News United States

Department 

of Labor

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000 USDL-03-175

CPI QUICKLINE: (202) 691-6994 TRANSMISSION OF 

FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN THIS 

INFORMATION: (202) 691-5200 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED

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

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Wednesday, April 16, 2003

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MARCH 2003

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

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

level of 184.2 (1982-84=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in March 2002.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also increased 0.6

percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment. The March level of 180.3 was 3.2 percent higher than in March

2002.

CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in March, following an increase of 0.6 percent in 

February. Energy costs again rose sharply--up 4.6 percent in March--and accounted for over 90 percent of the 

advance in the overall CPI-U. Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy advanced 4.3 percent and the 

index for energy services increased 5.0 percent. The index for food rose 0.2 percent in March, following a 0.7 

percent rise in February. The index for food at home, which increased 0.9 percent in February, rose 0.1 percent in 

March. The moderation was largely as the result of a markedly smaller increase in the index for meats, poultry, fish, 

and eggs. The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in March after increasing 0.1 percent in both 

January and February.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2002 2003 3-mos. ended ended

Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’03

’ ‘01

Mar. ’03 

All Items .2 .2 .1 .1 .3 .6 .3 5.2 ’98‘97Jan.’ 3.0

 Food and beverages .2 .1 .2 .2 -.2 .6 .2 2.5 1.5

 Housing .2 .3 .1 .2 .4 .3 .4 4.2 2.9

 Apparel -.2 -.2 -.2 -.2 -.9 -.2 -.4 -5.7 -3.6

 Transportation .2 .5 -.2 -.3 1.1 2.0 1.0 17.6 7.0

 Medical care .3 .6 .5 .4 .1 .1 .2 1.7 4.3

 Recreation .1 .2 .0 .2 .2 .3 .1 2.3 1.2

 Education and

 communication -.1 .0 .0 .2 .5 .2 -.1 2.2 2.6

 Other goods and

 services .4 -.5 .1 .1 .2 .3 -.1 2.0 3.1

 Special Indexes

 Energy .4 1.4 -.5 -.4 4.0 5.9 4.6 76.5 23.4

 Food .2 .1 .2 .2 -.2 .7 .2 2.7 1.4

 All Items less

 food and energy .2 .1 .1 .2 .1 .1 .0 .8 1.7
For the first three months of 2003, consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 

5.2 percent. This compares with an increase of 2.4 percent for all of 2002. The index for energy, which rose 10.7 

percent in 2002, accelerated in the first quarter of 2003, advancing at a 76.5 percent SAAR and accounting for about 

80 percent of the first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U. Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 125.0 

percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at a 37.4 percent annual rate. The food index rose at a 2.7 

percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2003. The index for grocery store food prices increased at a 3.0 percent annual 

rate, as price increases for cereal and bakery products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--up at annual rates of 9.6 

and 6.8 percent, respectively--were only partially offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, dairy 

products, and nonalcoholic beverages. 

 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 0.8 percent SAAR in the first quarter, following a 1.9

percent rise in all of 2002. Smaller increases in the indexes for shelter and medical care, coupled with a larger 

decrease in the index for apparel, were largely responsible for the deceleration. The annual rates for selected groups 

for the last seven and 1⁄4 years are shown below.

Percentage change 12 months SAAR 3

 ended in December mos. ended

in March

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

All items 3.3 1.7 1.6 2.7 3.4 1.6 2.4 5.2

 Food and beverages 4.2 1.6 2.3 2.0 2.8 2.8 1.5 2.5

 Housing 2.9 2.4 2.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 2.4 4.2

 Apparel -.2 1.0 -.7 -.5 -1.8 -3.2 -1.8 -5.7

 Transportation 4.4 -1.4 -1.7 5.4 4.1 -3.8 3.8 17.6

 Medical care 3.0 2.8 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.0 1.7

 Recreation 3.0 1.5 1.2 .8 1.7 1.5 1.1 2.3

 Education and

 communication 3.4 3.0 .7 1.6 1.3 3.2 2.2 2.2

 Other goods and services 3.6 5.2 8.8 5.1 4.2 4.5 3.3 2.0

Special indexes

 Energy 8.6 -3.4 -8.8 13.4 14.2 -13.0 10.7 76.5

 Energy commodities 13.8 -6.9 -15.1 29.5 15.7 -24.5 23.7 125.0

 Energy services 3.8 .2 -3.3 1.2 12.7 -1.5 .4 37.4

 All items less energy 2.9 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.1

 Food 4.3 1.5 2.3 1.9 2.8 2.8 1.5 2.7

 All items less

 food and energy 2.6 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.7 1.9 0.8
The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in March. The index for food at home, which advanced 0.9 

percent in February, increased 0.1 percent in March. While most major grocery store food groups contributed to the 

moderation, the index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, which was unchanged in March after increasing 2.0 percent in 

February, accounted for about two-thirds of the deceleration. The index for beef and veal rose 1.2 percent in March, 

following a 3.3 percent rise in February. The indexes for pork and for other meats, which increased 1.1 and 1.7 

percent, respectively, in February, declined 0.8 and 1.2 percent in March. Poultry prices rose 0.1 percent in March 

after advancing 1.2 percent in February. The index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.1 percent in March, following a 

0.8 percent increase in February. The indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables were each virtually unchanged, 

while the index for processed fruits and vegetables increased 0.9 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit 

prices rose 0.4 percent, while prices for fresh vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables each declined 0.1 

percent.) The index for dairy products, which increased 0.5 percent in February, declined 0.1 percent in March. The 

index for nonalcoholic beverages--down 0.1 percent--declined for the third consecutive month, but by less than in 

February. The remaining two major grocery store food groups--cereals and bakery products and other food at 

home--increased 0.4 percent and were unchanged, respectively. The other two components of the food and 

beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.6 percent, respectively.

The index for housing rose 0.4 percent in March. Shelter costs were virtually unchanged for the second 

consecutive month. Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2 and 0.1 percent, 

respectively, while the index for lodging away from home fell 1.3 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for 

lodging away from home rose 1.8 percent.) The index for fuels and utilities rose 4.4 percent in March. The index for 

fuel oil increased 9.8 percent in March, and prices for fuel oil were 60.0 percent higher than in March 2002. The 

index for natural gas rose 14.8 percent, bringing the increase in the past 12 months to 34.6 percent. The index for 

electricity increased 0.8 percent in March, accounting for all of its increase in the last 12 months. The index for 

household furnishings and operations declined 0.5 percent in March, reflecting price declines in all major categories. 

The transportation index rose 1.0 percent in March, following increases of 1.1 and 2.0 percent in the 

preceding two months. The index for gasoline, which rose 6.6 and 9.9 percent in January and February, respectively, 

increased 4.1 percent in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 5.5 percent in March.) As of 

March, the price of gasoline was 1.0 percent higher than its previous peak level of May 2001. The index for new 

vehicles increased 0.2 percent in March, but during the last 12 months it has fallen 1.0 percent. The index for used 

cars and trucks rose 0.6 percent in March, but this index has declined 2.4 percent in the last 12 months. Airline fares

increased for the second consecutive month--up 1.9 percent in March--but are 1.8 percent lower than a year ago.

The index for apparel declined 0.4 percent in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 2.5

percent, reflecting the introduction of spring-summer apparel wear.)

Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in March to a level 4.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index for 

medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.4 percent. The 

index for medical care services rose 0.1 percent in March. Charges for professional services and for hospital and 

related services increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

The index for recreation rose 0.1 percent in March. Increases in the indexes for club membership dues and 

fees for participant sports, for newspapers and magazines, and for toys more than offset declines in the indexes for 

video and audio, for sporting goods, for photography, and for admissions to sporting events.

