News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

Stephen B. Reed (202) 691-7000 USDL-09-0035 

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED 

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

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Friday, January 16, 2009 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: DECEMBER 2008 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 1.0 percent in December, before 

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

level of 210.228 (1982-84=100) was 0.1 percent higher than in December 2007. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 1.2 percent in 

December, prior to seasonal adjustment. The December level of 204.813 (1982-84=100) was 0.5 percent lower than in 

December 2007. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 1.3 percent in December on a 

not seasonally adjusted basis. The December level of 120.661 (December 1999=100) was 0.5 percent lower than in 

December 2007. Please note that the indexes for the post-2006 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 0.7 percent in December, the third consecutive decline. The 

index is now only 0.1 percent higher than in December 2007. Declining energy prices, particularly for gasoline, again 

drove most of the decline. The energy index declined 8.3 percent in December. Within energy, the gasoline index fell 

17.2 percent and accounted for almost 90 percent of the decrease in the all items index. The index for household energy 

declined 0.7 percent. Excluding energy, the index was virtually unchanged for the third straight month. The food index 

declined 0.1 percent in December, the first (cont.) 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Dec. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Dec. 2008 June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

All items ................................. 1.1 0.8 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 -1.7 -0.7 -12.7 0.1 

Food and beverages ........... .7 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 .0 1.7 5.8 

Housing ............................... .5 .6 -.1 -.1 .0 -.1 .0 -.7 2.4 

Apparel ................................ .1 1.2 .5 -.1 -1.0 .3 -.9 -6.4 -1.0 

Transportation ..................... 3.8 1.7 -1.5 -.6 -5.4 -9.8 -4.4 -55.6 -13.3 

Medical care ........................ .2 .1 .2 .3 .2 .2 .3 2.8 2.6 

Recreation ........................... .1 .4 .5 .2 .1 .0 -.2 -.4 1.8 

Education and

communication .............. .5 .5 .2 .1 .2 .2 .3 3.0 3.6 

Other goods and services ... .4 .4 .2 .2 .3 .0 .0 .8 3.4 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 6.6 4.0 -3.1 -1.9 -8.6 -17.0 -8.3 -76.6 -21.3 

Food .................................... .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 -.1 1.4 5.9 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 .0 .0 -.3 1.8 
decrease since April 2006, as many meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetable indexes decreased. The index for all items 

excluding food and energy was virtually unchanged in December. Continuing decreases in the indexes for 

lodging away from home, airline fare, and new and used motor vehicles, along with downturns in the indexes 

for apparel and recreation, offset increases in other indexes including rent and owners’ equivalent rent, medical 

care, and education. 

For the 12 month period ending December 2008, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent. This was the smallest 

calendar year increase since a 0.7 percent decline in 1954 and compares with a 4.1 percent increase for the 12 

months ended December 2007. Consumer prices declined at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 

12.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. This followed increases during the first three quarters at rates of 3.1, 

7.9, and 2.6 percent, respectively. The index for energy declined at a SAAR of 76.6 percent during the fourth 

quarter and fell 21.3 percent for the 12 months ending December after rising 17.4 percent during 2007. 

Petroleum-based energy prices declined 40.5 percent during 2008 while prices for energy services rose 7.7 

percent. The food index rose 5.9 percent in 2008 compared to 4.9 percent in 2007, with grocery store food 

prices rising 6.6 percent in 2008 compared to 5.6 percent in 2007. In both cases, the 2008 increases were the 

largest since 1980. Among the grocery store food groups, the 2008 increases ranged from a low of 2.7 percent 

for dairy and related products to a high of 11.7 percent for cereals and bakery products. 

Excluding food and energy, the CPI declined at a 0.3 percent SAAR during the last quarter of 2008, 

after increasing at rates of 2.0, 2.5, and 2.7 percent during the first three quarters, respectively. The 1.8 percent 

increase for all of 2008 compares to 2.4 percent during 2007 and is the smallest one-year increase since 2003. 

The smaller increase reflects slower advances in prices for shelter and medical care as well as a decline in the 

price of new and used motor vehicles. Shelter costs rose 1.9 percent in 2008 after increasing 3.1 percent in 

2007, while medical care prices rose 2.6 percent in 2008 after increasing 5.2 percent in 2007. Prices for new 

and used motor vehicles declined 3.5 percent during 2008 after being virtually unchanged during 2007. The 

annual rates for selected groups for the last eight years are shown below. 

Table Q4. Annual percent changes in the CPI for All Urban Consumers, 2001-2008

Expenditure

Category

Percentage change 12 months ended in December

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

All items ................................................. 1.6 2.4 1.9 3.3 3.4 2.5 4.1 0.1 

Food and beverages ........................... 2.8 1.5 3.5 2.6 2.3 2.2 4.8 5.8 

Housing ............................................... 2.9 2.4 2.2 3.0 4.0 3.3 3.0 2.4 

Apparel ................................................ -3.2 -1.8 -2.1 -.2 -1.1 .9 -.3 -1.0 

Transportation ..................................... -3.8 3.8 .3 6.5 4.8 1.6 8.3 -13.3 

Medical care ........................................ 4.7 5.0 3.7 4.2 4.3 3.6 5.2 2.6 

Recreation ........................................... 1.5 1.1 1.1 .7 1.1 1.0 .8 1.8 

Education and communication ............ 3.2 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.4 2.3 3.0 3.6 

Other goods and services ................... 4.5 3.3 1.5 2.5 3.1 3.0 3.3 3.4 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................................. -13.0 10.7 6.9 16.6 17.1 2.9 17.4 -21.3 

Energy commodities .......................... -24.5 23.7 6.9 26.7 16.7 6.1 29.4 -40.5 

Energy services ................................. -1.5 .4 6.9 6.8 17.6 -.6 3.4 7.7 

All items less energy ........................... 2.8 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.8 2.4 

Food .................................................. 2.8 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.3 2.1 4.9 5.9 

All items less food and energy ............ 2.7 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.4 1.8 
The food and beverages index was virtually unchanged in December, as increases in the indexes for 

food away from home and alcoholic beverages offset a 0.4 percent decline in the food at home index. Within 

food at home, the indexes for three of the six major grocery store food groups declined. The fruits and 

vegetables index declined 2.4 percent in December, the fourth consecutive decrease, with fresh vegetables 

down 4.4 percent. The index for dairy and related products turned down in December, falling 0.9 percent after 

rising 0.4 percent in November. For the year, the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for dairy and related 

products rose 3.4 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs declined 0.5 

percent in December, but was up 5.1 percent for the year. The December decrease was driven by a 6.6 percent 

decline in the index for eggs. The indexes for cereals and bakery products and for other food at home both 

increased in December. The former index rose 0.3 percent in December and posted an 11.7 percent 12 month 

increase, while the latter climbed 0.6 percent and was up 9.3 percent for the year. The index for nonalcoholic 

beverages was virtually unchanged in December and has increased 5.9 percent since December 2007. The 

index for food away from home advanced 0.3 percent in December while the alcoholic beverages index 

increased 0.6 percent. 

The index for housing was virtually unchanged in December after declining 0.1 percent in November. 

The shelter index, which rose 0.2 percent in November, was also virtually unchanged. Increases in the indexes 

for rent and owners’ equivalent rent of 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, offset a 0.7 percent decline in 

the index for lodging away from home. For the 12 months ending December, the housing index rose 2.4 

percent, with the index for shelter increasing 1.9 percent. The household energy index declined 0.7 percent in 

December, but registered a 5.9 percent increase over the last 12 months. Within household energy, the index 

for fuel oil declined sharply, down 12.7 percent in December and 21.0 percent over the last year. The natural 

gas index declined 1.6 percent but was up 5.5 percent during 2008. The electricity index increased in 

December, rising 0.6 percent to a level 8.6 percent above a year ago. The index for household furnishings and 

operations increased 0.1 percent in December. 

The transportation index fell 4.4 percent in December as several of its major components continue to 

decline. This was the fifth consecutive monthly decrease and the index is now down 13.3 percent over the past 

year. The motor fuel index decreased 16.8 percent in December. (Before seasonal adjustment, motor fuel 

prices fell 20.3 percent in December and were 42.2 percent below their December 2007 level) The index for 

new and used motor vehicles fell for the fifth straight month, declining 0.4 percent. The new vehicles index 

declined 0.4 percent and the index for used cars and trucks fell 0.8 percent. The index for public transportation 

declined 1.3 percent in December as the airline fare index decreased 1.2 percent. This was the fourth straight 

decline in the airline fare index, but it was still 1.4 percent higher than in December 2007. 

