of the three major household fuels contributed to the larger 

May advance--the index for fuel oil increased 3.5 percent and the indexes for natural gas and for electricity rose 1.2

and 1.1 percent, respectively. The index for household furnishings and operations rose 0.2 percent in May, following

declines of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding two months. 

The transportation index increased 1.7 percent in May, reflecting an 8.1 percent increase in the index for 

gasoline. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 9.3 percent and registered a new peak level.) The index 

for new vehicles increased 0.1 percent in May, following declines of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding two months. 

During the last 12 months, new vehicle prices have fallen 0.5 percent. The index for used cars and trucks registered 

their fourth consecutive increase--up 0.4 percent in April--but during the last 12 months this index has declined 10.9

percent. Airline fares, which had registered increases in each of the first four months of 2004, declined 0.8 percent in 

May. 

The index for apparel, which was unchanged in April, increased 0.3 in May. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, 

apparel prices fell 0.7 percent, largely as a result of the discounting of women’s and girls’ apparel.)

Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in May to a level 4.6 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.2 percent. 

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

related services increased 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation declined 0.2 percent in May, following an increase of 0.2 percent in April. The index 

for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events declined 0.6 percent. Also contributing to the 

decline in the recreation component were decreases in the indexes for video and audio, for sporting goods, and for 

toys. 

The index for education and communication was unchanged in May. The education index rose 0.6 percent, 

while the index for communication costs declined 0.6 percent. Within the latter group, the index for telephone services 

fell 0.6 percent, reflecting decreases in long distance charges. The indexes for personal computers and peripheral 

equipment and for computer software and accessories declined 1.3 and 0.3 percent, respectively.
The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in May. The index for haircuts and other personal 

care services rose 0.3 percent. The index for tobacco and smoking products was virtually unchanged in May, 

following a 0.1 percent decline in April.

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 0.7 percent 

in May.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2003 2004 3-mos. ended ended

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

All Items -.3 .2 .6 .3 .5 .2 .7 5.6 ’98‘97Jan.’ 3.0

 Food and beverages .5 .4 -.1 .2 .2 .2 .9 5.1 4.1

 Housing -.1 .2 .5 .2 .2 .3 .3 3.3 2.3

 Apparel -.4 -.3 -.1 .0 .8 -.1 .2 4.1 1.1

 Transportation -1.6 -.2 1.8 .6 1.3 -.1 2.1 13.9 4.7

 Medical care .3 .4 .3 .7 .6 .4 .3 4.9 4.7

 Recreation .2 .1 -.1 .4 .3 .0 .0 1.1 1.0

 Education and

 communication .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 -.2 .4 1.1

 Other goods and

 services -.1 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 1.7 1.8

 Special Indexes

 Energy -3.1 .3 4.9 1.6 2.2 -.1 5.0 32.3 16.0

 Food .5 .5 -.1 .2 .2 .1 1.0 5.3 4.2

 All Items less

 food and energy -.1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 2.6 1.3

Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on Friday, July 16, 2004, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT). 

CPI (Old Weights)

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

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

contained in tables 1(OW)-4(OW). From April to May, the Old Weight CPI-U rose 0.6 percent and the Old Weight 

CPI-W rose 0.7 percent. Note these series are not seasonally adjusted.
Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339. For a recorded message of Summary CPI data, call (202) 

691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI

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

purchased by households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1) the CPI for 

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households of wage earners and clerical workers 

that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and 

the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population 

and include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups such as professional, managerial, and 

technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor 

force.

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

dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Prices are collected in 87 

urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishmentsdepartment stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All 

taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index. Prices of fuels and a few other 

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

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

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

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

which represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are then combined to 

obtain a U.S. city average. For the CPI-U and CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of 

the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size classes, and for 27 local areas. Area indexes do not 

measure differences in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area 

since the base period. For the C-CPI-U data are issued only at the national level. It is important to note that the CPIU and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two 

annual revisions.

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

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

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

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

from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000.
Calculating Index Changes

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

changes rather than changes in index points, because index point changes are affected by 

the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The

example below illustrates the computation of index point and percent changes.

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

are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data

indicate what the percent change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-

month period.

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7

Less previous index 111.2

Equals index point change 4.5

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5

Divided by the previous index 111.2

Equals 0.040

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

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

seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month.

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

eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such 

as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and 

sales.

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

data also are used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension 

plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.

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

Adjustment Method. The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977. 

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

at the end of 2003. In January 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-December 

2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. For further information, please 

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

Report.

The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement of 73 

selected components. Each year the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. 

If any of the 73 components change their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally 

adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used 

before that period. Note: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.

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

original release. For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation agreements.

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

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

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

and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to 

calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software 

was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.

 For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and supplies indexes, this procedure was used to 

offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data for 

those series. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and supply 

problems for coffee. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk 

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

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

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

For Electricity, it was used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather, increased rates to 
conserve supplies, and declining natural gas inventories. For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure 

was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with financing incentives.

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

Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 

by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at 

(202) 691-7000.
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 188.0 189.1 3.1 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.6 

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

 563.2 566.4 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 185.0 186.5 4.0 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.383 184.5 186.1 4.1 .9 .2 .2 .9 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.256 184.1 186.6 4.9 1.4 .2 .1 1.4 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.202 205.5 206.1 1.5 .3 .5 .0 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.320 179.2 181.1 10.0 1.1 -.3 .2 1.6 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .842 174.0 185.9 12.4 6.8 .5 1.6 6.8 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.221 228.3 231.7 2.4 1.5 .3 -.6 .7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .905 139.7 139.9 -.3 .1 -.2 -.6 .4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.765 165.0 165.4 2.0 .2 .6 .1 .4 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .305 162.6 163.5 .7 .6 -.3 -.1 .3 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .251 166.2 169.4 7.5 1.9 2.5 -.1 1.7 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.210 180.4 180.1 1.3 -.2 .4 .1 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 110.5 110.8 .6 .3 2.0 -1.1 .3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.127 186.2 186.7 2.9 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 124.7 124.8 3.6 .1 .2 .6 .2 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.001 191.8 191.7 2.7 -.1 .5 .5 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.089 188.4 188.9 2.4 .3 .3 .4 .4 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.878 218.4 218.7 2.8 .1 .6 .5 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.157 209.7 210.2 2.6 .2 .2 .3 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.954 129.1 128.2 5.6 -.7 3.8 1.6 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.383 223.9 224.3 2.4 .2 .3 .4 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .385 115.7 116.1 1.6 .3 .1 .5 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.741 155.6 158.1 2.9 1.6 -1.1 .5 1.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 3.830 138.0 140.4 2.1 1.7 -1.4 .5 1.1

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .231 149.6 150.4 9.8 .5 -1.8 -.1 3.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.599 144.2 146.8 1.6 1.8 -1.4 .5 1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .910 122.3 123.3 5.9 .8 .1 .3 .8 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.470 125.6 125.4 -.7 -.2 -.2 -.2 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .704 123.8 124.0 2.2 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.975 124.3 123.4 .7 -.7 .9 .0 .3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.024 120.3 120.3 .7 .0 -.1 -.2 .3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.704 118.7 116.9 1.2 -1.5 1.5 .1 .6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .195 120.5 118.1 -4.4 -2.0 .4 -.8 -1.6 

Footwear ................................................................................ .778 121.0 120.3 .5 -.6 1.0 -.2 -.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 16.881 161.8 165.2 5.1 2.1 1.1 .1 1.7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.817 157.9 161.5 5.5 2.3 1.2 .0 2.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.912 94.1 94.0 -3.5 -.1 -.2 .0 .0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.817 137.6 137.4 -.5 -.1 -.1 -.1 .1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.007 131.3 131.8 -10.9 .4 .2 .1 .4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.249 155.9 170.5 29.9 9.4 5.5 -.3 8.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.222 155.3 169.8 30.0 9.3 5.5 -.3 8.1 