The index for education and communication decreased 0.1 percent in March. Educational costs rose 0.5

percent, while the index for communication costs fell 0.7 percent. Within the latter group, the index for telephone 

services declined 0.8 percent, reflecting a 2.4 percent decrease in long distance charges. The index for personal 

computers and peripheral equipment declined 0.5 percent.
The index for other goods and services declined 0.1 percent in March. A 1.2 percent drop in the index for 

tobacco and smoking products was partially offset by a 0.3 percent increase in the index for personal care. Within the 

latter group, the index for legal services increased sharply for the third consecutive month--up 1.1 percent in March.

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

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.5 percent 

in March.

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

Seasonally adjusted UnCompound adjusted

Expenditure Changes from preceding month annual rate 12-mos.

Category 2002 2003 3-mos. ended ended

Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. ’03

’ ‘01

Mar. ’03 

All Items .2 .2 .1 .1 .3 .7 .5 6.2 ’98‘97Jan.’ 3.2

 Food and beverages .2 .1 .3 .2 -.1 .6 .2 2.7 1.4

 Housing .2 .3 .2 .2 .4 .3 .6 5.0 3.2

 Apparel -.2 -.3 -.2 -.2 -1.0 -.2 -.2 -5.5 -3.5

 Transportation .2 .5 -.3 -.3 1.2 2.2 1.1 19.9 7.4

 Medical care .3 .6 .5 .4 .1 .1 .2 1.7 4.5

 Recreation -.1 .2 .0 .3 .1 .2 .0 1.1 .8

 Education and

 communication -.1 -.1 .0 .2 .4 .2 -.2 1.5 2.3

 Other goods and

 services .6 -.9 .0 .0 .2 .3 -.3 .7 3.5

 Special Indexes

 Energy .4 1.6 -.6 -.6 4.2 6.1 4.6 78.6 24.0

 Food .2 .1 .3 .2 -.2 .7 .1 2.5 1.3

 All Items less

 food and energy .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .1 .1 0.9 1.7

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

The C-CPI-U increased 0.6 percent in March on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The March level of 107.8

(December 1999=100) was 2.6 percent higher than in March 2002. Table 7 contains the most recent indexes for all 

items and the component series that are published. Data will be published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report and 

are available on the CPI home page: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/. Please note that the indexes for the post-2001 period 

are subject to revision. 

Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Friday, May 16, 2003, 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 establishmentsdepartment stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. All 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

annual revisions.

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

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

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

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

from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

month period.

Index Point Change

CPI 115.7

Less previous index 111.2

Equals index point change 4.5

Percent Change

Index point difference 4.5

Divided by the previous index 111.2

Equals 0.040

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.040x100

Equals percent change 4.0

Regions Defined

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

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

Vermont. 

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

Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Wyoming. 
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

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

seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month.

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

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

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

sales.

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

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

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

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

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

Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data; e.g., data from 1998 through 2002 were replaced 

at the end of 2002. 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: 44 of the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.

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 a large increase in 

coffee prices due to adverse weather. The procedure was used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and 

decreases in milk supply 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. It was used to offset an 

increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to conserve supplies for Electricity. 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 a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled 

for them, or for a description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of 

Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending 

e-mail to Chow_Dan@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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Feb.

2003

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 183.1 184.2 3.0 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.3 

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

 548.5 551.8 - - - - -

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.583 178.9 179.2 1.5 .2 -.2 .6 .2 

Food ...................................................................................... 14.554 178.3 178.6 1.4 .2 -.2 .7 .2 

Food at home ...................................................................... 8.338 177.6 177.7 .8 .1 -.2 .9 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 1.281 201.8 202.1 2.6 .1 1.0 .9 .4 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 2.222 164.7 164.8 1.2 .1 -.3 2.0 .0 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. .876 167.2 167.1 -1.4 -.1 -.5 .5 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 1.234 223.3 223.6 -1.0 .1 -1.2 .8 .1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. .954 140.8 140.3 .1 -.4 -.5 -.4 -.1 

Other food at home ........................................................... 1.771 162.2 162.6 1.7 .2 .0 .4 .0 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ .314 161.8 162.5 3.4 .4 -.4 .9 .6 

Fats and oils .................................................................... .252 158.7 157.5 .7 -.8 1.0 2.0 -.8 

Other foods ...................................................................... 1.205 177.9 178.6 1.5 .4 -.1 -.1 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .287 110.5 110.1 2.1 -.4 -.5 .7 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.216 180.7 181.0 2.2 .2 -.1 .4 .2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .388 120.2 120.4 3.5 .2 .3 .3 .3 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.029 185.9 186.6 2.2 .4 .3 -.2 .6 

Housing ................................................................................... 40.854 183.2 184.3 2.9 .6 .4 .3 .4 

Shelter ................................................................................... 31.728 211.6 212.1 2.5 .2 .3 .0 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 6.467 203.7 204.1 3.0 .2 .4 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 2.654 117.6 119.7 -1.8 1.8 .1 -1.8 -1.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 22.243 218.7 218.9 2.9 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .365 114.1 114.0 6.7 -.1 1.4 .2 -.1 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.469 148.3 154.5 10.2 4.2 1.4 2.0 4.4 

Fuels .................................................................................... 3.604 131.9 138.5 11.9 5.0 1.8 2.4 5.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... .205 156.3 169.0 49.8 8.1 7.1 14.2 9.0 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.399 136.9 143.5 9.8 4.8 1.5 1.6 5.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .864 115.0 115.9 3.2 .8 .0 .3 .5 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 4.658 127.7 127.1 -1.2 -.5 .2 .2 -.5 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .820 122.0 121.6 2.3 -.3 .8 1.0 -.3 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.220 120.6 123.6 -3.6 2.5 -.9 -.2 -.4 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 1.065 117.3 121.0 -3.4 3.2 -1.3 -.1 1.9 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 1.738 112.4 117.2 -3.4 4.3 -1.2 .1 -.7 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ .193 122.3 124.1 -4.5 1.5 -3.0 .7 .0 

Footwear ............................................................................... .853 119.8 119.8 -3.0 .0 .7 -.6 -2.4 

Transportation ......................................................................... 17.293 158.9 161.0 7.0 1.3 1.1 2.0 1.0 

Private transportation ............................................................ 16.121 155.3 157.3 7.5 1.3 1.2 2.2 1.1 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 8.170 98.0 98.0 -1.6 .0 -.5 -.1 .3 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 4.864 139.2 139.3 -1.0 .1 -.9 -.1 .2 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 2.025 148.4 148.5 -2.4 .1 .2 .4 .6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 3.119 140.4 148.1 37.5 5.5 6.6 9.8 4.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 3.091 139.7 147.4 37.6 5.5 6.6 9.9 4.1 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .416 108.2 107.9 1.3 -.3 .7 .4 -.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 1.418 194.5 194.3 3.1 -.1 .1 .2 .0 

Public transportation .............................................................. 1.172 203.6 206.1 -.9 1.2 -.6 -.4 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................ 5.961 293.7 294.2 4.3 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.387 260.4 261.4 2.9 .4 .2 .0 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 4.574 302.3 302.6 4.7 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 2.808 258.8 259.1 2.9 .1 .0 .1 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.451 388.2 388.7 8.2 .1 .4 .4 .2 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Feb.