The index for apparel turned down in December, declining 0.9 percent after rising 0.3 percent in 

November. Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.5 percent, and are 1.0 percent below their 

December 2007 level. 

The index for medical care rose 0.3 percent in December after increasing 0.2 percent in November, and 

is up 2.6 percent over the past year. The medical care commodities index increased 0.5 percent, with the index 

for nonprescription drugs and medical supplies rising 1.1 percent. The index for medical care services 

advanced 0.2 percent in December after rising 0.1 percent in November. The physicians’ services index 

increased 0.4 percent and the index for hospital and related services rose 0.5 percent. 

After being virtually unchanged in November, the index for recreation declined 0.2 percent in 

December. Decreases in the indexes for sporting goods, for photography, and for toys contributed to the 

decline. The index for video and audio, which fell 0.1 percent in November, increased 0.1 percent in 

December. The recreation index has increased 1.8 percent over the past year. 

The index for education and communication rose 0.3 percent in December after advancing 0.2 percent in 

November and has risen 3.6 percent over the past year. The index for education increased 0.5 percent in 

December and the index for communication rose 0.2 percent. Within the latter group, the telephone services 

index increased 0.1 percent and the index for information technology, hardware and services rose 0.4 percent. 
The index for other goods and services was virtually unchanged for the second consecutive month and 

rose 3.4 percent during all of 2008. The index for tobacco and smoking products rose 0.5 percent in December 

after being virtually unchanged in November. The index for personal care turned down in December, falling 

0.2 percent after being virtually unchanged in November. 

CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers decreased 0.9 

percent in December. 

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

Expenditure

Category

Seasonally adjusted

Unadjusted

12-mos.

ended

Dec. 2008

Changes from preceding month Compound

annual rate

3-mos. ended

Dec. 2008 June

2008

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

All items ................................. 1.2 0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -1.2 -2.1 -0.9 -15.7 -0.5 

Food and beverages ........... .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 .0 1.8 5.9 

Housing ............................... .5 .7 .0 -.2 .0 -.1 .0 -.2 2.8 

Apparel ................................ .0 .8 1.0 .0 -1.2 .2 -1.0 -7.7 -.9 

Transportation ..................... 4.0 1.8 -1.7 -.7 -6.0 -10.9 -5.0 -59.8 -15.3 

Medical care ........................ .2 .1 .3 .3 .1 .2 .3 2.6 2.7 

Recreation ........................... .2 .4 .5 .2 .0 -.1 -.2 -.8 1.6 

Education and

communication .............. .5 .5 .2 .0 .2 .2 .3 2.8 3.4 

Other goods and services ... .6 .5 .2 .2 .3 .1 .1 1.8 4.1 

Special indexes:

Energy ................................. 6.8 4.0 -3.2 -1.7 -9.0 -17.8 -8.7 -78.2 -22.6 

Food .................................... .8 .9 .6 .6 .3 .2 -.1 1.5 6.0 

All items less food and

energy ........................... .3 .3 .2 .1 -.1 .0 .0 -.3 1.7 

 

Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on Friday, February 20, 2009, at 8:30 

A.M. (EST). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

(1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households of wage earners 

and clerical workers that comprise approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which cover 

approximately 87 percent of the total population and include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker 

households, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term 

workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not in the labor force. 

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

doctors’ and dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. 

Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 

23,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of 

stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included 

in the index. Prices of fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations. Prices of most 

other commodities and services are collected every month in the three largest geographic areas and every other 

month in other areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or telephone calls of the 

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

size of city, by region of the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size classes, and for 27 

local areas. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the 

average change in prices for each area since the base period. For the C-CPI-U data are issued only at the 

national level. It is important to note that the CPI-U and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the CCPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions. 

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

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

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

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

risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000. 
Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

retail prices and not the complete universe of all prices. BLS calculates and publishes estimates of the 1-month, 

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

estimates can be used to construct confidence intervals for hypothesis testing. For example, the estimated 

standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.06 percent for the U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index. This 

means that if we repeatedly sample from the universe of all retail prices using the same methodology, and 

estimate a percentage change for each sample, then 95% of these estimates would be within 0.12 percent of the 

1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. For a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI 

for All Urban Consumers, we are 95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices 

would fall between 0.08 and 0.32 percent. For the latest data, including information on how to use the 

estimates of standard error, see “Variance Estimates for Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January 2005- 

December 2005” in the CPI Detailed Report, February 2006. These data are available on the CPI home page 

(http://www.bls.gov/cpi), using the following link http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2006.pdf

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

base period while percent changes are not. The example below illustrates the computation of index point and 

percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2003 through December 2007 

were replaced in January 2008. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the updated seasonal data at the 

end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977; and, in January 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted 

series were revised for January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for 

dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see “Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted 

Seasonally Adjusted Series,” in the October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.

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

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

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

adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used in the aggregation of the 

dependent series for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 

48 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2008. 
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 seasonal factors introduced in January 2008, BLS adjusted 20 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

 

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

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

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

 

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

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Jeff Wilson at 

(202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the CPI, please call 

our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 18, 2009 

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

price movements from the just-completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in 

revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years. BLS will make available recalculated 

seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 2004 

through December 2008, on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. This date is two working days before the 

scheduled release of the January 2009 CPI on Friday, February 20, 2009. 

 The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the internet. The address is 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm. Look under Seasonal Adjustment in the CPI and select Revised 

Seasonally Adjusted Indexes and Factors, 2004-2008. 

For further information please contact Jeff Wilson by electronic mail at: Wilson.Jeff@bls.gov or by 

telephone at: (202) 691-5382. 
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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Nov.

2008

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 212.425 210.228 0.1 -1.0 -1.0 -1.7 -0.7 

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

 636.332 629.751 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 218.752 218.839 5.8 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.833 218.749 218.805 5.9 .0 .3 .2 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.660 219.086 218.683 6.6 -.2 .1 .0 -.4 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.030 252.723 253.063 11.7 .1 .6 .2 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.807 209.602 208.890 5.1 -.3 .6 -.7 -.5 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .887 213.102 210.838 2.7 -1.1 -1.0 .4 -.9 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.156 283.677 281.706 3.4 -.7 -2.2 -.4 -2.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .928 163.015 162.750 5.9 -.2 1.2 .1 .0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.852 189.301 190.203 9.3 .5 .6 .6 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .277 191.756 193.312 8.2 .8 .7 .6 1.2 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .205 205.806 206.710 17.4 .4 .5 .0 1.0 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.369 203.058 203.902 8.3 .4 .6 .8 .4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .404 123.543 123.791 7.4 .2 1.3 .7 .2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.173 220.043 220.684 5.0 .3 .5 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .297 153.978 154.062 5.7 .1 1.0 .3 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.080 217.492 217.975 4.4 .2 .4 .5 .6 

Housing ...................................................................................... 42.427 216.467 216.073 2.4 -.2 .0 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.596 247.463 247.085 1.9 -.2 .0 .2 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.765 246.681 247.278 3.4 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 2.564 133.555 129.157 -3.3 -3.3 -1.6 -1.1 -.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 23.942 254.669 254.875 2.1 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .325 120.232 120.019 2.6 -.2 .0 .3 -.2 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.128 216.285 215.184 6.0 -.5 -.6 -1.6 -.5 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.215 195.599 194.335 5.9 -.6 -.9 -2.0 -.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .351 281.869 256.209 -14.4 -9.1 -8.8 -13.6 -9.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.864 199.435 199.487 7.7 .0 -.1 -1.0 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .913 156.193 156.390 6.5 .1 1.0 .4 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.702 128.554 128.535 2.0 .0 .0 -.2 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .737 149.998 150.689 6.0 .5 -.1 .0 .5 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.731 121.262 117.078 -1.0 -3.5 -1.0 .3 -.9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .935 114.239 110.767 -1.1 -3.0 -.5 -.7 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.600 110.588 105.456 -3.6 -4.6 -2.2 .7 -1.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .185 116.010 112.568 -1.1 -3.0 .6 .5 -.9 

Footwear .................................................................................. .679 126.788 124.093 1.5 -2.1 .3 1.1 -.8 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.688 173.644 164.628 -13.3 -5.2 -5.4 -9.8 -4.4 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.583 168.527 159.411 -14.4 -5.4 -5.5 -10.3 -4.7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.191 91.618 91.408 -3.5 -.2 -.7 -.9 -.4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.632 132.359 132.308 -3.2 .0 -.5 -.6 -.4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 1.773 126.869 125.883 -8.1 -.8 -2.4 -2.2 -.8 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.482 187.189 149.132 -42.2 -20.3 -13.9 -29.0 -16.8 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.215 184.235 146.102 -43.1 -20.7 -14.2 -29.5 -17.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .356 132.947 133.077 7.4 .1 .7 .8 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.123 239.048 239.356 5.9 .1 .3 .3 .2 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.106 243.385 237.638 1.8 -2.4 -3.3 -2.7 -1.3 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.231 366.613 367.133 2.6 .1 .2 .2 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.601 297.317 298.361 1.6 .4 .2 .6 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.630 387.992 388.267 3.0 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.626 313.328 313.886 3.0 .2 .1 .3 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.467 543.183 543.585 5.4 .1 .4 .0 .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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Nov.

