Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-10-1426

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, October 15, 2010 

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

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

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – SEPTEMBER 2010 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in September on a 

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

the all items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

Increases in food indexes and another rise in the gasoline index contributed to the all items seasonally 

adjusted increase this month. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in 

September as the food index posted its largest increase since October 2008. The gasoline index rose 

again in September, leading to a third consecutive increase in the energy index despite a decline in the 

index for household energy. 

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in September, as it was in August. The 

shelter index was unchanged for the second month in a row. The indexes for apparel, household 

furnishing and operations, recreation, and used cars and trucks all declined in September, offsetting a 

sharp increase in the index for medical care and a slight increase in the index for new vehicles. 

 

Over the last 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy rose 0.8 percent, the lowest 12-

month increase since March 1961, with the shelter component down 0.4 percent. The food index rose 

1.4 percent, with both the food at home index and food away from home index rising the same 1.4 

percent. The energy index rose 3.8 percent over the last year, with gasoline up 5.1 percent. 

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

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

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

Percent change

 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

 0.0

 0.1

 -0.1

 -0.2

 -0.1

 0.3 0.3

 0.1
- 2 -

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

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

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

Consumer Price Index Data for September 2010 

Food 

The food index rose 0.3 percent in September after a 0.2 percent increase in August. Both the food away 

from home and the food at home index increased 0.3 percent. Within the latter group, four of the six 

major grocery store food groups posted increases, with the other two unchanged. The index for meats, 

poultry, fish, and eggs rose the most, increasing 0.9 percent after declining in August. Within that group, 

the eggs index rose 7.2 percent. The index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.8 percent in September 

after a 0.1 percent increase in August. The indexes for dairy and related products and for fruits and 

vegetables posted slight increases in September, while the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages and for 

other food at home were unchanged. Over the past year, the indexes for cereals and bakery products and 

for nonalcoholic beverages have declined, while the indexes for the other four groups have increased. 

Energy 

The energy index rose 0.7 percent in September after a 2.3 percent increase in August. Following a 3.9 

percent increase in August, the gasoline index rose 1.6 percent in September. (Before seasonal 

adjustment, gasoline prices fell 1.4 percent in September.) In contrast, the household energy index 

declined in September, falling 0.6 percent, primarily due to a 2.3 percent decrease in the index for 

natural gas. The electricity index also declined, falling 0.3 percent, while the fuel oil index rose 0.8 

percent. The indexes of all the major energy components have risen over the last 12 months. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in September, as it was in August. The 

shelter index was unchanged for the second month in a row. The rent index rose 0.1 percent while the 

index for owners’ equivalent rent was unchanged and the index for lodging away from home fell 0.2 

percent. The medical care index rose sharply in September, increasing 0.6 percent. The index for 

medical care commodities rose 0.3 percent while the index for medical care services increased 0.8 

percent with the hospital services index rising 1.8 percent. The index for new vehicles posted a slight 

increase in September, rising 0.1 percent, while the index for airline fares increased 0.2 percent. 

Offsetting these increases was a downturn in the index for used cars and trucks and continuing declines 

in several indexes. The used cars and trucks index fell 0.7 percent in September, its first decline since 

April 2009. The apparel index decreased 0.6 percent following a 0.1 percent decline last month. The 

index for household furnishings and operations fell 0.4 percent in September and has now declined in 

three of the last four months. The recreation index decreased 0.3 percent in September, its third 

consecutive decline. 

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.8 percent over the last 12 months. The index for 

education has increased 4.0 percent with the index for college tuition and fees up 4.4 percent. The index 

for used cars and trucks has risen 12.9 percent over the past year, with the indexes for new vehicles 

index up 2.1 percent and for airline fares up 6.1 percent. The medical care index has increased 3.4 

percent. In contrast to these increases, the index for shelter has fallen 0.4 percent and the indexes for 

apparel, recreation, household furnishings and operations, and communication have also declined. 
- 4 -

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

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

months to an index level of 218.439 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.1 percent prior to 

seasonal adjustment. 

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

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 214.306 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

was unchanged prior to seasonal adjustment. 

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

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

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

The Consumer Price Index for October 2010 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 

17, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. (EST). 
- 5 -

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

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

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

(2) the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPIU), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and include in addition to wage 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

two annual revisions. 

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

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

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

can also be expressed in dollars as follows: the price of a base period market basket of goods and 

services in the CPI has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000. 
- 6 -

Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

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

of index point and percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3
- 7 -

Regions Defined 

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

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

and Vermont. 

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

and Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Washington, and Wyoming. 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

before adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CPI Detailed Report. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

agreements. 
- 8 -

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some 

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

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

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

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

Seasonal Adjustment. 

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

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

Aug.

2010

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 218.312 218.439 1.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1 

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

 653.966 654.346 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.877 220.586 1.4 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.738 219.491 220.216 1.4 .3 -.1 .2 .3 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.801 215.382 216.161 1.4 .4 -.1 .0 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.108 249.736 250.085 -.5 .1 -.3 .1 .8 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.745 208.854 211.280 4.7 1.2 .3 -.3 .9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .820 198.712 199.042 2.9 .2 .5 -.1 .2 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.153 265.914 268.832 .5 1.1 -1.9 .4 .1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .952 161.764 161.771 -.7 .0 .6 -.1 .0 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.023 192.026 191.289 .4 -.4 .2 .2 .0 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .295 200.335 202.469 2.8 1.1 .6 -.1 1.1 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 201.764 201.971 1.0 .1 .0 .7 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.496 205.857 204.322 -.2 -.7 .1 .2 -.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .439 121.787 122.106 .0 .3 .4 -.2 .3 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 5.937 226.422 227.075 1.4 .3 .0 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .326 159.517 160.072 1.8 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.056 223.536 224.043 1.2 .2 .5 .0 .2 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.960 216.976 216.602 -.3 -.2 .1 .0 -.1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 32.289 248.595 248.522 -.4 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.966 249.024 249.368 .2 .1 .1 -.1 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .769 139.999 135.800 1.6 -3.0 .2 -1.3 -.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 25.206 256.509 256.590 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 23.593 256.503 256.584 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .347 126.463 126.627 3.6 .1 .5 .5 .1 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.081 219.602 217.695 2.9 -.9 .6 .4 -.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.028 194.865 192.635 2.2 -1.1 .6 .5 -.6 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .276 263.196 265.812 12.3 1.0 -1.6 .7 1.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 3.752 199.632 197.049 1.5 -1.3 .8 .4 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.052 172.491 172.833 5.8 .2 .4 .2 .4 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.590 125.005 124.535 -2.9 -.4 -.1 .0 -.4 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .781 150.630 150.346 -.1 -.2 .1 -.1 -.2 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.695 116.667 121.011 -1.2 3.7 .6 -.1 -.6 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .903 110.229 112.201 -.6 1.8 -.2 -.1 -.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.580 102.702 109.217 -2.9 6.3 1.4 -.3 -1.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .196 113.245 114.413 -1.6 1.0 2.2 -1.3 -1.3 

