Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-12-0267

8:30 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 17, 2012 

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

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

(NOTE: This release was reissued on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, to correct the relative importance 

data. Corrections have been made to Table 1 and Table 4. There were no changes made to the text of the 

release.) 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – JANUARY 2012 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in January on a 

seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, 

the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

The indexes for food, energy, and all items less food and energy all rose in January, each increasing 0.2 

percent. Within the food group, the index for food away from home increased while the index for food at 

home was unchanged; within the energy group the gasoline index increased while the index for 

household energy declined. 

Within all items less food and energy, the apparel index rose sharply, and the indexes for shelter, 

recreation, medical care, and tobacco increased as well. The indexes for used cars and trucks and for 

airline fares both declined, while the new vehicles index was unchanged. 

The all items index has risen 2.9 percent over the last 12 months, a slight decrease from last month’s 3.0 

percent figure. The index for energy has risen 6.1 percent over the last year and the food index 4.4 

percent; both figures are slight declines from last month. The index for all items less food and energy 

has risen 2.3 percent, its largest 12-month increase since September 2008. 

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Jan'11 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan'12

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2012

Percent change

 0.3

 0.4

 0.5

 0.4

 0.3

 0.1

 0.3 0.3 0.3

 0.0

 0.1

 0.0

 0.2
- 2 - 

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2012

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

Jan'11 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan'12
- 3 - 

Consumer Price Index Data for January 2012 

Food 

The food index rose 0.2 percent in January, the same increase as in December. The food at home index 

was unchanged, as the major grocery store food groups were mixed. The index for dairy and related 

products increased 0.9 percent, and the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for other food at 

home increased as well. In contrast, the index for fruits and vegetables fell 1.3 percent, its fourth 

consecutive decline, and the indexes for cereals and bakery products and nonalcoholic beverages also 

decreased. Over the last 12 months, the food at home index has risen 5.3 percent. The dairy and related 

products index rose 9.0 percent over that span, the largest increase among the major grocery store food 

groups, while the fruits and vegetables index fell 0.1 percent, the only decline among the groups. The 

index for food away from home rose 0.4 percent in January, its largest increase since August, and has 

increased 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. 

Energy 

The energy index rose slightly in January, increasing 0.2 percent after declining in each of the three 

previous months. The gasoline index rose 0.9 percent after declining the three previous months. (Before 

seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 3.6 percent in January.) In contrast, the household energy 

index declined 0.6 percent. The fuel oil index rose 1.4 percent but the natural gas index declined 2.9 

percent, its fourth consecutive decrease. The index for electricity was unchanged in January. Over the 

last 12 months, the gasoline index has risen 9.7 percent while the household energy index has increased 

1.2 percent. The indexes for fuel oil and electricity have risen over the last year, but the index for natural 

gas has declined. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in January. The shelter index 

increased 0.2 percent, with the indexes for rent, owners’ equivalent rent, and lodging away from home 

all rising 0.2 percent. The apparel index, which declined in December, rose sharply in January, 

increasing 0.9 percent. The recreation index rose 0.6 percent as the indexes for admissions and toys both 

rose notably. The medical care index increased 0.3 percent, with medical care commodities rising 0.6 

percent. The index for tobacco rose 0.5 percent and the indexes for household furnishings and operations 

and for personal care increased slightly. In contrast to these increases, the index for used cars and trucks 

declined for the fifth month in a row, falling 1.0 percent, and the index for airline fares fell 0.9 percent. 

The new vehicles index was unchanged in January after declining in each of the prior four months. 

The index for all items less food and energy has risen 2.3 percent over the last 12 months. The shelter 

index has risen 2.0 percent over that span, the first time its 12-month change has been that high since 

November 2008. The apparel index has increased 4.7 percent and the medical care index has risen 3.6 

percent. The indexes for both new vehicles and used cars and trucks have each risen 3.2 percent. 
- 4 - 

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.9 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 226.665 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.4 percent prior 

to seasonal adjustment. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.1 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 223.216 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

increased 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.7 percent over the 

last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.4 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please 

note that the indexes for the post-2010 period are subject to revision. 

The Consumer Price Index for February 2012 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 16, 

2012, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
- 5 - 

C-CPI-U Index Revisions 

As scheduled, effective with this release of data for January 2012, the Chained Consumer Price Index 

for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) has undergone its annual revision. Because the current expenditure 

data required for the calculation of the C-CPI-U are available only with a time lag, the index is issued 

first in preliminary form, using the latest available expenditure data at the time of publication, and is 

subject to two subsequent revisions. Therefore, C-CPI-U indexes for the 12 months of 2010 are issued in 

final form – employing monthly expenditure weights from 2010. Values for the 12 months of 2011 are 

revised and issued as interim, using expenditure weights from the 2009-2010 period. Calculation of the 

initial value of the January 2012 C-CPI-U index, and all subsequent months in 2012, will also be based 

upon 2009-2010 expenditure weights. 

For more information on the C-CPI-U, contact Rob Cage by telephone at (202) 691-6959 or by 

electronic mail at Cage.Rob@bls.gov .

Redesigning the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Press Release Tables 

The format of the tables contained in the CPI News Release will change beginning with the CPI News 

Release for March, 2012, which will be issued on Friday, April 13, 2012. News Release tables are 

currently available as part of the News Release pdf and html files, and independently in html format. 

The new tables will also be available in XLS format. In addition, the BLS will begin issuing monthly 

companion XLS files, which will contain additional index level and CPI-W information. 

These tables were made available for public comment during October 2011. In response to the public 

comments, the BLS will issue XLS files each month, as companions to the News Release. There will be 

CPI-U and CPI-W files, and in addition to the data contained in the News Release tables, the Excel files 

will contain index values. Samples of the companion XLS files will be available with the February CPI 

News Release in March 2012. Samples of the new CPI press release tables are available now at 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/mock-ups.htm.

In August 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) restructured the text of the CPI press release to 

focus on the price movements of three broad expenditure categories, namely Food, Energy, and All 

items less food and energy. Table A within the CPI press release text was also updated in August 2009 

to reflect this new structure. Before August 2009, the text of the CPI press release had focused on eight 

CPI ‘major groups’ (Food and beverages; Housing; Apparel; Transportation; Medical care; Recreation; 

Education and communication; and Other goods and services). 

 

While the text of the CPI press release was restructured in 2009, seven additional CPI press release 

tables continued to be published using the eight major groups. BLS has redesigned these press release 

tables, to reflect the focus on Food, Energy, and All items less food and energy. Within these three broad 

categories, CPI item series will be further divided into commodities and services. The CPI News 

Release will contain these updated tables beginning with the March 2012 News Release, to be issued on 

Friday, April 13, 2012. 

Beyond the redesign in the structure of the CPI press release tables, several other improvements to these 

tables have been made. 
- 6 - 

The new Table 1 gives a summary of the index series which typically contribute to changes in the 

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

The new Table 2 will show the full publication stub using the new structure for the CPI-U, including 11 

new items series that were created to augment the redesign in the publication structure. Table 3 will 

show aggregate item series (e.g., Transportation) that do not fall under the Food, Energy, and All items 

less food and energy structure. 

Table 4 will show the All items indexes at the local, regional, and city-size class levels. 

Table 5 will show the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), and presents 

a history of annual percentage changes in the C-CPI-U compared to the CPI-U. 

