FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-91
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Tuesday, April 13, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                     
                     CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MARCH 1999
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3
 percent in March, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 165.0 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in March, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.7 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.2 percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 March level of 161.4 was 1.7 percent higher than the index in March 1998.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in March,
 following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding three months.
 The food index, which increased 0.1 percent in February, declined 0.2
 percent in March.  The index for food at home fell 0.5 percent in March,
 largely as a result of a 2.2 percent decline in the index for fruits and
 vegetables.  The energy index registered its first increase since last
 October--advancing 1.6 percent in March.  The index for petroleum-based
 energy increased 3.5 percent, and the index for energy services increased
 0.3 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent
 in March, the same as in each of the first two months of 1999.
 
 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category               1998             1999      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.   Mar. '99  Mar. `99
 All Items            .1    .2   .2   .1   .1   .1   .2    1.5       1.7
  Food and beverages  .0    .5   .2   .1   .4   .2  -.2    1.5       2.2
  Housing             .2    .2   .3   .1  -.1   .1   .2    1.2       2.3
  Apparel            -.6    .0  -.1  -.6 -1.1  -.2  -.3   -6.2      -1.6
  Transportation     -.4    .1  -.1  -.4  -.1  -.1   .7    1.7       -.6
  Medical care        .3    .2   .2   .3   .3   .2   .2    3.3       3.5
  Recreation          .1   -.2   .1   .1   .4  -.1   .0    1.2        .8
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .1    .1   .3  -.2   .3   .1   .0    1.6        .9
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .9    .3  -.3  4.2  2.0  -.1  -.6    5.0       9.0
 Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -1.2    .1  -.3 -1.1  -.2   .0  1.6    5.8      -3.1
   Food               .1    .5   .1   .1   .5   .1  -.2    1.7       2.3
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .2   .1   .3   .1   .1   .1     .9       2.1


      For the first three months of 1999, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.5
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 1.6 percent in all of 1998.  While the overall rates of change
 in these two periods were virtually the same, the composition was notably
 different.  The energy index, which decreased 8.8 percent in 1998,
 increased at a 5.8 percent SAAR in the first three months of 1999.
 Petroleum-based energy costs rose at a 12.6 percent SAAR, and charges for
 energy services increased at a 1.0 percent annual rate.  The food index
 increased at a 1.7 percent SAAR thus far in 1999, following a 2.3 percent
 rise in 1998.  Grocery store food prices increased at a 0.5 percent SAAR
 in the first 3 months, as increases in the indexes for dairy products, for
 nonalcoholic beverages, and for cereal and bakery products more than
 offset declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, for meats,
 poultry, fish, and eggs, and for other food at home. The CPI-U excluding
 food and energy advanced at a 0.9 percent SAAR in the first 3 months of
 1999, following a 2.4 percent rise for all of 1998.  Smaller increases in
 the indexes for shelter and for cigarettes coupled with a larger decline
 in the index for apparel were largely responsible for the deceleration.
 The rates for selected groups for the last five and one-quarter years are
 shown below.

                      					 
                              Percentage change
                       	 12 months ended in December      SAAR 3 months
							  ended in March
                       1994   1995   1996   1997   1998     1999
 All items              2.7    2.5    3.3    1.7    1.6      1.5
  Food and beverages    2.7    2.1    4.2    1.6    2.3      1.5
  Housing               2.2    3.0    2.9    2.4    2.3      1.2
  Apparel              -1.6    0.1   -0.2    1.0   -0.7     -6.2
  Transportation        3.8    1.5    4.4   -1.4   -1.7      1.7
  Medical care          4.9    3.9    3.0    2.8    3.4      3.3
  Recreation            1.4    2.8    3.0    1.5    1.2      1.2
  Education and
    communication       3.3    4.0    3.4    3.0    0.7      1.6
  Other goods and
    services            4.2    4.3    3.6    5.2    8.8      5.0

 Special indexes
  Energy                2.2   -1.3    8.6   -3.4   -8.8      5.8
    Energy commodities  5.2   -3.3   13.8   -6.9  -15.1     12.6
    Energy services    -0.6    0.8    3.8    0.2   -3.3      1.0
  All items less energy 2.6    2.9    2.9    2.1    2.4      0.9
  Food                  2.9    2.1    4.3    1.5    2.3      1.7
  All items less
    food and energy     2.6    3.0    2.6    2.2    2.4      0.9

   
      The food and beverages index declined 0.2 percent in March. The index
 for food at home, which rose 0.1 percent in February, decreased 0.5
 percent in March.  The downturn was largely due to another decrease in the
 index for fruits and vegetables--down 2.2 percent in March, following a
 1.1 percent drop in February.  In March, the index for fresh vegetables
 fell 5.2 percent and the index for fresh fruits declined 0.8 percent.  The
 index for processed fruits and vegetables declined 0.2 percent.  Declines
 in the indexes for dairy products, for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, and
 for other food at home also contributed to the March food decrease.   The
 index for dairy products, which increased 9.5 percent in the 7-month
 period ended in February, declined 0.5 percent in March, reflecting sharp
 drops in the basic formula support prices.  The index for meats, poultry,
 fish, and eggs, which rose 0.9 percent in February, turned back down in
 March, declining 0.2 percent.  Prices for beef and veal, pork, and fish
 and seafood each declined in March, while poultry prices rose 0.6 percent,
 their first increase in five months..  Among the other major grocery store
 food groups, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for
 nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively.  The other
 two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and
 alcoholic beverages--rose 0.2 percent and declined 0.1 percent,
 respectively, in March.
      
      The housing component rose 0.2 percent in March.  Shelter costs,
 which increased 0.2 percent in February, advanced 0.3 percent in March.
 Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent rose
 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, while the cost of lodging away from
 home increased 1.8 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the cost of
 lodging while away from home increased 3.6 percent in March and has
 advanced 10.3 percent in the first three months of 1999.)  The index for
 fuels and utilities rose 0.2 percent in March.  The index for household
 fuels increased 0.3 percent, as increases in the indexes for fuel oil and
 for electricity more than offset a 0.1 percent decline in the index for
 natural gas.  The indexes for fuel oil and for electricity increased 0.9
 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  The index for household furnishings and
 operations declined 0.1 percent in March, reflecting discounting on home
 furnishings.
      
      The transportation component turned up in March, increasing 0.7
 percent after registering declines in each of the preceding four months.
 A sharp upturn in the index for motor fuels and another advance in airline
 fares more than offset further declines in the prices for new and used
 vehicles.  The index for gasoline rose 3.7 percent in March, its largest
 monthly advance since a 4.5 percent rise in August 1997.  Despite the
 March advance, gasoline prices have fallen 5.0 percent over the last 12
 months and are 27.8 percent lower than their peak level in November 1990.
 Public transportation costs increased 3.0 percent in March, reflecting a
 4.7 percent rise in airline fares.  In the four-month period ended in
 March, airline fares have risen 10.2 percent.  On the other hand, the
 index for new vehicles fell 0.2 percent and the index for used cars and
 trucks declined 0.6 percent in March.
 
      The index for apparel declined for the fifth consecutive month, down
 0.3 percent in March.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose
 2.3 percent, reflecting further introduction of higher-priced spring-
 summer wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in March to a level 3.5 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.4 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent.  Charges for
 physicians' services and for hospital services each increased 0.2 percent.
 
      The index for recreation costs, which declined 0.1 percent in
 February, was unchanged in March.  A 0.5 percent decline in the index for
 video and audio equipment and services offset small increases in most
 other recreational goods and services.
      
      The index for education and communication was unchanged in March.
 Educational costs rose 0.4 percent, while the index for communication
 declined 0.3 percent.  Within the latter group, decreases in the indexes
 for personal computers and peripheral equipment and for telephone services-
 -down 3.5 and 0.2 percent, respectively--more than offset a 2.8 percent
 increase in the index for delivery services.
 