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

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.349 198.6 199.0 2.1 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.064 211.5 210.7 -.4 -.4 .3 .4 -1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.074 308.3 309.0 4.6 .2 .6 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.499 268.5 269.1 2.8 .2 .2 .4 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.575 319.2 319.8 5.1 .2 .7 .3 .3 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.749 270.6 270.9 3.8 .1 .7 .3 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.489 413.6 414.6 6.6 .2 .5 .3 .5 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.872 109.0 108.8 1.1 -0.2 0.3 0.2 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.736 104.7 104.6 .8 -.1 .3 .4 -.2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.948 110.9 110.6 1.8 -.3 .1 .3 .0 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.841 140.7 140.9 7.2 .1 .6 .6 .6 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .219 349.5 349.6 5.1 .0 .6 .7 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.623 404.9 405.6 7.4 .2 .6 .6 .6 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.107 87.4 86.9 -3.2 -.6 -.3 .0 -.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.925 85.4 84.8 -3.5 -.7 -.5 -.4 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.315 96.5 95.9 -2.2 -.6 -.4 -.2 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .610 15.0 14.9 -9.1 -.7 .0 -1.3 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .230 15.9 15.7 -12.8 -1.3 -1.3 .6 -1.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.776 303.6 303.8 1.9 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .806 473.3 473.5 1.7 .0 .2 -.1 .0 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.970 181.3 181.4 2.0 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 154.5 154.6 .7 .1 .0 .0 .1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .650 196.1 196.6 1.9 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.448 292.7 293.1 3.7 .1 .4 .4 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.117 154.3 156.0 3.4 1.1 .7 .0 1.2 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 185.0 186.5 4.0 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.733 136.9 138.6 3.0 1.2 1.0 .0 1.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.458 157.2 160.9 8.1 2.4 1.6 -.5 2.3 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.975 124.3 123.4 .7 -.7 .9 .0 .3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 9.483 181.7 188.2 11.2 3.6 2.5 -.4 3.6 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.275 115.0 114.8 -3.1 -.2 -.2 -.2 -.1 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.883 221.5 221.9 2.8 .2 .4 .4 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.494 227.4 227.7 2.8 .1 .6 .4 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .385 115.7 116.1 1.6 .3 .1 .5 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.599 144.2 146.8 1.6 1.8 -1.4 .5 1.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .910 122.3 123.3 5.9 .8 .1 .3 .8 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .704 123.8 124.0 2.2 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.319 220.0 220.0 1.7 .0 .0 .2 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.575 319.2 319.8 5.1 .2 .7 .3 .3 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.896 259.7 259.6 2.7 .0 .2 .3 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.617 188.6 189.6 2.9 .5 .5 .3 .5 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.122 178.2 179.6 3.2 .8 .4 .1 .8 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.926 181.8 182.9 2.9 .6 .4 .2 .7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.734 138.9 140.6 3.0 1.2 1.0 -.1 1.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.459 159.3 162.8 7.7 2.2 1.7 -.6 2.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 10.484 181.7 187.7 10.5 3.3 2.6 .0 3.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.842 171.4 174.1 6.0 1.6 .8 -.1 1.5

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.389 231.1 231.7 2.7 .3 -.1 .3 .3 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.308 213.2 213.6 2.6 .2 .4 .3 .3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.080 145.9 154.1 15.0 5.6 1.9 .1 4.6 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.920 194.1 194.3 2.1 .1 .4 .3 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.537 196.5 196.5 1.7 .0 .4 .3 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.254 140.5 140.2 -1.1 -.2 .1 .0 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 3.480 156.3 170.1 28.6 8.8 5.0 -.3 7.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.283 229.4 229.6 2.9 .1 .5 .4 .2 

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

 $ .532 $ .529 - - - - -

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

 $ .178 $ .177 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2003

Nov.

2003

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2003

May

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 186.3 187.2 187.6 188.8 2.6 0.2 3.7 5.5 1.4 4.6 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 184.3 184.7 185.0 186.6 3.6 4.7 2.6 5.1 4.2 3.9 

Food ....................................................................................... 183.8 184.1 184.4 186.1 3.9 4.7 2.7 5.1 4.3 3.9 

Food at home ....................................................................... 183.6 183.9 184.1 186.7 4.8 6.4 1.8 6.9 5.6 4.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 204.2 205.2 205.3 205.7 2.2 .4 .8 3.0 1.3 1.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 179.3 178.8 179.2 182.0 10.8 22.4 1.3 6.2 16.4 3.7 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 171.3 172.2 174.9 186.8 4.2 5.8 2.4 41.4 5.0 20.3 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 228.4 229.0 227.7 229.3 7.7 2.3 -1.9 1.6 5.0 -.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 140.5 140.2 139.4 139.9 -1.4 -2.3 4.4 -1.7 -1.8 1.3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 163.9 164.9 165.0 165.7 1.2 -1.5 4.0 4.5 -.1 4.2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 163.3 162.8 162.7 163.2 .7 2.5 .0 -.2 1.6 -.1 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 162.3 166.3 166.2 169.0 .0 1.5 11.3 17.6 .8 14.4 

Other foods ....................................................................... 179.4 180.2 180.4 180.7 1.6 -2.9 3.6 2.9 -.7 3.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 109.5 111.7 110.5 110.8 -.7 -3.2 1.8 4.8 -2.0 3.3 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 185.5 185.8 186.2 186.7 2.4 2.7 3.8 2.6 2.6 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 124.0 124.2 124.9 125.2 2.0 3.0 5.7 3.9 2.5 4.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 189.9 190.8 191.8 191.7 .9 3.2 2.8 3.8 2.0 3.3 

Housing .................................................................................... 187.1 187.7 188.4 189.1 1.3 .9 3.0 4.3 1.1 3.7 

Shelter .................................................................................... 215.8 217.1 218.1 218.6 1.7 2.3 1.7 5.3 2.0 3.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 208.6 209.0 209.7 210.4 2.4 2.1 2.3 3.5 2.3 2.9 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 119.8 124.4 126.4 126.7 -1.0 3.0 -2.9 25.1 1.0 10.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 222.7 223.3 224.1 224.6 1.8 2.2 2.0 3.5 2.0 2.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 115.0 115.1 115.7 116.1 5.4 -5.1 2.5 3.9 .0 3.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 158.9 157.1 157.9 159.7 1.6 -4.3 12.5 2.0 -1.4 7.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 141.8 139.8 140.5 142.1 .9 -6.4 13.8 .8 -2.9 7.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 146.9 144.2 144.1 148.5 8.5 -3.2 32.6 4.4 2.5 17.7 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 148.6 146.5 147.3 148.9 .5 -6.9 12.8 .8 -3.2 6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 121.8 121.9 122.3 123.3 4.9 5.9 7.9 5.0 5.4 6.5 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 125.7 125.5 125.2 125.4 -2.2 -1.9 2.3 -1.0 -2.0 .6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 123.4 123.6 123.8 124.0 1.7 2.0 3.3 2.0 1.8 2.6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.7 120.8 120.8 121.2 1.0 -.3 -3.0 5.1 .3 1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.3 118.2 118.0 118.3 -2.7 4.9 .7 .0 1.0 .3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.5 113.2 113.3 114.0 1.8 -.7 -4.9 9.3 .5 2.0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 119.8 120.3 119.3 117.4 -1.3 -7.0 -1.7 -7.8 -4.2 -4.8 

Footwear ................................................................................ 118.3 119.5 119.3 119.0 3.1 .0 -3.3 2.4 1.5 -.5 

Transportation .......................................................................... 159.0 160.8 160.9 163.7 6.0 -6.9 9.0 12.4 -.6 10.7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 155.0 156.9 156.9 160.0 6.5 -7.5 9.9 13.5 -.8 11.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 94.1 93.9 93.9 93.9 -3.6 -8.0 -1.7 -.8 -5.9 -1.3 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.5 137.3 137.2 137.3 .3 -2.9 1.2 -.6 -1.3 .3 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 131.0 131.2 131.3 131.8 -11.9 -28.0 -3.0 2.5 -20.3 -.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 145.1 153.1 152.7 164.9 39.0 -18.8 51.0 66.8 6.2 58.7 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 144.5 152.4 151.9 164.2 39.3 -18.6 51.2 66.7 6.4 58.8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 108.0 107.8 107.9 107.9 .4 .0 .4 -.4 .2 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 197.8 198.3 198.6 199.0 2.5 1.8 1.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 

Public transportation ............................................................... 210.0 210.6 211.5 208.8 1.7 1.3 -2.4 -2.3 1.5 -2.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 305.3 307.0 308.1 309.0 4.0 4.1 5.4 4.9 4.0 5.2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 266.7 267.3 268.5 269.1 2.9 1.5 3.1 3.6 2.2 3.4 

Medical care services ............................................................. 315.7 317.8 318.9 319.8 4.3 4.9 6.2 5.3 4.6 5.7 

Professional services ........................................................... 267.5 269.4 270.1 270.6 1.4 3.1 5.9 4.7 2.2 5.3

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 410.4 412.5 413.6 415.5 8.7 7.3 5.3 5.1 8.0 5.2 

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—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2003

Nov.