Table 6 will focus on 1-month seasonally adjusted changes in the CPI-U, while table 7 will focus on 12-

month not seasonally adjusted changes. Tables 6 and 7 will present three additional pieces of data to 

help users better interpret index changes. First, these tables will show the ‘effect’ each item has on the 

price change for All items. For example, if the effect of food is 0.4, and the index for All items increased 

1.2 percent, it can be said that increases in food prices accounted for 0.4 / 1.2, or 33.3 percent, of the 

increase in overall prices for that period. Said another way, had food prices been unchanged, the All 

items index only would have increased 0.8 percent (or 1.2 percent for All items, minus the 0.4 effect for 

Food). Effects can be negative as well. For example, if the effect of food was a negative 0.1, and the All 

items index rose 0.5 percent, the All items index actually would have been 0.1 percent higher (or 0.6 

percent) had food prices been unchanged. 

 

Second, standard errors for percent changes will be shown on tables 6 and 7. Confidence intervals for 

statistics can be created using standard errors; e.g., roughly 95 percent confidence intervals can be 

constructed using two standard errors. For example, if an item increased 3.7 percent, and its standard 

error was 0.6 percent, the 95 percent confidence interval for that price change can be said to be 3.7 

percent plus or minus two standard errors, or 3.7 percent plus or minus 1.2 percent. 

Finally, each item series in tables 6 and 7 will show the last time that item had a price change as large 

(or as small) as the percent change published that period. For example, if bananas rose 3.7 percent, and 

that was its largest increase since November 2007, that would be noted in the new tables. 

In addition, most of the existing tables show the ‘relative importance’, or weight, of each item category 

as of the previous December. The relative importance columns in the new tables will be improved in that 

they will be updated monthly to reflect the change in relative prices over time. 

Finally, there will no longer be any press release tables that focus on the Consumer Price Index for 

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). That said, the CPI-W All items index level and 

percent changes will still be noted in the text of the press release, and a companion XLS file with CPI-W 

information will be available. 

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. 
- 7 - 

Expenditure Weight Update 

Effective with this release, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated the consumption 

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

Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to the 2009-10 period. The updated 

expenditure weights for these indexes replace the 2007-2008 weights that were introduced effective with 

the January 2010 CPI release. As originally announced by BLS in December 1998, CPI expenditure 

weights will continue to be updated at two-year intervals. 

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 29 percent of the total population and 

(2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPIU), which cover approximately 88 percent of the total population and include in addition to wage 

earners and clerical worker households, groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, 

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

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

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

living. Prices are collected each month in 87 urban areas across the country from about 4,000 housing 

units and approximately 26,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in preliminary form and subject to 

two annual revisions. 

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

reference base is 1982-84 equals 100. 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 116.500. 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. 
- 8 - 

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 0.03 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 0.06 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. 

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

95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between 0.14 and 

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

see “Variance Estimates for Price Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January-December 2010”. 

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

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2010.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
- 9 - 

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 2007 through 

December 2011 were replaced in January 2012. 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.

Effective with the publication of data from January 2006 through December 2010 in January 2011, the 

Video and audio series and the Information technology, hardware and services series were changed from 

independently adjusted to dependently adjusted. This resulted in an increase in the number of seasonal 

components used in deriving seasonal movement of the All items and 54 other lower level aggregations, 

from 73 for the publication of January 1998 through December 2005 data to 82 for the publication of 

seasonally adjusted data for January 2006 and later. Each year the seasonal status of every series is 

reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. If any of the 82 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 
- 10 -

indexes before that period will not be changed. Note: 38 of the 82 components are not seasonally 

adjusted for 2012. 

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 2012, BLS adjusted 31 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

Levin at (202) 691-6968, or by e-mail at Levin.David@bls.gov. If you have general questions about the 

CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 
- 11 -

Revised seasonally adjusted changes

Over-the-month percent changes in the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban 

Consumers (CPI-U) for All Items and for All Items less food and energy, seasonally adjusted, using 

former and recalculated seasonal factors for 2011. 

All Items 

2011 Former Recalculated Difference 

January .4 .3 -.1 

February .5 .4 -.1 

March .5 .5 .0 

April .4 .4 .0 

May .2 .3 .1 

June -.2 .1 .3 

July .5 .3 -.2 

August .4 .3 -.1 

September .3 .3 .0 

October -.1 .0 .1 

November .0 .1 .1 

December .0 .0 .0 

All Items less food and energy 

2011 Former Recalculated Difference 

January .2 .2 .0 

February .2 .2 .0 

March .1 .2 .1 

April .2 .2 .0 

May .3 .3 .0 

June .3 .2 -.1 

July .2 .2 .0 

August .2 .2 .0 

September .1 .1 .0 

October .1 .2 .1 

November .2 .2 .0 

December .1 .1 .0 
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

20111

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2012 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Dec.

2011

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 225.672 226.665 2.9 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 

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

 676.014 678.988 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.256 231.130 232.559 4.2 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 14.308 231.301 232.666 4.4 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.638 229.982 231.694 5.3 .7 .0 .2 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.242 265.997 266.677 5.3 .3 .3 .3 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.960 228.853 229.809 7.2 .4 .1 .6 .2 

Dairy and related products 2 ................................................ .916 218.458 220.492 9.0 .9 -.3 -.1 .9 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.287 283.550 285.437 -.1 .7 -.5 -.5 -1.3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .961 168.520 170.454 3.9 1.1 .3 .2 -.3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.272 200.566 202.756 5.9 1.1 .0 .4 .5 

Sugar and sweets 2 ............................................................ .307 210.846 213.700 5.5 1.4 -1.7 .4 1.4 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .263 227.601 234.252 12.7 2.9 .9 1.2 1.4 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.703 211.986 213.602 4.9 .8 .2 .3 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 2 3 ......................................... .627 126.293 125.536 3.8 -.6 .2 .5 -.6 

Food away from home 2 ......................................................... 5.669 234.435 235.268 3.1 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Other food away from home 2 3 ........................................... .361 164.095 165.884 3.3 1.1 .1 .0 1.1 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. .948 227.335 229.704 2.1 1.0 .1 .2 .8 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.020 220.193 220.805 1.9 .3 .1 .1 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.539 253.716 254.409 2.0 .3 .2 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 4 ................................................... 6.485 257.189 257.714 2.4 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 3 .................................................... .749 128.131 131.601 2.3 2.7 .3 -.3 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 245 ........................... 23.957 261.982 262.543 1.8 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 245 .............. 22.543 261.960 262.522 1.8 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 2 3 ................................... .348 129.480 129.929 3.0 .3 .3 .5 .3 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.372 217.674 218.199 1.9 .2 -.1 -.1 -.4

Household energy .................................................................. 4.216 189.711 189.945 1.2 .1 -.2 -.2 -.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels 2 ...................................................... .343 340.512 344.644 9.7 1.2 2.3 -.7 1.2 

Energy services 4 ................................................................. 3.873 189.891 189.942 .5 .0 -.4 -.2 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 3 ................... 1.156 182.758 183.984 4.7 .7 .3 .5 .3 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.109 125.170 125.629 1.0 .4 .1 .1 .1 