2008

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.647 114.078 113.674 1.8 -0.4 0.1 0.0 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.843 101.831 101.629 -1.0 -.2 -.6 -.1 .1 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.086 125.758 125.921 3.6 .1 .2 .2 .3 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.944 186.733 186.916 5.6 .1 .4 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .207 462.694 464.544 7.0 .4 .2 .3 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.736 537.906 538.309 5.5 .1 .5 .4 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.142 84.601 84.737 1.7 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 2.975 81.723 81.886 1.7 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.342 101.538 101.688 2.9 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .634 9.867 9.906 -3.0 .4 -.3 -.1 .4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .242 88.984 88.529 -11.5 -.5 -.9 -1.1 -.5 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.277 349.040 349.220 3.4 .1 .3 .0 .0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .731 599.820 602.644 6.3 .5 .4 .0 .5 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.546 202.921 202.774 2.6 -.1 .2 .0 -.2

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .639 161.000 161.397 2.0 .2 .1 .7 .2 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .629 226.197 226.281 3.0 .0 .4 .3 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.044 340.174 339.698 3.0 -.1 .0 -.8 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 41.269 167.673 163.582 -4.1 -2.4 -2.3 -4.1 -2.0 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.914 218.752 218.839 5.8 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.356 141.397 135.720 -9.6 -4.0 -3.8 -6.7 -3.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.519 173.346 161.681 -14.3 -6.7 -5.5 -9.5 -5.9 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.731 121.262 117.078 -1.0 -3.5 -1.0 .3 -.9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.787 209.569 192.948 -18.5 -7.9 -7.9 -14.0 -6.3 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.837 109.191 108.811 -2.9 -.3 -.6 -.6 -.4 

Services ....................................................................................... 58.731 256.967 256.731 3.0 -.1 .0 .0 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 32.271 257.961 257.567 1.9 -.2 .0 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .325 120.232 120.019 2.6 -.2 .0 .3 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.864 199.435 199.487 7.7 .0 -.1 -1.0 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .913 156.193 156.390 6.5 .1 1.0 .4 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .737 149.998 150.689 6.0 .5 -.1 .0 .5 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.350 247.030 246.287 4.1 -.3 -.4 -.3 .0 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.630 387.992 388.267 3.0 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.641 299.996 300.067 3.5 .0 .2 .1 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.167 211.421 208.855 -.8 -1.2 -1.2 -2.0 -.8 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.404 201.075 198.127 -.8 -1.5 -1.4 -2.6 -1.1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.769 204.721 202.442 -.1 -1.1 -1.0 -1.8 -.8 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.436 144.055 138.536 -9.1 -3.8 -3.6 -6.4 -3.0 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.599 175.979 165.032 -13.1 -6.2 -5.3 -8.8 -5.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.868 209.344 194.403 -16.6 -7.1 -7.0 -12.6 -5.4

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.432 195.773 189.557 -4.5 -3.2 -2.6 -4.9 -2.5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.460 275.425 275.370 4.3 .0 -.1 -.2 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.101 246.351 246.090 3.0 -.1 .0 .0 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.698 189.938 171.158 -21.3 -9.9 -8.6 -17.0 -8.3 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.302 216.417 215.930 2.4 -.2 .0 .0 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.469 216.690 216.100 1.8 -.3 -.1 .0 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.602 140.236 139.228 -.6 -.7 -.4 -.2 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.834 193.395 155.745 -40.5 -19.5 -13.6 -28.1 -16.2 

Services less energy services .................................................. 54.867 262.901 262.636 2.7 -.1 .0 .1 .1 

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

 $ .471 $ .476 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .159 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008 June

2008

Dec.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 218.813 216.710 213.060 211.490 3.1 7.9 2.6 -12.7 5.5 -5.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.996 218.569 218.981 218.915 5.1 8.1 8.5 1.7 6.6 5.0 

Food ................................................................................ 218.029 218.582 218.939 218.770 5.3 8.5 8.7 1.4 6.8 5.0 

Food at home ................................................................ 219.225 219.380 219.428 218.620 5.9 11.5 10.7 -1.1 8.7 4.7 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 251.760 253.199 253.738 254.619 15.7 15.2 11.8 4.6 15.5 8.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 209.534 210.721 209.295 208.347 2.6 7.8 12.9 -2.2 5.2 5.0 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 214.066 211.930 212.757 210.817 .7 11.1 5.8 -5.9 5.7 -.3 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 290.047 283.770 282.618 275.694 3.9 20.9 12.1 -18.4 12.1 -4.4 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 161.609 163.526 163.684 163.631 7.3 3.9 7.4 5.1 5.6 6.3 

Other food at home ..................................................... 188.124 189.320 190.510 191.690 6.3 11.7 11.3 7.8 9.0 9.6 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 190.197 191.438 192.492 194.720 5.3 6.6 11.2 9.9 6.0 10.5 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 206.381 207.508 207.407 209.531 8.6 34.5 22.4 6.2 20.9 14.0 

Other foods ............................................................... 201.577 202.881 204.414 205.325 6.3 9.5 9.7 7.6 7.9 8.7 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.144 122.699 123.543 123.791 7.3 3.9 9.4 9.0 5.6 9.2 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 218.225 219.290 220.043 220.684 4.5 4.7 6.1 4.6 4.6 5.3 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 152.040 153.544 153.978 154.062 7.8 3.6 5.9 5.4 5.6 5.7 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 216.276 217.103 218.212 219.478 2.9 3.1 5.8 6.1 3.0 5.9 

Housing ............................................................................. 217.891 217.793 217.577 217.521 3.4 5.2 1.8 -.7 4.3 .6 

Shelter ............................................................................. 247.971 248.058 248.472 248.556 2.0 2.3 2.2 .9 2.2 1.6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 244.977 245.840 246.558 247.095 3.1 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 145.173 142.808 141.218 140.233 -2.5 .8 2.1 -12.9 -.9 -5.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 253.493 253.871 254.580 254.766 2.5 2.2 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 119.944 119.916 120.232 120.019 2.4 4.8 2.9 .3 3.6 1.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 224.377 223.111 219.524 218.362 13.7 28.8 -3.1 -10.3 21.0 -6.8 

Household energy ......................................................... 205.021 203.206 199.099 197.723 15.6 34.2 -5.4 -13.5 24.6 -9.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 353.309 322.208 278.365 252.782 49.2 116.7 -36.6 -73.8 79.8 -59.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 205.785 205.538 203.484 203.409 12.8 27.9 -1.5 -4.5 20.1 -3.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 154.269 155.827 156.427 156.788 5.0 4.8 9.4 6.7 4.9 8.1 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 128.917 128.936 128.711 128.890 2.5 .5 5.0 -.1 1.5 2.4 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 150.193 150.052 149.998 150.689 8.5 8.5 6.0 1.3 8.5 3.7 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.005 118.843 119.165 118.043 -4.7 1.0 6.6 -6.4 -1.9 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.108 112.533 111.786 110.906 3.9 -.4 -.1 -7.6 1.7 -3.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 109.678 107.255 108.001 106.394 -16.6 .6 15.9 -11.4 -8.4 1.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 113.172 113.815 114.398 113.412 -3.4 -2.6 .9 .9 -3.0 .9