2003

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2003

May

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.3 108.6 108.8 108.6 1.1 0.7 1.5 1.1 0.9 1.3 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.7 104.0 104.4 104.2 .8 1.2 -1.1 1.9 1.0 .4 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.0 111.1 111.4 111.4 2.2 1.5 2.2 1.4 1.8 1.8 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 140.2 141.0 141.8 142.6 9.7 5.1 7.2 7.0 7.3 7.1 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 345.5 347.5 349.9 351.0 6.9 -2.0 9.6 6.5 2.4 8.0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 403.8 406.3 408.6 410.9 9.7 6.0 6.8 7.2 7.8 7.0 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.8 87.5 87.5 87.0 -4.4 -2.7 -2.7 -3.6 -3.5 -3.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 86.1 85.7 85.4 84.8 -4.0 -3.6 -.5 -5.9 -3.8 -3.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.1 96.7 96.5 95.9 -1.2 -2.4 -.4 -4.9 -1.8 -2.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.2 15.2 15.0 14.9 -16.0 -7.4 -5.1 -7.7 -11.8 -6.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 16.0 15.8 15.9 15.7 -25.9 -9.2 -7.2 -7.3 -18.0 -7.2 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 302.3 302.9 303.3 303.6 2.6 .5 3.0 1.7 1.6 2.3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 472.6 473.6 473.3 473.5 5.4 -2.3 3.0 .8 1.5 1.9 

Personal care ......................................................................... 180.4 180.7 181.1 181.3 1.8 1.4 2.9 2.0 1.6 2.5 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.5 154.5 154.5 154.6 -.3 -.8 3.4 .3 -.5 1.8 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 195.2 195.8 196.1 196.6 1.9 .6 2.1 2.9 1.2 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 289.9 291.1 292.4 292.8 2.7 4.7 3.4 4.1 3.7 3.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 152.4 153.4 153.4 155.2 3.5 -2.6 5.1 7.6 .4 6.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 184.3 184.7 185.0 186.6 3.6 4.7 2.6 5.1 4.2 3.9 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 134.4 135.7 135.7 137.4 3.3 -6.7 6.2 9.2 -1.8 7.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 152.8 155.3 154.6 158.1 10.8 -1.9 9.4 14.6 4.3 12.0 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.7 120.8 120.8 121.2 1.0 -.3 -3.0 5.1 .3 1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 176.0 180.4 179.7 186.2 13.3 -7.6 16.8 25.3 2.3 21.0 

Durables ................................................................................. 115.2 115.0 114.8 114.7 -4.3 -7.0 .7 -1.7 -5.7 -.5 

Services ...................................................................................... 220.0 220.8 221.6 222.1 2.2 2.0 3.0 3.9 2.1 3.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 224.7 226.1 227.0 227.7 1.6 2.4 1.8 5.4 2.0 3.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 115.0 115.1 115.7 116.1 5.4 -5.1 2.5 3.9 .0 3.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 148.6 146.5 147.3 148.9 .5 -6.9 12.8 .8 -3.2 6.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 121.8 121.9 122.3 123.3 4.9 5.9 7.9 5.0 5.4 6.5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 123.4 123.6 123.8 124.0 1.7 2.0 3.3 2.0 1.8 2.6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 219.2 219.3 219.7 219.6 2.4 3.0 .7 .7 2.7 .7

Medical care services ............................................................... 315.7 317.8 318.9 319.8 4.3 4.9 6.2 5.3 4.6 5.7 

Other services .......................................................................... 258.8 259.4 260.1 260.3 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.3 2.8 2.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 186.7 187.7 188.2 189.2 2.4 -.4 3.7 5.5 1.0 4.6 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 176.9 177.6 177.8 179.2 3.0 -.7 4.9 5.3 1.2 5.1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 180.2 181.0 181.4 182.6 2.7 .0 3.6 5.4 1.4 4.5 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 136.5 137.8 137.7 139.4 3.3 -6.3 6.1 8.8 -1.6 7.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 154.9 157.5 156.6 160.1 10.9 -1.8 8.7 14.1 4.4 11.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 176.1 180.6 180.6 186.2 10.9 -6.8 15.1 25.0 1.7 20.0 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 168.8 170.2 170.0 172.5 7.3 1.7 5.9 9.1 4.5 7.5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 231.1 230.9 231.5 232.2 2.9 2.5 4.1 1.9 2.7 3.0 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 211.7 212.5 213.2 213.8 2.1 2.1 2.3 4.0 2.1 3.2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 142.8 145.5 145.7 152.4 17.3 -12.7 30.1 29.7 1.2 29.9 

All items less energy .................................................................. 192.5 193.2 193.7 194.2 1.7 1.3 1.9 3.6 1.5 2.7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 194.8 195.5 196.0 196.4 1.2 .8 1.7 3.3 1.0 2.5 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.4 139.6 139.6 139.7 -1.1 -4.2 .3 .9 -2.7 .6 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 146.0 153.3 152.9 164.7 37.0 -18.0 50.1 61.9 6.0 55.9 

Services less energy services ................................................ 227.2 228.3 229.2 229.6 2.4 2.7 2.1 4.3 2.5 3.2 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

May2004 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2004 from—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 186.2 187.4 188.0 189.1 3.1 0.9 0.6 2.3 1.0 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 196.8 198.6 199.4 199.9 3.7 .7 .3 3.5 1.3 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.8 200.7 201.4 202.0 3.8 .6 .3 3.6 1.3 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.6 117.4 118.1 118.3 3.6 .8 .2 3.2 1.3 .6 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 180.2 181.0 181.5 182.9 2.9 1.0 .8 2.1 .7 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.5 183.1 183.7 185.0 2.9 1.0 .7 2.2 .7 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.7 115.2 115.6 116.4 3.0 1.0 .7 2.1 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 173.0 174.1 173.9 176.0 2.5 1.1 1.2 1.3 .5 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 179.1 180.1 180.9 182.0 2.9 1.1 .6 2.0 1.0 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 180.8 181.8 182.5 183.4 2.7 .9 .5 2.0 .9 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.3 114.9 115.6 116.4 3.2 1.3 .7 2.0 1.1 .6 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 176.8 177.7 178.7 179.4 2.7 1.0 .4 1.8 1.1 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 190.8 192.2 192.3 193.4 2.6 .6 .6 1.9 .8 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.2 194.5 194.6 195.9 2.5 .7 .7 1.5 .7 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.0 117.9 117.8 118.2 3.1 .3 .3 2.5 .7 -.1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 170.4 171.5 172.0 172.9 3.0 .8 .5 2.4 .9 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 115.2 115.9 116.3 117.0 3.2 .9 .6 2.3 1.0 .3 

D ................................................................. M 177.9 178.9 179.3 180.9 2.7 1.1 .9 1.7 .8 .2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 186.4 186.3 187.2 188.7 2.9 1.3 .8 2.1 .4 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 190.1 191.5 191.9 193.3 3.7 .9 .7 2.3 .9 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 201.1 203.4 204.0 204.4 3.9 .5 .2 3.7 1.4 .3 