Footwear .................................................................................. .721 125.656 129.303 .5 2.9 .2 -.5 .3

Transportation ............................................................................ 16.685 193.454 192.412 4.6 -.5 1.3 1.2 .5 

Private transportation ............................................................... 15.497 188.616 187.646 4.6 -.5 1.4 1.3 .5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.386 97.891 97.502 4.3 -.4 .3 .4 -.2 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.573 137.119 137.365 2.1 .2 .1 .3 .1 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.012 147.909 146.065 12.9 -1.2 .8 .7 -.7 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 4.525 235.690 232.518 5.4 -1.3 4.4 3.9 1.8 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 4.337 235.110 231.819 5.1 -1.4 4.6 3.9 1.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .401 137.646 137.802 3.3 .1 .4 .3 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.167 248.390 249.231 1.9 .3 .0 .3 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.187 254.717 252.525 5.3 -.9 -.8 -.2 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.513 388.467 390.616 3.4 .6 -.1 .2 .6 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.611 314.881 315.804 2.6 .3 -.2 .2 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.902 411.182 413.807 3.7 .6 .0 .2 .8 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.796 329.318 330.149 2.9 .3 .3 .2 .4 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

Aug.

2010

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.619 605.859 614.667 7.3 1.5 -0.4 0.5 1.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.437 113.521 113.120 -1.3 -.4 -.1 -.2 -.3 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.894 98.852 98.638 -2.1 -.2 -.4 -.5 .0 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.434 130.599 131.154 1.6 .4 .2 .0 -.1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.035 201.476 203.353 4.0 .9 .4 .0 -.2 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .200 504.635 508.892 3.1 .8 -.2 -1.4 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.835 579.833 585.271 4.0 .9 .4 .1 -.3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.399 84.699 84.665 -.4 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.225 81.532 81.497 -.6 .0 .1 .0 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.392 102.534 102.633 -.3 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .833 9.381 9.339 -1.4 -.4 -.2 -.2 -.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .246 75.798 75.570 -3.1 -.3 .4 .2 .1 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.483 383.685 383.663 2.5 .0 .7 .3 -.1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .871 822.662 823.766 6.8 .1 1.6 .4 .1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.612 207.042 206.929 1.1 -.1 .4 .2 -.2 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .688 161.337 160.985 -.9 -.2 .8 .0 -.2 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .642 230.354 230.332 .9 .0 .1 -.1 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.048 355.429 355.964 3.0 .2 .5 .2 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 39.816 173.925 174.282 1.6 .2 .5 .5 .2 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.795 219.877 220.586 1.4 .3 .0 .1 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.021 149.558 149.761 1.7 .1 .9 .8 .1 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.044 187.890 188.770 1.7 .5 1.3 1.4 .4 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.695 116.667 121.011 -1.2 3.7 .6 -.1 -.6 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.349 236.498 235.211 2.7 -.5 1.9 2.0 .8 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.978 111.587 111.174 1.6 -.4 .1 .4 -.3 

Services ....................................................................................... 60.184 262.421 262.320 .8 .0 .1 .1 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 31.942 259.015 258.934 -.4 .0 -.1 .1 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .347 126.463 126.627 3.6 .1 .5 .5 .1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 3.752 199.632 197.049 1.5 -1.3 .8 .4 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.052 172.491 172.833 5.8 .2 .4 .2 .4 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .781 150.630 150.346 -.1 -.2 .1 -.1 -.2 

Transportation services .............................................................. 6.060 260.944 260.577 3.0 -.1 .0 .1 .3 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.902 411.182 413.807 3.7 .6 .0 .2 .8 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.347 311.443 311.802 1.5 .1 .3 .0 -.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.262 218.147 218.179 1.1 .0 .4 .3 .1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 67.711 208.925 209.133 1.9 .1 .4 .4 .1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.487 209.952 210.001 1.0 .0 .3 .3 .1 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.078 152.182 152.395 1.7 .1 .9 .7 .1 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.100 190.025 190.885 1.7 .5 1.4 1.3 .5 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.405 234.212 233.089 2.6 -.5 1.7 1.8 .7 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 29.838 204.111 204.920 1.6 .4 .8 .9 .3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 28.243 286.775 286.640 2.3 .0 .1 .2 .1 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 55.282 250.766 250.516 .6 -.1 .0 .1 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 8.553 212.663 210.003 3.8 -1.3 2.6 2.3 .7 

All items less energy .................................................................... 91.447 220.619 221.030 .9 .2 .1 .1 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.708 221.551 221.907 .8 .2 .1 .0 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.276 143.206 143.866 .8 .5 .2 .1 -.2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 4.801 238.702 235.797 5.8 -1.2 4.0 3.8 1.8 

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.432 268.903 269.034 .8 .0 .1 .0 .1 

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

 $ .458 $ .458 - - - - -

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

 $ .153 $ .153 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Dec.

2009

Mar.

2010

June

2010

Sep.

2010 Mar.

2010

Sep.

