News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: 

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INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Tuesday, August 17, 2004 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: JULY 2004 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.2 percent in July, before 

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

level of 189.4 (1982-84=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in July 2003. 

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

percent in July, prior to seasonal adjustment. The July level of 184.9 was 3.0 percent higher than in July 2003. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in July 

on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The July level of 110.3 (December 1999=100) was 2.4 percent higher than 

in July 2003. Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject to revision. 

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U declined 0.1 percent in July, following a 0.3 percent increase 

in June. Energy costs declined 1.9 percent in July after advancing sharply in the first half of the year. Within 

energy, the index for motor fuels decreased 4.0 percent, while the index for household fuels rose 0.4 percent. 

The index for food, which rose 0.2 percent in June, increased 0.3 percent in July. The index for all items less 

food and energy registered a 0.1 percent increase for the second consecutive month. Declines in the indexes for 

apparel, for recreation, and for education and communication were largely offset by an increase in the lodging 

away from home component of shelter. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 3-mos. ended ended

 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July ’04 July ’04 

All Items .5 .3 .5 .2 .6 .3 -.1 3.7 3.0

 Food and beverages -.1 .2 .2 .2 .9 .2 .2 5.1 3.8 

 Housing .4 .2 .3 .4 .4 .3 .2 3.4 2.7 

 Apparel -.3 -.1 .9 .0 .3 .2 -.8 -1.3 -.3 

 Transportation 1.7 .7 1.1 .1 1.7 .8 -.8 6.9 4.6 

 Medical care .2 .6 .6 .4 .3 .3 .3 3.7 4.5 

 Recreation .0 .3 .3 .2 -.2 .3 -.2 -.4 .9 

 Education and 

 communication .1 .3 .1 .3 .0 .2 -.1 .4 1.8 

 Other goods and 

 services .3 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 2.0 2.0 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 4.7 1.7 1.9 .1 4.6 2.6 -1.9 22.9 14.3 

 Food .0 .2 .2 .2 .9 .2 .3 5.5 4.0 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .2 .2 .4 .3 .2 .1 .1 1.6 1.8 
During the first seven months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 4.1 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate 

(SAAR). This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003. The index for energy, which increased 

6.9 percent in 2003, increased at a 25.9 percent SAAR in the first seven months of 2004. Petroleum-based 

energy costs increased at a 44.5 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at an 8.9 percent 

annual rate. The food index has increased at a 3.2 percent rate thus far in 2004, following a 3.6 percent rise for 

all of 2003. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.4 percent SAAR in the first seven months 

of 2004 after advancing 1.1 percent in 2003. 

The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in July. The index for food at home increased 0.2 

percent, following a 0.1 percent rise in June. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.8 percent 

in July. The index for beef and veal, which declined sharply in each of the first three months of 2004 before 

turning back up in April, increased 0.9 percent in July and is 15.4 percent higher than a year ago. The indexes 

for pork and for poultry rose 1.0 and 0.4 percent, respectively. Egg prices declined for the fourth consecutive 

month--down 1.7 percent in July--but were still 6.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for dairy 

products turned down in July, declining 0.6 percent. Prices for fresh whole milk fell 2.2 percent, but remain 

26.0 percent higher than in July 2003. The index for fruits and vegetables decreased 0.2 percent in July. The 

indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables declined 0.3 and 0.7 percent, respectively, while the index for 

processed fruits and vegetables increased 0.7 percent. Among the other major grocery store food groups, the 

indexes for nonalcoholic beverages, for other food at home, and for cereals and bakery products, rose 0.3, 0.2 

and 0.1 percent, respectively. The other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from 

home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.4 and declined 0.1 percent, respectively. 

The index for housing rose 0.2 percent in July, following an increase of 0.3 percent in June. Shelter 

costs, which rose 0.1 percent in June, increased 0.2 percent in July. The index for lodging away from home, 

which declined 0.9 percent in June, increased 1.1 percent in July. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for 

lodging away from home rose 2.4 percent in July and was 5.9 percent higher than a year ago.) The indexes for 

rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The index for fuels and utilities 

rose 0.4 percent in July after advancing 1.9 percent in June. The indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas 

increased 3.7 and 1.0 percent, respectively, while the index for electricity declined 0.2 percent. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, charges for electricity increased 0.6 percent.) The index for household furnishings and 

operations declined 0.3 percent in July. Substantial price declines were recorded in the indexes for furniture 

and bedding, for appliances, and for window and floor coverings and other linens. 

The transportation index decreased 0.8 percent in July, reflecting declines in the indexes for motor fuels 

and for new vehicles. Gasoline prices fell 4.7 percent from their peak level registered in June. Reflecting 

increased incentives by some manufacturers, the index for new vehicles declined 0.7 percent in July, following 

small increases in each of the preceding two months. Partially offsetting these declines was a 1.1 percent 

increase in the index for used cars and trucks. Despite the advance in July, used car and truck prices were 9.3 

percent lower than a year ago. The index for public transportation increased 0.4 percent, reflecting a 0.5 

percent increase in airline fares. While airline fares have risen 4.6 percent in the first seven months of 2004, 

they remain 3.5 percent lower than in July 2003 and 4.5 percent lower than in the month prior to the terrorist 

attacks in 2001. 

The index for apparel decreased 0.8 percent in July, following a 0.2 percent rise in June. (Prior to 

seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.5 percent, reflecting the seasonal discounting of spring-summer wear.) 

Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in July to a level 4.5 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was virtually 

unchanged. The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent in June. Charges for professional services and 

for hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation declined 0.2 percent in July, following an increase of 0.3 percent in June. In 

July, the indexes for sporting goods and for toys declined 1.3 and 1.0 percent, respectively. 

The index for education and communication decreased 0.1 percent in July. The education index rose 0.4 

percent, while the index for communication costs declined 0.6 percent. Within the latter group, the index for 
telephone services declined 0.2 percent, reflecting a 2.2 percent decrease in long distance charges. The index 

for personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 1.3 percent. 

The index for other goods and services rose 0.3 percent in July, following increases of 0.1 percent in 

each of the preceding three months. A 0.9 percent increase in the index for tobacco and smoking products was 

responsible for about two-thirds of the July advance. 

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers decreased 0.1 

percent in July. 

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

 Seasonally adjusted Un-

 Compound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos. 