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

 208.7 - 208.7 3.2 .0 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 180.0 - 181.3 3.5 .7 - - - -

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

 177.7 - 179.1 1.2 .8 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 118.1 - 118.9 2.8 .7 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 180.8 -

 182.3 - - - - .1 .8 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 183.4 -

 184.7 - - - - 1.4 .7 -

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

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 183.6 -

 185.2 - - - - 2.5 .9 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 191.4 -

 194.8 - - - - 4.1 1.8 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 198.1 -

 198.3 - - - - .5 .1 -

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

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 183.5 184.7 3.0 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.7 

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

 546.5 550.2 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 184.5 186.0 4.1 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Food ....................................................................................... 16.061 183.9 185.6 4.2 .9 .2 .1 1.0 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.637 183.3 185.8 5.1 1.4 .2 .1 1.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.364 205.5 206.0 1.5 .2 .4 .2 .0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.908 179.1 181.1 10.0 1.1 -.2 .1 1.6 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .955 173.6 186.1 12.7 7.2 .4 1.7 7.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.344 225.5 228.9 2.1 1.5 .1 -.8 .9 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.076 139.1 139.3 -.3 .1 -.4 -.4 .4 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.991 164.6 165.1 2.1 .3 .7 -.1 .6 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .321 161.9 162.9 .5 .6 -.2 -.1 .3 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .303 166.1 169.4 7.5 2.0 2.4 .2 1.7 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.366 180.8 180.5 1.3 -.2 .5 -.1 .4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .350 111.0 111.2 .6 .2 1.9 -1.1 .2 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.424 186.1 186.6 2.9 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .252 124.3 124.6 3.1 .2 .1 .4 .2 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.090 192.1 192.0 2.8 -.1 .6 .5 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 39.114 183.6 184.1 2.3 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.151 211.5 211.8 2.6 .1 .4 .4 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.065 208.9 209.4 2.6 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.722 129.8 128.2 4.9 -1.2 3.6 1.8 -.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.026 203.1 203.6 2.3 .2 .3 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .337 116.0 116.4 2.1 .3 .1 .7 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.079 155.1 157.4 2.9 1.5 -1.0 .4 1.1 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.146 137.0 139.3 2.2 1.7 -1.3 .5 1.1

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .216 148.9 149.6 9.9 .5 -1.9 .3 2.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.930 143.5 146.1 1.8 1.8 -1.2 .5 1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .933 122.5 123.5 6.1 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.884 121.3 121.1 -.7 -.2 .0 -.3 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .318 125.6 125.9 2.9 .2 .4 .2 .2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.357 123.8 122.8 1.1 -.8 .8 -.1 .2

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.120 120.6 120.3 1.0 -.2 -.1 -.1 -.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.727 118.4 116.7 2.2 -1.4 1.9 .1 .6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .250 123.4 120.9 -3.8 -2.0 .4 -1.5 -1.5 

Footwear ................................................................................ 1.011 119.6 119.0 -.8 -.5 .3 -.4 -.2 

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.145 159.9 163.6 4.7 2.3 1.3 -.1 2.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.348 157.1 160.9 5.0 2.4 1.3 -.1 2.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.305 92.6 92.5 -5.0 -.1 -.1 .0 .1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.864 138.7 138.5 -.4 -.1 -.2 -.1 .1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.487 132.1 132.6 -10.8 .4 .2 .1 .4 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.967 156.5 171.1 30.1 9.3 5.4 -.5 8.5 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.936 155.8 170.4 30.2 9.4 5.4 -.5 8.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .456 107.5 107.5 .3 .0 -.2 .1 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.365 200.4 200.8 2.2 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Public transportation ............................................................... .797 209.4 208.8 .1 -.3 .3 .5 -1.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 4.969 307.7 308.4 4.7 .2 .6 .4 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.142 262.5 263.3 2.7 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.827 319.4 320.0 5.2 .2 .6 .3 .3 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.256 273.2 273.5 3.9 .1 .7 .3 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.254 409.8 410.7 6.7 .2 .5 .3 .5 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Feb. to

Mar.

Mar. to

Apr.

Apr. to

May

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.697 106.7 106.6 1.0 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.9 103.9 .9 .0 .4 .4 -.1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.645 109.6 109.2 1.1 -.4 .1 .2 -.2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.299 139.7 139.9 6.7 .1 .6 .5 .4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .215 350.4 350.4 5.0 .0 .5 .7 .3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.084 394.1 394.6 6.9 .1 .5 .5 .4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.345 89.0 88.4 -3.2 -.7 -.3 .0 -.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.194 87.5 87.0 -3.3 -.6 -.3 -.5 -.6 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.622 96.7 96.1 -2.2 -.6 -.4 -.2 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .572 15.5 15.4 -9.4 -.6 -.6 -1.3 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .205 15.6 15.4 -13.5 -1.3 -1.3 .6 -1.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.923 311.3 311.5 1.8 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.248 474.1 474.4 1.6 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.675 180.1 180.2 1.9 .1 .2 .2 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .737 155.1 155.1 .6 .0 .0 .1 .0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .610 196.6 197.1 1.8 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.152 292.9 293.1 3.8 .1 .4 .7 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.582 154.8 156.7 3.4 1.2 .7 .0 1.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 184.5 186.0 4.1 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.430 138.0 140.0 2.9 1.4 1.0 -.1 1.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.671 160.5 164.7 9.0 2.6 1.9 -.6 2.6 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.357 123.8 122.8 1.1 -.8 .8 -.1 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.315 187.0 194.5 12.4 4.0 2.8 -.6 4.1 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.759 113.9 113.9 -4.1 .0 -.2 -.2 .0 

Services ...................................................................................... 55.418 217.1 217.6 2.6 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.813 203.7 203.9 2.6 .1 .5 .3 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .337 116.0 116.4 2.1 .3 .1 .7 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.930 143.5 146.1 1.8 1.8 -1.2 .5 1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .933 122.5 123.5 6.1 .8 .2 .2 .9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .318 125.6 125.9 2.9 .2 .4 .2 .2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.241 220.2 220.3 1.9 .0 .1 .2 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.827 319.4 320.0 5.2 .2 .6 .3 .3 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.020 253.0 252.7 2.3 -.1 .2 .2 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 83.939 183.2 184.4 2.7 .7 .5 .2 .7 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.849 175.3 176.8 3.2 .9 .4 .1 .9 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 95.031 178.2 179.4 2.9 .7 .5 .1 .7 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.520 139.9 141.8 2.8 1.4 .9 -.1 1.4 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.761 162.4 166.4 8.6 2.5 1.8 -.6 2.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.405 186.6 193.5 11.5 3.7 2.8 -.1 3.6 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 31.823 173.0 175.9 6.4 1.7 .9 -.2 1.8

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.605 205.2 205.8 2.7 .3 -.1 .3 .2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.592 209.2 209.7 2.4 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.114 146.0 154.5 16.0 5.8 2.2 -.1 5.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.886 189.0 189.3 1.8 .2 .3 .2 .3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 75.825 190.4 190.4 1.3 .0 .3 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 24.337 140.1 139.9 -1.6 -.1 .1 .0 .1 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.183 156.7 170.7 29.0 8.9 5.1 -.5 8.3 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.488 225.3 225.5 2.7 .1 .4 .3 .2 

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

 $ .545 $ .541 - - - - -

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

 $ .183 $ .182 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2003

Nov.