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 216.929 217.597 218.150 218.372 2.5 0.9 -1.5 2.7 1.7 0.6 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.696 219.641 219.961 220.644 1.1 2.0 .7 1.7 1.5 1.2 

Food ................................................................................ 219.369 219.222 219.563 220.262 1.0 2.3 .6 1.6 1.6 1.1 

Food at home ................................................................ 215.622 215.430 215.506 216.241 .7 3.7 .0 1.2 2.2 .6 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.216 248.561 248.746 250.651 1.6 -2.8 -2.8 2.3 -.6 -.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.669 209.196 208.537 210.311 -.2 4.1 12.0 3.2 1.9 7.5 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 197.947 198.991 198.712 199.042 3.0 8.5 -1.7 2.2 5.7 .2 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 274.549 269.266 270.413 270.585 .3 19.7 -9.9 -5.7 9.6 -7.8 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 160.840 161.755 161.588 161.667 -1.5 -.7 -2.6 2.1 -1.1 -.3 

Other food at home ..................................................... 190.613 190.968 191.436 191.482 1.2 -1.0 -.5 1.8 .1 .7 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 199.608 200.816 200.610 202.826 4.5 -.1 .3 6.6 2.2 3.4 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 199.817 199.743 201.077 201.256 -.6 -1.3 2.9 2.9 -.9 2.9 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.265 204.548 205.055 204.645 .8 -1.2 -1.1 .7 -.2 -.2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.551 122.052 121.787 122.106 1.1 -.3 -2.5 1.8 .4 -.3 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.797 225.710 226.422 227.075 1.4 .4 1.4 2.3 .9 1.9 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 159.271 159.338 159.517 160.072 -.8 4.3 1.6 2.0 1.7 1.8 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 222.582 223.758 223.789 224.249 2.0 -1.5 1.2 3.0 .2 2.1 

Housing ............................................................................. 215.933 216.192 216.277 216.157 .3 -1.1 -.6 .4 -.4 -.1 

Shelter ............................................................................. 248.360 248.533 248.475 248.590 -.5 -2.2 .9 .4 -1.4 .6 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 249.201 249.381 249.213 249.535 -.6 .3 .4 .5 -.1 .5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 137.144 137.410 135.651 135.371 -3.1 -6.7 23.1 -5.1 -4.9 8.1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 256.370 256.521 256.580 256.667 -.4 -.8 .3 .5 -.6 .4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 256.365 256.513 256.575 256.661 -.4 -.8 .3 .5 -.6 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 125.289 125.865 126.463 126.627 5.5 2.0 2.8 4.3 3.7 3.6 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 212.218 213.471 214.372 213.483 8.6 8.8 -7.1 2.4 8.7 -2.5 

Household energy ......................................................... 187.134 188.333 189.216 187.999 9.5 8.9 -10.1 1.9 9.2 -4.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 265.521 261.257 263.196 265.812 51.8 22.0 -14.4 .4 36.1 -7.3 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 191.036 192.576 193.441 191.969 6.9 8.0 -9.8 2.0 7.4 -4.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 170.723 171.409 171.833 172.598 4.8 8.5 5.3 4.5 6.6 4.9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.203 125.135 125.193 124.729 -2.5 -3.7 -3.7 -1.5 -3.1 -2.6 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 150.560 150.747 150.630 150.346 -.7 -.5 1.5 -.6 -.6 .5 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.705 120.373 120.205 119.444 -.7 -4.5 1.3 -.9 -2.6 .2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.432 113.220 113.094 112.412 -3.6 -3.9 9.0 -3.5 -3.7 2.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 106.627 108.074 107.759 106.293 -1.6 -5.0 -3.9 -1.2 -3.4 -2.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 114.727 117.212 115.667 114.148 -7.9 1.3 2.5 -2.0 -3.4 .2 

Footwear ......................................................................... 128.153 128.465 127.882 128.327 4.1 -5.0 2.6 .5 -.6 1.6 

Transportation ................................................................... 188.135 190.544 192.909 193.961 12.4 4.6 -10.1 13.0 8.5 .8 

Private transportation ...................................................... 183.147 185.797 188.302 189.331 12.0 5.4 -11.5 14.2 8.6 .5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 97.307 97.557 97.908 97.739 10.8 3.1 1.3 1.8 6.9 1.5 

New vehicles ............................................................... 137.939 138.139 138.529 138.704 7.0 -1.2 .4 2.2 2.8 1.3 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 143.950 145.088 146.093 145.139 32.5 11.4 6.6 3.3 21.5 4.9 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 215.489 224.977 233.847 238.064 20.5 9.5 -37.3 49.0 14.9 -3.4 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 214.321 224.135 232.965 236.714 23.6 8.6 -38.9 48.8 15.9 -4.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 136.686 137.236 137.646 137.802 4.2 2.2 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.4 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 247.635 247.536 248.390 249.231 1.5 2.0 1.6 2.6 1.8 2.1 

Public transportation ....................................................... 252.626 250.567 250.191 251.529 19.0 -5.5 11.2 -1.7 6.0 4.5 

Medical care ...................................................................... 388.254 387.933 388.842 391.328 2.5 5.7 2.3 3.2 4.1 2.8 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 314.888 314.113 314.881 315.804 .7 7.7 1.1 1.2 4.2 1.1 

Medical care services ..................................................... 410.880 410.759 411.709 414.806 3.1 5.0 2.8 3.9 4.0 3.3 

Professional services .................................................... 327.522 328.610 329.413 330.705 2.2 2.9 2.6 3.9 2.6 3.3 

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—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Dec.

2009

Mar.

2010

June

2010

Sep.

2010 Mar.

2010

Sep.