Household operations 2 3 ....................................................... .727 152.729 153.634 1.6 .6 .1 .1 .6 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.562 123.470 122.105 4.7 -1.1 .5 -.1 .9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .855 115.997 116.409 5.8 .4 1.0 -.5 1.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.507 110.918 107.644 5.1 -3.0 .7 -.2 1.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .201 118.032 118.399 7.5 .3 .7 1.3 1.6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .678 128.208 126.915 .5 -1.0 -.1 .3 -.3

Transportation ............................................................................ 16.875 208.585 210.799 5.0 1.1 -.3 -.7 .3 

Private transportation ............................................................... 15.694 203.809 206.307 5.2 1.2 -.3 -.8 .4 

New and used motor vehicles 3 ............................................. 5.651 99.795 99.659 2.6 -.1 -.3 -.3 -.4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.195 142.953 143.438 3.2 .3 -.2 -.2 .0 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 1.913 148.140 147.143 3.2 -.7 -.4 -.7 -1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.463 282.501 292.236 10.0 3.4 -.8 -2.1 .8 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.273 280.713 290.762 9.7 3.6 -.9 -2.1 .9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 2 ..................................... .438 147.499 148.126 5.4 .4 .7 .8 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 2 ................................ 1.155 255.644 256.405 2.3 .3 .0 .0 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.181 266.958 263.968 1.7 -1.1 .0 .0 -.8 

Medical care ............................................................................... 7.061 405.629 408.056 3.6 .6 .4 .3 .3

Medical care commodities 2 ..................................................... 1.716 327.254 329.201 3.2 .6 .2 .2 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 5.345 430.005 432.583 3.7 .6 .4 .4 .2 

Professional services ............................................................. 3.005 337.907 338.714 2.0 .2 .2 .3 -.2 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

20111

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2012 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Dec.

2011

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ................................................. 1.732 653.839 659.194 5.3 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 

Recreation 3 ............................................................................... 6.044 113.499 114.183 1.4 .6 .1 .3 .6 

Video and audio 3 .................................................................... 1.924 98.225 98.743 1.5 .5 .0 .1 .6 

Education and communication 3 ................................................ 6.797 132.728 133.067 1.8 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Education 3 .............................................................................. 3.216 212.745 213.067 4.4 .2 .4 .3 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .201 540.742 547.629 4.9 1.3 .6 .0 .8 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 3.015 611.633 612.104 4.4 .1 .4 .4 .2 

Communication 3 ..................................................................... 3.581 82.990 83.280 -.6 .3 .0 .0 .2 

Information and information processing 3 .............................. 3.436 79.599 79.858 -.7 .3 -.1 .0 .3 

Telephone services 2 3 ......................................................... 2.429 101.397 101.687 .3 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Information technology, hardware and services 6 ................ 1.006 8.818 8.855 -3.6 .4 -.2 -.5 .2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 7 ............... .269 64.348 64.356 -11.8 .0 .2 -2.1 -.6 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.385 391.043 391.382 1.7 .1 .4 .1 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 2 ............................................ .804 847.063 851.016 2.8 .5 .1 .4 .5 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.581 210.257 210.299 1.4 .0 .5 .0 .1 

Personal care products 2 ....................................................... .656 160.825 161.256 .2 .3 .5 -.5 .3 

Personal care services 2 ........................................................ .633 232.302 232.039 .9 -.1 .4 .0 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.081 367.912 367.934 2.9 .0 .4 .5 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.966 183.345 184.636 4.0 .7 .0 -.3 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.256 231.130 232.559 4.2 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 24.710 157.921 159.117 3.9 .8 -.1 -.6 .4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.742 204.529 206.834 5.4 1.1 .0 -.7 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.562 123.470 122.105 4.7 -1.1 .5 -.1 .9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 12.179 259.668 264.289 5.6 1.8 -.3 -1.0 .6 

Durables ................................................................................... 8.968 112.277 112.399 1.5 .1 -.1 .0 -.1

Services ....................................................................................... 60.034 267.737 268.459 2.2 .3 .2 .2 .2 

Rent of shelter 5 ......................................................................... 31.190 264.341 265.060 2.0 .3 .2 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 2 3 ....................................... .348 129.480 129.929 3.0 .3 .3 .5 .3 

Energy services 4 ....................................................................... 3.873 189.891 189.942 .5 .0 -.4 -.2 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 3 ....................... 1.156 182.758 183.984 4.7 .7 .3 .5 .3 

Household operations 2 3 ........................................................... .727 152.729 153.634 1.6 .6 .1 .1 .6 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.797 269.858 269.438 2.1 -.2 .0 .1 .0 

Medical care services ................................................................. 5.345 430.005 432.583 3.7 .6 .4 .4 .2 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.598 318.043 319.100 2.5 .3 .3 .4 .4

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 85.692 224.805 225.739 2.7 .4 .1 .0 .2

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.461 217.260 218.378 3.4 .5 .0 -.1 .2

All items less medical care ........................................................... 92.939 216.875 217.804 2.9 .4 .1 .0 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 25.658 160.453 161.685 3.9 .8 -.1 -.5 .5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.690 205.966 208.277 5.2 1.1 .0 -.7 .8 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 13.127 255.567 259.979 5.3 1.7 -.2 -.9 .7 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.997 218.411 220.325 4.8 .9 .1 -.3 .5 

Services less rent of shelter 5 ...................................................... 28.844 292.487 293.269 2.4 .3 .1 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.689 255.271 255.881 2.1 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.679 232.300 236.942 6.1 2.0 -.5 -1.3 .2 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.321 226.795 227.422 2.6 .3 .2 .2 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 76.013 226.740 227.237 2.3 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 19.852 145.929 145.963 2.2 .0 .1 -.1 .2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.806 287.363 296.886 10.0 3.3 -.6 -2.0 .9 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.161 275.643 276.432 2.3 .3 .2 .2 .2 

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

 $ .443 $ .441 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .148 $ .147 - ----

1 The relative importances for the U.S. city average were reissued on

March 7, 2012. 2 Not seasonally adjusted. 3 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 4 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

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

5 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 7 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—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Apr.

2011

July

2011

Oct.

2011

Jan.

2012 July

2011

Jan.

2012

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 226.804 227.014 227.033 227.505 5.5 2.7 2.3 1.2 4.1 1.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.896 231.136 231.610 232.080 6.3 4.1 4.4 2.1 5.2 3.2

Food ................................................................................ 231.053 231.298 231.778 232.154 6.6 4.3 4.7 1.9 5.4 3.3 

Food at home ................................................................ 230.258 230.256 230.805 230.851 9.1 5.5 5.8 1.0 7.3 3.4 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 265.632 266.541 267.370 266.995 3.8 6.3 9.0 2.1 5.0 5.5 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 227.493 227.639 229.103 229.463 13.6 5.9 5.9 3.5 9.7 4.7 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 219.493 218.767 218.458 220.492 15.4 10.0 9.1 1.8 12.7 5.4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 286.133 284.772 283.333 279.700 6.7 1.9 .5 -8.7 4.3 -4.2

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 168.928 169.448 169.798 169.236 8.0 4.8 2.3 .7 6.4 1.5 

Other food at home ..................................................... 201.114 201.152 201.996 203.003 7.2 5.4 7.2 3.8 6.3 5.5 

Sugar and sweets 1 .................................................. 213.602 210.039 210.846 213.700 2.3 7.1 12.7 .2 4.7 6.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 225.392 227.351 230.188 233.400 16.3 10.4 9.4 15.0 13.3 12.2 