Category 2004 3-mos. ended ended

 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July ’04 July ’04 

All Items .6 .3 .5 .2 .7 .3 -.1 4.0 3.0

 Food and beverages -.1 .2 .2 .2 .9 .2 .3 5.5 4.0 

 Housing .5 .2 .2 .3 .3 .4 .3 3.8 2.6 

 Apparel -.1 .0 .8 -.1 .2 .0 -.7 -1.7 .3 

 Transportation 1.8 .6 1.3 -.1 2.1 .7 -.9 8.0 4.3 

 Medical care .3 .7 .6 .4 .3 .3 .3 3.6 4.6 

 Recreation -.1 .4 .3 .0 .0 .2 -.3 -.4 .7 

 Education and 

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

 Other goods and 

 services .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .4 2.3 1.9 

 Special Indexes 

 Energy 4.9 1.6 2.2 -.1 5.0 2.7 -2.0 24.6 14.9 

 Food -.1 .2 .2 .1 1.0 .1 .3 5.8 4.0 

 All Items less 

 food and energy .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 .1 1.5 1.4 

Consumer Price Index data for August are scheduled for release on Thursday, September 16, 2004, at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT). 
Facilities for Sensory Impaired 

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

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

data, call (202) 691-5200.

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail 

establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service 

establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are included in the index. 

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

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

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

Bureau’s trained representatives. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period. 

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7 

Less previous index 111.2 

Equals index point change 4.5 

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5 

Divided by the previous index 111.2 

Equals 0.040 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100 

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined 

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

for seasonal variation. 

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

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

1977. Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1999 through 2003 

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

January 1987-December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for dependently adjusted series. 

For further information, please see “Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series,” in the 

October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.

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

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

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

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

seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period. Note: 47 of the 73 components are seasonally 

adjusted for 2004. 

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

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

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

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

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

values and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the 

data prior to calculation of seasonal factors. Beginning with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-

ARIMA software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally 

adjusted data for those series. For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the 

effects of labor and supply problems for coffee. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat 

supply reductions, decreases in milk supply, and large swings in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and 

oils series. For the Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data 

collection anomaly and dry weather in California. For Dairy products, it mitigated the effects of significant 

changes in milk production levels and higher demand for cheese. For Electricity, it was used to offset an 

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

effects of a model changeover combined with financing incentives. 

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

Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on 

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

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

July 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

June

2004

Apr. to

May

May to

June

June to

July

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 189.7 189.4 3.0 -0.2 0.6 0.3 -0.1 

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

 568.2 567.5 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 186.8 187.2 3.8 .2 .9 .2 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.383 186.3 186.8 4.0 .3 .9 .2 .3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.256 186.8 187.1 4.6 .2 1.4 .1 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.202 206.8 207.2 1.3 .2 .2 .1 .1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.320 182.3 183.7 9.2 .8 1.6 .3 .8 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .842 188.8 187.7 14.0 -.6 6.8 1.7 -.6 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.221 226.7 224.5 -.9 -1.0 .7 -.8 -.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. .905 139.8 140.5 1.5 .5 .4 .0 .3 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.765 165.8 166.0 2.0 .1 .4 -.1 .2 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .305 162.8 163.8 .7 .6 .3 -.3 .4 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .251 171.3 171.9 10.0 .4 1.7 1.8 -.2 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.210 180.5 180.3 .7 -.1 .2 -.6 .3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 110.9 109.4 -1.7 -1.4 .3 .1 -1.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.127 187.0 187.8 3.0 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .332 124.8 125.1 3.1 .2 .2 .0 -.1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.001 192.4 192.2 2.7 -.1 -.1 .4 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.089 190.3 190.9 2.7 .3 .4 .3 .2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.878 219.2 220.0 2.9 .4 .2 .1 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.157 210.7 211.2 2.7 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 2.954 129.1 132.2 5.9 2.4 .2 -.9 1.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 23.383 224.7 225.1 2.5 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .385 116.2 116.1 .4 -.1 .3 .1 -.1 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.741 165.5 166.6 4.5 .7 1.1 1.9 .4 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 3.830 148.5 149.5 4.1 .7 1.1 2.3 .4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .231 150.7 151.1 15.8 .3 3.1 3.2 3.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.599 155.8 156.9 3.5 .7 1.1 2.1 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .910 123.6 124.4 6.3 .6 .8 .5 .6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.470 125.6 125.2 -.7 -.3 .2 .1 -.3 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .704 124.7 125.5 3.1 .6 .2 .6 .6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.975 120.1 115.9 -.3 -3.5 .3 .2 -.8 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.024 117.7 115.2 1.2 -2.1 .3 .3 .0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.704 112.3 106.1 .0 -5.5 .6 .2 -1.1 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .195 116.2 114.5 -2.9 -1.5 -1.6 .3 .4 

Footwear ................................................................................ .778 118.4 115.1 -2.0 -2.8 -.3 .0 -1.8 

Transportation .......................................................................... 16.881 165.7 164.0 4.6 -1.0 1.7 .8 -.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 15.817 161.9 160.0 5.0 -1.2 2.0 .8 -.9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 7.912 93.6 93.5 -3.1 -.1 .0 -.1 .0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.817 137.2 135.9 -.6 -.9 .1 .2 -.7 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 2.007 130.6 132.1 -9.3 1.1 .4 -.9 1.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.249 173.3 165.2 26.5 -4.7 8.0 3.0 -4.0

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.222 172.7 164.5 26.5 -4.7 8.1 3.1 -4.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .369 108.2 108.8 1.1 .6 .0 .3 .6 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.349 199.7 200.3 2.2 .3 .2 .5 .4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.064 212.3 214.4 -1.1 1.0 -1.3 .0 .4 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.074 310.0 311.0 4.5 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.499 269.6 269.9 2.4 .1 .2 .1 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.575 321.0 322.3 5.2 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.749 271.6 272.3 4.0 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.489 416.9 419.1 6.2 .5 .5 .6 .6 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

July 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

June

2004

Apr. to

May

May to

June

June to

July

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.872 108.9 108.7 0.9 -0.2 -0.2 0.3 -0.2 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.736 104.4 104.4 .7 .0 -.2 .1 .1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.948 110.8 110.9 1.8 .1 .0 .2 -.1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.841 141.6 142.1 7.2 .4 .6 .5 .4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .219 350.6 349.5 4.3 -.3 .3 .1 -.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.623 407.6 409.4 7.4 .4 .6 .5 .4 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.107 86.8 86.5 -3.2 -.3 -.6 .0 -.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.925 84.7 84.5 -3.4 -.2 -.7 -.1 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.315 95.8 95.6 -2.5 -.2 -.6 -.1 -.2 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .610 14.9 14.8 -7.5 -.7 -.7 .0 -.7 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .230 15.5 15.3 -11.0 -1.3 -1.3 -1.3 -1.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.776 304.1 305.1 2.0 .3 .1 .1 .3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .806 476.0 480.5 2.4 .9 .0 .5 .9 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.970 181.4 181.7 1.8 .2 .1 .0 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 153.8 153.4 -.5 -.3 .1 -.5 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .650 196.9 197.5 2.2 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.448 293.6 294.4 3.6 .3 .1 .3 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.117 155.8 154.5 3.0 -.8 1.2 .4 -.5 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.384 186.8 187.2 3.8 .2 .9 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 24.733 138.2 136.1 2.4 -1.5 1.3 .5 -.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 13.458 160.5 156.7 6.9 -2.4 2.3 .2 -.3 