      The index for other goods and services declined 0.6 percent in March,
 following a 0.1 percent decrease in February.  The index for tobacco and
 smoking products declined for the second consecutive month--down 3.5
 percent in March--following increases totaling 39.6 percent in the 12-
 month period ended in January.  The recent declines reflect discounting of
 selected major brands.
 
 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 0.1 percent in March.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                         Seasonally adjusted         Un-
                                                        Compound   adjusted
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category             1998              1999        3-mos.      ended
                                                          ended
                    Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.  Mar.'99    Mar.'99
 All Items           .1    .2   .2   .2   .2   .0   .1    1.2       1.7
  Food and beverages .1    .4   .2   .1   .4   .1  -.2    1.5       2.2
  Housing            .2    .2   .3   .2   .0   .1   .3    1.5       2.1
  Apparel           -.3    .4  -.1  -.5 -1.1  -.4  -.4   -7.4      -1.4
  Transportation    -.4    .2  -.1  -.5  -.1  -.4   .6     .6       -.7
  Medical care       .3    .2   .2   .2   .3   .2   .3    3.3       3.5
  Recreation         .1   -.3   .1   .1   .4  -.2  -.1     .4        .3
  Education and                                                        
   communication     .2    .1   .3  -.2   .3   .2   .0    2.0       1.0
  Other goods and                                                    
   services         1.3    .2  -.5  5.8  2.5  -.2 -1.0    5.0      11.5
 Special Indexes                                                       
  Energy           -1.1    .2  -.4 -1.3  -.1  -.2  2.0    7.1      -3.3
  Food               .1    .4   .2   .0   .5   .1  -.2    1.7       2.2
  All Items less                                                       
   food and energy   .2    .1   .2   .4   .1   .0   .0     .5       2.1
   
      Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on
 Friday, May 14, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
     
     
 CPI (Old Series)
 
      For the first six months of 1999, BLS will also publish Old Series
 CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the former method of calculating the
 elementary aggregates, that is, employing an arithmetic mean in all index
 categories.  These old series data are contained in tables 1 (LAS)-4
 (LAS).  From February to March, the Old Series CPI-U and the Old Series
 CPI-W rose 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively.  These series are not
 seasonally adjusted.  (The unadjusted CPI-U and CPI-W using the new method
 of calculating the elementary aggregates also rose 0.3 and 0.2 percent,
 respectively, in March.)

 __________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 Consumer Price Index Formula Changed
      
      On April 16, 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its
 decision to use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the
 Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer
 Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This
 change is effective with data for January 1999.
      The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they have
 been. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the new
 formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.
      The geometric mean estimator has been introduced in both the CPI-U
 and the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the
 past practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the former calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
      Additional information on this change was published in the April 1998
 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information also may be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Room 3615, Washington, D.C.
 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000.
      
 Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
      
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     adult daycare
  
 _______________________________________________________________________
    
 
       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 1994 through 1998 were replaced at the end of
       1998.  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.
       
            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 and the motor fuels 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 some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects wholesale
       tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers.  For
       some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis
       Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise
       tax increases.  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
       affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to
       Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.
 


 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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Mar. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     164.5     165.0      1.7      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     492.9     494.4        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     163.8     163.7      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.2    -0.2 
   Food ......................................     15.422     163.3     163.3      2.3      0.0     0.5     0.1    -0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.691     163.8     163.4      2.0     -0.2     0.5     0.1    -0.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.544     183.8     183.5      2.2     -0.2     0.8    -0.4     0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.569     147.0     146.8     -0.3     -0.1    -0.8     0.9    -0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.088     162.3     161.5      8.8     -0.5     2.3     0.7    -0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.440     200.3     199.9      1.9     -0.2     2.2    -1.1    -2.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.049     134.5     134.5      0.2      0.0     0.5     0.2     0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.002     153.3     152.9      2.3     -0.3    -0.2     0.1    -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     151.3     151.0      0.1     -0.2    -0.1    -0.1    -0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .309     150.9     149.4      5.1     -1.0    -2.0     0.2    -0.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.316     168.2     168.1      2.3     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .320     105.9     104.9      3.3     -0.9    -0.8     1.7    -0.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.730     163.8     164.2      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .175     103.7     103.7      3.4      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .986     168.6     168.4      2.0     -0.1     0.1     0.4    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.828     162.3     162.8      2.3      0.3    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     30.283     185.5     186.3      3.0      0.4     0.0     0.2     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.007     175.6     176.0      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.376     110.5     114.5      3.0      3.6    -1.8    -0.5     1.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.529     191.3     191.5      3.0      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .371     100.1     100.2     -0.1      0.1    -0.2     0.4     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.735     126.0     125.9     -0.9     -0.1    -0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.801     110.6     110.5     -1.8     -0.1    -0.4     0.3     0.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .227      86.2      86.2     -8.7      0.0    -0.1    -1.4     1.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.574     118.0     117.9     -1.3     -0.1    -0.4     0.4     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.810     126.7     126.7      0.3      0.0     0.0    -0.2    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     129.7     132.7     -1.6      2.3    -1.1    -0.2    -0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.358     129.9     131.4     -1.6      1.2    -0.5     0.6    -0.8 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.939     120.6     126.3     -2.8      4.7    -1.9    -0.4     0.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     126.4     125.6      1.0     -0.6     0.3    -2.8    -0.6 
   Footwear ..................................       .876     124.8     126.4     -0.1      1.3    -0.9    -1.3     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     16.999     139.8     140.6     -0.6      0.6    -0.1    -0.1     0.7 
   Private transportation ....................     15.653     135.9     136.4     -0.8      0.4    -0.2    -0.3     0.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.843      99.9      99.6     -0.5     -0.3    -0.4    -0.7    -0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      4.983     143.8     143.4     -0.7     -0.3     0.1    -0.3    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.914     148.3     147.4      0.1     -0.6    -1.6    -1.5    -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.493      83.6      86.3     -5.1      3.2     0.0    -0.3     3.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.476      83.1      85.8     -5.0      3.2     0.1    -0.5     3.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .549     100.9     100.1     -1.1     -0.8    -0.1    -0.4    -0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.624     170.4     170.6      3.0      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.346     193.1     198.8      2.6      3.0     1.1     1.4     3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.713     247.7     248.3      3.5      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.252     226.8     227.7      4.2      0.4     0.0     0.2     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      4.461     252.6     253.1      3.4      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
    Professional services (3).................      2.854     226.8     227.4      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.354     296.2     296.6      4.0      0.1     0.6     0.5     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.120     101.8     101.8      0.8      0.0     0.4    -0.1     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.748     101.6     101.2     -0.2     -0.4     0.4    -0.5    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.478     100.9     100.8      0.9     -0.1     0.3     0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.694     105.3     105.4      4.9      0.1     0.3     0.8     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     261.3     261.4      5.6      0.0    -0.7     1.2     0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.492     303.3     303.5      4.8      0.1     0.4     0.7     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.783      96.9      96.6     -2.7     -0.3     0.2    -0.4    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.580      96.5      96.1     -3.2     -0.4     0.0    -0.4    -0.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.327     100.4     100.2     -0.2     -0.2     0.4    -0.3    -0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .253      33.3      32.4    -25.3     -2.7    -2.9    -1.5    -2.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .148      59.7      57.6    -35.1     -3.5    -4.4    -2.8    -3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.624     255.0     253.3      9.0     -0.7     2.0    -0.1    -0.6 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.159     348.7     335.9     32.2     -3.7     6.6    -1.4    -3.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.465     159.4     160.0      2.9      0.4     0.4     0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .742     149.8     150.8      2.4      0.7     0.8    -0.1     0.7 
    Personal care services (1)................       .973     169.3     169.9      3.2      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.491     240.6     241.1      3.6      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.109     142.2     142.6      0.8      0.3     0.2    -0.2    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     163.8     163.7      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.2    -0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.702     129.6     130.2     -0.2      0.5     0.1    -0.4     0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.345     131.9     133.2      0.8      1.0     0.2    -0.2     0.3 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     129.7     132.7     -1.6      2.3    -1.1    -0.2    -0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.514     138.0     138.5      2.1      0.4     0.9    -0.4     0.7 
   Durables ..................................     11.356     126.4     126.0     -1.6     -0.3    -0.3    -0.6    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.891     186.9     187.6      2.6      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.912     193.1     193.9      3.1      0.4     0.0     0.1     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.963     189.3     190.7      1.2      0.7     0.2     0.4     0.8 
  Other services .............................     10.768     221.1     221.3      2.9      0.1     0.5     0.2     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.578     164.7     165.3      1.7      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.717     158.1     158.5      1.3      0.3     0.3     0.0     0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.287     160.0     160.5      1.7      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.688     131.1     131.7     -0.1      0.5     0.0    -0.4     0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.331     134.0     135.3      0.9      1.0     0.1    -0.3     0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.500     140.0     140.5      2.2      0.4     0.9    -0.4     0.7 
 Nondurables .................................     30.753     147.9     148.5      1.6      0.4     0.3    -0.1     0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.979     193.8     194.2      1.9      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.429     180.9     181.5      2.4      0.3     0.0     0.2     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.294      97.3      98.4     -3.1      1.1    -0.2     0.0     1.6 
 All items less energy .......................     93.706     173.2     173.7      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.284     175.7     176.2      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.967     143.7     143.9      0.6      0.1     0.0    -0.4    -0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.720      83.9      86.4     -5.4      3.0     0.0    -0.5     3.5 
   Services less energy services .............     54.316     194.0     194.7      2.8      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .608    $ .606        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .203    $ .202        -        -       -       -       - 