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 607.995 605.466 608.304 617.619 6.6 10.6 5.5 6.5 8.6 6.0 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.695 113.599 113.375 113.028 -3.3 -1.0 1.4 -2.3 -2.2 -.5 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.598 99.240 98.747 98.746 -1.9 -3.1 -.2 -3.4 -2.5 -1.8 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 130.083 130.355 130.369 130.220 1.4 3.2 1.7 .4 2.3 1.1 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 199.925 200.686 200.746 200.358 3.9 5.9 5.2 .9 4.9 3.0 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 509.604 508.430 501.521 504.653 6.0 4.3 6.2 -3.8 5.2 1.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 574.662 577.097 577.834 576.388 3.8 6.1 5.1 1.2 4.9 3.1 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 84.657 84.702 84.695 84.660 -1.0 .6 -1.3 .0 -.2 -.7 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 81.487 81.535 81.532 81.497 -1.2 .2 -1.4 .0 -.5 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.303 102.471 102.534 102.633 -1.0 -1.6 .0 1.3 -1.3 .7 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.422 9.399 9.381 9.339 -1.8 5.6 -5.3 -3.5 1.8 -4.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 75.891 76.160 76.281 76.330 -2.1 -4.1 -8.2 2.3 -3.1 -3.1 

Other goods and services ................................................. 380.603 383.432 384.493 383.948 3.4 .8 2.4 3.6 2.1 3.0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 806.154 819.214 822.662 823.766 6.8 1.8 9.9 9.0 4.2 9.5 

Personal care .................................................................. 206.246 207.160 207.630 207.136 2.2 .4 -.1 1.7 1.3 .8 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.061 161.372 161.337 160.985 -.2 .2 -5.6 2.3 .0 -1.7 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 230.225 230.519 230.354 230.332 .1 .2 3.2 .2 .1 1.7 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 353.072 354.973 355.528 355.275 6.0 2.5 1.1 2.5 4.3 1.8 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 172.440 173.368 174.304 174.665 4.4 2.2 -5.2 5.3 3.3 -.1 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 219.696 219.641 219.961 220.644 1.1 2.0 .7 1.7 1.5 1.2 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 147.598 148.890 150.042 150.262 6.4 2.2 -8.5 7.4 4.3 -.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 183.771 186.102 188.620 189.461 7.9 1.8 -13.6 13.0 4.8 -1.2 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.705 120.373 120.205 119.444 -.7 -4.5 1.3 -.9 -2.6 .2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 227.173 231.395 235.953 237.892 9.0 5.5 -19.4 20.3 7.2 -1.6 

Durables .......................................................................... 111.381 111.465 111.895 111.580 6.8 -.6 -.2 .7 3.0 .3 

Services .............................................................................. 261.169 261.549 261.680 261.781 1.1 .3 1.1 .9 .7 1.0 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 258.297 257.998 258.276 259.063 -.4 -3.4 .9 1.2 -1.9 1.0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 125.289 125.865 126.463 126.627 5.5 2.0 2.8 4.3 3.7 3.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 191.036 192.576 193.441 191.969 6.9 8.0 -9.8 2.0 7.4 -4.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 170.723 171.409 171.833 172.598 4.8 8.5 5.3 4.5 6.6 4.9 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 150.560 150.747 150.630 150.346 -.7 -.5 1.5 -.6 -.6 .5 

Transportation services ..................................................... 259.909 259.852 260.059 260.777 5.5 2.1 3.3 1.3 3.8 2.3 

Medical care services ....................................................... 410.880 410.759 411.709 414.806 3.1 5.0 2.8 3.9 4.0 3.3 

Other services ................................................................... 310.105 310.990 311.046 310.495 .9 1.5 3.2 .5 1.2 1.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 216.564 217.361 217.947 218.095 2.7 .7 -1.8 2.9 1.7 .5 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 207.070 207.943 208.744 209.012 3.9 2.5 -2.6 3.8 3.2 .6 

All items less medical care .................................................. 208.536 209.236 209.770 209.905 2.5 .6 -1.7 2.7 1.5 .4 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 150.242 151.537 152.662 152.889 6.2 2.1 -8.1 7.2 4.1 -.8 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 185.878 188.502 190.950 191.839 6.1 2.7 -13.5 13.5 4.4 -.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 225.675 229.614 233.855 235.546 8.3 4.9 -17.9 18.7 6.6 -1.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 201.106 202.701 204.516 205.209 4.4 2.6 -8.5 8.4 3.5 -.4 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 284.147 284.537 284.979 285.138 3.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 3.2 1.4 

Services less medical care services ................................... 249.234 249.251 249.511 249.872 1.3 -.9 .9 1.0 .2 1.0 

Energy ................................................................................. 199.059 204.195 208.874 210.256 15.3 9.2 -25.7 24.5 12.2 -3.8 

All items less energy ........................................................... 220.463 220.684 220.823 220.930 1.3 .2 1.2 .9 .7 1.0 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 221.388 221.676 221.779 221.781 1.3 -.2 1.3 .7 .6 1.0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 143.626 143.923 144.079 143.727 2.9 -.1 -.1 .3 1.4 .1 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 219.487 228.353 236.938 241.105 22.1 10.2 -36.2 45.6 16.0 -3.6 

Services less energy services ......................................... 268.337 268.610 268.672 268.921 .7 -.2 1.9 .9 .3 1.4 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 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

Sep.2010 from—

Percent change to

Aug.2010 from—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

June

2010

July

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 217.965 218.011 218.312 218.439 1.1 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.2 0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 233.834 233.885 234.150 234.027 1.2 .1 -.1 1.4 .1 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 235.769 235.770 236.089 235.995 1.0 .1 .0 1.2 .1 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.163 139.274 139.348 139.229 1.9 .0 -.1 2.0 .1 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 207.886 208.211 208.639 208.788 1.6 .3 .1 1.5 .4 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 208.289 208.556 208.912 209.253 1.4 .3 .2 1.1 .3 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.845 134.130 134.375 134.275 1.9 .1 -.1 2.0 .4 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 203.749 203.992 204.985 205.100 1.6 .5 .1 1.6 .6 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 211.232 210.988 211.308 211.775 1.4 .4 .2 1.1 .0 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.121 212.696 212.947 213.493 1.1 .4 .3 .7 -.1 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 134.173 134.130 134.335 134.658 1.5 .4 .2 1.2 .1 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 215.216 214.639 215.266 215.172 2.0 .2 .0 2.1 .0 .3 

West urban ..................................................... M 221.147 221.331 221.523 221.384 .5 .0 -.1 .7 .2 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 225.291 225.574 225.790 225.726 .6 .1 .0 .8 .2 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.635 133.685 133.704 133.544 .3 -.1 -.1 .7 .1 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 199.183 199.224 199.477 199.617 1.0 .2 .1 .9 .1 .1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 134.692 134.753 134.908 134.987 1.4 .2 .1 1.4 .2 .1 

D ................................................................. M 211.094 210.882 211.606 211.524 1.4 .3 .0 1.6 .2 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 212.186 212.535 212.784 213.339 .9 .4 .3 .6 .3 .1 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 225.877 225.991 226.373 226.048 .4 .0 -.1 .8 .2 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 240.817 241.147 241.569 241.485 1.2 .1 .0 1.4 .3 .2 

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

 236.132 - 236.474 -.1 .1 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 203.989 - 205.492 1.8 .7 - - - -

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

 200.227 - 201.882 .0 .8 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 141.966 - 142.738 1.3 .5 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 204.725 -

 204.511 - - - - .6 -.1 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 204.891 -

 205.412 - - - - .4 .3 -

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

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 222.390 -

 222.803 - - - - .7 .2 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 228.074 -

 228.500 - - - - 1.1 .2 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 228.110 -

 227.954 - - - - 1.0 -.1 -

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

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

Aug.