Other foods ............................................................... 212.578 213.041 213.648 214.073 6.8 4.3 5.8 2.8 5.5 4.3

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 125.461 125.702 126.293 125.536 9.7 2.1 3.4 .2 5.9 1.8 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 233.459 234.046 234.435 235.268 3.4 2.6 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.2 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 163.978 164.120 164.095 165.884 4.0 1.9 2.5 4.7 2.9 3.6 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 227.294 227.465 227.849 229.704 2.2 1.4 .6 4.3 1.8 2.4

Housing ............................................................................. 220.378 220.691 221.005 221.246 2.0 1.7 2.2 1.6 1.9 1.9 

Shelter ............................................................................. 253.163 253.645 254.112 254.613 1.2 2.2 2.2 2.3 1.7 2.3 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 255.742 256.307 256.894 257.285 1.6 2.1 3.7 2.4 1.9 3.0 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 137.489 137.839 137.482 137.802 3.3 15.1 -8.6 .9 9.0 -4.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 134 .................. 261.034 261.503 261.982 262.543 1.0 1.8 2.3 2.3 1.4 2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 134 .... 261.011 261.479 261.960 262.522 1.0 1.8 2.3 2.3 1.4 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 128.416 128.777 129.480 129.929 1.2 2.2 3.6 4.8 1.7 4.2 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 221.794 221.545 221.347 220.362 8.3 -.4 2.6 -2.6 3.9 .0 

Household energy ......................................................... 194.572 194.147 193.673 192.424 8.9 -1.6 2.1 -4.3 3.5 -1.2

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 335.148 342.823 340.512 344.644 51.8 -12.8 -2.1 11.8 15.0 4.7 

Energy services 3 ........................................................ 195.502 194.630 194.233 192.643 5.7 -.4 2.5 -5.7 2.6 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 181.872 182.373 183.235 183.712 6.2 4.1 4.4 4.1 5.1 4.2 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.387 125.503 125.646 125.732 .6 .8 1.6 1.1 .7 1.4 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 152.415 152.578 152.729 153.634 .4 1.5 1.3 3.2 1.0 2.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 123.967 124.618 124.539 125.646 -1.9 13.2 2.3 5.5 5.4 3.9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 117.193 118.407 117.795 118.920 -4.7 23.6 .5 6.0 8.5 3.3

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.818 111.555 111.303 112.767 -2.1 12.4 3.2 7.2 4.9 5.2

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 115.561 116.365 117.848 119.698 -1.7 15.3 2.6 15.1 6.4 8.7

Footwear ......................................................................... 128.662 128.512 128.846 128.516 -2.7 5.7 -.4 -.5 1.4 -.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 215.058 214.432 212.861 213.465 20.3 3.0 1.3 -2.9 11.3 -.8 

Private transportation ...................................................... 210.354 209.701 208.050 208.812 21.1 3.7 .9 -2.9 12.1 -1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 100.636 100.347 100.034 99.631 8.8 7.5 -1.4 -3.9 8.2 -2.7 

New vehicles ............................................................... 142.968 142.712 142.470 142.407 9.8 6.5 -1.3 -1.6 8.1 -1.4 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 151.443 150.890 149.907 148.412 9.6 12.7 -.4 -7.8 11.1 -4.1

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 308.873 306.556 300.149 302.700 55.9 .4 1.3 -7.8 25.1 -3.3 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 307.978 305.245 298.833 301.449 55.3 .4 1.3 -8.2 24.9 -3.6

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 145.308 146.338 147.499 148.126 3.2 9.9 1.0 8.0 6.5 4.4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 255.774 255.663 255.644 256.405 1.2 2.1 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.9 

Public transportation ....................................................... 271.413 271.334 271.330 269.105 10.4 -5.9 6.4 -3.4 1.9 1.4 

Medical care ...................................................................... 404.043 405.533 406.879 408.096 4.1 2.7 3.6 4.1 3.4 3.8 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 325.962 326.624 327.254 329.201 6.8 -.1 2.2 4.0 3.3 3.1 

Medical care services ..................................................... 428.329 430.140 431.762 432.639 3.2 3.7 4.0 4.1 3.4 4.0

Professional services .................................................... 337.883 338.426 339.288 338.778 2.7 2.0 2.4 1.1 2.3 1.7

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—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Apr.

2011

July

2011

Oct.

2011

Jan.

2012 July

2011

Jan.

2012

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ........................................ 651.311 654.547 657.425 659.286 5.0 6.3 5.0 5.0 5.6 5.0 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.318 113.396 113.753 114.448 1.1 .7 -.2 4.0 .9 1.9 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 98.745 98.699 98.759 99.306 2.2 .2 1.3 2.3 1.2 1.8 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 132.110 132.361 132.569 132.930 1.5 1.5 1.9 2.5 1.5 2.2 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 210.472 211.371 212.078 212.673 4.1 4.8 4.5 4.2 4.4 4.4 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 538.447 541.592 541.542 545.675 2.9 4.0 7.3 5.5 3.4 6.4 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 604.820 607.338 609.518 611.041 4.2 4.9 4.3 4.2 4.5 4.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 83.100 83.065 83.050 83.255 -.9 -1.7 -.6 .7 -1.3 .1 

Information and information processing 2 ..................... 79.686 79.637 79.619 79.842 -1.0 -1.8 -.8 .8 -1.4 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.257 101.259 101.397 101.687 -.9 -.9 1.2 1.7 -.9 1.4 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ....... 8.893 8.871 8.827 8.849 -1.6 -4.2 -6.4 -2.0 -2.9 -4.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 65.843 66.002 64.590 64.192 -9.6 -10.4 -17.2 -9.7 -10.0 -13.5 

Other goods and services ................................................. 389.241 390.660 390.983 391.639 .6 1.2 2.7 2.5 .9 2.6 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 842.785 843.604 847.063 851.016 -.4 2.8 4.7 4.0 1.2 4.4 

Personal care .................................................................. 209.321 210.281 210.213 210.462 .9 .7 2.0 2.2 .8 2.1 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.705 161.585 160.825 161.256 1.2 -4.0 2.4 1.4 -1.4 1.9 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 231.238 232.216 232.302 232.039 .8 .1 1.4 1.4 .5 1.4 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 365.583 366.920 368.883 368.638 2.7 2.6 2.9 3.4 2.7 3.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 185.863 185.800 185.269 185.883 10.9 3.7 1.9 .0 7.2 1.0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.896 231.136 231.610 232.080 6.3 4.1 4.4 2.1 5.2 3.2

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 161.462 161.280 160.361 161.056 13.6 3.5 .6 -1.0 8.4 -.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 210.930 210.858 209.290 210.895 17.8 3.5 1.3 -.1 10.4 .6 

Apparel .......................................................................... 123.967 124.618 124.539 125.646 -1.9 13.2 2.3 5.5 5.4 3.9 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 270.190 269.443 266.827 268.523 24.6 .7 1.6 -2.4 12.0 -.4 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.949 112.812 112.785 112.618 4.7 3.7 -1.0 -1.2 4.2 -1.1 

Services .............................................................................. 267.479 267.932 268.503 268.937 2.1 1.9 2.5 2.2 2.0 2.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 263.810 264.414 265.018 265.379 1.0 2.0 2.5 2.4 1.5 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 128.416 128.777 129.480 129.929 1.2 2.2 3.6 4.8 1.7 4.2 