   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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 1998    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  164.4   164.6   164.7   165.0    2.2    1.5    2.0    1.5    1.9    1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  162.8   163.5   163.8   163.4    2.3    2.3    3.0    1.5    2.3    2.2 
   Food ......................................  162.5   163.3   163.5   163.2    2.3    2.5    2.8    1.7    2.4    2.2 
    Food at home .............................  162.7   163.5   163.7   162.9    2.3    1.8    3.5    0.5    2.0    2.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.9   184.4   183.6   183.9    2.5    2.0    2.0    2.2    2.2    2.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.7   145.5   146.8   146.5   -0.3    0.3   -0.5   -0.5    0.0   -0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  157.6   161.2   162.3   161.5   -0.8   13.6   12.9   10.3    6.2   11.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  200.4   204.8   202.6   198.1   12.5   -6.4    8.2   -4.5    2.6    1.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.8   133.4   133.7   133.9   -1.8   -2.1    1.8    3.4   -1.9    2.6 
     Other food at home ......................  153.2   152.9   153.1   152.8    2.7    6.0    1.8   -1.0    4.3    0.4 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  151.3   151.1   151.0   150.6   -0.5    1.1    1.9   -1.8    0.3    0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  153.2   150.2   150.5   149.1    3.4   29.0    1.8  -10.3   15.5   -4.4 
      Other foods ............................  167.4   167.6   167.9   167.9    3.2    2.7    2.2    1.2    2.9    1.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  104.9   104.1   105.9   104.9    4.0    4.4    5.1    0.0    4.2    2.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  163.0   163.5   163.8   164.2    2.0    3.5    2.2    3.0    2.8    2.6 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  103.3   103.5   103.7   103.7    2.8    6.9    2.4    1.6    4.8    2.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  167.5   167.6   168.3   168.1    1.5    2.4    2.7    1.4    2.0    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  162.0   161.9   162.1   162.5    2.8    2.3    2.5    1.2    2.5    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  184.6   184.6   184.9   185.4    3.6    3.6    3.1    1.7    3.6    2.4 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  174.9   175.3   175.6   176.0    3.6    3.5    3.7    2.5    3.6    3.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  103.8   101.9   101.4   103.2    6.5    8.1    0.0   -2.3    7.3   -1.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  190.6   190.8   191.3   191.5    3.5    3.2    3.2    1.9    3.4    2.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.9    99.7   100.1   100.2   -4.7    0.4    2.9    1.2   -2.2    2.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.0   126.8   127.1   127.4   -0.9   -4.0   -0.3    1.3   -2.5    0.5 
    Fuels ....................................  111.2   110.8   111.1   111.4   -1.8   -5.2   -0.7    0.7   -3.5    0.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   84.9    84.8    83.6    84.4   -7.6   -9.8  -14.1   -2.3   -8.7   -8.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  119.1   118.6   119.1   119.4   -1.3   -4.9    0.0    1.0   -3.1    0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  127.0   127.0   126.7   126.6    1.3   -0.3    1.9   -1.3    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.3   130.8   130.6   130.2    1.8    0.3   -2.7   -6.2    1.1   -4.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.0   130.3   131.1   130.1   -1.5   -2.7    0.3   -2.7   -2.1   -1.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.6   122.2   121.7   122.2    3.5    1.9   -8.2   -7.5    2.7   -7.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  129.6   130.0   126.4   125.6    1.0    0.6   15.9  -11.8    0.8    1.1 
   Footwear ..................................  128.2   127.1   125.5   126.4    5.5    1.3   -1.2   -5.5    3.3   -3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.6   140.4   140.2   141.2   -1.4   -0.8   -1.4    1.7   -1.1    0.1 
   Private transportation ....................  137.1   136.8   136.4   137.1   -0.6   -1.4   -1.2    0.0   -1.0   -0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.9   100.5    99.8    99.6    0.4    2.4    0.8   -5.1    1.4   -2.2 
     New vehicles ............................  143.4   143.5   143.0   142.7   -2.5    2.5   -0.6   -1.9    0.0   -1.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  153.1   150.6   148.3   147.4   10.1    2.7    3.2  -14.1    6.3   -5.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................   86.4    86.4    86.1    89.2   -6.2  -13.9  -11.6   13.6  -10.2    0.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   85.9    86.0    85.6    88.8   -6.7  -14.0  -11.2   14.2  -10.4    0.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.1   101.0   100.6   100.0    0.4    0.0   -0.4   -4.3    0.2   -2.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  169.6   169.8   170.2   170.6    2.4    3.4    3.6    2.4    2.9    3.0 
   Public transportation (1)..................  188.4   190.4   193.1   198.8  -10.9    4.3   -3.7   24.0   -3.6    9.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  246.1   246.9   247.5   248.1    4.1    3.9    2.8    3.3    4.0    3.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  226.1   226.2   226.6   227.5    6.0    5.3    3.1    2.5    5.7    2.8 
   Medical care services .....................  250.3   251.3   252.1   252.6    3.6    3.5    2.6    3.7    3.5    3.2 
    Professional services (3).................  225.4   226.1   226.4   227.0    4.2    2.9    2.7    2.9    3.6    2.8 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  291.7   293.5   295.0   296.0    3.0    4.0    2.9    6.0    3.5    4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.2   101.6   101.5   101.5    1.2    0.8    0.0    1.2    1.0    0.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.3   101.7   101.2   100.7    0.8    2.0   -1.2   -2.3    1.4   -1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.7   101.0   101.1   101.1    2.4   -1.2    0.8    1.6    0.6    1.2 
   Education (2)..............................  104.7   105.0   105.8   106.2    5.2    4.0    4.7    5.9    4.6    5.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  258.2   256.4   259.4   260.3    5.6    5.6    8.0    3.3    5.6    5.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   300.0   301.2   303.3   304.4    5.1    3.7    4.5    6.0    4.4    5.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   97.1    97.3    96.9    96.6    0.4   -5.9   -3.2   -2.0   -2.8   -2.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   96.9    96.9    96.5    96.1    0.0   -6.3   -3.2   -3.3   -3.2   -3.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.3   100.7   100.4   100.2    4.0   -2.7   -1.6   -0.4    0.6   -1.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   34.8    33.8    33.3    32.4  -23.4  -33.2  -19.2  -24.9  -28.5  -22.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   64.2    61.4    59.7    57.6  -33.8  -46.2  -22.8  -35.2  -40.4  -29.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  251.0   255.9   255.6   254.1    7.2    6.6   17.7    5.0    6.9   11.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  331.9   353.9   349.0   336.9   22.8   25.4   87.1    6.2   24.1   40.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................  158.3   158.9   159.4   160.0    3.4    1.8    2.0    4.4    2.6    3.2 
    Personal care products (1)................  148.7   149.9   149.8   150.8    5.3   -0.3   -1.1    5.8    2.5    2.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  168.3   168.8   169.3   169.9    1.5    4.4    2.9    3.9    2.9    3.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  238.8   239.4   240.4   240.7    3.3    3.6    4.1    3.2    3.5    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.5   142.8   142.5   142.4    1.1    0.6    1.4   -0.3    0.9    0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  162.8   163.5   163.8   163.4    2.3    2.3    3.0    1.5    2.3    2.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.5   130.6   130.1   130.1    0.6   -0.6    0.3   -1.2    0.0   -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.8   133.0   132.7   133.1    2.1   -0.9    1.2    0.9    0.6    1.1 
    Apparel ..................................  132.3   130.8   130.6   130.2    1.8    0.3   -2.7   -6.2    1.1   -4.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  138.0   139.3   138.7   139.7    2.1   -1.2    3.0    5.0    0.4    4.0 
   Durables ..................................  127.2   126.8   126.0   125.7   -0.9    0.0   -0.6   -4.6   -0.5   -2.7 
 Services ....................................  186.3   186.5   186.9   187.5    2.7    2.4    2.4    2.6    2.5    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  192.5   192.5   192.7   193.4    3.9    3.9    3.0    1.9    3.9    2.4 
  Transportation services ....................  188.1   188.4   189.1   190.6   -2.1    0.9    0.6    5.4   -0.6    3.0 
  Other services .............................  219.8   220.8   221.3   221.6    3.6    2.2    2.2    3.3    2.9    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  164.6   164.7   164.8   165.2    2.0    1.5    1.7    1.5    1.7    1.6 
 All items less shelter ......................  158.0   158.4   158.4   158.5    1.3    0.8    1.5    1.3    1.0    1.4 
 All items less medical care .................  159.7   159.9   159.9   160.2    1.8    1.5    2.0    1.3    1.7    1.6 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.2   132.2   131.7   131.8    0.3   -0.3    0.6   -1.2    0.0   -0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.9   135.1   134.7   135.2    1.8   -0.3    1.2    0.9    0.7    1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.9   141.1   140.5   141.5    2.3   -1.1    3.2    4.7    0.6    3.9 
 Nondurables .................................  147.8   148.3   148.2   148.5    2.5    0.3    1.9    1.9    1.4    1.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  193.3   193.5   193.8   194.4    2.3    1.3    1.9    2.3    1.8    2.1 
 Services less medical care services .........  180.5   180.5   180.9   181.4    3.0    2.3    2.7    2.0    2.6    2.4 
 Energy ......................................   99.0    98.8    98.8   100.4   -3.4   -9.0   -5.1    5.8   -6.3    0.2 
 All items less energy .......................  173.0   173.2   173.3   173.4    2.6    2.4    2.6    0.9    2.5    1.8 
  All items less food and energy .............  175.6   175.7   175.8   176.0    2.6    2.3    2.5    0.9    2.5    1.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.4   144.4   143.8   143.3    1.7    1.1    2.5   -3.0    1.4   -0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................   86.2    86.2    85.8    88.8   -6.2  -13.6  -12.0   12.6  -10.0   -0.4 
   Services less energy services .............  193.1   193.4   193.8   194.4    2.8    3.0    2.5    2.7    2.9    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)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Mar.1999 from--      Feb.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1999   1999   1999   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    163.9  164.3  164.5  165.0    1.7    0.4    0.3    1.6    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    171.2  171.4  171.6  171.9    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.5    0.2    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    172.2  172.5  172.4  172.8    1.5    0.2    0.2    1.4    0.1   -0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.5  102.6  103.0  103.2    1.5    0.6    0.2    1.6    0.5    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    159.8  160.4  160.5  161.0    1.6    0.4    0.3    1.6    0.4    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.0  161.6  161.8  162.4    1.8    0.5    0.4    1.8    0.5    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  102.6  102.6  103.0    1.4    0.4    0.4    1.0    0.3    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    155.0  155.5  155.6  155.7    1.8    0.1    0.1    1.9    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.6  159.9  160.0  160.6    1.5    0.4    0.4    1.4    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.3  158.9  158.9  159.7    1.6    0.5    0.5    1.4    0.4    0.0 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.8  102.9  103.0  103.3    1.5    0.4    0.3    1.4    0.2    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.4  160.8  160.9  161.5    2.0    0.4    0.4    1.9    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    165.8  166.4  166.9  167.3    2.4    0.5    0.2    2.3    0.7    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    166.5  167.3  167.8  168.2    2.7    0.5    0.2    2.6    0.8    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.4  103.6  103.8  104.1    1.8    0.5    0.3    1.5    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    148.4  148.9  149.0  149.5    2.0    0.4    0.3    1.8    0.4    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.7  102.9  103.0  103.3    1.5    0.4    0.3    1.3    0.3    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    160.2  160.6  160.7  161.1    1.9    0.3    0.2    1.8    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    165.1  166.1  166.4  167.0    1.8    0.5    0.4    2.0    0.8    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    163.5  164.2  164.6  165.0    2.2    0.5    0.2    2.2    0.7    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    174.7  175.0  175.1  175.5    1.4    0.3    0.2    1.4    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  174.1      -  174.8    2.0    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  160.6      -  161.2    1.6    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  155.0      -  156.4    2.2    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  102.8      -  103.2    1.6    0.4      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    161.6      -  161.9      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.2      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    161.2      -  161.2      -      -      -      -    1.7    0.0      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.1      -  146.6      -      -      -      -    0.3    0.3      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    161.1      -  161.4      -      -      -      -    0.7    0.2      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    169.0      -  168.6      -      -      -      -    1.0   -0.2      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    167.4      -  169.4      -      -      -      -    3.8    1.2      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    169.4      -  170.6      -      -      -      -    2.5    0.7      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in 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; 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.