2003

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.943 107.2 107.4 1.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.638 103.8 103.7 .8 -.1 -.4 .0 -.1 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.798 109.7 109.4 2.6 -.3 .5 .2 -.1 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.835 131.0 131.1 6.3 .1 .6 .5 .5 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... .236 332.8 333.2 6.0 .1 1.0 .7 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 2.599 376.3 376.5 6.3 .1 .6 .5 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 2.963 91.9 91.3 -.8 -.7 .2 -.1 -.7 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.765 90.1 89.5 -1.4 -.7 .3 -.2 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.273 100.5 99.7 .6 -.8 .5 .1 -.8 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ .492 16.9 16.8 -10.6 -.6 -.6 -1.2 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .210 19.1 19.0 -17.7 -.5 -1.0 -2.1 -.5 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.350 297.5 297.3 3.1 -.1 .2 .3 -.1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... .992 472.7 467.2 7.8 -1.2 .0 .1 -1.2 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 3.358 176.7 177.2 1.8 .3 .3 .5 .3 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .680 153.3 153.3 -1.2 .0 -.3 .2 .0 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .897 190.9 191.7 2.3 .4 .4 .2 .4 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 1.573 280.4 281.4 3.1 .4 .2 .5 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 40.822 152.0 153.1 2.5 .7 .3 1.1 .4 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.583 178.9 179.2 1.5 .2 -.2 .6 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 25.239 136.4 138.0 3.2 1.2 .7 1.3 .6 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 13.824 151.2 154.5 7.6 2.2 .9 2.5 .8 

Apparel ................................................................................ 4.220 120.6 123.6 -3.6 2.5 -.9 -.2 -.4 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 9.604 174.1 177.8 13.0 2.1 1.6 3.8 2.8 

Durables ................................................................................ 11.416 119.7 119.5 -2.1 -.2 -.2 .1 -.2

Services ..................................................................................... 59.178 214.0 215.1 3.4 .5 .3 .2 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 31.364 220.3 220.9 2.5 .3 .3 .0 .0 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .365 114.1 114.0 6.7 -.1 1.4 .2 -.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.399 136.9 143.5 9.8 4.8 1.5 1.6 5.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .864 115.0 115.9 3.2 .8 .0 .3 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .820 122.0 121.6 2.3 -.3 .8 1.0 -.3 

Transportation services ........................................................... 6.722 213.4 214.2 3.3 .4 .1 .2 .2 

Medical care services .............................................................. 4.574 302.3 302.6 4.7 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Other services ......................................................................... 11.071 252.4 252.6 3.7 .1 .4 .4 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 85.446 183.9 185.2 3.3 .7 .4 .6 .4 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 68.272 174.0 175.3 3.3 .7 .3 .9 .5 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 94.039 177.3 178.4 2.9 .6 .3 .6 .4 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 26.268 138.3 139.8 3.1 1.1 .7 1.3 .6 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 14.853 153.3 156.5 7.3 2.1 .8 2.3 .9 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 10.633 174.4 177.7 12.0 1.9 1.6 3.3 2.3 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 29.406 165.3 167.2 4.4 1.1 .6 1.3 .7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 27.815 222.8 224.4 4.5 .7 .3 .5 .8 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 54.604 206.4 207.4 3.3 .5 .3 .2 .4 

Energy ....................................................................................... 6.723 135.4 142.6 23.4 5.3 4.0 5.9 4.6 

All items less energy ................................................................. 93.277 189.7 190.2 1.7 .3 .1 .2 .0 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 78.724 192.5 193.0 1.7 .3 .1 .1 .0 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 22.945 142.1 142.6 -1.4 .4 -.3 -.1 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 3.324 142.1 150.1 38.2 5.6 6.6 10.2 4.3 

Services less energy services ............................................... 55.779 221.9 222.4 3.0 .2 .3 .1 .0 

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

 $ .546 $ .543 - - - - -

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

 $ .182 $ .181 - - - - -

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.

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—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2002

Sep.

2002

Dec.

2002

Mar.

2003

Sep.

2002

Mar.

2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 181.6 182.2 183.3 183.9 2.9 2.5 1.6 5.2 2.7 3.3 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 178.0 177.7 178.8 179.1 .0 1.1 2.3 2.5 .6 2.4

Food ...................................................................................... 177.3 177.0 178.2 178.5 -.2 1.1 2.1 2.7 .5 2.4 

Food at home ...................................................................... 176.3 175.9 177.4 177.6 -2.0 .5 2.1 3.0 -.8 2.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 198.1 200.0 201.8 202.7 1.0 1.0 -.8 9.6 1.0 4.3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 162.3 161.8 165.0 165.0 -1.9 -2.7 3.0 6.8 -2.3 4.9 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. 167.3 166.4 167.2 167.1 -3.3 -4.0 2.4 -.5 -3.6 1.0 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 223.3 220.6 222.3 222.6 -9.9 3.5 4.6 -1.2 -3.4 1.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 140.7 140.0 139.5 139.3 -2.6 6.8 .6 -3.9 2.0 -1.7 

Other food at home ........................................................... 161.7 161.7 162.4 162.4 2.0 .5 2.5 1.7 1.3 2.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ 160.3 159.7 161.1 162.1 5.2 1.8 2.3 4.6 3.5 3.4 

Fats and oils .................................................................... 154.2 155.8 158.9 157.7 -4.3 .0 -1.8 9.4 -2.2 3.6 

Other foods ...................................................................... 178.5 178.4 178.3 178.4 2.8 .2 3.2 -.2 1.5 1.5 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.2 109.7 110.5 110.1 4.5 2.6 1.8 -.4 3.6 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 180.1 179.9 180.7 181.0 2.5 2.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.0 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 119.6 119.9 120.3 120.7 5.6 .3 4.5 3.7 2.9 4.1 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 185.3 185.8 185.5 186.6 2.2 1.3 2.6 2.8 1.8 2.7 

Housing ................................................................................... 182.2 182.9 183.4 184.1 2.5 2.2 2.5 4.2 2.4 3.3 

Shelter ................................................................................... 210.8 211.4 211.5 211.4 2.9 3.1 2.7 1.1 3.0 1.9 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 202.3 203.1 203.5 203.9 3.1 2.6 3.0 3.2 2.8 3.1 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 118.9 119.0 116.9 115.4 1.4 1.4 1.7 -11.3 1.4 -5.0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 217.7 218.3 218.7 218.9 3.2 3.2 2.8 2.2 3.2 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 112.3 113.9 114.1 114.0 3.8 8.4 8.6 6.2 6.1 7.4 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 145.3 147.4 150.3 156.9 2.8 1.7 3.4 36.0 2.3 18.6 

Fuels .................................................................................... 128.7 131.0 134.1 141.1 3.2 1.3 3.2 44.5 2.2 22.1 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... 123.0 131.7 150.4 163.9 21.7 15.8 13.4 215.3 18.7 89.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 135.6 137.6 139.8 146.8 2.4 .3 3.0 37.4 1.4 18.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 114.7 114.7 115.0 115.6 2.5 2.9 3.9 3.2 2.7 3.6 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 127.4 127.6 127.8 127.1 -.3 -2.2 -1.6 -.9 -1.2 -1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 119.9 120.8 122.0 121.6 -.3 3.1 .7 5.8 1.4 3.2 

Apparel .................................................................................... 122.9 121.8 121.6 121.1 -5.3 -.3 -2.6 -5.7 -2.8 -4.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 119.7 118.2 118.1 120.4 -10.8 -1.3 -3.3 2.4 -6.2 -.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 114.9 113.5 113.6 112.8 -4.1 .7 -2.7 -7.1 -1.7 -5.0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ 125.3 121.5 122.4 122.4 -5.2 .6 -4.0 -8.9 -2.3 -6.5 