Apparel ................................................................................. 3.975 120.1 115.9 -.3 -3.5 .3 .2 -.8 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 9.483 189.5 185.8 9.8 -2.0 3.6 1.2 -1.9 

Durables ................................................................................. 11.275 114.5 114.1 -2.8 -.3 -.1 -.2 -.3 

Services ...................................................................................... 59.883 223.3 224.1 3.0 .4 .2 .3 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 32.494 228.3 229.2 3.0 .4 .3 .2 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .385 116.2 116.1 .4 -.1 .3 .1 -.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.599 155.8 156.9 3.5 .7 1.1 2.1 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .910 123.6 124.4 6.3 .6 .8 .5 .6 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .704 124.7 125.5 3.1 .6 .2 .6 .6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.319 220.5 221.6 1.7 .5 .0 .2 .5 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.575 321.0 322.3 5.2 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.896 260.2 260.5 2.7 .1 .1 .3 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 85.617 190.3 189.9 2.9 -.2 .5 .4 -.1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 67.122 180.2 179.6 3.1 -.3 .8 .4 -.2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 93.926 183.5 183.2 2.9 -.2 .7 .3 -.1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 25.734 140.3 138.2 2.4 -1.5 1.2 .5 -.9 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 14.459 162.4 158.8 6.6 -2.2 2.2 .2 -.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 10.484 189.0 185.6 9.2 -1.8 3.1 1.1 -1.7 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.842 174.0 172.2 5.3 -1.0 1.5 .5 -.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.389 234.2 235.0 3.1 .3 .3 .6 .1 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 55.308 215.0 215.8 2.9 .4 .3 .3 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 7.080 159.7 156.3 14.3 -2.1 4.6 2.6 -1.9 

All items less energy .................................................................. 92.920 194.4 194.5 2.1 .1 .3 .2 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.537 196.6 196.6 1.8 .0 .2 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 22.254 139.4 138.2 -1.2 -.9 .1 .0 -.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 3.480 172.8 165.1 25.7 -4.5 7.7 3.0 -3.7 

Services less energy services ................................................ 56.283 230.2 231.0 3.0 .3 .2 .2 .3 

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

 $ .527 $ .528 - - - - -

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

 $ .176 $ .176 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Jan.

2004

July

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 187.6 188.8 189.4 189.3 2.4 2.0 3.9 3.7 2.2 3.8 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 185.0 186.6 186.9 187.3 4.3 3.6 2.4 5.1 3.9 3.7 

Food ....................................................................................... 184.4 186.1 186.4 186.9 4.5 3.8 2.0 5.5 4.2 3.7 

Food at home ....................................................................... 184.1 186.7 186.9 187.3 6.2 3.8 1.5 7.1 5.0 4.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 205.3 205.7 206.0 206.2 .0 1.6 2.0 1.8 .8 1.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 179.2 182.0 182.5 183.9 14.3 15.8 -2.8 10.9 15.0 3.8 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 174.9 186.8 189.9 188.7 14.0 1.4 7.9 35.5 7.5 20.9 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 227.7 229.3 227.5 227.0 -.3 -4.8 2.9 -1.2 -2.6 .8

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 139.4 139.9 139.9 140.3 6.2 .6 -2.8 2.6 3.4 -.1 

Other food at home ............................................................ 165.0 165.7 165.5 165.8 1.7 -1.2 6.0 2.0 .2 4.0 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.7 163.2 162.7 163.3 1.2 -1.7 1.7 1.5 -.2 1.6 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 166.2 169.0 172.0 171.7 5.2 6.2 14.7 13.9 5.7 14.3 

Other foods ....................................................................... 180.4 180.7 179.7 180.2 1.1 -2.7 5.5 -.4 -.8 2.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.5 110.8 110.9 109.4 -2.1 -5.7 5.2 -3.9 -3.9 .6 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 186.2 186.7 187.0 187.8 2.2 3.5 2.8 3.5 2.9 3.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 124.9 125.2 125.2 125.1 2.3 6.4 3.3 .6 4.3 1.9 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 191.8 191.7 192.4 192.2 1.9 2.8 5.2 .8 2.4 3.0 

Housing .................................................................................... 188.4 189.1 189.6 190.0 1.5 2.2 3.5 3.4 1.8 3.5 

Shelter .................................................................................... 218.1 218.6 218.8 219.3 2.7 1.7 4.7 2.2 2.2 3.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 209.7 210.4 210.9 211.4 2.4 2.1 3.1 3.3 2.2 3.2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 126.4 126.7 125.6 127.0 4.7 .7 16.4 1.9 2.7 8.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 224.1 224.6 225.0 225.3 2.6 1.6 3.5 2.2 2.1 2.8 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 115.7 116.1 116.2 116.1 1.4 -4.1 3.2 1.4 -1.4 2.3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 157.9 159.7 162.7 163.3 -1.5 5.5 1.0 14.4 1.9 7.5 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 140.5 142.1 145.3 145.9 -3.1 5.3 .0 16.3 1.0 7.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 144.1 148.5 153.3 157.9 -2.3 32.2 -3.5 44.2 13.6 17.9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 147.3 148.9 152.1 152.4 -3.2 3.9 .0 14.6 .3 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 122.3 123.3 123.9 124.6 5.6 5.8 6.1 7.7 5.7 6.9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 125.2 125.4 125.5 125.1 -2.2 .6 -.6 -.3 -.8 -.5 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 123.8 124.0 124.7 125.5 3.0 .3 3.6 5.6 1.7 4.6 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 120.8 121.2 121.4 120.4 2.0 -4.5 3.4 -1.3 -1.3 1.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.0 118.3 118.6 118.6 3.1 .0 .0 2.0 1.5 1.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 113.3 114.0 114.2 113.0 3.2 -7.2 5.9 -1.1 -2.1 2.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 119.3 117.4 117.7 118.2 2.0 -8.8 -.7 -3.6 -3.6 -2.2 

Footwear ................................................................................ 119.3 119.0 119.0 116.9 1.3 -5.6 4.5 -7.8 -2.2 -1.9 

Transportation .......................................................................... 160.9 163.7 165.0 163.6 3.1 .5 7.8 6.9 1.8 7.4 