2010

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 214.205 214.306 1.4 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 

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

 638.052 638.353 - - - - -

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 219.175 219.817 1.4 .3 .0 .2 .3 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.333 218.696 219.376 1.4 .3 .0 .2 .3 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.900 214.392 215.058 1.4 .3 .0 .0 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.257 250.327 250.654 -.4 .1 -.2 .2 .7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.144 208.676 211.109 5.0 1.2 .3 -.3 .9 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .898 197.651 197.812 3.0 .1 .6 -.1 .1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.223 263.946 266.461 .2 1.0 -1.8 .4 .0 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.123 161.353 161.210 -.7 -.1 .7 -.2 -.1 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.254 191.226 190.318 .2 -.5 .2 .3 -.1 

Sugar and sweets .............................................................. .321 198.872 200.971 2.5 1.1 .4 -.2 1.1 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .259 201.786 202.118 .7 .2 .0 .6 .1 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.674 206.021 204.234 -.3 -.9 .2 .3 -.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .472 121.804 122.164 -.3 .3 .3 -.3 .3 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.433 226.481 227.188 1.4 .3 -.1 .3 .3 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .321 159.866 160.755 2.3 .6 .1 .1 .6 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.092 224.749 224.828 1.5 .0 .7 .1 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.753 213.603 213.294 .0 -.1 .1 .0 .0 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 30.171 242.295 242.338 -.2 .0 .1 .0 .1 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.476 247.250 247.589 .0 .1 .0 -.1 .1 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .432 140.967 136.488 1.2 -3.2 .3 -2.0 -.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 20.959 232.373 232.472 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .1 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 20.218 232.374 232.473 -.1 .0 .1 .0 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .303 127.526 127.718 4.1 .2 .5 .5 .2 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.632 218.703 216.787 2.8 -.9 .6 .6 -.4 

Household energy .................................................................. 4.517 193.259 191.066 2.2 -1.1 .6 .7 -.7 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .271 264.904 267.283 12.3 .9 -1.6 .6 .9 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ................................................. 4.246 198.640 196.143 1.6 -1.3 .8 .7 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.114 172.934 173.258 5.8 .2 .4 .2 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.950 120.912 120.560 -3.0 -.3 -.2 -.1 -.3 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .369 153.542 152.851 -.5 -.5 .3 -.1 -.5 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.788 115.600 119.942 -1.8 3.8 .4 -.4 -.4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .945 110.005 111.901 -1.6 1.7 -.5 .1 -.6 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.568 101.483 108.532 -3.2 6.9 .8 -.7 -.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .285 116.066 116.688 -2.0 .5 2.0 -2.1 -1.6 

Footwear .................................................................................. .781 125.535 128.436 -.4 2.3 .3 -.5 -.2 

Transportation ............................................................................ 18.647 192.657 191.517 5.2 -.6 1.5 1.6 .6 

Private transportation ............................................................... 17.881 189.261 188.152 5.2 -.6 1.6 1.7 .7 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.952 97.389 96.860 5.7 -.5 .3 .4 -.3 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.385 138.152 138.353 2.0 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.944 148.782 146.959 12.9 -1.2 .8 .7 -.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.774 236.436 233.370 5.5 -1.3 4.4 4.7 2.1 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 5.530 235.966 232.783 5.2 -1.3 4.6 3.9 1.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .472 137.612 137.728 3.2 .1 .4 .3 .1 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.180 251.084 251.938 2.1 .3 .0 .4 .3 

Public transportation ................................................................ .766 251.634 249.816 4.9 -.7 -.6 .0 .4 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.261 389.905 392.028 3.6 .5 .0 .2 .6 

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.301 306.541 307.322 2.7 .3 -.2 .3 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................... 3.961 414.344 416.993 3.9 .6 .0 .2 .7 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.195 332.656 333.547 3.1 .3 .3 .2 .4 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2009

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Sep. 2010 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

Aug.

2010

June to

July

July to

Aug.

Aug. to

Sep.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 .............................................. 1.339 607.181 615.785 7.9 1.4 -0.2 0.5 1.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.031 109.967 109.626 -1.4 -.3 -.2 -.2 -.3 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 2.046 99.385 99.199 -2.0 -.2 -.3 -.4 .0 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.175 125.425 125.818 1.2 .3 .2 .0 -.1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.327 198.537 200.329 4.0 .9 .4 .0 -.2 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .196 508.150 512.303 3.1 .8 -.3 -1.1 .6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.131 558.909 563.998 4.1 .9 .4 .1 -.3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.848 87.391 87.343 -.5 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Information and information processing 1 2 ............................ 3.715 85.201 85.154 -.6 -.1 .1 .0 -.1 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.906 102.239 102.325 -.6 .1 .2 .1 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 ............. .809 9.947 9.891 -.8 -.6 -.2 -.1 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .225 75.848 75.356 -3.2 -.6 .5 .2 -.1 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.919 412.453 412.690 3.1 .1 .9 .3 .0 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.397 827.609 828.794 6.8 .1 1.6 .4 .1 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.522 204.604 204.620 1.0 .0 .5 .2 -.1 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .733 161.376 161.132 -.7 -.2 .9 .0 -.2 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .577 230.625 230.624 .9 .0 .1 -.1 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.019 356.582 357.423 2.8 .2 .4 .2 .1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 43.589 177.003 177.267 2.0 .1 .6 .7 .3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.425 219.175 219.817 1.4 .3 .0 .2 .3 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 27.164 154.309 154.406 2.4 .1 1.0 1.0 .3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 16.703 196.297 197.015 2.0 .4 1.7 1.5 .6 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.788 115.600 119.942 -1.8 3.8 .4 -.4 -.4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 12.915 250.745 249.301 3.2 -.6 2.1 2.2 1.0 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.461 113.125 112.646 2.9 -.4 .1 .3 -.2 