 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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Mar. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     161.1     161.4      1.7      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     479.8     480.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.0     162.9      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.1    -0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.966     162.6     162.6      2.2      0.0     0.5     0.1    -0.2 
    Food at home .............................     10.832     162.6     162.3      1.9     -0.2     0.6     0.1    -0.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.689     183.5     183.2      2.2     -0.2     0.8    -0.4     0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.055     146.7     146.4     -0.3     -0.2    -0.8     1.0    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.193     162.2     161.5      9.0     -0.4     2.4     0.7    -0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.492     199.3     198.7      2.0     -0.3     2.6    -1.4    -2.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.184     133.4     133.6      0.4      0.1     0.6     0.2     0.2 
     Other food at home ......................      2.220     152.6     152.3      2.3     -0.2    -0.2     0.1    -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     151.3     151.1      0.1     -0.1    -0.1    -0.2    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .354     150.6     148.9      4.9     -1.1    -1.8     0.2    -1.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.446     168.1     168.0      2.3     -0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .355     105.9     105.0      3.1     -0.8    -0.7     1.6    -0.8 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.133     163.8     164.1      2.6      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .216     103.7     103.8      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.045     167.6     167.3      2.0     -0.2     0.1     0.5    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.685     158.4     158.8      2.1      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.3 
   Shelter ...................................     27.496     179.9     180.5      3.0      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.500     175.3     175.6      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.379     110.3     114.2      3.1      3.5    -2.1    -0.5     1.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.296     174.2     174.5      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .320     100.4     100.6      0.1      0.2    -0.2     0.3     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.850     125.8     125.8     -0.9      0.0    -0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Fuels ....................................      3.928     110.2     110.0     -1.7     -0.2    -0.3     0.1     0.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .201      86.8      86.8     -8.1      0.0     0.0    -1.4     1.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.727     117.5     117.3     -1.3     -0.2    -0.3     0.2     0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.339     124.8     124.9     -0.1      0.1    -0.1    -0.3    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.199     128.5     131.1     -1.4      2.0    -1.1    -0.4    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.474     129.9     131.6     -0.9      1.3    -0.7     0.8    -0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.948     118.8     123.9     -2.7      4.3    -1.9    -0.9     0.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .344     127.2     126.5      1.6     -0.6    -0.1    -2.8    -0.6 
   Footwear ..................................      1.057     125.4     126.8     -0.2      1.1    -0.9    -1.2     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.166     138.3     139.1     -0.7      0.6    -0.1    -0.4     0.6 
   Private transportation ....................     18.109     135.6     136.2     -0.9      0.4    -0.2    -0.5     0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.250      99.9      99.5     -0.5     -0.4    -0.5    -0.9    -0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.224     145.0     144.5     -0.8     -0.3     0.1    -0.5    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.216     149.6     148.7     -0.1     -0.6    -1.6    -1.4    -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.066      83.5      86.4     -5.1      3.5     0.2    -0.6     4.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.045      83.0      85.9     -5.1      3.5     0.2    -0.5     3.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .682     100.5      99.8     -0.9     -0.7     0.0    -0.2    -0.5 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.690     171.8     172.0      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.056     189.1     194.1      2.1      2.6     0.9     1.2     2.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.672     246.9     247.5      3.5      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .926     223.2     223.9      3.9      0.3     0.0     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care services .....................      3.746     252.3     252.8      3.4      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Professional services (3).................      2.415     228.3     228.9      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.114     292.4     292.8      4.1      0.1     0.8     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.925     101.3     101.3      0.3      0.0     0.4    -0.2    -0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.951     101.4     101.0     -0.4     -0.4     0.4    -0.6    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.361     101.2     101.0      1.0     -0.2     0.3     0.2     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.478     105.5     105.6      5.1      0.1     0.4     0.8     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .200     263.9     264.0      5.6      0.0    -0.6     1.2     0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.278     297.8     298.0      5.0      0.1     0.4     0.8     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.883      97.7      97.4     -2.1     -0.3     0.3    -0.4    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.733      97.4      97.1     -2.4     -0.3     0.1    -0.4    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.519     100.5     100.4      0.0     -0.1     0.4    -0.3    -0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .213      34.4      33.5    -25.2     -2.6    -2.8    -1.7    -2.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .120      59.3      56.9    -35.6     -4.0    -4.5    -2.9    -4.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.981     258.3     255.6     11.5     -1.0     2.5    -0.2    -1.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.694     348.9     336.0     32.4     -3.7     6.4    -1.3    -3.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.287     159.6     160.3      3.1      0.4     0.5     0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .838     150.8     151.6      2.3      0.5     0.7     0.1     0.5 
    Personal care services (1)................       .975     169.6     170.2      3.2      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.253     240.8     241.4      4.2      0.2     0.5     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.764     142.2     142.5      1.0      0.2     0.2    -0.3    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.0     162.9      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.1    -0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.753     129.9     130.3      0.2      0.3     0.1    -0.5     0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.564     131.8     133.1      1.4      1.0     0.4    -0.5     0.5 
    Apparel ..................................      5.199     128.5     131.1     -1.4      2.0    -1.1    -0.4    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.365     138.2     138.7      2.9      0.4     1.2    -0.5     0.7 
   Durables ..................................     13.189     126.1     125.7     -1.4     -0.3    -0.4    -0.7    -0.3 
 Services ....................................     53.236     183.5     184.0      2.4      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.175     173.2     173.8      3.1      0.3     0.0     0.2     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.800     186.8     187.8      1.1      0.5     0.1     0.3     0.6 
  Other services .............................     10.144     217.7     217.8      2.8      0.0     0.5     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.034     160.6     161.1      1.6      0.3     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.504     155.8     156.1      1.2      0.2     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.328     157.1     157.5      1.7      0.3     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.798     131.3     131.8      0.2      0.4     0.1    -0.5     0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.609     134.0     135.1      1.4      0.8     0.4    -0.5     0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.410     140.0     140.5      2.9      0.4     0.9    -0.4     0.6 
 Nondurables .................................     33.575     147.7     148.3      1.9      0.4     0.3    -0.1     0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.061     172.3     172.6      1.8      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.490     177.8     178.2      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.994      96.1      97.5     -3.3      1.5    -0.1    -0.2     2.0 
 All items less energy .......................     93.006     170.0     170.2      2.1      0.1     0.2     0.0    -0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.040     171.9     172.2      2.1      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.531     143.7     143.7      1.0      0.0     0.0    -0.5    -0.5 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.267      83.8      86.6     -5.3      3.3     0.2    -0.7     3.7 
   Services less energy services .............     49.509     190.9     191.5      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .621    $ .619        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .208    $ .208        -        -       -       -       - 