2003

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2003

May

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 181.9 182.8 183.1 184.4 2.9 -0.7 4.1 5.6 1.1 4.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.8 184.1 184.4 186.1 3.6 5.2 2.4 5.1 4.4 3.8 

Food ....................................................................................... 183.3 183.6 183.8 185.7 3.9 5.2 2.4 5.3 4.5 3.9 

Food at home ....................................................................... 182.8 183.1 183.2 185.9 5.1 6.6 1.8 7.0 5.8 4.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 204.2 205.1 205.5 205.6 2.4 -.2 1.2 2.8 1.1 2.0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 179.3 178.9 179.1 182.0 10.8 22.7 1.6 6.2 16.6 3.8 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 170.9 171.5 174.5 187.0 3.7 6.4 1.9 43.4 5.0 20.9 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 226.4 226.7 224.8 226.9 7.8 1.8 -2.1 .9 4.7 -.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.9 139.4 138.8 139.3 -2.0 -2.3 5.0 -1.7 -2.1 1.6 

Other food at home ............................................................ 163.4 164.5 164.4 165.4 1.2 -.7 3.2 5.0 .2 4.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.5 162.2 162.1 162.6 .5 3.3 -1.7 .2 1.9 -.7 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 162.1 166.0 166.3 169.2 .3 1.0 11.1 18.7 .6 14.8 

Other foods ....................................................................... 179.7 180.6 180.4 181.1 1.6 -2.0 2.7 3.2 -.2 2.9 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.1 112.2 111.0 111.2 -1.4 -2.2 2.2 4.1 -1.8 3.1 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 185.3 185.6 186.1 186.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 2.8 2.6 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 123.9 124.0 124.5 124.8 2.0 2.7 4.7 2.9 2.3 3.8 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 190.0 191.2 192.1 192.0 .2 4.1 2.6 4.3 2.2 3.4 

Housing .................................................................................... 182.8 183.2 183.8 184.3 1.6 .9 3.4 3.3 1.2 3.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 209.6 210.5 211.3 211.7 2.0 2.1 2.1 4.1 2.0 3.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 207.8 208.2 208.9 209.4 2.6 2.0 2.5 3.1 2.3 2.8 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 120.9 125.2 127.4 126.4 -.3 3.4 -1.6 19.5 1.5 8.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 202.1 202.7 203.1 203.8 1.8 2.2 1.8 3.4 2.0 2.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 115.1 115.2 116.0 116.4 6.1 -4.4 2.5 4.6 .7 3.5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 158.3 156.7 157.4 159.1 1.6 -4.6 12.8 2.0 -1.5 7.3 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 140.6 138.8 139.5 141.1 1.2 -6.8 13.9 1.4 -2.9 7.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 145.8 143.0 143.4 147.5 8.9 -2.0 30.2 4.7 3.3 16.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 147.7 145.9 146.7 148.2 .8 -6.9 12.9 1.4 -3.1 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 121.9 122.2 122.4 123.5 4.9 5.5 8.3 5.4 5.2 6.8 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.4 121.4 121.0 121.0 -1.6 -2.3 2.3 -1.3 -2.0 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 124.9 125.4 125.6 125.9 1.6 2.6 3.9 3.2 2.1 3.6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 119.5 120.5 120.4 120.7 .3 1.0 -1.3 4.1 .7 1.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.5 118.4 118.3 118.2 -2.7 6.0 2.1 -1.0 1.5 .5

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 111.0 113.1 113.2 113.9 2.5 .4 -4.6 10.9 1.4 2.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 123.2 123.7 121.9 120.1 -1.6 -6.9 3.3 -9.7 -4.3 -3.4 

Footwear ................................................................................ 117.9 118.2 117.7 117.5 .7 -.3 -2.3 -1.4 .2 -1.8 

Transportation .......................................................................... 156.9 158.9 158.8 162.1 6.1 -9.6 9.4 13.9 -2.1 11.7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 154.1 156.1 155.9 159.4 6.2 -10.0 10.2 14.5 -2.2 12.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 92.5 92.4 92.4 92.5 -4.8 -12.3 -2.1 .0 -8.6 -1.1 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.7 138.4 138.3 138.5 .6 -2.6 1.2 -.6 -1.0 .3 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 131.7 132.0 132.1 132.6 -12.1 -27.7 -3.3 2.8 -20.2 -.3 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 145.5 153.3 152.5 165.5 40.2 -19.2 51.3 67.4 6.4 59.1 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 144.9 152.7 152.0 164.8 40.0 -19.1 51.5 67.3 6.4 59.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.6 107.4 107.5 107.5 .4 .7 .4 -.4 .6 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 199.7 200.1 200.4 200.8 2.3 2.2 1.8 2.2 2.3 2.0 

Public transportation ............................................................... 208.1 208.8 209.8 206.9 2.1 2.1 -1.1 -2.3 2.1 -1.7 

Medical care ............................................................................. 304.7 306.4 307.5 308.4 3.7 4.4 5.6 4.9 4.0 5.3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 260.9 261.5 262.5 263.3 3.0 1.4 2.6 3.7 2.2 3.2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 315.9 317.9 319.0 320.0 4.0 5.2 6.5 5.3 4.6 5.9 

Professional services ........................................................... 270.0 272.0 272.7 273.3 1.5 2.9 6.3 5.0 2.2 5.6

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 406.7 408.7 409.8 411.9 8.7 8.3 4.8 5.2 8.5 5.0 

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—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

Aug.

2003

Nov.

2003

Feb.

2004

May

2004

Nov.

2003

May

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.1 106.4 106.4 106.4 0.8 0.4 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.3 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 102.8 103.2 103.6 103.5 .8 1.2 -1.5 2.8 1.0 .6 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.7 109.8 110.0 109.8 1.5 .7 1.5 .4 1.1 .9 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 139.3 140.1 140.8 141.4 9.0 4.5 7.2 6.2 6.8 6.7 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 346.7 348.5 350.8 351.8 6.7 -1.5 9.1 6.0 2.5 7.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 393.3 395.4 397.3 399.0 9.2 5.3 7.0 5.9 7.3 6.5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 89.4 89.1 89.1 88.6 -4.3 -2.6 -2.2 -3.5 -3.5 -2.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 88.2 87.9 87.5 87.0 -3.9 -3.1 -.9 -5.3 -3.5 -3.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 97.3 96.9 96.7 96.1 -1.2 -2.4 -.4 -4.8 -1.8 -2.7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.8 15.7 15.5 15.4 -15.5 -9.5 -2.5 -9.7 -12.5 -6.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.7 15.5 15.6 15.4 -29.7 -7.2 -7.3 -7.4 -19.2 -7.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 310.0 310.6 311.1 311.3 2.9 -.4 2.9 1.7 1.2 2.3

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 473.2 474.2 474.1 474.4 5.6 -2.5 2.6 1.0 1.5 1.8 

Personal care ......................................................................... 179.1 179.5 179.9 180.0 1.6 .7 3.0 2.0 1.1 2.5 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.0 155.0 155.1 155.1 .3 -1.3 3.2 .3 -.5 1.7 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 195.7 196.3 196.6 197.1 2.1 .4 1.9 2.9 1.2 2.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 289.6 290.7 292.6 292.8 3.2 4.0 3.5 4.5 3.6 4.0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 152.8 153.9 153.9 155.9 3.5 -3.4 5.1 8.4 .0 6.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 183.8 184.1 184.4 186.1 3.6 5.2 2.4 5.1 4.4 3.8 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 135.4 136.8 136.6 138.7 3.6 -8.5 6.8 10.1 -2.6 8.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 155.7 158.6 157.7 161.8 11.5 -1.6 10.4 16.6 4.8 13.5 

Apparel ................................................................................. 119.5 120.5 120.4 120.7 .3 1.0 -1.3 4.1 .7 1.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 180.7 185.8 184.6 192.2 14.5 -8.1 18.5 28.0 2.6 23.1 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.2 114.0 113.8 113.8 -5.3 -9.9 .4 -1.4 -7.6 -.5 

Services ...................................................................................... 216.1 216.6 217.3 217.8 2.3 1.9 3.2 3.2 2.1 3.2 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 201.8 202.8 203.5 203.9 1.8 2.2 2.0 4.2 2.0 3.1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 115.1 115.2 116.0 116.4 6.1 -4.4 2.5 4.6 .7 3.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 147.7 145.9 146.7 148.2 .8 -6.9 12.9 1.4 -3.1 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 121.9 122.2 122.4 123.5 4.9 5.5 8.3 5.4 5.2 6.8 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 124.9 125.4 125.6 125.9 1.6 2.6 3.9 3.2 2.1 3.6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 219.4 219.6 220.0 220.0 2.6 3.0 1.3 1.1 2.8 1.2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 315.9 317.9 319.0 320.0 4.0 5.2 6.5 5.3 4.6 5.9 