Footwear ......................................................................... 123.572 123.896 125.281 124.307 2.4 4.3 -2.9 2.4 3.3 -.3 

Transportation ................................................................... 205.036 194.031 175.106 167.363 2.4 22.3 -1.7 -55.6 11.9 -33.9 

Private transportation ...................................................... 200.367 189.326 169.911 161.989 1.8 22.2 -2.1 -57.3 11.5 -35.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 92.900 92.229 91.425 91.073 -1.4 -.7 -4.2 -7.6 -1.0 -5.9 

New vehicles ............................................................... 133.567 132.889 132.153 131.620 -2.7 -.1 -4.2 -5.7 -1.4 -4.9 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 132.916 129.733 126.869 125.883 .8 -3.6 -8.7 -19.5 -1.4 -14.3 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 317.962 273.671 194.333 161.723 3.0 69.2 -4.5 -93.3 32.0 -74.7 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 316.443 271.580 191.383 158.504 1.8 69.1 -3.3 -93.7 31.2 -75.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 131.048 131.917 132.947 133.077 8.0 4.8 10.5 6.3 6.4 8.4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 237.284 238.108 238.802 239.375 6.3 6.6 7.0 3.6 6.5 5.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 261.556 252.920 246.102 242.894 11.5 23.6 4.9 -25.6 17.4 -11.7 

Medical care ...................................................................... 365.836 366.470 367.316 368.350 3.2 2.1 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.6 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 295.231 295.741 297.469 299.001 4.3 -3.0 .2 5.2 .6 2.7 

Medical care services ..................................................... 387.816 388.489 388.922 389.708 2.8 4.0 3.3 2.0 3.4 2.6 

Professional services .................................................... 313.273 313.601 314.457 315.042 2.1 4.7 2.9 2.3 3.4 2.6 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 540.539 542.655 542.537 545.510 6.5 5.4 6.1 3.7 5.9 4.9 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008 June

2008

Dec.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 114.120 114.214 114.222 113.995 2.3 0.6 4.6 -0.4 1.5 2.1 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.801 102.168 102.084 102.223 .3 -4.5 2.4 -2.2 -2.1 .1 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 124.615 124.888 125.157 125.550 3.2 5.1 3.3 3.0 4.1 3.2 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 183.462 184.260 184.919 185.796 5.3 6.0 6.1 5.2 5.6 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 461.555 462.451 463.867 466.658 1.2 6.4 16.3 4.5 3.8 10.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 527.863 530.257 532.175 534.646 5.6 5.9 5.4 5.2 5.8 5.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.526 84.538 84.604 84.740 1.0 4.3 .6 1.0 2.7 .8 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.635 81.652 81.723 81.886 1.0 3.8 .6 1.2 2.4 .9 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.311 101.407 101.538 101.688 1.0 6.8 2.5 1.5 3.9 2.0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.901 9.874 9.867 9.906 1.2 -6.7 -6.6 .2 -2.8 -3.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 90.797 89.945 88.984 88.529 1.4 -17.4 -18.8 -9.6 -8.5 -14.4 

Other goods and services ................................................. 348.540 349.441 349.336 349.225 4.5 5.2 3.3 .8 4.8 2.1

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 597.581 599.744 599.820 602.644 5.9 10.9 5.3 3.4 8.4 4.4 

Personal care .................................................................. 202.768 203.231 203.144 202.778 4.1 3.6 2.8 .0 3.8 1.4 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.643 159.826 161.000 161.397 .5 1.1 2.0 4.5 .8 3.2 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 224.614 225.564 226.197 226.281 5.8 1.4 2.0 3.0 3.5 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 343.441 343.499 340.689 340.273 5.4 6.4 4.0 -3.6 5.9 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 179.530 175.334 168.069 164.769 2.6 12.0 2.2 -29.0 7.2 -14.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.996 218.569 218.981 218.915 5.1 8.1 8.5 1.7 6.6 5.0 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 158.058 152.036 141.850 137.326 1.1 14.2 -1.1 -43.0 7.5 -24.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 205.585 194.214 175.859 165.396 8.4 26.1 -5.8 -58.1 16.9 -37.2 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.005 118.843 119.165 118.043 -4.7 1.0 6.6 -6.4 -1.9 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 266.376 245.230 210.977 197.709 13.3 34.9 -4.9 -69.7 23.7 -46.3 

Durables .......................................................................... 110.513 109.868 109.244 108.815 -1.1 -1.9 -2.7 -6.0 -1.5 -4.3 

Services .............................................................................. 257.662 257.742 257.820 258.035 3.5 5.1 2.8 .6 4.3 1.7 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 258.498 258.583 259.077 259.211 2.2 2.2 2.3 1.1 2.2 1.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 119.944 119.916 120.232 120.019 2.4 4.8 2.9 .3 3.6 1.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 205.785 205.538 203.484 203.409 12.8 27.9 -1.5 -4.5 20.1 -3.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 154.269 155.827 156.427 156.788 5.0 4.8 9.4 6.7 4.9 8.1 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 150.193 150.052 149.998 150.689 8.5 8.5 6.0 1.3 8.5 3.7 

Transportation services ..................................................... 248.422 247.447 246.653 246.753 5.5 8.7 5.5 -2.7 7.1 1.4 

Medical care services ....................................................... 387.816 388.489 388.922 389.708 2.8 4.0 3.3 2.0 3.4 2.6 

Other services ................................................................... 298.481 298.953 299.356 299.986 3.6 4.3 4.1 2.0 4.0 3.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 218.972 216.434 212.128 210.329 2.7 7.8 1.7 -14.9 5.3 -7.0 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 209.885 206.884 201.569 199.321 3.6 10.7 2.8 -18.7 7.1 -8.6 

All items less medical care .................................................. 211.322 209.135 205.347 203.694 3.1 8.3 2.6 -13.7 5.7 -5.9 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 160.257 154.412 144.517 140.144 1.2 13.8 -.9 -41.5 7.3 -23.9 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 206.042 195.181 177.989 168.805 6.0 28.3 -6.8 -54.9 16.6 -35.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 259.597 241.328 210.875 199.416 10.4 34.2 -6.1 -65.2 21.7 -42.8 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 212.583 207.029 196.797 191.846 5.9 18.8 -.3 -33.7 12.2 -18.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 276.660 276.380 275.814 276.292 5.1 9.5 3.5 -.5 7.3 1.4 

Services less medical care services ................................... 247.172 247.197 247.090 247.344 3.5 5.6 2.7 .3 4.6 1.5 

Energy ................................................................................. 257.086 235.053 195.144 178.901 8.6 53.6 -4.9 -76.6 29.1 -52.8 

All items less energy ........................................................... 216.528 216.484 216.580 216.526 2.5 3.4 3.6 .0 3.0 1.8 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 216.956 216.801 216.849 216.816 2.0 2.5 2.7 -.3 2.3 1.2

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 140.655 140.136 139.853 139.438 -.1 -.1 1.4 -3.4 -.1 -1.0 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 321.888 278.005 200.024 167.573 5.6 71.8 -6.8 -92.7 34.7 -73.8 

Services less energy services ......................................... 263.046 263.159 263.444 263.687 2.9 3.6 3.2 1.0 3.2 2.1 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2008 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2008 from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 218.783 216.573 212.425 210.228 0.1 -2.9 -1.0 1.1 -2.9 -1.9 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 232.841 230.837 227.236 225.091 .7 -2.5 -.9 1.7 -2.4 -1.6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 235.314 233.165 229.625 227.681 .9 -2.4 -.8 1.7 -2.4 -1.5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 137.723 136.730 134.445 132.830 .4 -2.9 -1.2 1.8 -2.4 -1.7 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 209.252 206.019 201.737 199.582 -.3 -3.1 -1.1 .5 -3.6 -2.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 210.283 207.049 202.922 200.465 -.5 -3.2 -1.2 .5 -3.5 -2.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.982 131.946 129.018 128.018 .0 -3.0 -.8 .5 -3.7 -2.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 205.522 202.086 197.883 195.383 -.2 -3.3 -1.3 .7 -3.7 -2.1 