   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)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 1998    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  161.0   161.3   161.3   161.5    2.0    1.5    2.3    1.2    1.8    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  162.2   162.9   163.1   162.8    2.0    2.5    2.8    1.5    2.3    2.1 
   Food ......................................  161.7   162.5   162.7   162.4    2.0    2.5    2.5    1.7    2.3    2.1 
    Food at home .............................  161.5   162.4   162.6   161.9    2.0    2.0    2.8    1.0    2.0    1.9 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.6   184.0   183.3   183.6    2.5    2.7    1.3    2.2    2.6    1.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.2   145.1   146.5   146.1   -0.3    0.3   -1.1   -0.3    0.0   -0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  157.4   161.1   162.2   161.5   -1.1   13.9   13.2   10.8    6.2   12.0 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  199.9   205.0   202.1   197.7   12.8   -6.7    8.4   -4.3    2.6    1.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.5   132.3   132.5   132.8   -1.8   -2.1    1.5    4.0   -2.0    2.8 
     Other food at home ......................  152.5   152.2   152.4   152.1    2.7    5.7    1.9   -1.0    4.2    0.4 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  151.3   151.2   150.9   150.7   -1.1    1.1    2.1   -1.6    0.0    0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................  152.6   149.8   150.1   148.5    4.3   27.3    1.9  -10.3   15.2   -4.4 
      Other foods ............................  167.2   167.5   167.8   167.8    3.2    2.7    1.7    1.4    2.9    1.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  104.9   104.2   105.9   105.0    2.8    4.8    4.7    0.4    3.8    2.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  163.0   163.5   163.8   164.1    2.3    3.0    2.5    2.7    2.6    2.6 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  103.4   103.6   103.7   103.8    2.8    7.3    2.4    1.6    5.0    2.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  166.5   166.7   167.5   166.9    1.5    2.7    2.9    1.0    2.1    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  158.2   158.2   158.4   158.8    2.3    2.1    2.6    1.5    2.2    2.0 
   Shelter ...................................  179.2   179.3   179.7   180.2    3.5    3.2    3.2    2.3    3.3    2.7 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  174.5   174.9   175.3   175.6    3.3    3.5    3.8    2.5    3.4    3.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  104.1   101.9   101.4   103.0    6.6    6.9    3.5   -4.2    6.7   -0.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  173.5   173.8   174.2   174.6    3.3    3.1    2.8    2.6    3.2    2.7 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.3   100.1   100.4   100.6   -4.7    0.4    3.7    1.2   -2.2    2.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  126.8   126.5   126.7   127.2   -0.9   -4.0    0.0    1.3   -2.5    0.6 
    Fuels ....................................  110.6   110.3   110.4   110.9   -1.8   -5.2   -0.7    1.1   -3.5    0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   85.3    85.3    84.1    85.0   -5.9  -10.5  -13.7   -1.4   -8.3   -7.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.4   118.1   118.3   118.8   -1.3   -5.2    0.0    1.4   -3.3    0.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.3   125.2   124.8   124.6    0.6   -0.3    1.3   -2.2    0.2   -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.4   129.9   129.4   128.9    2.2    0.6   -0.6   -7.4    1.4   -4.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.9   130.0   131.1   130.5   -0.6   -3.6    1.9   -1.2   -2.1    0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  123.5   121.1   120.0   120.0    3.0    3.6   -5.6  -10.9    3.3   -8.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  130.9   130.8   127.2   126.5    2.9    1.3   17.2  -12.8    2.1    1.1 
   Footwear ..................................  128.8   127.7   126.2   126.8    5.5    1.6   -1.5   -6.1    3.5   -3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  139.4   139.2   138.7   139.6   -0.6   -1.7   -1.4    0.6   -1.1   -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................  137.0   136.7   136.0   136.8   -0.3   -1.7   -1.2   -0.6   -1.0   -0.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  101.1   100.6    99.7    99.5    1.2    2.0    1.2   -6.2    1.6   -2.6 
     New vehicles ............................  144.7   144.8   144.1   143.8   -2.7    2.2    0.0   -2.5   -0.3   -1.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  154.3   151.8   149.6   148.7    9.7    2.4    2.9  -13.7    6.0   -5.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................   86.3    86.5    86.0    89.4   -5.4  -15.0  -12.0   15.2  -10.3    0.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   85.8    86.0    85.6    88.9   -6.3  -14.7  -12.1   15.3  -10.6    0.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.4   100.4   100.2    99.7   -0.4    0.0   -0.4   -2.8   -0.2   -1.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  170.9   171.2   171.6   172.0    2.7    3.6    3.8    2.6    3.1    3.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................  185.1   186.8   189.1   194.1   -9.5    2.2   -3.0   20.9   -3.9    8.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  245.2   245.9   246.4   247.2    4.3    3.7    2.7    3.3    4.0    3.0 
   Medical care commodities ..................  222.6   222.6   223.0   223.6    5.9    5.4    2.6    1.8    5.7    2.2 
   Medical care services .....................  250.1   251.0   251.5   252.3    4.0    3.3    2.6    3.6    3.6    3.1 
    Professional services (3).................  227.0   227.7   228.0   228.5    4.4    3.1    2.7    2.7    3.7    2.7 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  287.6   289.9   291.2   292.2    3.0    3.9    2.7    6.6    3.4    4.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.8   101.2   101.0   100.9    0.4    0.8   -0.4    0.4    0.6    0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.6   101.0   100.5    0.4    2.0   -1.2   -2.7    1.2   -2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.9   101.2   101.4   101.4    2.8   -1.2    0.8    2.0    0.8    1.4 
   Education (2)..............................  104.7   105.1   105.9   106.3    5.2    4.0    4.7    6.3    4.6    5.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  260.5   259.0   262.1   263.0    5.1    5.2    8.2    3.9    5.1    6.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   294.2   295.5   297.8   298.9    4.9    3.9    4.6    6.5    4.4    5.6 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   97.8    98.1    97.7    97.4    1.2   -5.1   -2.8   -1.6   -2.0   -2.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   97.7    97.8    97.4    97.1    1.2   -5.5   -2.8   -2.4   -2.2   -2.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.4   100.8   100.5   100.4    4.0   -2.3   -1.6    0.0    0.8   -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   36.0    35.0    34.4    33.5  -24.2  -30.2  -21.1  -25.0  -27.3  -23.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   64.0    61.1    59.3    56.9  -34.3  -43.3  -26.0  -37.5  -38.9  -32.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  253.0   259.3   258.7   256.1    8.8    9.2   23.9    5.0    9.0   14.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  332.6   353.8   349.3   337.0   22.6   26.5   88.1    5.4   24.5   40.8 
   Personal care (1)..........................  158.3   159.1   159.6   160.3    3.4    2.3    1.5    5.2    2.8    3.3 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.6   150.7   150.8   151.6    5.8   -0.5   -1.3    5.5    2.6    2.0 
    Personal care services (1)................  168.6   169.1   169.6   170.2    1.7    4.4    2.9    3.9    3.1    3.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  238.4   239.5   240.4   240.9    3.5    4.7    4.1    4.3    4.1    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.6   142.9   142.5   142.4    1.4    0.6    2.3   -0.6    1.0    0.8 
  Food and beverages .........................  162.2   162.9   163.1   162.8    2.0    2.5    2.8    1.5    2.3    2.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.9   131.0   130.3   130.3    0.9   -0.6    1.9   -1.8    0.2    0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.8   133.3   132.6   133.2    2.1   -0.3    2.8    1.2    0.9    2.0 
    Apparel ..................................  131.4   129.9   129.4   128.9    2.2    0.6   -0.6   -7.4    1.4   -4.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  138.2   139.8   139.1   140.1    2.4   -1.5    5.4    5.6    0.4    5.5 
   Durables ..................................  127.2   126.7   125.8   125.4   -0.3    0.3   -0.3   -5.5    0.0   -3.0 
 Services ....................................  182.9   183.1   183.5   184.1    2.7    2.0    2.4    2.7    2.4    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  172.8   172.8   173.1   173.5    3.9    3.3    3.5    1.6    3.6    2.6 
  Transportation services ....................  185.7   185.9   186.5   187.7   -1.1    0.2    0.9    4.4   -0.4    2.6 
  Other services .............................  216.4   217.4   217.8   218.2    3.8    2.1    2.1    3.4    2.9    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  160.5   160.7   160.6   160.9    2.0    1.3    2.0    1.0    1.6    1.5 
 All items less shelter ......................  155.9   156.2   156.0   156.1    1.6    0.5    2.1    0.5    1.0    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  157.0   157.3   157.2   157.4    1.8    1.3    2.3    1.0    1.6    1.7 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.5   132.6   131.9   131.9    1.2   -0.6    1.8   -1.8    0.3    0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.7   135.3   134.6   135.2    2.1   -0.6    2.7    1.5    0.8    2.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  140.0   141.3   140.8   141.6    2.9   -1.4    5.3    4.7    0.7    5.0 
 Nondurables .................................  147.6   148.1   148.0   148.3    2.5    0.8    2.2    1.9    1.7    2.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  171.9   172.1   172.3   172.8    2.4    1.2    1.4    2.1    1.8    1.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  177.4   177.5   177.8   178.2    2.8    2.3    2.5    1.8    2.5    2.2 
 Energy ......................................   98.0    97.9    97.7    99.7   -3.4   -9.8   -5.9    7.1   -6.7    0.4 
 All items less energy .......................  169.7   170.1   170.1   170.0    2.4    2.4    2.9    0.7    2.4    1.8 
  All items less food and energy .............  171.9   172.1   172.1   172.1    2.6    2.4    2.8    0.5    2.5    1.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.6   144.6   143.9   143.2    2.0    1.7    4.0   -3.8    1.8    0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................   86.3    86.5    85.9    89.1   -5.4  -14.7  -12.0   13.6  -10.2    0.0 
   Services less energy services .............  190.3   190.6   191.0   191.6    2.8    2.8    2.6    2.8    2.8    2.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series 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)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Mar.1999 from--      Feb.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1999   1999   1999   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    160.7  161.0  161.1  161.4    1.7    0.2    0.2    1.6    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.2  168.4  168.3  168.5    1.5    0.1    0.1    1.4    0.1   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    168.2  168.5  168.1  168.3    1.5   -0.1    0.1    1.4   -0.1   -0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.3  102.4  102.6  102.8    1.5    0.4    0.2    1.5    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    156.0  156.6  156.5  156.9    1.6    0.2    0.3    1.5    0.3   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    156.5  157.1  157.2  157.5    1.8    0.3    0.2    1.9    0.4    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.0  102.3  102.2  102.6    1.3    0.3    0.4    0.8    0.2   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.3  153.6  153.4  153.4    1.8   -0.1    0.0    1.7    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.9  158.0  158.4    1.5    0.3    0.3    1.5    0.1    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.0  156.4  156.4  156.9    1.4    0.3    0.3    1.4    0.3    0.0 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.5  102.5  102.6  102.8    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.5    0.1    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.8  161.1  161.0  161.5    2.1    0.2    0.3    1.9    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    161.8  162.4  162.7  163.2    2.4    0.5    0.3    2.1    0.6    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.8  161.6  161.9  162.3    2.7    0.4    0.2    2.5    0.7    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.3  103.4  103.6  104.0    1.9    0.6    0.4    1.4    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    146.9  147.4  147.4  147.7    1.9    0.2    0.2    1.8    0.3    0.0 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.5  102.6  102.6  102.9    1.5    0.3    0.3    1.3    0.1    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    159.2  159.6  159.4  159.8    1.9    0.1    0.3    1.7    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    159.6  160.5  160.6  161.1    1.8    0.4    0.3    2.0    0.6    0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    157.2  157.8  158.1  158.3    2.1    0.3    0.1    2.0    0.6    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    170.5  170.8  170.6  170.8    1.5    0.0    0.1    1.4    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  172.2      -  172.3    1.8    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  152.7      -  152.9    1.9    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  154.6      -  155.8    2.0    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  102.7      -  102.8    1.5    0.1      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    158.8      -  159.1      -      -      -      -    1.6    0.2      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    155.9      -  155.8      -      -      -      -    1.9   -0.1      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    144.8      -  145.0      -      -      -      -    0.2    0.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    158.7      -  158.8      -      -      -      -    1.0    0.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    168.5      -  167.8      -      -      -      -    1.0   -0.4      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    163.7      -  165.7      -      -      -      -    3.8    1.2      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    164.9      -  166.0      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.7      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in 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; 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.