Energy services 3 .............................................................. 195.502 194.630 194.233 192.643 5.7 -.4 2.5 -5.7 2.6 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 181.872 182.373 183.235 183.712 6.2 4.1 4.4 4.1 5.1 4.2 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 152.415 152.578 152.729 153.634 .4 1.5 1.3 3.2 1.0 2.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 269.873 269.984 270.283 270.368 4.1 .0 3.4 .7 2.0 2.1

Medical care services ....................................................... 428.329 430.140 431.762 432.639 3.2 3.7 4.0 4.1 3.4 4.0 

Other services ................................................................... 316.097 316.934 318.190 319.362 1.9 1.9 2.2 4.2 1.9 3.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 226.155 226.360 226.305 226.794 5.4 2.4 1.9 1.1 3.9 1.5 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 219.072 219.178 219.019 219.470 7.6 2.9 2.3 .7 5.2 1.5 

All items less medical care .................................................. 218.101 218.261 218.228 218.669 5.6 2.7 2.2 1.0 4.1 1.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 163.909 163.735 162.849 163.582 13.1 3.4 .6 -.8 8.2 -.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 212.011 211.951 210.490 212.097 16.9 3.3 1.3 .2 9.9 .7 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 265.080 264.418 262.078 263.793 22.7 .7 1.5 -1.9 11.2 -.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 221.786 221.919 221.266 222.270 12.7 3.3 2.8 .9 7.9 1.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 292.569 293.003 293.840 294.175 3.1 1.5 3.0 2.2 2.3 2.6 

Services less medical care services ................................... 255.101 255.628 256.245 256.504 1.7 1.6 2.7 2.2 1.6 2.5 

Energy ................................................................................. 247.363 246.041 242.746 243.121 34.3 -.4 1.6 -6.7 15.7 -2.6 

All items less energy ........................................................... 226.524 226.892 227.246 227.722 2.8 3.0 2.4 2.1 2.9 2.3 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 226.465 226.856 227.188 227.684 2.2 2.8 2.0 2.2 2.5 2.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 146.429 146.533 146.378 146.685 2.9 4.8 .4 .7 3.8 .6 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 312.331 310.498 304.251 306.902 55.7 -.3 1.1 -6.8 24.6 -2.9

Services less energy services ......................................... 274.834 275.412 276.075 276.695 1.9 2.1 2.5 2.7 2.0 2.6 

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

Jan.2012 from—

Percent change to

Dec.2011 from—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

U.S. city average ............................................ M 226.421 226.230 225.672 226.665 2.9 0.2 0.4 3.0 -0.3 -0.2 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 243.014 242.652 241.987 242.879 2.9 .1 .4 2.9 -.4 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 244.534 244.076 243.328 244.296 2.8 .1 .4 2.7 -.5 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 145.404 145.335 145.062 145.456 3.2 .1 .3 3.4 -.2 -.2 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 215.653 215.614 215.173 216.368 2.8 .3 .6 2.8 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 216.130 216.097 215.633 216.883 2.8 .4 .6 2.7 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.573 138.453 138.186 138.903 2.8 .3 .5 2.9 -.3 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 212.476 212.907 212.505 213.649 2.9 .3 .5 3.1 .0 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 219.969 219.961 219.469 220.497 3.2 .2 .5 3.3 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.515 220.654 220.152 221.185 2.8 .2 .5 2.9 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.303 140.218 139.838 140.388 3.3 .1 .4 3.4 -.3 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 224.574 224.714 224.892 226.902 4.7 1.0 .9 4.0 .1 .1 

West urban ..................................................... M 229.195 228.771 228.117 228.980 2.6 .1 .4 2.7 -.5 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 233.259 232.851 232.106 233.044 2.5 .1 .4 2.7 -.5 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.696 138.411 138.017 138.465 2.6 .0 .3 2.7 -.5 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 206.393 206.201 205.636 206.562 2.7 .2 .5 2.8 -.4 -.3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 140.355 140.225 139.881 140.418 3.1 .1 .4 3.2 -.3 -.2 

D ................................................................. M 219.959 220.020 219.950 221.362 3.7 .6 .6 3.5 .0 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 219.592 219.181 218.180 219.585 2.1 .2 .6 2.1 -.6 -.5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 233.049 232.731 231.567 233.441 2.1 .3 .8 2.2 -.6 -.5 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 250.051 249.317 248.307 249.322 2.8 .0 .4 2.7 -.7 -.4 

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

 245.030 - 245.891 2.5 .4 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 211.225 - 211.985 2.1 .4 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 209.283 - 209.203 3.0 .0 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 147.565 - 148.163 2.7 .4 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 209.182 - 208.590 ---- 3.0 -.3 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 212.927 - 213.505 ---- 3.5 .3 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 201.398 - 200.477 ---- 3.1 -.5 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 232.141 - 231.794 ---- 3.1 -.1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 235.440 - 234.312 ---- 2.8 -.5 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 235.331 - 234.327 ---- 2.9 -.4 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 235.916 - 234.812 ---- 3.5 -.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

20111

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2012 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Dec.

2011

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 222.166 223.216 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 

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

 661.766 664.891 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.940 230.642 232.052 4.3 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.071 230.624 231.980 4.5 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 9.460 228.925 230.631 5.4 .7 .0 .2 .0 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.338 266.752 267.512 5.3 .3 .3 .2 -.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.278 228.845 229.739 7.3 .4 .0 .6 .1 

Dairy and related products 2 ................................................ .991 217.503 219.185 9.0 .8 -.4 .0 .8 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.318 280.711 282.588 .1 .7 -.4 -.5 -1.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.093 167.577 169.594 3.7 1.2 .3 .2 -.4 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.442 199.694 201.995 5.9 1.2 .1 .4 .5 

Sugar and sweets 2 ............................................................ .334 209.639 212.860 5.5 1.5 -1.5 .3 1.5 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .291 229.065 235.791 13.3 2.9 .9 1.4 1.5 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.817 211.835 213.520 4.9 .8 .2 .2 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 2 3 ......................................... .633 126.235 125.367 3.5 -.7 .1 .4 -.7 

Food away from home 2 ......................................................... 5.611 234.666 235.423 3.1 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Other food away from home 2 3 ........................................... .352 165.205 166.216 2.8 .6 .1 .0 .6 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. .869 229.467 231.821 2.6 1.0 .1 .1 .9 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.848 217.009 217.528 1.9 .2 .1 .2 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.486 247.858 248.435 2.0 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 4 ................................................... 8.926 255.322 255.800 2.4 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Lodging away from home 3 .................................................... .433 129.754 132.580 1.9 2.2 .5 -.1 -.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 245 ........................... 20.821 237.350 237.848 1.8 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 245 .............. 20.165 237.342 237.840 1.8 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 2 3 ................................... .306 130.695 131.182 2.7 .4 .3 .6 .4 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.903 216.074 216.589 2.0 .2 -.1 -.1 -.5

Household energy .................................................................. 4.676 187.586 187.786 1.3 .1 -.2 -.2 -.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels 2 ...................................................... .282 340.375 344.055 9.1 1.1 2.3 -.7 1.1 