Other services .......................................................................... 252.2 252.7 253.3 253.2 2.4 2.3 2.6 1.6 2.4 2.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 181.5 182.4 182.7 183.9 2.7 -1.5 4.3 5.4 .6 4.8 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 173.9 174.6 174.8 176.4 3.3 -1.6 5.0 5.9 .8 5.4 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 176.7 177.5 177.7 179.0 2.8 -.7 3.9 5.3 1.0 4.6 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 137.4 138.7 138.6 140.6 3.6 -7.9 6.7 9.6 -2.3 8.1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 157.8 160.7 159.7 163.5 11.6 -1.3 9.7 15.3 5.0 12.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 180.4 185.4 185.3 191.9 11.6 -7.3 16.6 28.0 1.8 22.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 170.2 171.8 171.4 174.5 7.3 1.7 6.4 10.5 4.4 8.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 205.3 205.1 205.8 206.2 3.0 2.2 4.0 1.8 2.6 2.9 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 208.2 208.8 209.5 209.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 3.3 2.1 2.8 

Energy ........................................................................................ 142.3 145.4 145.3 152.6 19.1 -13.2 31.0 32.3 1.7 31.6 

All items less energy .................................................................. 187.7 188.2 188.6 189.1 1.5 .6 1.9 3.0 1.1 2.5 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 189.0 189.6 190.0 190.2 1.1 -.2 1.7 2.6 .4 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.1 139.3 139.3 139.4 -1.7 -5.8 .3 .9 -3.8 .6 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 146.0 153.4 152.6 165.2 38.7 -18.4 49.7 63.9 6.3 56.6 

Services less energy services ................................................ 223.6 224.5 225.1 225.5 2.4 2.6 2.4 3.4 2.5 2.9 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

May2004 from—

Percent change to

Apr.2004 from—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 181.9 182.9 183.5 184.7 3.0 1.0 0.7 2.1 0.9 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 193.6 195.1 195.7 196.4 3.8 .7 .4 3.3 1.1 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 194.3 195.9 196.3 197.1 3.8 .6 .4 3.4 1.0 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.7 117.5 118.1 118.4 3.7 .8 .3 3.1 1.2 .5 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 175.3 175.8 176.3 177.8 2.8 1.1 .9 1.8 .6 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 176.9 177.2 177.9 179.4 3.0 1.2 .8 2.1 .6 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.8 114.2 114.6 115.5 2.8 1.1 .8 1.8 .7 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 170.6 171.4 171.2 173.2 2.3 1.1 1.2 1.1 .4 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 175.8 176.7 177.6 178.8 2.8 1.2 .7 1.7 1.0 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 178.0 178.9 179.7 180.8 2.9 1.1 .6 1.9 1.0 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.7 113.4 114.0 114.8 2.7 1.2 .7 1.5 1.2 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 176.0 176.9 177.8 179.0 2.5 1.2 .7 1.4 1.0 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 185.7 187.1 187.3 188.6 2.6 .8 .7 1.7 .9 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 186.5 187.9 188.2 189.6 2.5 .9 .7 1.5 .9 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.4 117.2 117.2 117.8 3.0 .5 .5 2.2 .7 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 168.6 169.6 170.0 171.2 3.1 .9 .7 2.2 .8 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 114.2 114.9 115.3 116.0 2.9 1.0 .6 1.9 1.0 .3 

D ................................................................. M 175.8 176.7 177.2 178.8 2.5 1.2 .9 1.3 .8 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 179.9 179.7 180.6 182.2 2.8 1.4 .9 1.8 .4 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 183.4 184.9 185.2 186.8 3.8 1.0 .9 2.4 1.0 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 196.3 198.2 198.5 199.1 3.9 .5 .3 3.5 1.1 .2 

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

 207.4 - 207.9 3.0 .2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 171.0 - 172.6 3.8 .9 - - - -

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

 177.6 - 179.5 1.8 1.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 117.6 - 118.4 2.9 .7 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 178.7 -

 180.0 - - - - .4 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 178.1 -

 179.3 - - - - 1.6 .7 -

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

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 180.8 -

 182.6 - - - - 2.4 1.0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 191.2 -

 194.0 - - - - 4.1 1.5 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 194.1 -

 194.7 - - - - .6 .3 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 187.8 - 189.1 - - - - 1.1 .7 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 May 2004 from—

 Apr.

 2004

 May

 2004

 May

 2003

 Apr.

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 109.7 110.1 2.4 0.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 110.3 111.2 3.7 .8 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 110.3 111.2 3.8 .8 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 109.2 110.6 4.5 1.3 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 111.7 112.0 2.8 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 111.1 111.1 2.8 .0 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 113.4 113.7 2.2 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 115.5 115.6 2.6 .1 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 119.6 121.5 2.8 1.6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 95.9 95.7 -1.3 -.2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 94.1 93.3 .6 -.9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 107.0 108.8 3.5 1.7 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 107.1 109.0 3.7 1.8 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 105.1 104.6 -.6 -.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 120.7 120.9 4.4 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 114.4 114.7 2.8 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 122.9 123.1 5.0 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 104.0 103.7 .1 -.3 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 99.1 98.7 .1 -.4 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 129.6 129.7 7.1 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 80.2 79.6 -4.8 -.7 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 113.6 113.7 1.9 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 115.5 115.7 2.5 .2 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 102.2 103.0 2.3 .8 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 87.0 86.9 -3.8 -.1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 109.3 110.7 5.2 1.3 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 108.1 108.0 1.2 -.1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 127.8 134.4 14.0 5.2 

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

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure

category and commodity and service group 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 188.0 189.1 3.1 0.6 

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

 563.2 566.4 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.832 185.0 186.5 4.0 .8 

Food ................................................................................................ 14.801 184.4 186.0 4.0 .9 

Food at home ................................................................................ 8.558 184.1 186.5 4.9 1.3 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.293 205.6 206.2 1.6 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 2.433 179.0 180.9 9.8 1.1 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .889 173.9 185.5 12.2 6.7 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.252 228.3 231.3 2.3 1.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ .933 139.6 139.8 -.4 .1 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.759 165.1 165.6 2.2 .3 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .311 162.6 163.4 .7 .5 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .255 166.5 169.9 7.8 2.0 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.192 180.5 180.1 1.3 -.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .280 110.3 110.6 .5 .3 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.243 186.3 186.8 2.9 .3 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .391 125.0 125.1 3.8 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ 1.031 191.7 191.6 2.6 -.1 

Housing ............................................................................................. 40.998 188.3 188.8 2.3 .3 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 31.834 218.2 218.5 2.7 .1 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 6.516 209.7 210.2 2.6 .2 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 2.693 128.9 127.8 5.3 -.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 22.261 223.9 224.3 2.4 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .364 115.6 116.0 1.5 .3 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 4.674 155.6 158.1 2.9 1.6 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 3.787 138.0 140.4 2.1 1.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .220 149.9 150.8 10.1 .6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 3.568 144.2 146.8 1.6 1.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .887 122.4 123.5 6.1 .9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 4.489 125.6 125.4 -.7 -.2 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .822 124.1 124.4 2.6 .2 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 4.058 124.6 123.9 1.1 -.6 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. 1.034 120.5 120.3 .7 -.2 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.673 119.0 117.5 1.7 -1.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .180 120.1 117.9 -4.6 -1.8 

Footwear .......................................................................................... .822 120.8 120.3 .5 -.4 

Transportation ................................................................................... 17.035 161.9 165.2 5.1 2.0 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 15.870 158.0 161.6 5.6 2.3 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 7.674 94.0 93.9 -3.6 -.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.686 137.7 137.5 -.4 -.1 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 1.753 131.3 131.8 -10.9 .4 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 3.269 156.0 170.5 29.9 9.3 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 3.241 155.3 169.8 30.0 9.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .411 107.9 107.9 .1 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.426 198.6 199.0 2.1 .2 