 Table 1(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes         Mar. 1999 from-  
                     CPI-U                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Feb.      Mar.      Mar.      Feb.  
                                                               1999      1999      1998      1999  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     164.7     165.2       1.8       0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     493.3     494.9         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     163.8     163.7       2.2      -0.1 
   Food ......................................      15.422     163.4     163.3       2.3      -0.1 
    Food at home .............................       9.691     163.8     163.5       2.1      -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.544     183.8     183.4       2.1      -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       2.569     147.3     147.0      -0.1      -0.2 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.088     162.2     161.4       8.8      -0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.440     200.4     200.4       2.2       0.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.049     134.4     134.4       0.1       0.0 
     Other food at home ......................       2.002     153.1     152.8       2.2      -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .377     151.2     151.0       0.1      -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .309     150.6     149.1       4.9      -1.0 
      Other foods ............................       1.316     168.1     168.0       2.3      -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .320     105.8     104.9       3.3      -0.9 
    Food away from home ......................       5.730     163.9     164.2       2.7       0.2 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .175     103.7     103.7       3.4       0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................        .986     168.6     168.4       2.0      -0.1 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      39.828     162.4     163.0       2.4       0.4 
   Shelter ...................................      30.283     185.6     186.5       3.2       0.5 
    Rent of primary residence ................       7.007     175.6     176.0       3.3       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       2.376     111.3     116.1       4.4       4.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      20.529     191.3     191.5       3.0       0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .371     100.1     100.2      -0.1       0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.735     126.0     125.9      -0.9      -0.1 
    Fuels ....................................       3.801     110.6     110.5      -1.8      -0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .227      86.2      86.2      -8.7       0.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.574     118.0     117.9      -1.3      -0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.810     126.8     127.0       0.6       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       4.831     130.9     133.7      -0.9       2.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.358     130.6     132.0      -1.2       1.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.939     122.4     127.9      -1.5       4.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .272     127.0     125.6       1.0      -1.1 
   Footwear ..................................        .876     125.8     127.2       0.6       1.1 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      16.999     139.8     140.7      -0.5       0.6 
   Private transportation ....................      15.653     135.9     136.5      -0.7       0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       7.843      99.9      99.7      -0.4      -0.2 
     New vehicles ............................       4.983     143.8     143.4      -0.7      -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       1.914     148.4     147.5       0.1      -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................       2.493      83.6      86.3      -5.1       3.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       2.476      83.1      85.8      -5.0       3.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .549     100.9     100.3      -0.9      -0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.624     170.4     170.6       3.0       0.1 
   Public transportation .....................       1.346     192.6     198.4       2.4       3.0 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       5.713     247.7     248.4       3.6       0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       1.252     226.9     228.1       4.4       0.5 
   Medical care services .....................       4.461     252.6     253.1       3.4       0.2 
    Professional services ....................       2.854     226.8     227.4       3.2       0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.354     296.2     296.6       4.0       0.1 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       6.120     102.0     102.0       1.0       0.0 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.748     101.5     101.1      -0.3      -0.4 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.478     100.9     100.8       0.9      -0.1 
   Education (1)..............................       2.694     105.3     105.4       4.9       0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .203     260.9     261.1       5.5       0.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.492     303.2     303.4       4.8       0.1 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.783      97.0      96.7      -2.6      -0.3 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.580      96.5      96.2      -3.1      -0.3 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.327     100.4     100.3      -0.1      -0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .253      33.3      32.5     -25.1      -2.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .148      59.8      57.7     -34.9      -3.5 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.624     254.8     253.3       9.0      -0.6 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.159     347.8     335.8      32.2      -3.5 
   Personal care .............................       3.465     159.4     160.1       3.0       0.4 
    Personal care products ...................        .742     149.3     150.2       2.0       0.6 
    Personal care services ...................        .973     169.4     170.1       3.3       0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.491     240.9     241.5       3.7       0.2 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      42.109     142.4     142.8       0.9       0.3 
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     163.8     163.7       2.2      -0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      25.702     129.8     130.4       0.0       0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      14.345     132.3     133.6       1.1       1.0 
    Apparel ..................................       4.831     130.9     133.7      -0.9       2.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................       9.514     137.9     138.6       2.2       0.5 
   Durables ..................................      11.356     126.5     126.1      -1.5      -0.3 
 Services ....................................      57.891     187.0     187.7       2.6       0.4 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      29.912     193.2     194.2       3.2       0.5 
  Transportation services ....................       6.963     189.4     190.7       1.2       0.7 
  Other services .............................      10.768     221.2     221.5       3.0       0.1 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      84.578     164.9     165.6       1.8       0.4 
 All items less shelter ......................      69.717     158.2     158.6       1.3       0.3 
 All items less medical care .................      94.287     160.1     160.6       1.8       0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................      26.688     131.4     132.0       0.2       0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................      15.331     134.4     135.7       1.2       1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      10.500     139.9     140.6       2.3       0.5 
 Nondurables .................................      30.753     148.1     148.8       1.8       0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      27.979     193.8     194.3       1.9       0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........      53.429     181.0     181.7       2.5       0.4 
 Energy ......................................       6.294      97.3      98.5      -3.1       1.2 
 All items less energy .......................      93.706     173.4     173.9       2.2       0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............      78.284     175.9     176.5       2.3       0.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      23.967     144.0     144.2       0.8       0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................       2.720      83.9      86.4      -5.4       3.0 
   Services less energy services .............      54.316     194.1     194.9       2.9       0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .607    $ .605         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .203    $ .202         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1982=100 base.
   3 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(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): U.S.
 city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes         Mar. 1999 from-  
                     CPI-W                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Feb.      Mar.      Mar.      Feb.  
                                                               1999      1999      1998      1999  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     161.2     161.6       1.8       0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     480.1     481.3         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     163.1     163.0       2.3      -0.1 
   Food ......................................      16.966     162.7     162.6       2.2      -0.1 
    Food at home .............................      10.832     162.6     162.3       1.9      -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.689     183.4     183.1       2.1      -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       3.055     146.9     146.6      -0.2      -0.2 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.193     162.1     161.3       8.9      -0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.492     199.3     199.2       2.3      -0.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.184     133.3     133.4       0.2       0.1 
     Other food at home ......................       2.220     152.5     152.1       2.1      -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .420     151.1     151.1       0.1       0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .354     150.2     148.7       4.8      -1.0 
      Other foods ............................       1.446     167.9     167.8       2.1      -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .355     105.7     104.9       3.0      -0.8 