Footwear ............................................................................... 121.4 122.3 121.6 118.7 -2.3 -1.0 .0 -8.6 -1.6 -4.4 

Transportation ......................................................................... 154.5 156.2 159.3 160.9 7.4 3.4 .0 17.6 5.4 8.5 

Private transportation ............................................................ 150.5 152.3 155.6 157.3 7.9 3.8 .0 19.3 5.8 9.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 98.3 97.8 97.7 98.0 -2.4 .8 -3.6 -1.2 -.8 -2.4 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 139.8 138.6 138.4 138.7 -2.0 1.2 -.3 -3.1 -.4 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 147.9 148.2 148.8 149.7 -2.8 -1.6 -9.6 5.0 -2.2 -2.6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 122.1 130.2 143.0 148.7 46.8 9.7 .7 120.0 26.9 48.8 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 121.5 129.5 142.3 148.1 46.6 9.8 1.0 120.8 26.9 49.3 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 107.0 107.8 108.2 107.9 .8 2.7 -1.5 3.4 1.7 .9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 193.5 193.7 194.1 194.1 3.9 2.3 4.7 1.2 3.1 2.9 

Public transportation .............................................................. 206.5 205.3 204.4 205.5 2.9 -6.0 1.6 -1.9 -1.6 -.2 

Medical care ............................................................................ 292.3 292.6 293.0 293.5 4.5 4.9 6.1 1.7 4.7 3.9 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 260.0 260.5 260.4 261.4 3.0 3.3 3.1 2.2 3.2 2.7 

Medical care services ............................................................ 300.6 300.8 301.4 301.7 4.9 5.3 7.1 1.5 5.1 4.2 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 258.0 258.0 258.3 258.6 2.4 3.5 4.6 .9 3.0 2.8 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 383.9 385.3 386.7 387.5 9.0 8.6 11.5 3.8 8.8 7.6 

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—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2002

Sep.

2002

Dec.

2002

Mar.

2003

Sep.

2002

Mar.

2003

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 106.7 106.9 107.2 107.3 0.4 0.8 1.5 2.3 0.6 1.9 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.8 103.4 103.4 103.3 1.2 -.4 4.4 -1.9 .4 1.2 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 109.0 109.5 109.7 109.6 2.3 5.3 .7 2.2 3.8 1.5 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 129.4 130.2 130.9 131.5 6.3 7.2 5.1 6.7 6.7 5.9 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... 324.8 327.9 330.2 331.8 7.5 3.3 4.3 8.9 5.4 6.6 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 372.0 374.4 376.3 378.0 6.3 7.6 4.9 6.6 7.0 5.7 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 91.8 92.0 91.9 91.3 -.9 3.1 -3.0 -2.2 1.1 -2.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 90.0 90.3 90.1 89.5 -.9 .4 -3.1 -2.2 -.2 -2.6 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 99.9 100.4 100.5 99.7 .4 3.7 -.8 -.8 2.0 -.8 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ 17.2 17.1 16.9 16.8 -8.2 -12.4 -12.8 -9.0 -10.4 -10.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 19.7 19.5 19.1 19.0 -8.4 -24.0 -24.0 -13.5 -16.6 -18.9 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 295.8 296.5 297.5 297.3 8.4 3.6 -1.6 2.0 6.0 .2

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 472.5 472.4 472.7 467.2 35.3 16.7 -10.5 -4.4 25.6 -7.5 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 175.4 175.9 176.7 177.2 1.9 .0 1.1 4.2 .9 2.6 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 153.4 153.0 153.3 153.3 .8 -2.5 -2.6 -.3 -.9 -1.4 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 189.9 190.6 190.9 191.7 2.2 1.9 1.5 3.8 2.0 2.7 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 277.8 278.4 279.8 280.8 3.4 1.3 3.4 4.4 2.4 3.9 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 150.0 150.5 152.2 152.8 2.4 1.1 -.8 7.7 1.8 3.4 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 178.0 177.7 178.8 179.1 .0 1.1 2.3 2.5 .6 2.4

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 134.0 134.9 136.7 137.5 3.6 1.2 -2.6 10.9 2.4 3.9 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 148.1 149.5 153.2 154.5 1.1 5.4 6.2 18.4 3.2 12.1 

Apparel ................................................................................ 122.9 121.8 121.6 121.1 -5.3 -.3 -2.6 -5.7 -2.8 -4.2 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 165.0 167.7 174.0 178.8 14.4 3.7 -.5 37.9 8.9 17.1 

Durables ................................................................................ 119.7 119.5 119.6 119.4 -1.6 -1.6 -4.2 -1.0 -1.6 -2.6 

Services ..................................................................................... 212.9 213.6 214.1 214.9 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.8 3.3 3.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 219.4 220.0 220.1 220.2 3.0 3.0 2.4 1.5 3.0 1.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 112.3 113.9 114.1 114.0 3.8 8.4 8.6 6.2 6.1 7.4 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 135.6 137.6 139.8 146.8 2.4 .3 3.0 37.4 1.4 18.9 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 114.7 114.7 115.0 115.6 2.5 2.9 3.9 3.2 2.7 3.6 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 119.9 120.8 122.0 121.6 -.3 3.1 .7 5.8 1.4 3.2 

Transportation services ........................................................... 212.4 212.7 213.2 213.7 3.9 3.7 3.3 2.5 3.8 2.9 

Medical care services .............................................................. 300.6 300.8 301.4 301.7 4.9 5.3 7.1 1.5 5.1 4.2 

Other services ......................................................................... 250.3 251.3 252.3 252.6 3.5 4.6 2.9 3.7 4.1 3.3 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 182.3 183.1 184.2 184.9 3.6 2.5 1.6 5.8 3.0 3.7 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 172.2 172.8 174.3 175.2 2.9 2.1 1.2 7.2 2.5 4.1 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 175.8 176.4 177.5 178.2 2.8 2.3 1.4 5.6 2.6 3.5 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 135.9 136.8 138.6 139.4 3.9 1.2 -2.6 10.7 2.5 3.8 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 150.4 151.6 155.1 156.5 1.1 4.7 6.4 17.2 2.9 11.7 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 166.2 168.9 174.5 178.6 12.3 4.0 .7 33.4 8.1 15.9 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 163.0 163.9 166.1 167.2 .8 2.5 3.8 10.7 1.6 7.2 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 221.2 221.8 223.0 224.7 3.6 4.3 3.5 6.5 3.9 5.0 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 205.3 205.9 206.4 207.2 3.2 3.4 2.8 3.8 3.3 3.3 

Energy ....................................................................................... 125.1 130.1 137.8 144.2 20.9 5.0 2.3 76.5 12.7 34.4 

All items less energy ................................................................. 189.2 189.3 189.7 189.7 1.7 2.2 1.7 1.1 1.9 1.4 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 192.1 192.3 192.5 192.5 2.1 2.5 1.5 .8 2.3 1.2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 142.7 142.3 142.2 142.1 -1.1 -.3 -2.5 -1.7 -.7 -2.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 122.8 130.9 144.2 150.4 45.5 10.1 1.3 125.0 26.6 51.0 

Services less energy services ............................................... 220.8 221.4 221.7 221.8 3.4 3.5 3.3 1.8 3.5 2.6 

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

item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999. 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

Mar.2003 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2003 from—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Feb.