South urban .................................................... M 212.650 210.108 205.559 203.501 .0 -3.1 -1.0 1.0 -3.3 -2.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 214.854 212.617 208.644 206.414 .2 -2.9 -1.1 1.4 -2.9 -1.9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 135.093 133.285 130.324 129.099 -.2 -3.1 -.9 .6 -3.5 -2.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 215.258 213.103 206.659 204.428 .8 -4.1 -1.1 2.0 -4.0 -3.0 

West urban ..................................................... M 222.132 221.034 217.113 214.685 .0 -2.9 -1.1 1.0 -2.3 -1.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 225.910 224.967 220.925 218.698 .3 -2.8 -1.0 1.3 -2.2 -1.8 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.834 133.795 131.440 129.725 -.6 -3.0 -1.3 .7 -2.5 -1.8 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 199.982 198.148 194.628 192.646 .3 -2.8 -1.0 1.3 -2.7 -1.8 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 135.160 133.587 130.857 129.519 -.2 -3.0 -1.0 .8 -3.2 -2.0 

D ................................................................. M 211.740 209.755 204.856 202.359 .0 -3.5 -1.2 1.2 -3.3 -2.3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 215.465 213.363 209.053 205.959 -.6 -3.5 -1.5 .6 -3.0 -2.0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 227.449 226.159 222.229 219.620 .1 -2.9 -1.2 1.0 -2.3 -1.7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 240.089 238.403 234.498 233.012 1.6 -2.3 -.6 2.2 -2.3 -1.6 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 238.519 -

 232.354 - - - - .7 -2.6 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 206.219 - 198.187 - - - - .2 -3.9 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 205.883 -

 200.051 - - - - 1.8 -2.8 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 142.036 - 138.547 - - - - 2.5 -2.5 -

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

 206.388 - 196.961 -2.9 -4.6 - - - -

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

 205.238 - 197.991 -1.1 -3.5 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 191.140 - 185.930 -.2 -2.7 - - - -

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

 223.699 - 218.324 .5 -2.4 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 225.113 - 218.186 -.4 -3.1 - - - -

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

 225.824 - 218.528 .0 -3.2 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 225.915 - 222.580 1.7 -1.5 - - - -

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 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

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Nov.

2008

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 207.296 204.813 -0.5 -1.2 -1.2 -2.1 -0.9 

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

 617.472 610.075 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 218.178 218.269 5.9 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.901 218.114 218.155 6.0 .0 .3 .2 -.1 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.595 217.956 217.498 6.5 -.2 .1 .0 -.4 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.110 253.498 253.759 11.9 .1 .7 .2 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.192 209.297 208.639 5.1 -.3 .6 -.7 -.4 

Dairy and related products ................................................... .965 212.184 209.922 2.3 -1.1 -1.1 .4 -.9 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.218 281.279 278.835 3.5 -.9 -2.3 -.3 -2.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.094 162.472 162.280 6.1 -.1 1.3 .1 .0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.016 188.685 189.527 9.2 .4 .6 .6 .6 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .279 190.501 192.120 8.5 .8 .6 .6 1.1 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 206.870 207.439 17.4 .3 .6 .1 .9 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.504 203.126 203.937 8.1 .4 .6 .6 .4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .438 123.837 124.144 7.3 .2 1.2 .7 .2 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.305 220.107 220.847 5.2 .3 .5 .4 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .218 153.464 153.646 6.4 .1 1.1 .4 .1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.025 217.626 218.445 4.6 .4 .4 .5 .7 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.994 212.591 212.452 2.8 -.1 .0 -.1 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.397 240.740 240.752 2.2 .0 .1 .2 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 7.979 245.425 246.026 3.3 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... 1.233 133.747 129.982 -2.4 -2.8 -1.2 -.7 -.5 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 .................. 20.888 230.743 230.926 2.1 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .297 120.589 120.360 2.5 -.2 .0 .3 -.2 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.637 214.700 213.861 6.5 -.4 -.5 -1.5 -.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.670 193.000 192.050 6.5 -.5 -.8 -1.9 -.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................... .323 283.747 260.185 -12.9 -8.3 -8.5 -12.7 -8.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.347 197.507 197.545 7.9 .0 -.2 -1.1 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... .966 156.702 156.864 6.6 .1 1.1 .4 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.960 124.466 124.314 2.0 -.1 .0 -.2 .0 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .339 152.247 152.814 5.6 .4 -.2 -.2 .4 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.998 121.149 117.006 -.9 -3.4 -1.2 .2 -1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... 1.031 114.651 111.232 -1.1 -3.0 -.4 -.8 -.7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.619 110.612 105.413 -3.6 -4.7 -3.1 .5 -1.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .251 118.611 115.003 -1.2 -3.0 .3 .7 -1.5 

Footwear .................................................................................. .821 126.689 124.152 1.7 -2.0 .4 .8 -.6 

Transportation ............................................................................ 20.054 170.870 160.914 -15.3 -5.8 -6.0 -10.9 -5.0 

Private transportation ............................................................... 19.287 167.301 157.272 -16.0 -6.0 -6.1 -11.3 -5.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 7.952 89.783 89.482 -4.5 -.3 -1.1 -1.1 -.5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 4.172 133.380 133.317 -3.2 .0 -.5 -.6 -.4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ......................................................... 3.103 127.540 126.526 -8.2 -.8 -2.4 -2.2 -.8 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.940 187.770 149.650 -42.2 -20.3 -13.9 -29.1 -16.7 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.597 184.855 146.644 -43.1 -20.7 -14.2 -29.6 -17.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .446 133.125 133.295 7.7 .1 .8 .8 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................... 1.169 241.509 241.855 5.8 .1 .3 .3 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .767 240.496 235.199 1.7 -2.2 -3.3 -2.8 -1.2 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.192 366.800 367.301 2.7 .1 .1 .2 .3 

Medical care commodities ........................................................ 1.295 289.046 290.080 1.5 .4 .1 .6 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.897 389.493 389.744 3.1 .1 .1 .1 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.159 315.825 316.435 3.0 .2 .1 .2 .2 

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.260 539.864 540.101 5.7 .0 .3 -.1 .6 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2007

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2008 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Nov.

2008

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.341 110.826 110.487 1.6 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.987 101.974 101.810 -.7 -.2 -.6 -.1 .2 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 5.987 121.636 121.819 3.4 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.377 184.115 184.352 5.8 .1 .5 .3 .5 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 465.576 467.179 6.8 .3 .3 .2 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.174 518.938 519.500 5.7 .1 .5 .4 .5 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.609 87.300 87.444 1.9 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.488 85.292 85.454 1.8 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.869 101.564 101.720 2.9 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .619 10.367 10.406 -2.9 .4 -.4 -.1 .4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ............ .228 88.631 88.176 -11.8 -.5 -1.1 -1.2 -.5 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.508 362.550 362.986 4.1 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.183 602.881 605.662 6.6 .5 .4 .1 .5 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.325 201.036 200.918 2.8 -.1 .2 .1 -.1

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .647 160.994 161.295 1.8 .2 .1 .7 .2 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .560 226.433 226.578 3.0 .1 .4 .3 .1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .910 342.853 342.530 3.5 -.1 -.1 -.4 .0 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 44.745 168.926 164.233 -5.0 -2.8 -2.7 -4.9 -2.2 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.926 218.178 218.269 5.9 .0 .3 .2 .0 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 28.819 143.544 137.015 -11.1 -4.5 -4.4 -7.8 -3.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.315 178.209 164.879 -16.2 -7.5 -6.2 -10.8 -6.6 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.998 121.149 117.006 -.9 -3.4 -1.2 .2 -1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.318 217.500 198.108 -20.7 -8.9 -8.4 -15.4 -6.9 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.504 109.038 108.576 -3.4 -.4 -.8 -.7 -.5 

Services ....................................................................................... 55.255 252.144 252.176 3.2 .0 .1 .1 .1 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 30.100 232.096 232.112 2.2 .0 .1 .3 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .297 120.589 120.360 2.5 -.2 .0 .3 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.347 197.507 197.545 7.9 .0 -.2 -1.1 .0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... .966 156.702 156.864 6.6 .1 1.1 .4 .2 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .339 152.247 152.814 5.6 .4 -.2 -.2 .4 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.266 246.126 245.881 4.2 -.1 -.2 -.1 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.897 389.493 389.744 3.1 .1 .1 .1 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.042 288.082 288.227 3.4 .1 .1 .2 .2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.099 205.214 202.292 -1.6 -1.4 -1.5 -2.5 -1.1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.603 197.342 193.918 -1.7 -1.7 -1.8 -3.1 -1.4 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.808 200.707 198.153 -.6 -1.3 -1.3 -2.3 -1.0 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 29.844 145.985 139.620 -10.5 -4.4 -4.2 -7.5 -3.5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.341 180.533 167.933 -15.0 -7.0 -5.9 -10.2 -6.1 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.343 216.516 198.909 -18.9 -8.1 -7.9 -14.3 -6.2

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.241 198.009 190.910 -5.6 -3.6 -3.0 -5.6 -3.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 25.155 243.599 243.646 4.4 .0 -.2 -.2 .2 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 51.358 242.058 242.079 3.2 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.610 188.375 168.726 -22.6 -10.4 -9.0 -17.8 -8.7 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.390 210.541 210.168 2.4 -.2 .0 .0 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.489 209.383 208.925 1.7 -.2 -.1 .0 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.581 140.793 139.731 -.8 -.8 -.5 -.3 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.264 192.494 154.744 -40.9 -19.6 -13.7 -28.3 -16.3 

Services less energy services .................................................. 50.908 258.008 258.039 2.8 .0 .1 .2 .1 

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

 $ .482 $ .488 - - - - -

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

 $ .162 $ .164 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008 June

2008

Dec.