    Food away from home ......................       6.133     163.9     164.2       2.7       0.2 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .216     103.7     103.8       3.5       0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       1.045     167.7     167.3       2.0      -0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      36.685     158.5     158.9       2.2       0.3 
   Shelter ...................................      27.496     180.0     180.6       3.1       0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................       8.500     175.3     175.6       3.3       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       1.379     111.0     115.2       4.0       3.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      17.296     174.2     174.5       2.9       0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .320     100.4     100.6       0.1       0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.850     125.8     125.8      -0.9       0.0 
    Fuels ....................................       3.928     110.2     110.0      -1.7      -0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .201      86.8      86.8      -8.1       0.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.727     117.5     117.3      -1.3      -0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.339     124.9     125.1       0.1       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       5.199     129.7     132.1      -0.7       1.9 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.474     130.4     132.1      -0.5       1.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.948     120.4     125.4      -1.5       4.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .344     128.0     126.6       1.7      -1.1 
   Footwear ..................................       1.057     126.3     127.6       0.4       1.0 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      19.166     138.4     139.1      -0.7       0.5 
   Private transportation ....................      18.109     135.7     136.3      -0.8       0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       9.250      99.9      99.5      -0.5      -0.4 
     New vehicles ............................       5.224     144.9     144.5      -0.8      -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       3.216     149.7     148.8       0.0      -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................       3.066      83.5      86.4      -5.1       3.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       3.045      83.0      85.9      -5.1       3.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .682     100.5     100.0      -0.7      -0.5 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.690     171.8     172.1       3.2       0.2 
   Public transportation .....................       1.056     188.7     193.7       1.8       2.6 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       4.672     247.0     247.6       3.6       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................        .926     223.4     224.3       4.1       0.4 
   Medical care services .....................       3.746     252.3     252.8       3.4       0.2 
    Professional services ....................       2.415     228.3     228.9       3.2       0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.114     292.4     292.8       4.1       0.1 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       5.925     101.4     101.4       0.4       0.0 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.951     101.4     101.0      -0.4      -0.4 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.361     101.2     101.1       1.1      -0.1 
   Education (1)..............................       2.478     105.5     105.6       5.1       0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .200     263.5     263.7       5.5       0.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.278     297.7     297.9       4.9       0.1 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.883      97.7      97.4      -2.1      -0.3 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.733      97.5      97.1      -2.4      -0.4 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.519     100.6     100.4       0.0      -0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .213      34.5      33.5     -25.2      -2.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .120      59.4      57.0     -35.4      -4.0 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.981     258.0     255.6      11.5      -0.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.694     348.0     335.9      32.4      -3.5 
   Personal care .............................       3.287     159.6     160.3       3.1       0.4 
    Personal care products ...................        .838     150.3     151.1       2.0       0.5 
    Personal care services ...................        .975     169.7     170.4       3.3       0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.253     241.1     241.7       4.3       0.2 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      46.764     142.3     142.6       1.1       0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     163.1     163.0       2.3      -0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      28.753     130.1     130.6       0.4       0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      15.564     132.2     133.4       1.7       0.9 
    Apparel ..................................       5.199     129.7     132.1      -0.7       1.9 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................      10.365     138.1     138.8       3.0       0.5 
   Durables ..................................      13.189     126.2     125.8      -1.3      -0.3 
 Services ....................................      53.236     183.6     184.1       2.5       0.3 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      27.175     173.3     173.9       3.1       0.3 
  Transportation services ....................       6.800     186.9     187.9       1.1       0.5 
  Other services .............................      10.144     217.8     218.0       2.9       0.1 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      83.034     160.8     161.3       1.8       0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................      72.504     155.9     156.2       1.3       0.2 
 All items less medical care .................      95.328     157.2     157.6       1.7       0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................      29.798     131.6     132.0       0.4       0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................      16.609     134.3     135.4       1.7       0.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      11.410     139.9     140.5       2.9       0.4 
 Nondurables .................................      33.575     147.9     148.5       2.0       0.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      26.061     172.3     172.7       1.8       0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........      49.490     177.8     178.3       2.4       0.3 
 Energy ......................................       6.994      96.1      97.5      -3.3       1.5 
 All items less energy .......................      93.006     170.1     170.4       2.2       0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............      76.040     172.0     172.4       2.3       0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      26.531     144.0     144.0       1.2       0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................       3.267      83.8      86.6      -5.3       3.3 
   Services less energy services .............      49.509     191.0     191.6       2.8       0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .620    $ .619         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .208    $ .208         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1984=100 base.
   3 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 3(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): Selected areas, all items index
 using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 Mar.1999 from--  
                     CPI-U                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb. 
                                                           1998   1999   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      163.9  164.4  164.7  165.2    0.8    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      171.2  171.6  171.7  172.1    0.5    0.3    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      172.2  172.6  172.6  173.1    0.5    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      102.5  102.8  103.0  103.3    0.8    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      159.8  160.4  160.6  161.2    0.9    0.5    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      161.0  161.6  161.9  162.5    0.9    0.6    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.3  102.6  102.7  103.1    0.8    0.5    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      155.0  155.6  155.7  155.8    0.5    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      159.6  160.0  160.2  160.8    0.8    0.5    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      158.3  158.9  159.1  159.8    0.9    0.6    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      102.8  102.9  103.1  103.4    0.6    0.5    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      160.4  160.9  161.1  161.7    0.8    0.5    0.4 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      165.8  166.5  167.0  167.5    1.0    0.6    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      166.5  167.3  167.9  168.4    1.1    0.7    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      103.4  103.7  103.9  104.3    0.9    0.6    0.4 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      148.4  148.9  149.1  149.6    0.8    0.5    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      102.7  103.0  103.1  103.5    0.8    0.5    0.4 
   D .........................................     M      160.2  160.6  160.8  161.3    0.7    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      165.1  166.0  166.4  166.9    1.1    0.5    0.3 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      163.5  164.2  164.7  165.2    1.0    0.6    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      174.7  175.2  175.4  175.8    0.6    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  174.1      -  175.2      -    0.6      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  160.6      -  161.1      -    0.3      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  155.2      -  156.4      -    0.8      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  102.8      -  103.4      -    0.6      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      161.6      -  162.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      161.2      -  161.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      146.1      -  146.8      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      161.1      -  161.4      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      169.0      -  168.7      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      167.4      -  169.5      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      169.4      -  170.8      -      -      -      - 