Services ....................................................................................... 56.411 257.745 257.663 .9 .0 .2 .1 .0 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 29.868 233.478 233.516 -.2 .0 .0 .0 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .303 127.526 127.718 4.1 .2 .5 .5 .2 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................................... 4.246 198.640 196.143 1.6 -1.3 .8 .7 -.8 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.114 172.934 173.258 5.8 .2 .4 .2 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .369 153.542 152.851 -.5 -.5 .3 -.1 -.5 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.918 260.904 260.813 3.2 .0 .2 .1 .2 

Medical care services ................................................................. 3.961 414.344 416.993 3.9 .6 .0 .2 .7 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.631 297.576 297.815 1.2 .1 .2 .0 -.2 

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.667 213.224 213.223 1.4 .0 .4 .4 .1 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 69.829 206.276 206.399 2.1 .1 .5 .5 .2 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.739 207.068 207.107 1.3 .0 .4 .4 .1 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 28.256 156.695 156.792 2.3 .1 1.0 1.0 .3 

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 17.795 198.064 198.749 1.9 .3 1.6 1.5 .6 

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.007 247.415 246.106 3.0 -.5 2.0 2.0 .9 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.128 208.167 208.853 1.7 .3 .9 .9 .5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.543 253.551 253.335 2.3 -.1 .2 .2 .0 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 52.450 246.681 246.476 .7 -.1 .1 .1 .1 

Energy .......................................................................................... 10.291 212.996 210.386 4.0 -1.2 2.7 2.9 .9 

All items less energy .................................................................... 89.709 215.312 215.742 1.1 .2 .1 .1 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................... 74.376 215.009 215.388 1.1 .2 .1 .0 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 22.211 145.557 146.170 1.4 .4 .2 .1 -.2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 6.045 238.785 235.913 5.8 -1.2 4.1 4.5 2.0 

Services less energy services .................................................. 52.165 264.149 264.342 .9 .1 .1 .0 .1 

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

 $ .467 $ .467 - - - - -

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

 $ .157 $ .157 - - - - -

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Dec.

2009

Mar.

2010

June

2010

Sep.

2010 Mar.

2010

Sep.

2010

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 212.487 213.275 214.019 214.345 3.0 1.6 -2.4 3.5 2.3 0.5 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.830 218.851 219.203 219.852 1.2 1.9 .7 1.9 1.6 1.3 

Food ................................................................................ 218.416 218.336 218.696 219.367 1.1 2.2 .6 1.8 1.6 1.2 

Food at home ................................................................ 214.353 214.312 214.392 215.042 .8 3.7 .1 1.3 2.2 .7 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 249.676 249.053 249.429 251.234 1.7 -2.9 -3.0 2.5 -.6 -.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 208.396 208.949 208.288 210.142 .3 4.4 12.1 3.4 2.3 7.6 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 196.663 197.782 197.651 197.812 3.2 8.1 -1.4 2.4 5.6 .4 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 271.241 266.463 267.571 267.680 .2 19.8 -11.1 -5.1 9.6 -8.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 160.429 161.496 161.246 161.087 -1.3 -.1 -3.1 1.7 -.7 -.7 

Other food at home ..................................................... 189.767 190.144 190.637 190.495 1.2 -1.3 -.5 1.5 -.1 .5 

Sugar and sweets ..................................................... 198.514 199.386 199.065 201.240 3.9 .2 .5 5.6 2.0 3.0 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 200.054 199.998 201.168 201.340 .0 -3.2 3.8 2.6 -1.6 3.2 

Other foods ............................................................... 204.250 204.633 205.225 204.561 .9 -1.3 -1.3 .6 -.2 -.4 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 121.830 122.217 121.804 122.164 1.0 -.8 -2.3 1.1 .1 -.6 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 225.846 225.707 226.481 227.188 1.5 .2 1.4 2.4 .9 1.9 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 159.601 159.725 159.866 160.755 -.8 5.7 1.5 2.9 2.4 2.2 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 223.450 224.936 225.179 225.507 3.2 -2.3 1.5 3.7 .4 2.6 

Housing ............................................................................. 212.526 212.756 212.842 212.764 .4 -.2 -.8 .4 .1 -.2 

Shelter ............................................................................. 242.233 242.390 242.282 242.448 -.6 -1.2 .7 .4 -.9 .5 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 247.585 247.705 247.460 247.767 -.7 .3 .2 .3 -.2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 138.894 139.345 136.626 136.197 -3.3 -4.6 22.4 -7.5 -4.0 6.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 232.272 232.411 232.443 232.567 -.4 -.9 .4 .5 -.7 .4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 232.275 232.411 232.444 232.568 -.4 -.9 .4 .5 -.7 .4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 126.345 126.950 127.526 127.718 5.9 3.1 3.1 4.4 4.5 3.8 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 211.014 212.231 213.407 212.484 7.4 8.4 -6.4 2.8 7.9 -1.9 

Household energy ......................................................... 185.237 186.400 187.614 186.387 8.0 8.4 -9.1 2.5 8.2 -3.5 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 267.671 263.269 264.904 267.283 54.0 23.3 -15.7 -.6 37.8 -8.5 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ....................................... 189.775 191.240 192.489 191.045 5.7 7.5 -8.6 2.7 6.6 -3.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 171.367 172.010 172.296 173.079 5.0 9.0 5.0 4.1 7.0 4.5 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 121.367 121.071 121.001 120.681 -2.3 -3.8 -3.8 -2.2 -3.0 -3.0 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 153.235 153.634 153.542 152.851 -3.0 -1.1 3.1 -1.0 -2.0 1.0 