2002

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

U.S. city average ........................................... M 180.9 181.7 183.1 184.2 3.0 1.4 0.6 3.0 1.2 0.8 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban ............................................. M 189.6 190.5 191.7 193.0 3.2 1.3 .7 3.0 1.1 .6 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 191.4 192.2 193.5 194.6 3.2 1.2 .6 3.0 1.1 .7 

Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................. M 112.6 113.1 113.8 115.0 3.4 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.1 .6 

Midwest urban ............................................... M 175.5 176.2 177.8 178.6 2.9 1.4 .4 3.1 1.3 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 177.8 178.2 180.0 180.7 2.7 1.4 .4 3.0 1.2 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 111.4 112.0 112.8 113.6 3.1 1.4 .7 2.9 1.3 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 169.5 170.7 172.5 173.0 3.5 1.3 .3 3.5 1.8 1.1 

South urban ................................................... M 174.6 175.1 176.4 177.5 3.1 1.4 .6 3.2 1.0 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 175.9 176.7 178.3 179.1 3.3 1.4 .4 3.4 1.4 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ............... M 111.6 111.7 112.5 113.3 3.0 1.4 .7 2.9 .8 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 172.3 173.2 174.8 175.4 3.2 1.3 .3 3.7 1.5 .9 

West urban .................................................... M 185.5 186.6 188.1 189.3 2.9 1.4 .6 2.7 1.4 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 188.0 189.2 190.9 192.1 3.2 1.5 .6 3.0 1.5 .9 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 113.1 113.8 114.5 115.4 2.3 1.4 .8 1.9 1.2 .6 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 165.4 166.1 167.5 168.4 3.1 1.4 .5 3.1 1.3 .8 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 111.9 112.3 113.1 114.0 3.0 1.5 .8 2.7 1.1 .7 

D ................................................................ M 173.8 174.6 176.0 176.9 3.1 1.3 .5 3.1 1.3 .8 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .................. M 182.4 182.7 184.1 184.8 2.8 1.1 .4 3.0 .9 .8 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .. M 183.7 185.2 186.5 188.2 3.9 1.6 .9 3.6 1.5 .7 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ........................................ M 193.1 194.7 196.2 197.1 3.1 1.2 .5 3.3 1.6 .8 

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

 199.8 - 202.8 4.2 1.5 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ..................................... 1 - 173.5 - 175.4 1.0 1.1 - - - -

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

 174.0 - 176.8 2.7 1.6 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 114.6 - 115.9 3.6 1.1 - - - -

Atlanta, GA .................................................... 2 177.3 -

 180.7 - - - - 2.6 1.9 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ............................. 2 179.7 -

 182.4 - - - - 3.5 1.5 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ................... 2 159.8 - 164.0 - - - - 4.7 2.6 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................ 2 177.9 -

 180.3 - - - - 3.0 1.3 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ....................................... 2 185.3 -

 186.6 - - - - 2.5 .7 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 193.2 -

 197.7 - - - - 3.3 2.3 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................... 2 190.0 - 191.3 - - - - 2.0 .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: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 

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. 
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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Feb.

2003

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 179.2 180.3 3.2 0.6 0.3 0.7 0.5 

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

 533.7 537.1 - - - - -

Food and beverages ............................................................... 17.072 178.3 178.5 1.4 .1 -.1 .6 .2 

Food ...................................................................................... 16.071 177.7 177.9 1.3 .1 -.2 .7 .1 

Food at home ...................................................................... 9.646 176.7 176.8 .7 .1 -.2 .9 .1 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 1.449 201.9 202.1 2.6 .1 1.1 .9 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 2.773 164.5 164.8 1.3 .2 -.4 2.0 .1 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. .977 167.1 166.7 -1.5 -.2 -.5 .5 -.2 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 1.337 221.8 222.2 -1.2 .2 -.9 .5 .3 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 1.118 140.1 139.5 -.1 -.4 -.6 -.4 -.3 

Other food at home ........................................................... 1.992 161.9 162.1 1.6 .1 -.1 .6 .0 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ .337 161.3 162.1 3.2 .5 -.6 .9 .7 

Fats and oils .................................................................... .302 158.7 157.7 .9 -.6 .9 1.9 -.6 

Other foods ...................................................................... 1.353 178.5 178.9 1.4 .2 -.2 .2 -.1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... .308 110.9 110.5 2.0 -.4 -.5 .7 -.4 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 6.425 180.5 181.0 2.3 .3 -.1 .4 .3 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ .278 120.4 120.7 3.3 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.001 185.7 186.8 2.5 .6 .3 .0 .7 

Housing ................................................................................... 38.134 178.7 179.9 3.2 .7 .4 .3 .6 

Shelter ................................................................................... 29.422 205.5 205.9 2.6 .2 .2 .1 .0 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 8.456 203.0 203.4 3.0 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 1.499 118.0 120.4 -1.5 2.0 .0 -.9 -1.4 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 19.144 198.6 198.8 2.8 .1 .3 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. .323 113.9 113.8 6.5 -.1 1.2 .2 -.1 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.783 147.4 153.6 10.0 4.2 1.5 1.8 4.4 

Fuels .................................................................................... 3.902 130.5 137.0 11.6 5.0 1.7 2.2 5.2 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... .192 155.7 167.9 49.0 7.8 6.2 14.4 8.6 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 3.710 136.0 142.6 9.9 4.9 1.5 1.7 5.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. .880 115.1 116.0 3.3 .8 .1 .2 .7 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 3.929 123.5 122.8 -1.7 -.6 .1 .2 -.7 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... .357 122.8 122.5 2.5 -.2 .7 .9 -.2 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.638 119.4 122.5 -3.5 2.6 -1.0 -.2 -.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 1.176 116.8 120.6 -3.7 3.3 -1.3 -.1 2.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 1.801 111.0 115.9 -3.2 4.4 -1.2 -.3 -.5 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ .244 123.6 125.8 -4.5 1.8 -3.3 .9 .1 

Footwear ............................................................................... 1.136 119.3 119.6 -2.6 .3 .5 -.6 -1.4 

Transportation ......................................................................... 19.666 158.2 160.3 7.4 1.3 1.2 2.2 1.1 

Private transportation ............................................................ 18.751 155.7 157.8 7.8 1.3 1.4 2.2 1.2 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 9.568 97.9 98.0 -1.7 .1 -.3 .0 .3 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 4.682 140.3 140.4 -1.0 .1 -.7 -.4 .3 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 3.783 149.2 149.2 -2.5 .0 .2 .4 .6 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 3.836 140.9 148.5 37.5 5.4 6.7 9.7 4.1 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 3.803 140.3 147.8 37.5 5.3 6.7 9.5 4.0 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... .524 107.5 107.2 1.4 -.3 .8 .4 -.3 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 1.458 196.2 196.0 3.2 -.1 .2 .3 -.1 

Public transportation .............................................................. .915 199.8 202.0 -.5 1.1 -.5 -.2 .5 

Medical care ............................................................................ 4.747 293.0 293.5 4.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.012 255.1 256.1 2.9 .4 .2 .0 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 3.735 302.3 302.7 5.0 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 2.265 261.0 261.3 2.9 .1 -.1 .2 .1 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 1.177 384.8 385.3 8.7 .1 .4 .4 .2 

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

2002

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Mar. 2003 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Feb.

2003

Dec. to

Jan.

Jan. to

Feb.

Feb. to

Mar.