Energy services 4 ................................................................. 4.394 189.060 189.143 .7 .0 -.4 -.2 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 3 ................... 1.227 183.178 184.533 4.7 .7 .3 .5 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.458 121.409 121.770 1.2 .3 .1 .1 .1 

Household operations 2 3 ....................................................... .357 155.744 156.727 2.0 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.618 123.203 121.896 5.4 -1.1 .5 .1 .9 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .882 116.906 116.817 5.8 -.1 .8 -.3 .7 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.407 110.883 107.583 5.8 -3.0 .7 .1 1.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .280 121.842 122.603 8.2 .6 .6 1.5 1.6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .813 128.560 127.300 1.5 -1.0 .2 .2 -.2

Transportation ............................................................................ 19.031 209.013 211.599 5.5 1.2 -.3 -.8 .4 

Private transportation ............................................................... 18.154 205.607 208.363 5.6 1.3 -.3 -.9 .4 

New and used motor vehicles 3 ............................................. 6.239 99.250 99.037 2.9 -.2 -.3 -.3 -.5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.035 143.994 144.431 3.3 .3 -.2 -.1 -.1 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.736 149.207 148.197 3.3 -.7 -.4 -.7 -1.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 7.015 283.528 293.496 10.0 3.5 -.7 -2.1 .9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.773 281.852 292.151 9.7 3.7 -.9 -2.1 .9 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 2 ..................................... .511 147.223 147.804 5.4 .4 .6 .7 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 2 ................................ 1.153 258.355 259.076 2.3 .3 .0 .0 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .877 264.424 262.018 2.1 -.9 .1 .0 -.7 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.670 407.909 410.459 3.8 .6 .4 .3 .3

Medical care commodities 2 ..................................................... 1.344 319.396 321.314 3.5 .6 .2 .2 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.327 434.051 436.798 3.9 .6 .5 .4 .3 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.390 341.593 342.491 2.1 .3 .2 .2 -.1 

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

20111

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Jan. 2012 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Dec.

2011

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Dec. to

Jan.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ................................................. 1.399 657.440 662.841 5.5 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.3 

Recreation 3 ............................................................................... 5.579 109.959 110.556 1.4 .5 .0 .3 .6 

Video and audio 3 .................................................................... 2.060 99.028 99.563 1.7 .5 -.1 .1 .7 

Education and communication 3 ................................................ 6.800 126.413 126.735 1.3 .3 .1 .1 .2 

Education 3 .............................................................................. 2.686 209.452 209.865 4.2 .2 .4 .3 .2 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .214 547.576 554.390 5.4 1.2 .6 .1 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.472 588.489 589.117 4.1 .1 .4 .3 .2 

Communication 3 ..................................................................... 4.114 85.510 85.761 -.5 .3 -.1 .0 .2 

Information and information processing 3 .............................. 3.999 83.163 83.391 -.6 .3 -.1 .0 .2 

Telephone services 2 3 ......................................................... 2.984 100.764 101.014 .1 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 6 ................ 1.015 9.371 9.404 -3.2 .4 -.4 -.4 .2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 7 ............... .247 64.421 64.382 -11.1 -.1 .1 -1.7 -.7 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.515 421.000 421.572 1.8 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 2 ............................................ 1.227 852.435 856.419 2.8 .5 .1 .4 .5 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.288 207.747 207.814 1.2 .0 .4 .0 .1 

Personal care products 2 ....................................................... .611 160.954 161.473 .0 .3 .5 -.5 .3 

Personal care services 2 ........................................................ .577 232.313 232.093 .8 -.1 .4 .0 -.1 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... .921 368.816 368.843 2.6 .0 .4 .4 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 42.665 187.472 188.931 4.4 .8 -.1 -.3 .4 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 15.940 230.642 232.052 4.3 .6 .1 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 26.725 164.072 165.511 4.4 .9 -.2 -.6 .5 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.285 215.404 218.318 5.9 1.4 -.1 -.8 .9 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.618 123.203 121.896 5.4 -1.1 .5 .1 .9

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.667 277.351 282.875 6.0 2.0 -.3 -1.1 .7 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.440 114.098 114.105 1.9 .0 -.1 -.1 -.2 

Services ....................................................................................... 57.335 262.954 263.615 2.2 .3 .2 .2 .1 

Rent of shelter 5 ......................................................................... 30.181 238.834 239.387 2.0 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 2 3 ....................................... .306 130.695 131.182 2.7 .4 .3 .6 .4 

Energy services 4 ....................................................................... 4.394 189.060 189.143 .7 .0 -.4 -.2 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 3 ....................... 1.227 183.178 184.533 4.7 .7 .3 .5 .4 

Household operations 2 3 ........................................................... .357 155.744 156.727 2.0 .6 .2 .1 .6 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.641 271.174 270.972 2.5 -.1 .1 .2 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.327 434.051 436.798 3.9 .6 .5 .4 .3 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.903 302.364 303.344 2.2 .3 .2 .4 .3

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.929 220.479 221.476 2.9 .5 .1 -.1 .2 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.514 215.189 216.427 3.6 .6 .0 -.1 .2

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.330 214.658 215.653 3.1 .5 .0 .0 .2 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 27.594 166.354 167.821 4.4 .9 -.2 -.6 .5 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.154 216.421 219.315 5.7 1.3 -.1 -.8 .9

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.536 272.053 277.315 5.8 1.9 -.3 -1.0 .8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.225 223.793 226.025 5.2 1.0 .0 -.3 .5 

Services less rent of shelter 5 ...................................................... 27.154 257.915 258.616 2.4 .3 .1 .3 .1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 53.008 251.150 251.705 2.1 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 11.691 233.943 238.978 6.4 2.2 -.6 -1.4 .2 

All items less energy .................................................................... 88.309 221.735 222.298 2.7 .3 .2 .2 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.238 220.325 220.736 2.4 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 20.297 148.692 148.645 2.5 .0 .0 -.1 .2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 7.297 287.221 297.049 10.0 3.4 -.6 -2.0 .9 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.941 271.036 271.762 2.3 .3 .2 .3 .2 

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

 $ .450 $ .448 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .151 $ .150 - ----

1 The relative importances for the U.S. city average were reissued on

March 7, 2012. 2 Not seasonally adjusted. 3 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 4 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other

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

5 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 6 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 7 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—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Apr.

2011

July

2011

Oct.

2011

Jan.

2012 July

2011

Jan.