Private transportation ............................................................. 156.9 160.0 161.3 159.8 3.5 .8 8.0 7.6 2.1 7.8 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 93.9 93.9 93.8 93.8 -7.6 -4.1 .0 -.4 -5.9 -.2 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 137.2 137.3 137.6 136.7 -.9 -.9 .9 -1.4 -.9 -.3 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 131.3 131.8 130.6 132.1 -26.1 -12.1 1.5 2.5 -19.4 2.0 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 152.7 164.9 169.9 163.1 31.0 10.9 35.6 30.2 20.5 32.9 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 151.9 164.2 169.3 162.2 31.6 11.2 34.7 30.0 21.0 32.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.9 107.9 108.2 108.8 1.1 .4 -.4 3.4 .7 1.5 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 198.6 199.0 199.9 200.7 .8 2.7 1.2 4.3 1.7 2.7 

Public transportation ............................................................... 211.5 208.8 208.8 209.6 .4 -3.5 2.7 -3.5 -1.6 -.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 308.1 309.0 309.9 310.9 4.0 4.2 6.3 3.7 4.1 5.0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 268.5 269.1 269.4 269.3 2.9 1.2 4.3 1.2 2.1 2.7 

Medical care services ............................................................. 318.9 319.8 321.0 322.3 4.2 5.1 7.1 4.3 4.7 5.7 

Professional services ........................................................... 270.1 270.6 271.3 272.0 2.5 3.4 7.1 2.8 2.9 5.0

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 413.6 415.5 418.1 420.4 5.5 7.4 5.2 6.7 6.4 6.0 

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—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Jan.

2004

July

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 108.8 108.6 108.9 108.7 0.0 1.1 3.0 -0.4 0.6 1.3 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 104.4 104.2 104.3 104.4 .8 -1.1 3.1 .0 -.2 1.6 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 111.4 111.4 111.6 111.5 2.2 1.8 2.6 .4 2.0 1.5 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 141.8 142.6 143.3 143.9 8.9 6.9 6.8 6.1 7.9 6.4 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 349.9 351.0 351.3 350.9 2.2 7.0 7.0 1.1 4.6 4.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 408.6 410.9 413.0 414.8 9.5 7.1 6.7 6.2 8.3 6.5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 87.5 87.0 87.0 86.5 -4.0 -3.1 -1.4 -4.5 -3.5 -2.9 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 85.4 84.8 84.7 84.5 -4.9 -1.4 -3.2 -4.1 -3.2 -3.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 96.5 95.9 95.8 95.6 -4.0 -.4 -2.0 -3.7 -2.2 -2.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.0 14.9 14.9 14.8 -9.6 -7.5 -7.6 -5.2 -8.6 -6.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.9 15.7 15.5 15.3 -15.3 -7.1 -7.2 -14.3 -11.3 -10.8 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 303.3 303.6 303.9 304.8 1.5 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.7 2.1

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 473.3 473.5 476.0 480.5 .3 3.0 .3 6.2 1.7 3.2 

Personal care ......................................................................... 181.1 181.3 181.3 181.5 1.8 1.8 2.7 .9 1.8 1.8 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.5 154.6 153.8 153.4 -1.5 .5 1.8 -2.8 -.5 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 196.1 196.6 196.9 197.5 5.1 -2.0 3.1 2.9 1.5 3.0 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 292.4 292.8 293.6 294.4 3.1 4.1 4.6 2.8 3.6 3.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 153.4 155.2 155.8 155.0 1.9 1.3 4.6 4.2 1.6 4.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 185.0 186.6 186.9 187.3 4.3 3.6 2.4 5.1 3.9 3.7 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 135.7 137.4 138.1 136.9 .6 -.3 6.1 3.6 .1 4.8 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 154.6 158.1 158.4 158.0 6.1 6.3 6.5 9.1 6.2 7.8 

Apparel ................................................................................. 120.8 121.2 121.4 120.4 2.0 -4.5 3.4 -1.3 -1.3 1.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 179.7 186.2 188.4 184.9 9.3 4.5 13.5 12.1 6.9 12.8 

Durables ................................................................................. 114.8 114.7 114.5 114.2 -7.0 -2.4 .3 -2.1 -4.7 -.9 

Services ...................................................................................... 221.6 222.1 222.8 223.4 2.8 2.0 3.9 3.3 2.4 3.6 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 227.0 227.7 228.1 228.7 2.7 1.3 4.9 3.0 2.0 4.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 115.7 116.1 116.2 116.1 1.4 -4.1 3.2 1.4 -1.4 2.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 147.3 148.9 152.1 152.4 -3.2 3.9 .0 14.6 .3 7.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 122.3 123.3 123.9 124.6 5.6 5.8 6.1 7.7 5.7 6.9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 123.8 124.0 124.7 125.5 3.0 .3 3.6 5.6 1.7 4.6 

Transportation services ............................................................ 219.7 219.6 220.1 221.1 3.4 .0 .9 2.6 1.7 1.7 

Medical care services ............................................................... 318.9 319.8 321.0 322.3 4.2 5.1 7.1 4.3 4.7 5.7 

Other services .......................................................................... 260.1 260.3 261.0 261.3 3.5 2.2 3.3 1.9 2.9 2.6 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 188.2 189.2 189.9 189.8 2.2 1.5 4.4 3.4 1.9 3.9 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 177.8 179.2 180.0 179.7 2.3 1.8 3.9 4.3 2.1 4.1 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 181.4 182.6 183.2 183.1 2.5 1.6 3.8 3.8 2.0 3.8 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 137.7 139.4 140.1 138.9 .6 -.3 6.0 3.5 .1 4.8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 156.6 160.1 160.5 159.9 5.4 5.9 6.1 8.7 5.7 7.4 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 180.6 186.2 188.2 185.0 8.3 2.6 16.3 10.1 5.4 13.2

Nondurables ............................................................................... 170.0 172.5 173.3 172.9 5.0 5.2 4.3 7.0 5.1 5.7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 231.5 232.2 233.5 233.8 3.4 2.5 2.3 4.0 2.9 3.2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 213.2 213.8 214.5 214.9 2.9 1.5 3.4 3.2 2.2 3.3 

Energy ........................................................................................ 145.7 152.4 156.4 153.4 11.5 7.8 16.0 22.9 9.6 19.4 

All items less energy .................................................................. 193.7 194.2 194.5 194.7 1.7 1.5 3.2 2.1 1.6 2.6 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 196.0 196.4 196.6 196.8 1.2 .8 3.3 1.6 1.0 2.5 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.6 139.7 139.7 139.3 -3.4 -1.7 1.4 -.9 -2.5 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 152.9 164.7 169.7 163.5 28.8 11.7 32.9 30.7 20.0 31.8 

Services less energy services ................................................ 229.2 229.6 230.0 230.6 3.1 2.0 4.1 2.5 2.5 3.3 

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

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

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

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

July2004 from—

Percent change to

June2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

May

2004

June

2004

June

2003

Apr.