2008

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 214.946 212.361 207.847 205.956 3.3 9.0 2.5 -15.7 6.1 -7.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.401 218.005 218.417 218.355 5.1 8.4 8.7 1.8 6.7 5.2 

Food ................................................................................ 217.375 217.962 218.330 218.159 5.2 8.7 8.9 1.5 7.0 5.1 

Food at home ................................................................ 218.085 218.328 218.329 217.505 5.8 11.4 10.7 -1.1 8.6 4.7 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 252.230 254.031 254.580 255.350 16.0 15.7 11.4 5.0 15.9 8.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 209.114 210.380 208.935 208.083 2.4 7.5 13.0 -2.0 5.0 5.2 

Dairy and related products .......................................... 213.317 211.048 211.860 209.981 -.2 10.9 5.6 -6.1 5.2 -.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 288.190 281.464 280.614 273.436 4.1 22.7 11.4 -19.0 13.0 -5.0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 160.916 163.076 163.225 163.220 7.5 2.8 8.5 5.9 5.1 7.2 

Other food at home ..................................................... 187.670 188.794 189.849 190.906 6.5 12.1 11.3 7.1 9.3 9.2 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 189.095 190.215 191.433 193.504 6.6 6.6 11.3 9.7 6.6 10.5 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 207.065 208.358 208.546 210.339 7.8 36.3 21.3 6.5 21.2 13.7 

Other foods ............................................................... 201.892 203.095 204.360 205.195 6.4 9.6 9.7 6.7 8.0 8.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.589 123.026 123.837 124.144 7.4 3.9 9.4 8.7 5.6 9.1 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 218.147 219.219 220.107 220.847 4.4 5.1 6.3 5.0 4.7 5.7 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 151.321 152.910 153.464 153.646 7.8 5.9 5.5 6.3 6.8 5.9 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 216.292 217.149 218.182 219.748 3.0 3.0 5.7 6.5 3.0 6.1 

Housing ............................................................................. 213.496 213.543 213.408 213.410 3.6 5.9 1.9 -.2 4.7 .8 

Shelter ............................................................................. 240.297 240.616 241.193 241.386 2.1 2.6 2.1 1.8 2.3 2.0 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 243.875 244.675 245.342 245.790 3.0 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.3 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 144.035 142.329 141.362 140.713 -5.2 4.8 -1.3 -8.9 -.3 -5.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ......... 229.663 229.991 230.644 230.822 2.6 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.3 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 120.279 120.258 120.589 120.360 2.1 4.5 3.3 .3 3.3 1.8 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 222.522 221.400 218.105 217.262 13.1 28.3 -1.6 -9.1 20.5 -5.4 

Household energy ......................................................... 202.000 200.368 196.628 195.628 15.0 33.5 -3.6 -12.0 23.9 -7.9 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 350.353 320.577 279.760 256.590 45.0 108.2 -33.7 -71.2 73.7 -56.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 204.284 203.862 201.644 201.610 12.8 28.7 -.6 -5.1 20.5 -2.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 154.652 156.289 156.953 157.292 4.7 4.7 10.0 7.0 4.7 8.5 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 124.860 124.842 124.587 124.562 2.6 1.0 5.5 -1.0 1.8 2.2 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.850 152.612 152.247 152.814 7.6 10.0 5.4 -.1 8.8 2.6 

Apparel .............................................................................. 120.102 118.614 118.864 117.715 -3.1 .2 7.6 -7.7 -1.5 -.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.679 113.184 112.252 111.461 4.3 -1.5 .7 -7.6 1.4 -3.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.689 107.308 107.834 106.183 -15.1 -.8 20.7 -15.3 -8.2 1.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.496 115.890 116.742 115.007 .7 -2.9 -1.0 -1.7 -1.1 -1.3 

Footwear ......................................................................... 123.558 124.008 125.026 124.295 4.2 2.7 -2.3 2.4 3.5 .0 

Transportation ................................................................... 205.872 193.620 172.496 163.935 2.8 23.7 -2.4 -59.8 12.8 -37.4 

Private transportation ...................................................... 202.585 190.310 168.891 160.215 2.5 23.7 -2.6 -60.9 12.6 -38.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 91.646 90.675 89.665 89.237 -.9 -1.3 -5.4 -10.1 -1.1 -7.8 

New vehicles ............................................................... 134.684 133.947 133.188 132.649 -2.4 -.2 -4.2 -5.9 -1.3 -5.1 

Used cars and trucks 1 ............................................... 133.669 130.444 127.540 126.526 .8 -3.7 -8.8 -19.7 -1.4 -14.4 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 319.245 274.761 194.879 162.298 3.5 68.6 -4.4 -93.3 32.1 -74.7 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 317.912 272.741 191.944 159.138 2.0 69.1 -3.3 -93.7 31.3 -75.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 131.072 132.088 133.125 133.295 8.5 4.6 10.8 7.0 6.5 8.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .......................... 239.756 240.510 241.219 241.855 6.4 6.1 7.1 3.5 6.2 5.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 258.294 249.715 242.846 239.925 11.4 24.9 3.1 -25.6 17.9 -12.4 

Medical care ...................................................................... 366.132 366.635 367.415 368.485 3.2 2.1 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.7 

Medical care commodities .............................................. 287.227 287.613 289.320 290.912 3.6 -3.5 .7 5.2 .0 2.9 

Medical care services ..................................................... 389.352 389.891 390.239 391.046 3.1 4.0 3.5 1.8 3.5 2.6 

Professional services .................................................... 315.757 316.135 316.915 317.566 2.1 4.4 3.0 2.3 3.2 2.7 

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 537.382 539.145 538.389 541.352 7.4 6.1 6.4 3.0 6.8 4.7 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Mar.

2008

June

2008

Sep.

2008

Dec.

2008 June

2008

Dec.

2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.998 111.021 110.958 110.777 2.5 0.2 4.7 -0.8 1.4 1.9 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 102.922 102.257 102.168 102.337 1.1 -4.4 3.0 -2.3 -1.7 .3 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 120.747 121.001 121.229 121.594 2.6 5.1 3.2 2.8 3.9 3.0 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 181.030 181.968 182.592 183.509 5.2 5.8 6.6 5.6 5.5 6.1 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 464.432 465.921 466.752 469.527 .4 6.5 16.5 4.5 3.4 10.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 509.542 512.277 514.115 516.653 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.225 87.228 87.301 87.446 .8 4.7 1.0 1.0 2.8 1.0 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.208 85.214 85.292 85.454 .8 4.4 .9 1.2 2.6 1.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.350 101.436 101.564 101.720 .8 6.8 2.5 1.5 3.7 2.0 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 10.414 10.375 10.367 10.406 .9 -5.8 -6.3 -.3 -2.5 -3.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 6 ... 90.722 89.690 88.631 88.176 1.1 -16.8 -19.5 -10.8 -8.3 -15.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 361.459 362.487 362.769 363.055 4.8 6.1 3.6 1.8 5.5 2.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 600.293 602.533 602.881 605.662 6.1 11.1 5.5 3.6 8.6 4.6 