Public transportation ........................................................................ 1.165 211.3 210.2 -.7 -.5 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 6.067 308.5 309.1 4.6 .2 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.390 268.4 269.1 2.8 .3 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 4.677 319.3 319.9 5.2 .2 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.833 270.8 271.0 3.8 .1 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.515 413.8 414.8 6.7 .2 

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

category and commodity and service group -Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.897 109.1 109.0 1.3 -0.1 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.609 105.0 104.9 1.1 -.1 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.780 111.0 110.7 1.9 -.3 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 2.985 140.7 140.9 7.2 .1 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .246 349.8 349.9 5.2 .0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.740 405.1 405.7 7.4 .1 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 2.794 87.4 86.9 -3.2 -.6 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.600 85.4 84.8 -3.5 -.7 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.171 96.5 95.9 -2.2 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .429 15.0 14.8 -9.8 -1.3 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .169 15.9 15.7 -12.8 -1.3 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 4.333 303.6 303.9 1.9 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... .969 472.8 472.9 1.6 .0 

Personal care .................................................................................. 3.364 181.4 181.6 2.1 .1 

Personal care products .................................................................. .668 154.5 154.7 .7 .1 

Personal care services .................................................................. .901 196.1 196.6 1.9 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.601 293.1 293.4 3.8 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 40.254 154.4 156.1 3.4 1.1 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 15.832 185.0 186.5 4.0 .8 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 24.422 137.1 138.9 3.2 1.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 13.706 157.2 161.0 8.1 2.4 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 4.058 124.6 123.9 1.1 -.6 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 9.648 181.6 188.1 11.2 3.6 

Durables .......................................................................................... 10.716 115.0 114.8 -3.1 -.2 

Services ............................................................................................... 59.746 221.4 221.8 2.7 .2 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 31.470 227.2 227.5 2.7 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .364 115.6 116.0 1.5 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 3.568 144.2 146.8 1.6 1.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .887 122.4 123.5 6.1 .9 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .822 124.1 124.4 2.6 .2 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.774 220.1 220.1 1.8 .0 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 4.677 319.3 319.9 5.2 .2 

Other services ................................................................................... 11.183 260.0 259.9 2.8 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 85.199 188.7 189.6 2.9 .5 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 68.166 178.3 179.7 3.2 .8 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 93.933 181.8 182.9 2.9 .6 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 25.453 139.1 140.8 3.2 1.2 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 14.737 159.3 162.8 7.7 2.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 10.679 181.6 187.5 10.4 3.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 29.538 171.4 174.1 6.0 1.6 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 28.276 231.2 231.9 2.8 .3 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 55.068 213.1 213.5 2.5 .2 

Energy ................................................................................................. 7.056 146.1 154.3 15.1 5.6 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 92.944 194.1 194.4 2.2 .2 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 78.143 196.5 196.6 1.8 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 21.965 140.7 140.4 -.9 -.2 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 3.488 156.4 170.2 28.6 8.8 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 56.178 229.3 229.5 2.9 .1 

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

 $ .532 $ .529 - -

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

 $ .178 $ .177 - -

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

All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

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

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 2 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................... 100.000 183.5 184.8 3.0 0.7 

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

 546.6 550.3 - -

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 17.410 184.5 186.0 4.1 .8 

Food ................................................................................................ 16.404 183.9 185.6 4.2 .9 

Food at home ................................................................................ 9.937 183.3 185.7 5.0 1.3 

Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 1.467 205.5 206.1 1.6 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 3.043 179.0 180.9 9.9 1.1 

Dairy and related products .......................................................... .993 173.7 185.6 12.4 6.9 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................................. 1.355 225.8 228.7 2.0 1.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ........................ 1.096 138.9 139.2 -.4 .2 

Other food at home ...................................................................... 1.982 164.7 165.2 2.2 .3 

Sugar and sweets ...................................................................... .335 162.1 163.2 .7 .7 

Fats and oils .............................................................................. .306 166.4 169.6 7.6 1.9 

Other foods ................................................................................ 1.341 180.8 180.5 1.3 -.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................... .302 110.8 111.0 .5 .2 

Food away from home ................................................................... 6.466 186.2 186.7 2.9 .3 

Other food away from home 1 ..................................................... .280 124.8 125.0 3.5 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................................ 1.007 192.2 192.2 2.9 .0 

Housing ............................................................................................. 38.367 183.5 184.1 2.3 .3 

Shelter ............................................................................................. 29.566 211.3 211.7 2.6 .2 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................... 8.532 208.8 209.4 2.6 .3 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................... 1.525 129.3 128.6 5.2 -.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 .......................... 19.185 203.2 203.6 2.3 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ............................................. .324 115.8 116.2 1.9 .3 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................................. 5.017 155.1 157.5 2.9 1.5 

Fuels .............................................................................................. 4.111 137.0 139.2 2.1 1.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ .206 148.9 149.3 9.7 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 ........................................................ 3.905 143.6 146.0 1.7 1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .......................... .906 122.5 123.7 6.3 1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ............................................ 3.784 121.3 121.1 -.7 -.2 

Household operations 1 ................................................................. .360 125.9 126.4 3.3 .4 

Apparel .............................................................................................. 4.483 123.3 122.4 .7 -.7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .................................................................. 1.147 119.7 119.2 .1 -.4 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................................. 1.744 118.0 116.0 1.6 -1.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................................... .230 122.2 119.7 -4.8 -2.0 

Footwear .......................................................................................... 1.090 119.8 119.9 .0 .1 

Transportation ................................................................................... 19.281 160.1 163.8 4.9 2.3 

Private transportation ...................................................................... 18.361 157.3 161.1 5.1 2.4 

New and used motor vehicles 1 ..................................................... 8.868 92.5 92.5 -5.0 .0 

New vehicles ............................................................................... 4.524 138.8 138.6 -.4 -.1 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................... 3.283 132.1 132.6 -10.8 .4 

Motor fuel ....................................................................................... 4.029 156.4 171.0 30.0 9.3 

Gasoline (all types) ...................................................................... 3.995 155.8 170.3 30.1 9.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................... .521 107.5 107.5 .3 .0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................................... 1.469 200.4 200.7 2.1 .1 

Public transportation ........................................................................ .920 208.8 208.2 -.1 -.3 

Medical care ...................................................................................... 4.844 308.0 308.6 4.8 .2 

Medical care commodities ............................................................... 1.017 262.6 263.2 2.7 .2 

Medical care services ...................................................................... 3.827 319.6 320.2 5.3 .2 

Professional services ..................................................................... 2.290 273.3 273.6 3.9 .1 

Hospital and related services 2 ...................................................... 1.232 410.5 411.6 6.9 .3 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group -Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Item and group

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

May 2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Apr.

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ...................................................................................... 5.515 107.1 106.9 1.3 -0.2 

Video and audio 1 ............................................................................ 1.766 104.2 104.1 1.1 -.1 

Education and communication 1 ........................................................ 5.559 109.6 109.3 1.2 -.3 

Education 1 ...................................................................................... 2.595 139.7 139.8 6.6 .1 

Educational books and supplies .................................................... .226 350.3 350.4 5.0 .0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ....................................... 2.369 394.0 394.5 6.8 .1 

Communication 1 ............................................................................. 2.965 88.9 88.3 -3.3 -.7 

Information and information processing 1 ...................................... 2.807 87.5 86.9 -3.4 -.7 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................... 2.427 96.7 96.1 -2.2 -.6 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 ....................... .381 15.4 15.3 -10.0 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 ...................... .154 15.5 15.3 -14.0 -1.3 

Other goods and services .................................................................. 4.540 311.1 311.4 1.8 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products ....................................................... 1.508 473.8 473.9 1.5 .0 

Personal care .................................................................................. 3.033 180.0 180.2 1.9 .1 

Personal care products .................................................................. .772 155.4 155.5 .8 .1 

Personal care services .................................................................. .901 196.7 197.1 1.8 .2 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................... 1.193 292.5 292.9 3.7 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ........................................................................................ 44.446 154.9 156.8 3.4 1.2 