2004

May

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 188.0 189.1 189.7 189.4 3.0 0.2 -0.2 3.3 0.9 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 199.4 199.9 201.1 201.0 3.9 .6 .0 4.3 .9 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 201.4 202.0 203.3 203.0 3.8 .5 -.1 4.3 .9 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.1 118.3 118.7 119.2 4.1 .8 .4 4.2 .5 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 181.5 182.9 183.3 183.2 2.9 .2 -.1 2.7 1.0 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 183.7 185.0 185.3 185.4 2.7 .2 .1 2.5 .9 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.6 116.4 116.8 116.3 2.8 -.1 -.4 3.2 1.0 .3 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 173.9 176.0 176.9 177.1 3.3 .6 .1 2.5 1.7 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 180.9 182.0 182.9 182.6 3.0 .3 -.2 3.2 1.1 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 182.5 183.4 184.3 183.7 2.6 .2 -.3 3.0 1.0 .5 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 115.6 116.4 117.0 116.9 3.4 .4 -.1 3.4 1.2 .5 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 178.7 179.4 180.5 180.1 2.9 .4 -.2 3.2 1.0 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 192.3 193.4 193.3 192.9 2.4 -.3 -.2 2.8 .5 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 194.6 195.9 195.9 195.4 2.4 -.3 -.3 2.6 .7 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.8 118.2 117.9 117.9 2.4 -.3 .0 3.1 .1 -.3 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 172.0 172.9 173.4 173.1 2.9 .1 -.2 3.1 .8 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 116.3 117.0 117.3 117.3 3.3 .3 .0 3.4 .9 .3 

D ................................................................. M 179.3 180.9 181.8 181.3 3.0 .2 -.3 3.1 1.4 .5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 187.2 188.7 189.1 189.2 2.8 .3 .1 2.7 1.0 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 191.9 193.3 193.7 193.4 3.8 .1 -.2 4.0 .9 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 204.0 204.4 206.0 205.5 3.9 .5 -.2 4.6 1.0 .8 

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

 208.7 - 208.9 2.9 .1 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 181.3 - 181.7 3.2 .2 - - - -

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

 179.1 - 179.1 1.5 .0 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 118.9 - 120.2 2.9 1.1 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 182.3 -

 185.7 - - - - 2.3 1.9 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 184.7 -

 185.8 - - - - 1.6 .6 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 169.7 - 169.3 - - - - 4.2 -.2 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 185.2 -

 185.6 - - - - 3.5 .2 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 194.8 -

 198.0 - - - - 4.4 1.6 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 198.3 -

 199.0 - - - - 1.4 .4 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 194.3 - 195.3 - - - - 1.9 .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

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

July 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

June

2004

Apr. to

May

May to

June

June to

July

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 185.3 184.9 3.0 -0.2 0.7 0.3 -0.1 

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

 551.9 550.8 - - - - -

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 186.4 186.8 4.0 .2 .9 .2 .3 

Food ....................................................................................... 16.061 185.9 186.3 4.0 .2 1.0 .1 .3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 9.637 186.1 186.3 4.7 .1 1.5 .2 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 1.364 206.7 207.2 1.4 .2 .0 .1 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 2.908 182.4 183.7 9.2 .7 1.6 .4 .6 

Dairy and related products ................................................. .955 189.0 187.8 14.2 -.6 7.2 1.7 -.8 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 1.344 224.3 222.3 -1.3 -.9 .9 -.9 -.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 1.076 139.3 139.8 1.7 .4 .4 .1 .2 

Other food at home ............................................................ 1.991 165.5 165.6 2.0 .1 .6 -.2 .1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. .321 162.2 162.9 .4 .4 .3 -.4 .4 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... .303 171.4 172.0 10.1 .4 1.7 1.8 -.1 

Other foods ....................................................................... 1.366 180.8 180.7 .7 -.1 .4 -.6 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .350 111.4 109.7 -1.7 -1.5 .2 .2 -1.5 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.424 186.8 187.6 3.0 .4 .3 .1 .4 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .252 124.7 124.9 2.9 .2 .2 .2 .0 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 1.090 192.7 192.2 2.8 -.3 -.1 .4 -.3 

Housing .................................................................................... 39.114 185.6 186.2 2.6 .3 .3 .4 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 30.151 212.2 213.0 2.8 .4 .2 .2 .3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.065 209.9 210.3 2.7 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 1.722 128.8 133.0 6.4 3.3 -.8 -.7 1.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 20.026 203.9 204.2 2.4 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .337 116.5 116.3 .8 -.2 .3 .1 -.2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.079 165.0 166.1 4.5 .7 1.1 1.9 .4 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 4.146 147.4 148.4 4.2 .7 1.1 2.2 .3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... .216 149.8 150.2 15.9 .3 2.9 3.3 3.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.930 155.1 156.2 3.7 .7 1.0 2.2 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .933 123.7 124.5 6.3 .6 .9 .4 .6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 3.884 121.3 120.7 -1.0 -.5 .0 .2 -.6 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .318 127.0 127.5 3.9 .4 .2 .9 .4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.357 119.6 115.6 .3 -3.3 .2 .0 -.7

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 1.120 117.8 115.2 1.6 -2.2 -.1 .1 .0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 1.727 112.2 106.0 1.0 -5.5 .6 .0 -1.0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. .250 118.8 117.0 -2.7 -1.5 -1.5 .1 .2 

Footwear ................................................................................ 1.011 117.0 114.4 -2.1 -2.2 -.2 .1 -1.3

Transportation .......................................................................... 19.145 164.0 162.2 4.3 -1.1 2.1 .7 -.9 

Private transportation ............................................................. 18.348 161.3 159.3 4.5 -1.2 2.2 .8 -.9 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.305 92.1 92.1 -4.4 .0 .1 -.3 .2 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 4.864 138.2 137.0 -.5 -.9 .1 .1 -.6 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 3.487 131.4 133.0 -9.2 1.2 .4 -.9 1.2 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 3.967 173.8 165.6 26.5 -4.7 8.5 3.1 -4.0

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 3.936 173.2 165.0 26.5 -4.7 8.4 3.2 -4.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .456 107.8 108.2 1.1 .4 .0 .3 .4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 1.365 201.5 202.1 2.3 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Public transportation ............................................................... .797 210.0 212.1 -.3 1.0 -1.4 -.1 .6 

Medical care ............................................................................. 4.969 309.4 310.4 4.6 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.142 263.8 263.7 2.1 .0 .3 .0 .0 

Medical care services ............................................................. 3.827 321.2 322.4 5.3 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Professional services ........................................................... 2.256 274.1 274.8 4.1 .3 .2 .2 .3 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.254 413.0 415.2 6.2 .5 .5 .6 .5 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2003