2012

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 223.568 223.717 223.684 224.148 6.4 2.7 2.5 1.0 4.6 1.8 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.418 230.666 231.158 231.622 6.5 3.9 4.8 2.1 5.2 3.4

Food ................................................................................ 230.411 230.660 231.162 231.529 6.8 4.2 5.0 2.0 5.5 3.5 

Food at home ................................................................ 229.277 229.277 229.833 229.919 9.3 5.3 6.0 1.1 7.3 3.5 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 266.526 267.440 268.006 267.803 4.3 5.9 9.3 1.9 5.1 5.6 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 227.625 227.665 229.098 229.355 14.2 5.8 6.2 3.1 9.9 4.6 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 218.451 217.557 217.503 219.185 16.4 9.9 8.7 1.4 13.1 4.9 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 283.795 282.533 281.176 277.918 6.4 1.1 1.4 -8.0 3.7 -3.4

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 168.124 168.584 168.908 168.287 8.0 3.7 2.7 .4 5.9 1.5 

Other food at home ..................................................... 200.263 200.399 201.182 202.272 6.8 5.8 7.2 4.1 6.3 5.6 

Sugar and sweets 1 .................................................. 212.276 209.091 209.639 212.860 1.6 7.1 12.5 1.1 4.3 6.7 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 226.463 228.447 231.558 235.062 16.3 11.2 10.0 16.1 13.7 13.0 

Other foods ............................................................... 212.552 213.066 213.598 214.023 6.3 4.7 5.7 2.8 5.5 4.2

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 125.681 125.761 126.235 125.367 9.0 2.6 3.5 -1.0 5.8 1.2 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 233.622 234.240 234.666 235.423 3.4 2.5 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.3 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 165.008 165.228 165.205 166.216 4.1 2.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 2.5 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 229.090 229.320 229.662 231.733 2.9 1.0 1.8 4.7 1.9 3.2

Housing ............................................................................. 217.100 217.422 217.764 217.930 2.1 1.6 2.4 1.5 1.9 2.0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 246.993 247.512 248.039 248.481 1.2 1.9 2.4 2.4 1.6 2.4 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 253.865 254.439 255.050 255.369 1.6 1.9 3.6 2.4 1.8 3.0 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 138.317 139.050 138.932 138.797 4.6 12.0 -9.3 1.4 8.2 -4.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 134 .................. 236.407 236.869 237.350 237.848 1.0 1.7 2.2 2.5 1.3 2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 134 .... 236.397 236.859 237.342 237.840 1.0 1.7 2.2 2.5 1.3 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 129.562 129.912 130.695 131.182 -.1 2.3 3.7 5.1 1.1 4.4 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 220.367 220.091 219.922 218.917 7.8 .3 2.5 -2.6 4.0 -.1 

Household energy ......................................................... 192.552 192.117 191.695 190.399 8.3 -.7 2.0 -4.4 3.7 -1.2

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 334.886 342.717 340.375 344.055 47.2 -12.7 -1.1 11.4 13.4 5.0 

Energy services 3 ........................................................ 194.717 193.891 193.537 191.946 5.8 .3 2.3 -5.6 3.0 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 182.263 182.744 183.611 184.306 5.9 4.2 4.4 4.6 5.0 4.5 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 121.666 121.768 121.857 121.930 .6 1.4 1.9 .9 1.0 1.4 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 155.235 155.567 155.744 156.727 .9 2.0 1.5 3.9 1.4 2.7 

Apparel .............................................................................. 123.271 123.937 124.119 125.293 -1.0 12.7 3.3 6.7 5.6 5.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 117.901 118.799 118.421 119.207 -3.9 19.1 4.8 4.5 7.0 4.7

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.438 111.174 111.270 112.645 -.6 12.2 3.4 8.2 5.6 5.8

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 119.122 119.892 121.697 123.626 -2.1 14.7 5.3 16.0 6.0 10.5

Footwear ......................................................................... 128.847 129.147 129.348 129.142 -.7 6.1 -.3 .9 2.6 .3 

Transportation ................................................................... 216.261 215.570 213.811 214.570 22.4 3.5 1.3 -3.1 12.6 -.9 

Private transportation ...................................................... 212.914 212.198 210.392 211.254 22.9 3.9 1.1 -3.1 13.0 -1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 100.288 99.974 99.627 99.128 9.2 8.5 -.8 -4.5 8.8 -2.7 

New vehicles ............................................................... 144.008 143.707 143.506 143.417 9.8 6.3 -.9 -1.6 8.0 -1.3 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 152.505 151.951 150.961 149.463 9.6 12.8 -.2 -7.7 11.2 -4.1

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 309.981 307.658 301.259 303.958 56.2 .4 .9 -7.5 25.3 -3.4 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 309.225 306.470 300.075 302.847 55.6 .4 .9 -8.0 25.0 -3.6

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 145.326 146.151 147.223 147.804 3.5 9.8 1.3 7.0 6.6 4.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 258.440 258.342 258.355 259.076 1.1 2.4 4.7 1.0 1.7 2.8 

Public transportation ....................................................... 268.074 268.353 268.487 266.645 10.5 -5.6 6.5 -2.1 2.1 2.1 

Medical care ...................................................................... 406.100 407.721 409.115 410.534 4.1 3.0 3.6 4.4 3.5 4.0 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 317.901 318.671 319.396 321.314 7.0 .2 2.5 4.4 3.6 3.4 

Medical care services ..................................................... 432.160 434.106 435.752 436.902 3.2 3.9 3.9 4.5 3.5 4.2

Professional services .................................................... 341.676 342.229 343.032 342.799 2.6 2.0 2.6 1.3 2.3 2.0

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Apr.

2011

July

2011

Oct.

2011

Jan.

2012 July

2011

Jan.

2012

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ........................................ 654.029 657.880 660.972 662.755 5.1 6.8 4.6 5.4 6.0 5.0 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 109.958 109.905 110.249 110.877 1.5 1.0 -.2 3.4 1.3 1.6 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.523 99.444 99.583 100.249 1.9 .4 1.5 3.0 1.2 2.2 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 125.980 126.135 126.323 126.612 .9 .7 1.7 2.0 .8 1.9 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 207.396 208.259 208.927 209.422 3.9 4.4 4.7 4.0 4.1 4.3 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 544.919 548.282 548.831 552.247 3.3 4.0 8.7 5.5 3.7 7.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 582.443 584.757 586.751 587.964 3.9 4.4 4.3 3.8 4.2 4.1 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 85.585 85.524 85.553 85.741 -.9 -1.7 -.2 .7 -1.3 .3 

Information and information processing 2 ..................... 83.222 83.151 83.179 83.377 -1.0 -1.7 -.3 .7 -1.4 .2 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 100.616 100.620 100.764 101.014 -.9 -1.1 1.0 1.6 -1.0 1.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ....... 9.454 9.415 9.379 9.398 -1.3 -3.9 -5.1 -2.3 -2.6 -3.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 65.726 65.790 64.651 64.202 -10.8 -10.0 -14.5 -9.0 -10.4 -11.8 

Other goods and services ................................................. 419.250 420.462 420.998 421.681 .5 1.4 2.9 2.3 .9 2.6 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 847.868 848.791 852.435 856.419 -.4 2.8 4.9 4.1 1.2 4.5 

Personal care .................................................................. 207.030 207.847 207.746 207.885 1.0 .6 1.7 1.7 .8 1.7 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.970 161.716 160.954 161.473 1.6 -3.7 1.0 1.3 -1.1 1.1 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 231.409 232.222 232.313 232.093 .8 .0 1.4 1.2 .4 1.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 366.849 368.267 369.704 369.334 2.3 2.8 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.6 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 190.427 190.308 189.707 190.404 12.1 3.9 2.3 .0 7.9 1.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.418 230.666 231.158 231.622 6.5 3.9 4.8 2.1 5.2 3.4

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 168.296 168.025 166.976 167.752 15.5 3.8 .9 -1.3 9.5 -.2 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 222.938 222.755 220.944 222.849 20.1 3.5 1.4 -.2 11.5 .6 

Apparel .......................................................................... 123.271 123.937 124.119 125.293 -1.0 12.7 3.3 6.7 5.6 5.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 289.927 289.013 285.869 288.013 26.4 .9 1.8 -2.6 12.9 -.5 