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 5.567 105.4 105.4 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 1.795 103.0 102.9 .8 -.1 -.3 -.1 .0 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 5.604 109.2 108.9 2.3 -.3 .4 .2 -.2 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 2.472 130.7 130.8 6.1 .1 .5 .5 .5 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... .217 333.6 333.9 6.0 .1 .9 .7 .5 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 2.256 368.0 368.2 6.0 .1 .5 .4 .5 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 3.132 93.4 92.8 -.5 -.6 .3 -.1 -.6 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 2.972 92.2 91.6 -1.1 -.7 .3 -.1 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 2.536 100.7 99.9 .6 -.8 .6 .0 -.8 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ .436 17.5 17.4 -10.8 -.6 -.6 -1.1 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... .191 18.6 18.6 -18.4 .0 -1.0 -2.6 .0 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.571 306.4 305.6 3.5 -.3 .2 .3 -.3 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 1.542 474.8 469.1 8.1 -1.2 .0 .1 -1.2 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 3.030 175.7 176.1 1.4 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... .786 154.0 153.8 -1.4 -.1 -.3 .1 -.1 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... .896 191.6 192.4 2.3 .4 .3 .2 .4 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 1.170 279.9 281.1 3.2 .4 .1 .5 .4 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 45.066 152.8 154.0 2.8 .8 .5 1.1 .5 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 17.072 178.3 178.5 1.4 .1 -.1 .6 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 27.994 138.0 139.6 3.6 1.2 .8 1.5 .7 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 15.152 153.8 157.3 8.6 2.3 .9 2.6 1.1 

Apparel ................................................................................ 4.638 119.4 122.5 -3.5 2.6 -1.0 -.2 -.2

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 10.514 178.7 182.6 14.6 2.2 1.8 4.1 2.9 

Durables ................................................................................ 12.842 119.9 119.8 -2.0 -.1 -.2 .1 .0 

Services ..................................................................................... 54.934 210.2 211.2 3.6 .5 .3 .3 .4 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 29.099 197.9 198.3 2.6 .2 .3 .1 .1 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... .323 113.9 113.8 6.5 -.1 1.2 .2 -.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 3.710 136.0 142.6 9.9 4.9 1.5 1.7 5.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... .880 115.1 116.0 3.3 .8 .1 .2 .7 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... .357 122.8 122.5 2.5 -.2 .7 .9 -.2 

Transportation services ........................................................... 6.706 213.2 213.9 4.0 .3 .2 .3 .3 

Medical care services .............................................................. 3.735 302.3 302.7 5.0 .1 .1 .2 .1 

Other services ......................................................................... 10.123 247.1 247.0 3.4 .0 .4 .3 .1 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 83.929 179.3 180.6 3.6 .7 .5 .7 .6 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 70.578 171.5 172.9 3.5 .8 .5 .9 .6 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 95.253 174.2 175.4 3.2 .7 .4 .7 .5 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 28.995 139.7 141.4 3.6 1.2 .7 1.4 .7 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 16.153 155.8 159.2 8.3 2.2 .7 2.5 1.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 11.514 178.7 182.3 13.4 2.0 1.8 3.8 2.6 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 32.224 166.5 168.5 4.8 1.2 .4 1.6 .7 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 25.835 197.9 199.5 4.7 .8 .3 .5 .9 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 51.199 202.9 204.0 3.6 .5 .2 .3 .5 

Energy ....................................................................................... 7.738 135.1 142.2 24.0 5.3 4.2 6.1 4.6 

All items less energy ................................................................. 92.262 185.5 185.9 1.6 .2 .1 .2 .1 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 76.191 187.5 188.0 1.7 .3 .1 .1 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 24.967 142.6 143.1 -1.3 .4 -.3 .0 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 4.028 142.1 150.0 38.0 5.6 6.7 9.9 4.3 

Services less energy services ............................................... 51.224 218.5 218.8 3.2 .1 .2 .2 .1 

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

 $ .558 $ .555 - - - - -

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

 $ .187 $ .186 - - - - -

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 converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999.

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—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2002

Sep.

2002

Dec.

2002

Mar.

2003

Sep.

2002

Mar.

2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 177.5 178.1 179.3 180.2 3.0 2.5 1.4 6.2 2.8 3.8 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 177.2 177.0 178.1 178.4 -.2 1.1 2.1 2.7 .5 2.4 

Food ...................................................................................... 176.7 176.4 177.6 177.8 -.5 .9 2.3 2.5 .2 2.4 

Food at home ...................................................................... 175.3 175.0 176.5 176.6 -2.3 .2 2.1 3.0 -1.0 2.5 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................ 197.9 200.1 201.9 202.5 1.0 1.0 -1.2 9.6 1.0 4.1 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ........................................... 162.2 161.6 164.8 164.9 -1.9 -2.9 3.3 6.8 -2.4 5.0 

Dairy and related products 1 .............................................. 167.2 166.3 167.1 166.7 -3.3 -4.0 2.7 -1.2 -3.6 .7 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................ 221.7 219.7 220.7 221.4 -10.5 3.3 4.1 -.5 -3.8 1.7 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ............. 140.1 139.3 138.7 138.3 -2.9 7.5 .3 -5.0 2.2 -2.4 

Other food at home ........................................................... 161.2 161.1 162.0 162.0 2.0 .2 2.3 2.0 1.1 2.1 

Sugar and sweets ............................................................ 160.1 159.2 160.6 161.7 5.7 1.5 1.8 4.1 3.6 2.9 

Fats and oils .................................................................... 154.3 155.7 158.7 157.8 -4.5 .8 -1.5 9.4 -1.9 3.8 

Other foods ...................................................................... 178.8 178.5 178.9 178.7 2.8 -.4 3.4 -.2 1.1 1.6 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ....................................... 110.7 110.1 110.9 110.5 4.9 1.8 2.2 -.7 3.4 .7 

Food away from home 1 ....................................................... 180.0 179.8 180.5 181.0 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 

Other food away from home 2 ............................................ 120.0 120.2 120.6 120.9 5.2 .3 4.5 3.0 2.8 3.7 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 185.0 185.5 185.5 186.8 2.7 .7 3.1 3.9 1.7 3.5 

Housing ................................................................................... 177.7 178.4 178.9 179.9 2.5 2.1 2.7 5.0 2.3 3.9 

Shelter ................................................................................... 204.6 205.1 205.3 205.4 3.0 3.0 3.0 1.6 3.0 2.3 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................. 201.7 202.4 202.8 203.2 3.1 2.4 3.2 3.0 2.8 3.1 

Lodging away from home 2 3 ................................................ 118.9 118.9 117.8 116.2 -1.3 2.7 1.7 -8.8 .7 -3.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................. 197.8 198.3 198.5 198.8 3.4 3.1 2.9 2.0 3.2 2.5 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................. 112.3 113.7 113.9 113.8 3.8 8.4 8.2 5.5 6.1 6.8 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 144.6 146.7 149.4 156.0 2.6 1.4 3.7 35.5 2.0 18.5 

Fuels .................................................................................... 127.6 129.8 132.7 139.6 2.6 1.3 3.5 43.3 1.9 21.8 

Fuel oil and other fuels ...................................................... 123.0 130.6 149.4 162.2 21.4 17.5 14.5 202.4 19.4 86.1 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ............................................... 134.6 136.6 138.9 145.8 1.8 .6 3.0 37.7 1.2 19.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................. 114.7 114.8 115.0 115.8 2.9 2.9 3.6 3.9 2.9 3.7 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 123.4 123.5 123.7 122.8 -.6 -3.2 -1.0 -1.9 -1.9 -1.4 

Household operations 1 2 ..................................................... 120.8 121.7 122.8 122.5 .3 2.0 2.0 5.7 1.2 3.9 