Apparel .............................................................................. 119.096 119.544 119.017 118.544 -2.1 -4.8 1.4 -1.8 -3.4 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 113.393 112.845 112.965 112.281 -6.1 -5.7 10.3 -3.9 -5.9 3.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 105.953 106.821 106.111 105.776 -2.9 -4.6 -4.5 -.7 -3.8 -2.6 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 118.487 120.885 118.376 116.525 -7.7 3.7 3.0 -6.5 -2.2 -1.8 

Footwear ......................................................................... 127.913 128.294 127.689 127.444 3.7 -6.0 2.3 -1.5 -1.3 .4 

Transportation ................................................................... 186.209 189.020 192.130 193.376 14.1 6.1 -13.0 16.3 10.0 .6 

Private transportation ...................................................... 182.732 185.661 188.845 190.087 13.9 6.6 -13.8 17.1 10.2 .5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 96.497 96.827 97.221 96.958 15.0 3.8 2.4 1.9 9.3 2.2 

New vehicles ............................................................... 139.038 139.218 139.526 139.661 7.2 -1.5 .5 1.8 2.8 1.2 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 144.773 145.889 146.935 146.033 32.8 11.1 6.5 3.5 21.5 5.0 

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 214.902 224.320 234.907 239.792 20.0 11.2 -40.2 55.0 15.5 -3.7 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 215.031 224.891 233.750 237.478 25.5 8.4 -39.4 48.8 16.6 -5.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 136.719 137.218 137.612 137.728 4.2 2.0 3.4 3.0 3.1 3.2 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 250.142 250.143 251.084 251.938 1.6 2.1 1.6 2.9 1.9 2.3 

Public transportation ....................................................... 249.252 247.744 247.825 248.885 18.9 -6.2 9.0 -.6 5.6 4.1 

Medical care ...................................................................... 389.639 389.453 390.299 392.737 2.7 6.1 2.6 3.2 4.4 2.9 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 306.440 305.764 306.541 307.322 .9 7.9 1.2 1.2 4.3 1.2 

Medical care services ..................................................... 414.012 414.049 414.900 417.992 3.3 5.5 3.0 3.9 4.4 3.4 

Professional services .................................................... 330.959 331.963 332.739 334.108 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.9 2.7 3.5 

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—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Dec.

2009

Mar.

2010

June

2010

Sep.

2010 Mar.

2010

Sep.

2010

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services 3 ..................................... 608.514 606.994 609.797 618.805 7.1 12.2 5.5 6.9 9.6 6.2 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 110.196 109.992 109.813 109.532 -3.2 -.7 .6 -2.4 -2.0 -.9

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.980 99.646 99.260 99.299 -1.6 -2.6 -1.1 -2.7 -2.1 -1.9 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 125.018 125.256 125.272 125.137 1.0 2.4 1.2 .4 1.7 .8 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 197.168 197.893 197.914 197.532 4.2 6.2 5.0 .7 5.2 2.9 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 512.033 510.490 504.799 507.899 6.1 4.6 5.3 -3.2 5.3 1.0 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 554.317 556.699 557.331 555.849 4.0 6.4 5.0 1.1 5.2 3.0 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 87.306 87.375 87.388 87.340 -1.2 .0 -1.1 .2 -.6 -.5 

Information and information processing 1 2 .................. 85.115 85.186 85.201 85.154 -1.3 -.2 -1.2 .2 -.7 -.5 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 102.021 102.185 102.239 102.325 -1.2 -2.1 -.1 1.2 -1.6 .5 

Information technology, hardware and services 1 5 .... 9.976 9.957 9.947 9.891 -1.6 6.8 -4.8 -3.4 2.5 -4.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 75.763 76.168 76.335 76.253 -3.0 -3.0 -9.0 2.6 -3.0 -3.4 

Other goods and services ................................................. 408.314 411.916 413.142 413.007 3.8 1.0 3.1 4.7 2.4 3.9 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 811.325 824.198 827.609 828.794 6.9 1.7 9.9 8.9 4.2 9.4 

Personal care .................................................................. 203.690 204.671 205.143 204.868 1.8 .5 -.6 2.3 1.2 .9 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 159.900 161.416 161.376 161.132 -.2 .5 -6.1 3.1 .1 -1.6 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 230.472 230.769 230.625 230.624 .2 -.2 3.5 .3 .0 1.9 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 354.233 355.713 356.397 356.667 4.9 3.3 .3 2.8 4.1 1.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 174.912 176.029 177.262 177.809 5.4 2.7 -6.3 6.8 4.0 .0 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 218.830 218.851 219.203 219.852 1.2 1.9 .7 1.9 1.6 1.3 

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 151.534 153.086 154.660 155.148 8.0 3.2 -10.3 9.9 5.5 -.7 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 190.600 193.805 196.796 197.981 9.1 2.6 -17.0 16.4 5.8 -1.7 

Apparel .......................................................................... 119.096 119.544 119.017 118.544 -2.1 -4.8 1.4 -1.8 -3.4 -.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 239.549 244.635 249.977 252.387 10.8 5.6 -21.5 23.2 8.2 -1.6 

Durables .......................................................................... 112.718 112.840 113.188 112.925 9.7 .6 .8 .7 5.1 .8 

Services .............................................................................. 256.454 256.860 257.025 257.115 1.1 1.0 .8 1.0 1.0 .9 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 233.089 233.052 233.137 233.640 -.2 -2.0 .3 .9 -1.1 .6 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 126.345 126.950 127.526 127.718 5.9 3.1 3.1 4.4 4.5 3.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................. 189.775 191.240 192.489 191.045 5.7 7.5 -8.6 2.7 6.6 -3.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 171.367 172.010 172.296 173.079 5.0 9.0 5.0 4.1 7.0 4.5 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 153.235 153.634 153.542 152.851 -3.0 -1.1 3.1 -1.0 -2.0 1.0 

Transportation services ..................................................... 259.839 260.234 260.588 261.213 5.0 3.0 2.9 2.1 4.0 2.5 

Medical care services ....................................................... 414.012 414.049 414.900 417.992 3.3 5.5 3.0 3.9 4.4 3.4 