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

July 2004 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

June

2004

Apr. to

May

May to

June

June to

July

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.697 106.7 106.3 0.7 -0.4 0.0 0.2 -0.3 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.928 103.7 103.7 .8 .0 -.1 .1 .1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.645 109.4 109.4 1.1 .0 -.2 .2 -.1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.299 140.6 141.0 6.6 .3 .4 .4 .5 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... .215 351.5 350.4 4.2 -.3 .3 .1 -.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 2.084 396.7 398.1 6.8 .4 .4 .5 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.345 88.4 88.1 -3.1 -.3 -.6 -.1 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 3.194 86.9 86.7 -3.2 -.2 -.6 -.1 -.2 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.622 96.1 95.8 -2.5 -.3 -.6 .0 -.3 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... .572 15.4 15.3 -7.3 -.6 -.6 .0 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .205 15.2 15.0 -11.2 -1.3 -1.3 -1.3 -1.3 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.923 311.8 313.2 1.9 .4 .1 .1 .4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.248 476.9 481.6 2.4 1.0 .1 .5 1.0 

Personal care ......................................................................... 2.675 180.0 180.3 1.6 .2 .1 -.1 .1 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .737 154.3 153.9 -.6 -.3 .0 -.5 -.3 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .610 197.5 198.1 2.2 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 1.152 293.5 294.7 3.8 .4 .1 .2 .3 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 44.582 156.6 155.2 3.0 -.9 1.3 .3 -.4 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 17.151 186.4 186.8 4.0 .2 .9 .2 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 27.430 139.6 137.5 2.5 -1.5 1.5 .5 -.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 14.671 164.4 160.4 7.9 -2.4 2.6 .1 -.4 

Apparel ................................................................................. 4.357 119.6 115.6 .3 -3.3 .2 .0 -.7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 10.315 196.0 191.8 10.9 -2.1 4.1 1.2 -2.0 

Durables ................................................................................. 12.759 113.5 113.2 -3.7 -.3 .0 -.3 -.3

Services ...................................................................................... 55.418 219.0 219.7 2.9 .3 .2 .4 .3 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.813 204.4 205.1 2.8 .3 .2 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .337 116.5 116.3 .8 -.2 .3 .1 -.2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.930 155.1 156.2 3.7 .7 1.0 2.2 .1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .933 123.7 124.5 6.3 .6 .9 .4 .6 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .318 127.0 127.5 3.9 .4 .2 .9 .4 

Transportation services ............................................................ 6.241 220.7 221.6 1.9 .4 .0 .2 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.827 321.2 322.4 5.3 .4 .3 .4 .4 

Other services .......................................................................... 10.020 253.3 253.5 2.3 .1 .0 .3 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 83.939 185.0 184.5 2.7 -.3 .7 .4 -.1 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 69.849 177.5 176.7 3.0 -.5 .9 .5 -.2 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 95.031 180.0 179.6 2.9 -.2 .7 .4 -.1 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 28.520 141.5 139.4 2.4 -1.5 1.4 .5 -.8 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 15.761 166.2 162.3 7.5 -2.3 2.4 .1 -.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 11.405 194.8 191.0 10.1 -2.0 3.6 1.0 -1.9 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 31.823 175.9 174.0 5.7 -1.1 1.8 .2 -.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.605 208.2 208.9 3.0 .3 .2 .6 .2 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 51.592 211.1 211.8 2.7 .3 .2 .4 .2 

Energy ........................................................................................ 8.114 159.9 156.2 14.9 -2.3 5.0 2.7 -2.0 

All items less energy .................................................................. 91.886 189.3 189.3 1.8 .0 .3 .2 .2 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 75.825 190.3 190.3 1.4 .0 .1 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 24.337 139.0 138.0 -1.6 -.7 .1 -.1 -.2 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 4.183 173.3 165.5 26.0 -4.5 8.3 3.1 -3.6 

Services less energy services ................................................ 51.488 226.0 226.7 2.8 .3 .2 .2 .3 

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

 $ .540 $ .541 - - - - -

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

 $ .181 $ .182 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Jan.

2004

July

2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 183.1 184.4 185.0 184.9 2.2 1.8 3.8 4.0 2.0 3.9 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 184.4 186.1 186.4 186.9 4.8 3.6 2.2 5.5 4.2 3.9 

Food ....................................................................................... 183.8 185.7 185.9 186.4 4.8 3.6 2.0 5.8 4.2 3.9 

Food at home ....................................................................... 183.2 185.9 186.3 186.5 6.4 3.8 1.3 7.4 5.1 4.3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................. 205.5 205.6 205.9 206.3 -.4 1.2 3.0 1.6 .4 2.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............................................ 179.1 182.0 182.7 183.8 13.7 16.1 -2.9 10.9 14.9 3.8 

Dairy and related products ................................................. 174.5 187.0 190.2 188.7 14.3 1.4 7.4 36.7 7.6 21.2 

Fruits and vegetables ......................................................... 224.8 226.9 224.9 224.4 -.4 -6.2 2.2 -.7 -3.3 .7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .............. 138.8 139.3 139.4 139.7 6.6 .6 -2.6 2.6 3.5 .0 

Other food at home ............................................................ 164.4 165.4 165.1 165.3 1.7 -1.2 5.5 2.2 .2 3.9 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................. 162.1 162.6 161.9 162.5 1.5 -2.2 1.5 1.0 -.4 1.2 

Fats and oils ..................................................................... 166.3 169.2 172.3 172.2 4.7 6.5 15.0 15.0 5.6 15.0 

Other foods ....................................................................... 180.4 181.1 180.1 180.4 1.1 -2.6 4.6 .0 -.8 2.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 111.0 111.2 111.4 109.7 -1.4 -5.6 5.2 -4.6 -3.6 .2 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 186.1 186.6 186.8 187.6 2.7 3.3 2.8 3.3 3.0 3.1 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 124.5 124.8 125.0 125.0 2.0 5.3 2.6 1.6 3.7 2.1 

Alcoholic beverages 1 ............................................................ 192.1 192.0 192.7 192.2 2.4 3.0 5.6 .2 2.7 2.9 

Housing .................................................................................... 183.8 184.3 185.0 185.5 1.6 2.4 2.9 3.8 2.0 3.3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 211.3 211.7 212.1 212.7 2.5 2.3 3.5 2.7 2.4 3.1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 208.9 209.4 210.1 210.6 2.4 2.0 3.3 3.3 2.2 3.3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................. 127.4 126.4 125.5 127.8 5.8 4.0 14.3 1.3 4.9 7.6 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 203.1 203.8 204.1 204.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 3.0 2.2 2.7 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 116.0 116.4 116.5 116.3 2.1 -3.7 3.9 1.0 -.9 2.5 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 157.4 159.1 162.1 162.7 -1.3 5.3 1.3 14.2 1.9 7.5 