Apparel .................................................................................... 122.0 120.8 120.5 120.3 -4.7 -1.0 -2.6 -5.5 -2.9 -4.0 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ....................................................... 119.4 117.8 117.7 120.0 -10.5 -2.0 -3.9 2.0 -6.3 -1.0 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ................................................... 113.9 112.5 112.2 111.6 -2.1 .3 -2.8 -7.8 -.9 -5.3 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................ 127.2 123.0 124.1 124.2 -2.7 -1.2 -4.6 -9.1 -2.0 -6.9 

Footwear ............................................................................... 121.2 121.8 121.1 119.4 -3.9 -1.0 .3 -5.8 -2.4 -2.8 

Transportation ......................................................................... 153.3 155.2 158.6 160.4 8.0 3.7 -.8 19.9 5.8 9.1 

Private transportation ............................................................ 150.5 152.6 156.0 157.9 8.2 4.1 -1.1 21.2 6.1 9.5 

New and used motor vehicles 2 ........................................... 98.1 97.8 97.8 98.1 -2.8 .4 -4.7 .0 -1.2 -2.4 

New vehicles ..................................................................... 140.9 139.9 139.4 139.8 -2.0 1.1 -.3 -3.1 -.4 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks ......................................................... 148.7 149.0 149.6 150.5 -3.1 -1.0 -10.1 4.9 -2.1 -2.9 

Motor fuel ............................................................................ 122.3 130.5 143.1 148.9 47.7 10.4 -.3 119.7 27.7 48.0 

Gasoline (all types) ............................................................ 121.8 130.0 142.4 148.1 48.0 10.1 .0 118.6 27.7 47.8 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ................................... 106.3 107.1 107.5 107.2 .8 3.1 -1.5 3.4 1.9 .9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ................................ 195.1 195.4 196.0 195.8 4.1 2.3 4.9 1.4 3.2 3.1 

Public transportation .............................................................. 202.2 201.1 200.6 201.6 3.0 -5.4 2.0 -1.2 -1.3 .4 

Medical care ............................................................................ 291.6 291.9 292.3 292.8 4.5 5.2 6.6 1.7 4.8 4.1 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 254.5 255.1 255.1 256.1 2.9 3.1 3.0 2.5 3.0 2.8 

Medical care services ............................................................ 300.7 300.9 301.4 301.8 5.0 5.8 7.5 1.5 5.4 4.5 

Professional services 3 ......................................................... 260.3 260.0 260.5 260.8 2.2 3.7 4.9 .8 2.9 2.8 

Hospital and related services 3 ............................................ 380.4 381.8 383.2 384.1 9.5 8.9 12.8 3.9 9.2 8.3 

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—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

June

2002

Sep.

2002

Dec.

2002

Mar.

2003

Sep.

2002

Mar.

2003

Expenditure category

Recreation 2 ............................................................................. 105.0 105.1 105.3 105.3 0.0 0.0 1.9 1.1 0.0 1.5 

Video and audio 2 ................................................................... 103.0 102.7 102.6 102.6 .8 -1.2 5.2 -1.5 -.2 1.8 

Education and communication 2 .............................................. 108.6 109.0 109.2 109.0 2.3 4.9 .4 1.5 3.6 .9 

Education 2 ............................................................................. 129.2 129.9 130.5 131.1 6.6 7.2 4.5 6.0 6.9 5.2 

Educational books and supplies .......................................... 326.1 328.9 331.3 333.0 6.9 3.3 5.2 8.7 5.1 6.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............................. 364.2 366.1 367.6 369.4 6.5 7.6 4.4 5.8 7.0 5.1 

Communication 2 .................................................................... 93.2 93.5 93.4 92.8 -.9 3.5 -2.9 -1.7 1.3 -2.3 

Information and information processing 1 2 .......................... 92.0 92.3 92.2 91.6 -.9 1.3 -3.0 -1.7 .2 -2.4 

Telephone services 1 2 ....................................................... 100.1 100.7 100.7 99.9 .0 4.1 -.8 -.8 2.0 -.8 

Information and information processing other than

telephone services 1 5 ................................................ 17.8 17.7 17.5 17.4 -8.0 -12.0 -14.3 -8.7 -10.0 -11.5 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 1 2 .......... 19.3 19.1 18.6 18.6 -8.5 -24.3 -25.9 -13.7 -16.8 -20.0 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 305.1 305.6 306.4 305.6 11.7 5.8 -3.5 .7 8.7 -1.4 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ........................................... 474.3 474.3 474.8 469.1 35.9 17.9 -11.1 -4.3 26.6 -7.7 

Personal care 1 ...................................................................... 174.7 175.2 175.7 176.1 1.6 .0 .7 3.2 .8 2.0 

Personal care products 1 ...................................................... 154.2 153.8 154.0 153.8 .5 -2.5 -2.6 -1.0 -1.0 -1.8 

Personal care services 1 ...................................................... 190.7 191.3 191.6 192.4 2.1 2.1 1.5 3.6 2.1 2.5 

Miscellaneous personal services ......................................... 277.7 277.9 279.3 280.5 3.6 1.5 3.7 4.1 2.5 3.9 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ............................................................................. 150.6 151.3 153.0 153.8 2.7 1.3 -1.3 8.8 2.0 3.6 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 177.2 177.0 178.1 178.4 -.2 1.1 2.1 2.7 .5 2.4 

Commodities less food and beverages ................................... 135.3 136.4 138.4 139.3 4.8 1.5 -3.5 12.4 3.1 4.1 

Nondurables less food and beverages .................................. 150.7 152.0 156.0 157.7 1.1 6.5 7.8 19.9 3.8 13.7 

Apparel ................................................................................ 122.0 120.8 120.5 120.3 -4.7 -1.0 -2.6 -5.5 -2.9 -4.0 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ................. 168.5 171.6 178.7 183.9 16.6 5.1 -.9 41.9 10.7 18.6 

Durables ................................................................................ 119.9 119.7 119.8 119.8 -1.6 -1.3 -4.9 -.3 -1.5 -2.6 

Services ..................................................................................... 209.0 209.7 210.3 211.2 3.4 3.4 3.5 4.3 3.4 3.9 

Rent of shelter 4 ....................................................................... 197.0 197.5 197.7 197.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 1.8 2.9 2.4 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ..................................... 112.3 113.7 113.9 113.8 3.8 8.4 8.2 5.5 6.1 6.8 

Gas (piped) and electricity 3 ..................................................... 134.6 136.6 138.9 145.8 1.8 .6 3.0 37.7 1.2 19.1 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ..................... 114.7 114.8 115.0 115.8 2.9 2.9 3.6 3.9 2.9 3.7 

Household operations 1 2 ......................................................... 120.8 121.7 122.8 122.5 .3 2.0 2.0 5.7 1.2 3.9 

Transportation services ........................................................... 211.8 212.2 212.8 213.4 4.4 4.3 4.5 3.1 4.3 3.8 

Medical care services .............................................................. 300.7 300.9 301.4 301.8 5.0 5.8 7.5 1.5 5.4 4.5 

Other services ......................................................................... 245.2 246.2 246.9 247.1 3.6 4.4 2.8 3.1 4.0 3.0 

Special indexes

All items less food ..................................................................... 177.5 178.3 179.5 180.5 3.7 2.8 1.1 6.9 3.2 4.0 

All items less shelter .................................................................. 169.5 170.3 171.8 172.9 3.2 2.2 .7 8.3 2.7 4.4 

All items less medical care ........................................................ 172.5 173.2 174.4 175.2 3.1 2.1 1.2 6.4 2.6 3.8 