Personal care .................................................................. 200.567 201.043 201.221 200.976 4.1 3.7 2.6 .8 3.9 1.7 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.730 159.914 160.994 161.295 .8 .8 1.7 4.0 .8 2.8 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 224.910 225.800 226.433 226.578 5.8 1.4 1.9 3.0 3.6 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 345.068 344.743 343.275 343.429 5.2 6.6 4.4 -1.9 5.9 1.2 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 183.072 178.054 169.415 165.609 3.1 13.3 2.2 -33.0 8.1 -17.3 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 217.401 218.005 218.417 218.355 5.1 8.4 8.7 1.8 6.7 5.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 163.433 156.243 144.123 138.883 1.8 16.0 -1.2 -47.9 8.7 -28.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 216.425 202.998 180.978 169.082 9.3 29.4 -6.2 -62.7 18.9 -40.9 

Apparel .......................................................................... 120.102 118.614 118.864 117.715 -3.1 .2 7.6 -7.7 -1.5 -.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 283.308 259.494 219.482 204.365 11.7 40.6 -7.1 -72.9 25.3 -49.8 

Durables .......................................................................... 110.738 109.905 109.094 108.600 -.3 -2.2 -3.7 -7.5 -1.2 -5.6 

Services .............................................................................. 252.363 252.575 252.756 253.057 3.5 5.5 2.8 1.1 4.5 1.9 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 231.740 232.006 232.713 232.974 2.0 2.5 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 120.279 120.258 120.589 120.360 2.1 4.5 3.3 .3 3.3 1.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 204.284 203.862 201.644 201.610 12.8 28.7 -.6 -5.1 20.5 -2.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 154.652 156.289 156.953 157.292 4.7 4.7 10.0 7.0 4.7 8.5 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.850 152.612 152.247 152.814 7.6 10.0 5.4 -.1 8.8 2.6 

Transportation services ..................................................... 246.228 245.773 245.541 245.895 4.7 7.8 5.0 -.5 6.2 2.2 

Medical care services ....................................................... 389.352 389.891 390.239 391.046 3.1 4.0 3.5 1.8 3.5 2.6 

Other services ................................................................... 286.893 287.198 287.677 288.351 3.2 4.1 4.2 2.0 3.7 3.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 214.323 211.186 205.823 203.633 2.9 9.0 1.5 -18.5 5.9 -9.1 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 208.034 204.359 197.934 195.260 3.8 11.8 2.7 -22.4 7.7 -10.7 

All items less medical care .................................................. 208.547 205.889 201.251 199.286 3.3 9.4 2.5 -16.6 6.3 -7.5 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 165.404 158.393 146.565 141.480 1.9 15.6 -1.0 -46.5 8.5 -27.2 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 216.742 204.058 183.159 171.967 9.2 27.9 -5.6 -60.4 18.1 -38.8 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 276.627 254.725 218.302 204.725 11.2 38.2 -6.2 -70.0 24.0 -47.0 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 218.036 211.430 199.682 193.329 7.6 19.5 .0 -38.2 13.4 -21.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 244.940 244.551 244.011 244.497 5.0 10.2 3.5 -.7 7.6 1.4 

Services less medical care services ................................... 242.484 242.544 242.606 242.888 3.4 6.1 2.8 .7 4.8 1.7 

Energy ................................................................................. 258.926 235.743 193.718 176.833 8.3 54.1 -4.1 -78.2 29.2 -54.3 

All items less energy ........................................................... 210.452 210.401 210.502 210.456 2.6 3.5 3.6 .0 3.1 1.8 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 209.425 209.245 209.292 209.271 2.1 2.5 2.5 -.3 2.3 1.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 141.581 140.817 140.339 139.862 .6 .0 1.3 -4.8 .3 -1.8 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 322.124 277.981 199.208 166.824 5.5 70.2 -5.9 -92.8 34.0 -74.0 

Services less energy services ......................................... 257.459 257.744 258.206 258.546 2.7 3.6 3.1 1.7 3.2 2.4 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2008 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2008 from—

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Dec.

2008

Dec.

2007

Oct.

2008

Nov.

2008

Nov.

2007

Sep.

2008

Oct.

2008

U.S. city average ............................................ M 214.935 212.182 207.296 204.813 -0.5 -3.5 -1.2 0.7 -3.6 -2.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 229.949 227.762 223.741 221.446 .6 -2.8 -1.0 1.8 -2.7 -1.8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 230.579 228.437 224.621 222.628 .8 -2.5 -.9 1.8 -2.6 -1.7 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.881 137.489 134.757 132.938 .1 -3.3 -1.3 1.7 -3.0 -2.0 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 205.023 201.236 196.346 193.987 -.8 -3.6 -1.2 .1 -4.2 -2.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 205.002 201.323 196.770 194.120 -.9 -3.6 -1.3 .2 -4.0 -2.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.215 131.699 128.186 127.005 -.6 -3.6 -.9 .0 -4.5 -2.7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 204.064 200.017 195.114 192.391 -.9 -3.8 -1.4 .1 -4.4 -2.5 

South urban .................................................... M 210.572 207.312 201.821 199.399 -.7 -3.8 -1.2 .5 -4.2 -2.6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.579 210.663 205.753 203.121 -.6 -3.6 -1.3 .9 -3.7 -2.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.285 132.017 128.504 127.055 -.9 -3.8 -1.1 .1 -4.3 -2.7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 216.762 213.696 205.777 203.054 -.1 -5.0 -1.3 1.4 -5.1 -3.7 

West urban ..................................................... M 217.028 215.499 210.870 208.088 -.7 -3.4 -1.3 .6 -2.8 -2.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 219.169 217.714 213.143 210.637 -.2 -3.3 -1.2 .9 -2.7 -2.1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.873 133.694 130.684 128.641 -1.3 -3.8 -1.6 .3 -3.1 -2.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 198.842 196.590 192.508 190.272 -.2 -3.2 -1.2 1.0 -3.2 -2.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 135.003 133.026 129.723 128.157 -.8 -3.7 -1.2 .4 -3.9 -2.5 

D ................................................................. M 210.844 208.028 202.041 199.228 -.8 -4.2 -1.4 .5 -4.2 -2.9 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 209.084 206.772 202.022 198.434 -.9 -4.0 -1.8 .6 -3.4 -2.3 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 220.285 218.726 214.083 211.007 -.6 -3.5 -1.4 .6 -2.8 -2.1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 234.703 232.778 228.727 227.223 1.5 -2.4 -.7 2.2 -2.5 -1.7 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 238.133 -

 231.854 - - - - .6 -2.6 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 197.260 - 188.860 - - - - .2 -4.3 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 209.666 -

 201.479 - - - - 1.5 -3.9 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 141.679 - 137.700 - - - - 2.1 -2.8 -

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

 205.236 - 195.310 -3.3 -4.8 - - - -

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

 200.570 - 192.808 -1.6 -3.9 - - - -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 190.600 - 183.088 -1.0 -3.9 - - - -

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

 222.038 - 215.867 .1 -2.8 - - - -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

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

 225.069 - 217.610 -.5 -3.3 - - - -

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

 221.192 - 213.685 -.2 -3.4 - - - -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 220.687 - 216.424 1.1 -1.9 - - - -

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 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,

2005-2006

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Dec. 2008 from—

 Nov.

 2008

 Dec.

 2008

 Dec.

 2007

 Nov.

 2008

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 122.284 120.661 -0.5 -1.3 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.726 128.500 128.540 5.7 .0 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.648 128.705 128.726 5.8 .0 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.557 126.365 126.109 6.5 -.2 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.091 131.821 132.204 4.9 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.077 126.301 126.570 4.4 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.421 128.534 128.282 2.3 -.2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.409 130.457 130.217 1.9 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.004 159.272 158.615 6.0 -.4 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 5.008 96.317 96.261 1.2 -.1 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.988 90.265 87.041 -1.3 -3.6 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.393 115.537 108.485 -14.2 -6.1 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.285 115.410 108.078 -15.2 -6.4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.108 119.644 116.826 1.6 -2.4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.085 142.633 142.838 2.5 .1 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.615 125.920 126.353 1.4 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.470 148.889 148.995 2.9 .1 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.935 105.962 105.412 .7 -.5 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.196 109.242 109.369 3.1 .1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.771 172.872 173.043 5.6 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.425 74.111 74.208 1.1 .1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.257 126.818 126.749 .9 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.427 132.999 132.849 2.7 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.573 109.089 105.806 -5.0 -3.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 11.817 81.481 81.153 -3.5 -.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.756 123.506 118.535 -5.6 -4.0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.561 117.730 117.344 1.3 -.3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.790 160.638 142.000 -23.3 -11.6

Indexes for 2008 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2007 are interim adjustments.