Fuels ..................................................................................... 139.5 141.1 144.2 144.7 -2.6 5.0 .3 15.8 1.2 7.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels ....................................................... 143.4 147.5 152.4 157.4 -1.2 30.4 -3.5 45.2 13.5 18.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 146.7 148.2 151.4 151.6 -2.7 3.9 .5 14.0 .5 7.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 122.4 123.5 124.0 124.7 5.6 5.8 6.1 7.7 5.7 6.9 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 121.0 121.0 121.2 120.5 -2.3 .7 -.7 -1.6 -.8 -1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 125.6 125.9 127.0 127.5 3.3 .0 6.3 6.2 1.6 6.2 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 120.4 120.7 120.7 119.9 3.0 -3.0 3.0 -1.7 .0 .7 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ........................................................ 118.3 118.2 118.3 118.3 3.5 2.1 .7 .0 2.8 .3 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .................................................... 113.2 113.9 113.9 112.8 5.1 -5.9 6.6 -1.4 -.5 2.5

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................. 121.9 120.1 120.2 120.5 2.6 -7.2 -1.6 -4.5 -2.4 -3.1 

Footwear ................................................................................ 117.7 117.5 117.6 116.1 1.4 -4.6 .0 -5.3 -1.7 -2.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 158.8 162.1 163.3 161.9 1.6 .0 7.7 8.0 .8 7.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 155.9 159.4 160.7 159.2 1.6 .0 7.8 8.7 .8 8.3 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 92.4 92.5 92.2 92.4 -11.1 -5.4 .0 .0 -8.3 .0 

New vehicles ...................................................................... 138.3 138.5 138.6 137.8 -.3 -.9 .6 -1.4 -.6 -.4 

Used cars and trucks 1 ....................................................... 132.1 132.6 131.4 133.0 -25.7 -12.1 1.5 2.8 -19.2 2.1 

Motor fuel ............................................................................. 152.5 165.5 170.6 163.8 30.1 10.8 33.4 33.1 20.1 33.2 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................. 152.0 164.8 170.0 163.2 30.2 10.9 33.5 32.9 20.1 33.2 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.5 107.5 107.8 108.2 1.9 .4 -.4 2.6 1.1 1.1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................. 200.4 200.8 201.7 202.3 1.0 2.6 1.4 3.8 1.8 2.6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 209.8 206.9 206.7 207.9 1.5 -2.6 3.7 -3.6 -.6 .0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 307.5 308.4 309.3 310.2 4.1 4.2 6.5 3.6 4.2 5.0 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 262.5 263.3 263.3 263.2 2.8 .9 3.9 1.1 1.9 2.5 

Medical care services ............................................................. 319.0 320.0 321.2 322.4 4.4 5.1 7.2 4.3 4.8 5.8 

Professional services ........................................................... 272.7 273.3 273.8 274.5 2.4 3.5 7.5 2.7 3.0 5.1

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 409.8 411.9 414.2 416.4 6.0 7.4 4.7 6.6 6.7 5.7 

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

Oct.

2003

Jan.

2004

Apr.

2004

July

2004

Jan.

2004

July

2004

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.4 106.4 106.6 106.3 -0.4 0.8 2.7 -0.4 0.2 1.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.6 103.5 103.6 103.7 1.2 -1.9 3.6 .4 -.4 2.0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 110.0 109.8 110.0 109.9 1.5 1.1 1.8 -.4 1.3 .7 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 140.8 141.4 142.0 142.7 7.7 6.9 6.2 5.5 7.3 5.9 

Educational books and supplies ........................................... 350.8 351.8 352.2 351.8 2.3 5.9 7.6 1.1 4.1 4.3 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .............................. 397.3 399.0 401.1 403.3 8.3 7.0 6.0 6.2 7.7 6.1 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 89.1 88.6 88.5 88.1 -3.5 -3.5 -.9 -4.4 -3.5 -2.7 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 87.5 87.0 86.9 86.7 -4.8 -1.3 -3.1 -3.6 -3.1 -3.4 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 96.7 96.1 96.1 95.8 -4.0 -.4 -2.0 -3.7 -2.2 -2.9 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ........... 15.5 15.4 15.4 15.3 -7.1 -9.5 -7.4 -5.1 -8.3 -6.2 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 15.6 15.4 15.2 15.0 -15.6 -9.5 -5.0 -14.5 -12.6 -9.9 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 311.1 311.3 311.6 312.9 .9 2.0 2.1 2.3 1.4 2.2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 474.1 474.4 476.9 481.6 .2 2.7 .3 6.5 1.4 3.3 

Personal care ......................................................................... 179.9 180.0 179.9 180.1 1.4 1.6 2.9 .4 1.5 1.7 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 155.1 155.1 154.3 153.9 -1.8 .5 2.1 -3.1 -.6 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 196.6 197.1 197.5 198.1 5.0 -2.4 3.1 3.1 1.2 3.1 

Miscellaneous personal services .......................................... 292.6 292.8 293.5 294.4 3.0 3.8 5.7 2.5 3.4 4.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities .............................................................................. 153.9 155.9 156.4 155.7 1.6 1.1 4.5 4.8 1.3 4.7 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 184.4 186.1 186.4 186.9 4.8 3.6 2.2 5.5 4.2 3.9 

Commodities less food and beverages .................................... 136.6 138.7 139.4 138.2 .0 -.6 5.8 4.8 -.3 5.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ................................... 157.7 161.8 162.0 161.3 7.1 7.6 6.9 9.4 7.3 8.2 

Apparel ................................................................................. 120.4 120.7 120.7 119.9 3.0 -3.0 3.0 -1.7 .0 .7 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................. 184.6 192.2 194.6 190.8 10.4 4.1 14.9 14.1 7.2 14.5 

Durables ................................................................................. 113.8 113.8 113.5 113.2 -8.9 -3.8 .0 -2.1 -6.4 -1.1 

Services ...................................................................................... 217.3 217.8 218.6 219.2 2.5 2.3 3.2 3.5 2.4 3.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 203.5 203.9 204.4 204.9 2.4 2.0 3.8 2.8 2.2 3.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 116.0 116.4 116.5 116.3 2.1 -3.7 3.9 1.0 -.9 2.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 146.7 148.2 151.4 151.6 -2.7 3.9 .5 14.0 .5 7.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 122.4 123.5 124.0 124.7 5.6 5.8 6.1 7.7 5.7 6.9 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 125.6 125.9 127.0 127.5 3.3 .0 6.3 6.2 1.6 6.2 

Transportation services ............................................................ 220.0 220.0 220.5 221.4 3.7 .4 1.1 2.6 2.0 1.8 

Medical care services ............................................................... 319.0 320.0 321.2 322.4 4.4 5.1 7.2 4.3 4.8 5.8 