Commodities less food .............................................................. 137.1 138.1 140.1 141.1 4.8 1.5 -3.1 12.2 3.1 4.2 

Nondurables less food ............................................................... 152.8 153.9 157.8 159.7 1.1 6.4 7.4 19.3 3.7 13.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel ........................................... 169.5 172.5 179.0 183.6 14.0 4.9 .5 37.7 9.4 17.6 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 164.3 164.9 167.5 168.6 .2 3.3 4.8 10.9 1.7 7.8 

Services less rent of shelter 4 .................................................... 196.5 197.1 198.1 199.9 3.8 4.4 3.7 7.1 4.1 5.4 

Services less medical care services .......................................... 201.8 202.3 202.9 204.0 3.1 3.7 3.0 4.4 3.4 3.7 

Energy ....................................................................................... 124.3 129.5 137.4 143.7 22.3 5.7 1.6 78.6 13.7 34.7 

All items less energy ................................................................. 184.9 185.0 185.4 185.5 1.5 2.2 1.3 1.3 1.9 1.3 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 187.1 187.3 187.4 187.5 2.0 2.4 1.3 .9 2.2 1.1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities .................. 143.2 142.8 142.8 142.7 -.6 .0 -3.3 -1.4 -.3 -2.3 

Energy commodities ............................................................ 122.8 131.0 144.0 150.2 46.0 10.8 .3 123.8 27.2 49.8 

Services less energy services ............................................... 217.3 217.8 218.2 218.5 3.2 3.6 3.6 2.2 3.4 2.9 

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

item stratum index series converted to a geometric means estimator in

January, 1999. 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

Mar.2003 from—

Percent change to

Feb.2003 from—

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Mar.

2003

Mar.

2002

Jan.

2003

Feb.

2003

Feb.

2002

Dec.

2002

Jan.

2003

U.S. city average ........................................... M 177.0 177.7 179.2 180.3 3.2 1.5 0.6 3.2 1.2 0.8 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban ............................................. M 186.6 187.2 188.6 189.8 3.7 1.4 .6 3.5 1.1 .7 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 187.1 187.7 189.1 190.0 3.5 1.2 .5 3.4 1.1 .7 

Size B/C 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................. M 112.7 113.2 114.0 115.2 4.0 1.8 1.1 3.5 1.2 .7 

Midwest urban ............................................... M 171.0 171.8 173.3 174.1 3.0 1.3 .5 3.1 1.3 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 172.4 172.9 174.6 175.4 2.8 1.4 .5 3.1 1.3 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 111.0 111.7 112.5 113.1 3.1 1.3 .5 3.0 1.4 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 167.2 168.4 170.1 170.6 3.5 1.3 .3 3.5 1.7 1.0 

South urban ................................................... M 172.0 172.5 173.9 175.0 3.2 1.4 .6 3.1 1.1 .8 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ................... M 173.1 174.0 175.7 176.5 3.5 1.4 .5 3.7 1.5 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ............... M 110.8 110.9 111.7 112.5 2.9 1.4 .7 2.8 .8 .7 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) .............................................. M 172.6 173.2 174.8 175.7 3.2 1.4 .5 3.5 1.3 .9 

West urban .................................................... M 180.8 181.5 183.2 184.7 3.2 1.8 .8 2.9 1.3 .9 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 .................. M 181.6 182.5 184.4 185.9 3.6 1.9 .8 3.2 1.5 1.0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 112.9 113.2 114.0 115.1 2.6 1.7 1.0 2.0 1.0 .7 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 163.7 164.3 165.8 166.8 3.4 1.5 .6 3.3 1.3 .9 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 111.4 111.8 112.6 113.5 3.1 1.5 .8 2.8 1.1 .7 

D ................................................................ M 172.5 173.2 174.7 175.6 3.2 1.4 .5 3.2 1.3 .9 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI .................. M 176.0 176.4 178.1 179.0 3.2 1.5 .5 3.3 1.2 1.0 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .. M 176.7 177.8 179.6 181.6 4.5 2.1 1.1 3.9 1.6 1.0 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ........................................ M 188.7 189.7 191.3 192.1 3.5 1.3 .4 3.6 1.4 .8 

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

 199.3 - 202.3 4.7 1.5 - - - -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ..................................... 1 - 165.3 - 167.1 1.8 1.1 - - - -

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

 173.3 - 176.5 3.0 1.8 - - - -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 - 114.1 - 115.5 3.7 1.2 - - - -

Atlanta, GA .................................................... 2 174.6 -

 178.1 - - - - 2.8 2.0 -

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI ............................. 2 174.4 -

 176.8 - - - - 3.7 1.4 -

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ................... 2 158.0 - 161.7 - - - - 4.8 2.3 -

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................ 2 175.3 -

 178.0 - - - - 3.3 1.5 -

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ....................................... 2 184.9 -

 185.9 - - - - 2.5 .5 -

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .......... 2 189.6 -

 193.7 - - - - 3.7 2.2 -

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................... 2 184.6 - 186.2 - - - - 2.0 .9 -

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated: 

 M - Every month. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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. 
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,

1999-2000

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Mar. 2003 from—

 Feb.

 2003

 Mar.

 2003

 Mar.

 2002

 Feb.

 2003

Expenditure category

All items ..................................................................................... 100.000 107.2 107.8 2.6 0.6 

Food and beverages ............................................................... 15.451 107.1 107.3 1.4 .2 

Food ...................................................................................... 14.432 107.1 107.2 1.3 .1 

Food at home ...................................................................... 8.335 106.1 106.2 .8 .1 

Food away from home ......................................................... 6.096 108.4 108.6 2.2 .2 

Alcoholic beverages .............................................................. 1.019 107.7 108.1 2.3 .4 

Housing ................................................................................... 40.040 110.4 111.0 2.6 .5 

Shelter ................................................................................... 30.643 111.9 112.2 2.4 .3 

Fuels and utilities ................................................................... 4.376 114.3 118.5 9.3 3.7 

Household furnishings and operations .................................. 5.020 97.8 97.4 -1.6 -.4 

Apparel .................................................................................... 4.819 91.9 94.3 -4.1 2.6 

Transportation ......................................................................... 17.770 106.5 107.7 6.4 1.1 

Private transportation ............................................................ 16.520 106.9 108.1 7.0 1.1 

Public transportation .............................................................. 1.250 101.1 102.3 -1.0 1.2 

Medical care ............................................................................ 5.563 115.0 115.2 4.2 .2 

Medical care commodities ..................................................... 1.330 111.0 111.4 2.8 .4 

Medical care services ............................................................ 4.233 116.3 116.4 4.5 .1 

Recreation ............................................................................... 6.124 103.0 103.1 .4 .1 

Education and communication ................................................ 6.068 98.2 97.8 .7 -.4 

Education .............................................................................. 2.546 120.3 120.4 6.3 .1 

Communication ..................................................................... 3.522 84.2 83.5 -3.1 -.8 

Other goods and services ....................................................... 4.164 111.4 111.3 2.7 -.1 

Commodity and service group

Services ..................................................................................... 57.098 111.7 112.3 3.2 .5 

Commodities ............................................................................. 42.902 101.4 102.1 1.8 .7 

Durables .................................................................................. 12.953 91.0 90.9 -2.7 -.1 

Nondurables .............................................................................. 29.949 106.0 107.2 3.9 1.1 

All items less food and energy ................................................ 78.851 106.1 106.4 1.2 .3 

Energy ....................................................................................... 6.717 R120.2 126.0 22.7 4.8 

R Revised.

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

Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.