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

category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U Annual

average

2007

Annual

average

2008

Percent

change

from 2007

to 2008

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 207.342 215.303 3.8 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 621.106 644.951 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 203.300 214.225 5.4 

Food ............................................................................................................. 202.916 214.106 5.5 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 201.245 214.125 6.4 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 222.107 244.853 10.2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 195.616 204.653 4.6 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 194.770 210.396 8.0 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 262.628 278.932 6.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 153.432 160.045 4.3 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 173.275 184.166 6.3 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 176.772 186.577 5.5 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 172.921 196.751 13.8 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 188.244 198.103 5.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 115.105 119.924 4.2 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 206.659 215.769 4.4 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 144.068 150.640 4.6 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 207.026 214.484 3.6 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 209.586 216.264 3.2 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 240.611 246.666 2.5 

Rent of primary residence .......................................................................... 234.679 243.271 3.7 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 142.813 143.664 .6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 ......................................... 246.235 252.426 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 117.004 118.843 1.6 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 200.632 220.018 9.7 

Household energy ...................................................................................... 181.744 200.808 10.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 251.453 334.405 33.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity ........................................................................ 186.262 202.212 8.6 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 126.875 127.800 .7 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 118.998 118.907 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 112.368 113.032 .6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 110.296 107.460 -2.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 113.948 113.762 -.2 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 122.374 124.157 1.5 

Transportation ................................................................................................ 184.682 195.549 5.9 

Private transportation ................................................................................... 180.778 191.039 5.7 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 94.303 93.291 -1.1 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 136.254 134.194 -1.5 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 135.747 133.951 -1.3 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 239.070 279.652 17.0 

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 237.959 277.457 16.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 121.583 128.747 5.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 222.963 233.859 4.9 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 230.002 250.549 8.9 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 351.054 364.065 3.7 

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 289.999 296.045 2.1 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 369.302 384.943 4.2 

Professional services .................................................................................. 300.792 310.968 3.4 

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 498.922 533.953 7.0 

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 111.443 113.254 1.6 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 102.949 102.632 -.3 

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

category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U Annual

average

2007

Annual

average

2008

Percent

change

from 2007

to 2008

Expenditure category

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 119.577 123.631 3.4 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 171.388 181.277 5.8 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 420.418 450.187 7.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 494.079 522.098 5.7 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 83.367 84.185 1.0 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 80.720 81.352 .8 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 98.247 100.451 2.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 3 .................................... 10.597 10.061 -5.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 4 ................................... 108.411 94.944 -12.4 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 333.328 345.381 3.6 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 554.184 588.682 6.2 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 195.622 201.279 2.9

Personal care products ............................................................................... 158.285 159.290 .6 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 216.559 223.669 3.3 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 324.984 338.921 4.3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 167.509 174.764 4.3 

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 203.300 214.225 5.4 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 147.515 153.034 3.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 182.526 196.192 7.5 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 118.998 118.907 -.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 226.224 248.809 10.0 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 112.473 110.877 -1.4 

Services ............................................................................................................ 246.848 255.498 3.5 

Rent of shelter 2 ............................................................................................. 250.813 257.152 2.5 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 233.731 244.074 4.4 

Other services ................................................................................................ 285.559 295.780 3.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 208.098 215.528 3.6 

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 196.639 205.453 4.5 

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 200.080 207.777 3.8 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 149.720 155.310 3.7 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 184.012 197.297 7.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 223.411 244.443 9.4 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 193.468 205.901 6.4 

Services less rent of shelter 2 ........................................................................... 260.764 273.000 4.7 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 236.847 244.987 3.4 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 207.723 236.666 13.9 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 208.925 214.751 2.8 

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 210.729 215.572 2.3 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 140.053 140.246 .1 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 241.018 284.352 18.0 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 253.058 261.017 3.1 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .482 $ .465 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .161 $ .155 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.
Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W Annual

average

2007

Annual

average

2008

Percent

change

from 2007

to 2008

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 202.767 211.053 4.1 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 603.982 628.661 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 202.531 213.546 5.4 

Food ............................................................................................................. 202.134 213.376 5.6 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 200.273 213.017 6.4 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 222.409 245.472 10.4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 195.193 204.255 4.6 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 194.474 209.773 7.9 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 260.484 276.759 6.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 152.786 159.324 4.3 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 172.630 183.637 6.4 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 175.323 185.494 5.8 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 173.640 197.512 13.7 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 188.405 198.303 5.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 115.356 120.348 4.3 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 206.412 215.613 4.5 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 143.462 149.731 4.4 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 207.097 214.579 3.6 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 204.795 211.839 3.4 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 232.998 239.128 2.6 

Rent of primary residence .......................................................................... 233.806 242.196 3.6 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 142.339 143.164 .6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 ......................................... 223.175 228.758 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 117.366 119.136 1.5 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 198.863 217.883 9.6 

Household energy ...................................................................................... 179.031 197.537 10.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 251.121 331.784 32.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity ........................................................................ 184.357 200.265 8.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ....................................... 143.980 152.419 5.9 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 122.477 123.635 .9 

Household operations 1 .............................................................................. 143.054 150.130 4.9 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 118.518 118.735 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 112.224 113.490 1.1 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 110.202 107.489 -2.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 116.278 116.266 .0 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 122.062 124.102 1.7 

Transportation ................................................................................................ 184.344 195.692 6.2 

Private transportation ................................................................................... 181.496 192.492 6.1 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 93.300 92.146 -1.2 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 137.415 135.338 -1.5 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 136.586 134.731 -1.4 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 239.900 280.817 17.1 

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 238.879 278.728 16.7 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 121.356 128.776 6.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 225.535 236.353 4.8 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 228.531 247.865 8.5 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 350.882 364.208 3.8 

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 282.558 287.970 1.9 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 370.111 386.317 4.4 

Professional services .................................................................................. 303.169 313.446 3.4 

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 493.740 530.193 7.4 

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

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W Annual

average

2007

Annual

average

2008

Percent

change

from 2007

to 2008

Expenditure category

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 108.572 110.143 1.4 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 102.559 102.654 .1 

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 116.301 119.827 3.0 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 169.280 178.892 5.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 423.730 452.880 6.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 477.589 504.163 5.6 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 85.782 86.807 1.2 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 83.928 84.828 1.1 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 98.373 100.502 2.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 3 .................................... 11.062 10.567 -4.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 4 ................................... 108.164 94.863 -12.3 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 344.004 357.906 4.0 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 555.502 591.100 6.4 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 193.590 199.170 2.9

Personal care products ............................................................................... 158.268 159.410 .7 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 216.823 223.978 3.3 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 326.100 340.533 4.4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 169.554 177.618 4.8 

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 202.531 213.546 5.4 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 150.865 157.481 4.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 189.507 205.279 8.3 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 118.518 118.735 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 237.858 263.756 10.9 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 112.640 111.217 -1.3 

Services ............................................................................................................ 241.696 250.272 3.5 

Rent of shelter 2 ............................................................................................. 224.617 230.555 2.6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .............................................................. 117.366 119.136 1.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity .............................................................................. 184.357 200.265 8.6 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ........................................... 143.980 152.419 5.9 

Household operations 1 .................................................................................. 143.054 150.130 4.9 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 233.420 242.563 3.9 

Medical care services ..................................................................................... 370.111 386.317 4.4 

Other services ................................................................................................ 275.218 284.319 3.3 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 202.698 210.452 3.8 

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 193.940 203.102 4.7 

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 196.564 204.626 4.1 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 152.875 159.538 4.4 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 190.698 206.047 8.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 234.201 258.423 10.3 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 196.772 210.333 6.9 

Services less rent of shelter 2 ........................................................................... 230.876 241.567 4.6 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 232.195 240.275 3.5 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 208.066 237.414 14.1 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 203.002 208.719 2.8 

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 203.554 208.147 2.3 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 140.612 141.084 .3 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 241.257 284.270 17.8 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 247.888 255.598 3.1 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .493 $ .474 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .166 $ .159 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.