Other services .......................................................................... 253.3 253.2 253.9 254.1 2.8 2.1 2.9 1.3 2.4 2.1 

Special indexes

All items less food ...................................................................... 182.7 183.9 184.7 184.5 1.6 1.3 4.0 4.0 1.5 4.0 

All items less shelter ................................................................... 174.8 176.4 177.2 176.8 1.9 1.6 4.0 4.7 1.8 4.3 

All items less medical care ......................................................... 177.7 179.0 179.7 179.6 2.1 1.6 3.4 4.3 1.8 3.9 

Commodities less food ............................................................... 138.6 140.6 141.3 140.1 -.3 -.3 6.0 4.4 -.3 5.2 

Nondurables less food ................................................................ 159.7 163.5 163.7 163.3 7.0 6.6 6.8 9.3 6.8 8.0 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................ 185.3 191.9 193.9 190.2 9.6 2.5 17.7 11.0 6.0 14.3

Nondurables ............................................................................... 171.4 174.5 174.9 174.5 5.7 5.4 4.3 7.4 5.5 5.9 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 205.8 206.2 207.4 207.9 3.0 2.4 2.6 4.1 2.7 3.4 

Services less medical care services ........................................... 209.5 209.9 210.7 211.2 2.6 2.1 2.9 3.3 2.3 3.1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 145.3 152.6 156.7 153.5 12.2 8.1 16.0 24.6 10.1 20.2 

All items less energy .................................................................. 188.6 189.1 189.4 189.7 1.3 1.3 2.6 2.4 1.3 2.5 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 190.0 190.2 190.5 190.7 .4 .9 2.8 1.5 .6 2.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ................... 139.3 139.4 139.3 139.0 -4.7 -2.3 1.4 -.9 -3.5 .3 

Energy commodities ............................................................. 152.6 165.2 170.3 164.1 28.4 11.7 31.1 33.7 19.8 32.4 

Services less energy services ................................................ 225.1 225.5 226.0 226.7 2.9 2.2 3.3 2.9 2.6 3.1 

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

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

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

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

July2004 from—

Percent change to

June2004 from—

Apr.

2004

May

2004

June

2004

July

2004

July

2003

May

2004

June

2004

June

2003

Apr.

2004

May

2004

U.S. city average ............................................ M 183.5 184.7 185.3 184.9 3.0 0.1 -0.2 3.2 1.0 0.3 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 195.7 196.4 197.5 197.3 3.8 .5 -.1 4.4 .9 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 196.3 197.1 198.3 198.0 3.8 .5 -.2 4.4 1.0 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 118.1 118.4 118.8 119.1 4.0 .6 .3 4.3 .6 .3 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 176.3 177.8 178.2 178.0 2.7 .1 -.1 2.6 1.1 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 177.9 179.4 179.4 179.5 2.7 .1 .1 2.5 .8 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.6 115.5 116.0 115.5 2.7 .0 -.4 2.9 1.2 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 171.2 173.2 174.1 173.7 2.7 .3 -.2 2.4 1.7 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 177.6 178.8 179.7 179.3 2.9 .3 -.2 3.1 1.2 .5 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 179.7 180.8 181.9 181.2 2.8 .2 -.4 3.2 1.2 .6 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 114.0 114.8 115.3 115.2 2.9 .3 -.1 2.9 1.1 .4 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 177.8 179.0 180.0 179.4 2.7 .2 -.3 3.0 1.2 .6 

West urban ..................................................... M 187.3 188.6 188.6 188.0 2.5 -.3 -.3 2.9 .7 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 188.2 189.6 189.7 188.9 2.5 -.4 -.4 2.8 .8 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 117.2 117.8 117.6 117.4 2.4 -.3 -.2 3.1 .3 -.2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 170.0 171.2 171.7 171.3 3.0 .1 -.2 3.2 1.0 .3 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 115.3 116.0 116.4 116.2 2.9 .2 -.2 3.2 1.0 .3 

D ................................................................. M 177.2 178.8 179.7 179.0 2.6 .1 -.4 2.7 1.4 .5 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 180.6 182.2 182.5 182.4 2.6 .1 -.1 2.5 1.1 .2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 185.2 186.8 187.4 186.8 4.0 .0 -.3 4.3 1.2 .3 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 198.5 199.1 200.4 200.1 3.8 .5 -.1 4.4 1.0 .7 

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

 207.9 - 207.9 2.8 .0 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 172.6 - 172.8 3.5 .1 - - - -

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

 179.5 - 179.4 2.0 -.1 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 118.4 - 119.7 3.0 1.1 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 180.0 -

 184.0 - - - - 3.0 2.2 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 179.3 -

 180.4 - - - - 2.1 .6 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 166.8 - 167.6 - - - - 4.3 .5 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 182.6 -

 183.4 - - - - 3.7 .4 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 194.0 -

 197.3 - - - - 5.1 1.7 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 194.7 -

 195.4 - - - - 1.7 .4 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 189.1 - 190.4 - - - - 2.5 .7 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2001-2002

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 July 2004 from—

 June

 2004

 July

 2004

 July

 2003

 June

 2004

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 110.4 110.3 2.4 -0.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 15.076 111.3 111.6 3.6 .3 

Food ....................................................................................... 14.086 111.3 111.6 3.7 .3 

Food at home ....................................................................... 8.062 110.6 110.8 4.1 .2 

Food away from home .......................................................... 6.023 112.1 112.6 3.0 .4 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... .990 111.5 111.3 2.6 -.2 

Housing .................................................................................... 41.793 114.5 114.9 2.4 .3 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.380 115.9 116.3 2.6 .3 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 4.643 127.3 128.1 4.2 .6 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.771 95.8 95.4 -1.4 -.4 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 4.317 90.8 87.5 -.1 -3.6 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.315 109.0 108.1 3.1 -.8 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.206 109.2 108.2 3.5 -.9 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.109 105.4 106.5 -1.1 1.0 

Medical care ............................................................................. 5.783 121.3 121.7 4.4 .3 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.466 114.9 115.0 2.3 .1 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.317 123.6 124.1 5.2 .4 

Recreation ................................................................................ 5.978 103.8 103.5 .0 -.3 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.004 98.9 98.8 .5 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.560 130.3 130.8 7.1 .4 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.444 79.5 79.2 -4.1 -.4 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.734 113.8 114.1 1.9 .3 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 58.567 116.4 116.8 2.6 .3 

Commodities .............................................................................. 41.433 102.8 102.0 2.1 -.8 

Durables ................................................................................... 12.521 86.6 86.3 -3.4 -.3 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 28.912 110.5 109.4 4.6 -1.0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 78.985 108.0 108.0 1.3 .0 

Energy ........................................................................................ 6.929 139.6 137.1 13.6 -1.8 

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

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