Durables .......................................................................... 114.901 114.733 114.642 114.372 5.8 4.7 -.8 -1.8 5.2 -1.3 

Services .............................................................................. 262.626 263.053 263.648 264.025 2.1 1.8 2.6 2.1 2.0 2.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 238.071 238.554 239.075 239.434 1.2 1.8 2.6 2.3 1.5 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 129.562 129.912 130.695 131.182 -.1 2.3 3.7 5.1 1.1 4.4 

Energy services 3 .............................................................. 194.717 193.891 193.537 191.946 5.8 .3 2.3 -5.6 3.0 -1.7 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 182.263 182.744 183.611 184.306 5.9 4.2 4.4 4.6 5.0 4.5 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 155.235 155.567 155.744 156.727 .9 2.0 1.5 3.9 1.4 2.7 

Transportation services ..................................................... 270.414 270.697 271.151 271.447 3.9 .9 3.9 1.5 2.4 2.7

Medical care services ....................................................... 432.160 434.106 435.752 436.902 3.2 3.9 3.9 4.5 3.5 4.2 

Other services ................................................................... 300.990 301.510 302.648 303.629 1.6 1.5 2.0 3.6 1.6 2.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 222.164 222.296 222.168 222.638 6.4 2.5 2.0 .9 4.4 1.4 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 217.427 217.444 217.207 217.699 8.7 3.1 2.5 .5 5.9 1.5 

All items less medical care .................................................. 216.144 216.248 216.172 216.604 6.6 2.7 2.4 .9 4.6 1.6 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 170.469 170.210 169.195 170.019 15.0 3.7 .9 -1.1 9.2 -.1 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 223.529 223.365 221.670 223.594 19.1 3.3 1.4 .1 10.9 .8 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 283.447 282.638 279.803 282.002 24.7 .8 1.7 -2.0 12.1 -.2 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 227.671 227.760 227.001 228.186 14.0 3.3 2.9 .9 8.5 1.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 258.157 258.482 259.241 259.493 3.0 1.6 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 

Services less medical care services ................................... 250.900 251.317 251.921 252.171 1.9 1.6 2.7 2.0 1.7 2.4 

Energy ................................................................................. 249.674 248.293 244.867 245.461 35.6 .0 1.3 -6.6 16.5 -2.7 

All items less energy ........................................................... 221.407 221.742 222.119 222.551 3.1 3.1 2.6 2.1 3.1 2.4 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 219.973 220.326 220.679 221.124 2.3 2.9 2.1 2.1 2.6 2.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 149.205 149.269 149.158 149.414 3.3 5.3 .9 .6 4.3 .7 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 312.582 310.638 304.362 307.238 55.8 -.1 .9 -6.7 24.7 -3.0

Services less energy services ......................................... 270.027 270.595 271.297 271.896 1.9 1.9 2.7 2.8 1.9 2.7 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

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

Jan.2012 from—

Percent change to

Dec.2011 from—

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

U.S. city average ............................................ M 223.043 222.813 222.166 223.216 3.1 0.2 0.5 3.2 -0.4 -0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 241.549 241.167 240.431 241.321 3.2 .1 .4 3.2 -.5 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 241.355 240.912 240.148 241.066 3.1 .1 .4 3.0 -.5 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 146.999 146.843 146.432 146.923 3.3 .1 .3 3.4 -.4 -.3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 212.038 211.969 211.459 212.756 3.2 .4 .6 3.1 -.3 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 211.604 211.505 210.962 212.309 3.1 .4 .6 3.0 -.3 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.157 139.048 138.741 139.595 3.2 .4 .6 3.2 -.3 -.2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 211.193 211.533 211.040 212.052 3.1 .2 .5 3.4 -.1 -.2 

South urban .................................................... M 218.109 218.030 217.463 218.571 3.5 .2 .5 3.6 -.3 -.3 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 219.075 219.215 218.603 219.705 3.1 .2 .5 3.3 -.2 -.3 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.879 139.721 139.299 139.863 3.4 .1 .4 3.6 -.4 -.3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 225.364 225.404 225.422 227.762 4.9 1.0 1.0 4.1 .0 .0 

West urban ..................................................... M 224.268 223.785 222.968 223.849 2.7 .0 .4 2.8 -.6 -.4 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 226.759 226.250 225.267 226.277 2.6 .0 .4 2.7 -.7 -.4 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.884 138.587 138.157 138.578 2.7 .0 .3 2.9 -.5 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 205.846 205.627 204.954 205.939 3.0 .2 .5 3.0 -.4 -.3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 140.505 140.330 139.931 140.506 3.2 .1 .4 3.4 -.4 -.3 

D ................................................................. M 218.914 218.973 218.780 220.339 3.9 .6 .7 3.7 -.1 -.1 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 214.145 213.704 212.597 214.298 2.5 .3 .8 2.5 -.7 -.5 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 226.116 225.786 224.444 226.245 2.1 .2 .8 2.2 -.7 -.6 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 246.297 245.546 244.586 245.541 3.0 .0 .4 3.0 -.7 -.4 

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

 246.349 - 247.006 2.7 .3 ----

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 202.824 - 203.575 2.0 .4 ----

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 - 214.581 - 214.557 3.7 .0 ----

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 148.038 - 148.489 2.7 .3 ----

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 208.362 - 207.654 ---- 3.1 -.3 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 209.427 - 210.199 ---- 3.9 .4 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 200.464 - 199.480 ---- 3.4 -.5 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 230.728 - 230.394 ---- 3.5 -.1 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 236.478 - 235.194 ---- 3.1 -.5 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 232.371 - 231.109 ---- 3.1 -.5 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 232.697 - 231.297 ---- 3.8 -.6 -

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,

2009-2010

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Jan. 2012 from—

 Dec.

 2011

 Jan.

 2012

 Jan.

 2011

 Dec.

 2011

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 129.586 130.104 2.7 0.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.084 134.086 134.898 4.1 .6 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.112 134.406 135.182 4.3 .6 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.447 129.886 130.832 5.2 .7 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.665 140.455 140.953 3.1 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .971 130.201 131.515 1.4 1.0 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.994 130.451 130.806 1.8 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.159 133.904 134.278 2.0 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.481 159.748 160.015 1.5 .2 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.355 92.620 92.940 .7 .3 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.613 92.768 91.559 3.9 -1.3 

Transportation .......................................................................... 15.647 139.751 141.008 4.6 .9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 14.521 140.542 142.034 4.9 1.1 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.126 130.513 129.003 1.1 -1.2 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.942 156.729 157.640 3.6 .6 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.697 137.504 138.286 3.1 .6 

Medical care services ............................................................. 5.245 163.793 164.751 3.7 .6 

Recreation ................................................................................ 6.393 102.027 102.670 .5 .6 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.936 113.553 113.826 1.2 .2 

Education ............................................................................... 3.074 196.084 196.362 4.4 .1 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.862 70.480 70.705 -1.2 .3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.391 144.129 144.296 2.7 .1 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 60.782 138.791 139.177 2.2 .3 

Commodities .............................................................................. 39.218 118.553 119.250 3.5 .6 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.295 80.509 80.586 .6 .1 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 29.924 138.216 139.240 4.4 .7 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 77.054 122.634 122.897 2.1 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.833 195.290 198.687 5.2 1.7 

Indexes for 2012 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2011 are interim adjustments.

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