Other services ................................................................... 296.522 297.141 297.236 296.788 .8 1.4 2.5 .4 1.1 1.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 211.254 212.194 213.004 213.269 3.4 1.5 -2.9 3.9 2.4 .4 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 203.939 204.964 206.024 206.412 4.6 2.9 -3.7 4.9 3.7 .5 

All items less medical care .................................................. 205.321 206.132 206.865 207.125 3.0 1.4 -2.7 3.6 2.2 .4 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 153.951 155.506 157.049 157.535 7.8 2.9 -9.9 9.6 5.3 -.6 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 192.563 195.686 198.552 199.695 8.7 2.3 -16.1 15.7 5.5 -1.5 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 237.103 241.864 246.763 248.977 10.2 5.1 -19.9 21.6 7.6 -1.3 

Nondurables ........................................................................ 204.622 206.494 208.421 209.473 4.4 3.0 -9.5 9.8 3.7 -.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 250.979 251.382 251.873 251.937 3.4 3.2 1.0 1.5 3.3 1.3 

Services less medical care services ................................... 245.258 245.438 245.645 245.846 1.2 .1 .6 1.0 .6 .8 

Energy ................................................................................. 198.255 203.561 209.481 211.343 14.7 10.0 -28.0 29.1 12.3 -3.6 

All items less energy ........................................................... 215.163 215.408 215.528 215.669 1.7 .7 1.1 .9 1.2 1.0 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 214.887 215.198 215.269 215.303 1.8 .4 1.2 .8 1.1 1.0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 145.835 146.172 146.280 146.012 4.4 .1 .5 .5 2.3 .5 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 218.075 227.010 237.307 242.121 21.3 11.7 -39.2 52.0 16.4 -3.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 263.722 264.007 264.048 264.313 .7 .5 1.6 .9 .6 1.2 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 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

Sep.2010 from—

Percent change to

Aug.2010 from—

June

2010

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Sep.

2010

Sep.

2009

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Aug.

2009

June

2010

July

2010

U.S. city average ............................................ M 213.839 213.898 214.205 214.306 1.4 0.2 0.0 1.4 0.2 0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 231.308 231.380 231.694 231.566 1.5 .1 -.1 1.8 .2 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 231.552 231.615 231.995 231.881 1.2 .1 .0 1.5 .2 .2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.227 140.283 140.390 140.295 2.1 .0 -.1 2.4 .1 .1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 203.524 203.877 204.273 204.442 1.9 .3 .1 1.8 .4 .2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 203.063 203.363 203.593 203.946 1.7 .3 .2 1.4 .3 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.845 134.136 134.426 134.361 2.2 .2 .0 2.2 .4 .2 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 201.654 201.950 202.896 203.086 1.8 .6 .1 1.8 .6 .5 

South urban .................................................... M 208.640 208.440 208.740 209.155 1.7 .3 .2 1.4 .0 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 210.985 210.592 210.831 211.393 1.3 .4 .3 .9 -.1 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.227 133.227 133.420 133.680 1.8 .3 .2 1.6 .1 .1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 215.416 214.840 215.354 215.346 2.1 .2 .0 2.0 .0 .2 

West urban ..................................................... M 215.681 215.824 216.048 215.804 .6 .0 -.1 1.0 .2 .1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 218.238 218.499 218.784 218.524 .7 .0 -.1 1.0 .3 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 133.448 133.471 133.480 133.346 .4 -.1 -.1 .8 .0 .0 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 197.852 197.908 198.168 198.278 1.2 .2 .1 1.2 .2 .1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 134.349 134.420 134.581 134.644 1.7 .2 .0 1.7 .2 .1 

D ................................................................. M 209.374 209.161 209.863 209.864 1.7 .3 .0 1.7 .2 .3 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 205.834 206.307 206.338 206.897 1.3 .3 .3 1.0 .2 .0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 218.222 218.367 218.752 218.427 .5 .0 -.1 1.0 .2 .2 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 235.916 236.330 236.820 236.725 1.4 .2 .0 1.7 .4 .2 

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

 236.657 - 236.844 .5 .1 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 - 195.477 - 196.787 2.1 .7 - - - -

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

 203.537 - 205.602 .6 1.0 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 141.926 - 142.755 1.5 .6 - - - -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 204.084 -

 203.745 - - - - .7 -.2 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 200.703 -

 201.359 - - - - .6 .3 -

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

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 220.384 -

 220.790 - - - - .8 .2 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 228.175 -

 228.523 - - - - 1.3 .2 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 224.185 -

 224.195 - - - - 1.3 .0 -

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

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2007-2008

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Sep. 2010 from—

 Aug.

 2010

 Sep.

 2010

 Sep.

 2009

 Aug.

 2010

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 126.353 126.418 0.9 0.1 

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.519 128.118 128.713 1.3 .5 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.493 128.064 128.683 1.3 .5 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.780 122.994 123.467 1.3 .4 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.712 134.987 135.821 1.3 .6 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.027 129.286 129.566 1.0 .2 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.074 128.757 128.505 -.3 -.2 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.119 131.134 131.106 -.4 .0 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.231 163.017 161.361 3.0 -1.0 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.724 92.604 92.177 -3.4 -.5 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.772 86.736 89.951 -1.7 3.7 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.199 132.073 131.313 4.7 -.6 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.013 132.593 131.858 4.7 -.6 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.186 125.033 123.963 5.3 -.9 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.294 150.417 151.186 3.1 .5 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.570 132.621 133.004 2.5 .3 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.723 156.948 157.867 3.4 .6 

Recreation ................................................................................ 6.625 103.042 102.617 -2.5 -.4 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.288 112.876 113.302 1.2 .4 

Education ............................................................................... 2.804 185.792 187.500 3.9 .9 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.484 73.034 72.993 -.9 -.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.229 138.760 138.734 2.0 .0 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 59.383 136.031 135.941 .7 -.1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.617 114.467 114.721 1.2 .2 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.376 81.114 80.769 .7 -.4 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 30.241 131.837 132.423 1.4 .4 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 76.901 119.885 120.061 .5 .1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.606 188.497 186.018 4.2 -1.3 

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

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