Food and beverages .......................................................................... 17.410 184.5 186.0 4.1 .8 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................................. 27.036 138.1 140.2 3.1 1.5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ............................................ 15.078 160.3 164.5 8.9 2.6 

Apparel .......................................................................................... 4.483 123.3 122.4 .7 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................... 10.596 186.9 194.3 12.3 4.0 

Durables .......................................................................................... 11.957 114.0 114.0 -4.0 .0 

Services ............................................................................................... 55.554 217.1 217.6 2.6 .2 

Rent of shelter 3 ................................................................................ 29.242 203.5 203.9 2.6 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 ................................................. .324 115.8 116.2 1.9 .3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 2 .............................................................. 3.905 143.6 146.0 1.7 1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 .............................. .906 122.5 123.7 6.3 1.0 

Household operations 1 ..................................................................... .360 125.9 126.4 3.3 .4 

Transportation services ..................................................................... 6.796 220.4 220.4 2.0 .0 

Medical care services ........................................................................ 3.827 319.6 320.2 5.3 .2 

Other services ................................................................................... 10.194 253.1 253.0 2.4 .0 

Special indexes

All items less food ................................................................................ 83.596 183.3 184.4 2.7 .6 

All items less shelter ............................................................................ 70.434 175.3 176.9 3.2 .9 

All items less medical care .................................................................. 95.156 178.2 179.4 2.9 .7 

Commodities less food ........................................................................ 28.042 140.0 142.1 3.0 1.5 

Nondurables less food ......................................................................... 16.085 162.3 166.3 8.6 2.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ..................................................... 11.602 186.7 193.5 11.5 3.6 

Nondurables ........................................................................................ 32.489 172.9 175.8 6.4 1.7 

Services less rent of shelter 3 .............................................................. 26.312 205.3 205.9 2.7 .3 

Services less medical care services .................................................... 51.727 209.2 209.7 2.4 .2 

Energy ................................................................................................. 8.139 146.2 154.6 16.1 5.7 

All items less energy ............................................................................ 91.861 189.0 189.3 1.8 .2 

All items less food and energy ........................................................... 75.457 190.4 190.5 1.3 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ............................ 23.808 140.2 140.0 -1.5 -.1 

Energy commodities ...................................................................... 4.234 156.7 170.7 29.0 8.9 

Services less energy services ......................................................... 51.649 225.2 225.5 2.7 .1 

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

 $ .545 $ .541 - -

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

 $ .183 $ .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 were calculated using a geometric

means estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

May 2004 from—

Percent change to 

Apr. 2004 from—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 186.3 187.5 188.0 189.1 3.1 0.9 0.6 2.3 0.9 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 196.7 198.3 199.1 199.7 3.6 .7 .3 3.4 1.2 .4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 198.7 200.4 201.1 201.8 3.7 .7 .3 3.4 1.2 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.5 117.3 117.9 118.3 3.6 .9 .3 3.1 1.2 .5 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 180.3 181.0 181.5 182.8 2.9 1.0 .7 2.1 .7 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.5 183.1 183.7 184.9 2.9 1.0 .7 2.2 .7 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.7 115.2 115.6 116.4 3.0 1.0 .7 2.1 .8 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 173.1 174.3 174.0 176.2 2.6 1.1 1.3 1.3 .5 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 179.2 180.1 181.0 182.1 3.0 1.1 .6 2.0 1.0 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 181.0 181.9 182.7 183.6 2.8 .9 .5 2.1 .9 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.3 115.0 115.5 116.4 3.2 1.2 .8 1.9 1.0 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 176.8 177.6 178.5 179.3 2.6 1.0 .4 1.7 1.0 .5 

West urban ..................................................... M 191.1 192.4 192.5 193.6 2.7 .6 .6 2.0 .7 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 193.6 194.9 195.0 196.2 2.6 .7 .6 1.7 .7 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.0 117.9 117.8 118.2 3.1 .3 .3 2.5 .7 -.1 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 170.5 171.6 172.0 172.9 3.0 .8 .5 2.4 .9 .2 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 115.2 115.9 116.3 117.0 3.2 .9 .6 2.3 1.0 .3 

D ................................................................. M 177.9 179.0 179.3 181.0 2.8 1.1 .9 1.7 .8 .2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 186.3 186.3 187.2 188.6 2.8 1.2 .7 2.1 .5 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 190.5 191.9 192.2 193.5 3.8 .8 .7 2.5 .9 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 201.2 203.1 203.7 204.2 3.8 .5 .2 3.6 1.2 .3 

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

 208.7 - 208.8 3.2 .0 - - - -

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

 180.2 - 181.6 3.7 .8 - - - -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 178.2 - 179.7 1.6 .8 - - - -

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

 118.2 - 118.9 2.8 .6 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 181.1 -

 182.4 - - - - .2 .7 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 183.3 - 184.5 - - - - 1.3 .7 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 168.5 -

 169.6 - - - - 4.4 .7 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 183.5 -

 185.3 - - - - 2.6 1.0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 191.1 -

 194.3 - - - - 3.8 1.7 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 199.0 - 198.9 - - - - .8 -.1 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 193.9 -

 194.8 - - - - 1.3 .5 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical

notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 4 (OW). Old Weight Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items

index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

Area

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to 

May 2004 from—

Percent change to 

Apr. 2004 from—

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

May

2004

May

2003

Mar.

2004

Apr.

2004

Apr.

2003

Feb.

2004

Mar.

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 181.9 182.9 183.5 184.8 3.0 1.0 0.7 2.1 0.9 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 193.5 194.9 195.5 196.5 3.9 .8 .5 3.2 1.0 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 194.1 195.5 196.1 197.1 3.8 .8 .5 3.3 1.0 .3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.8 117.6 118.2 118.6 3.9 .9 .3 3.2 1.2 .5 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 175.2 175.8 176.3 177.8 2.8 1.1 .9 1.8 .6 .3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 176.7 177.1 177.8 179.2 2.9 1.2 .8 2.0 .6 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.8 114.2 114.6 115.5 2.8 1.1 .8 1.8 .7 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 170.6 171.6 171.4 173.5 2.5 1.1 1.2 1.2 .5 -.1 

South urban .................................................... M 175.8 176.8 177.6 178.8 2.8 1.1 .7 1.7 1.0 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 178.2 179.0 179.8 180.9 3.0 1.1 .6 2.0 .9 .4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.7 113.4 113.9 114.8 2.7 1.2 .8 1.4 1.1 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 175.9 176.9 177.5 178.5 2.2 .9 .6 1.2 .9 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 185.9 187.2 187.5 188.9 2.8 .9 .7 1.8 .9 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 186.7 188.1 188.4 189.9 2.6 1.0 .8 1.6 .9 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 116.3 117.2 117.4 117.9 3.1 .6 .4 2.4 .9 .2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 168.6 169.5 170.0 171.2 3.1 1.0 .7 2.2 .8 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 114.2 114.9 115.3 116.1 3.0 1.0 .7 1.9 1.0 .3 

D ................................................................. M 175.8 176.8 177.2 178.8 2.5 1.1 .9 1.3 .8 .2 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 180.0 179.9 180.8 182.3 2.8 1.3 .8 1.9 .4 .5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 183.5 185.0 185.5 187.2 4.1 1.2 .9 2.5 1.1 .3 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 196.2 197.9 198.3 199.3 4.0 .7 .5 3.4 1.1 .2 

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

 207.4 - 207.8 3.0 .2 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 170.6 - 172.1 3.5 .9 - - - -

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

 178.2 - 180.1 2.1 1.1 - - - -

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

 117.5 - 118.4 2.9 .8 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 178.6 -

 179.7 - - - - .3 .6 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 177.8 -

 178.9 - - - - 1.4 .6 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 166.1 -

 166.9 - - - - 3.7 .5 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 181.0 - 182.9 - - - - 2.5 1.0 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 190.7 -

 193.2 - - - - 3.7 1.3 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 194.8 -

 195.1 - - - - .8 .2 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 187.7 - 189.4 - - - - 1.3 .9 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

 2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December. 2 Regions defined as the four Census regions. See map in technical

notes. 3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base. 5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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