   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 map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): Selected
 areas, all items index using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 Mar.1999 from--  
                     CPI-W                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb. 
                                                           1998   1999   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      160.7  161.1  161.2  161.6    0.6    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      168.2  168.5  168.4  168.7    0.3    0.1    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      168.2  168.5  168.3  168.5    0.2    0.0    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      102.3  102.5  102.7  102.8    0.5    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      156.0  156.6  156.6  157.1    0.7    0.3    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      156.5  157.1  157.2  157.6    0.7    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.0  102.3  102.3  102.7    0.7    0.4    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      153.3  153.7  153.5  153.5    0.1   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      157.8  158.0  158.1  158.5    0.4    0.3    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      156.0  156.5  156.5  157.0    0.6    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      102.5  102.5  102.7  102.9    0.4    0.4    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      160.8  161.2  161.2  161.7    0.6    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      161.8  162.5  162.8  163.3    0.9    0.5    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      160.8  161.6  162.0  162.4    1.0    0.5    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      103.3  103.5  103.7  104.1    0.8    0.6    0.4 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      146.9  147.4  147.5  147.8    0.6    0.3    0.2 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      102.5  102.6  102.7  103.0    0.5    0.4    0.3 
   D .........................................     M      159.2  159.6  159.5  159.9    0.4    0.2    0.3 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      159.6  160.5  160.6  161.1    0.9    0.4    0.3 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      157.2  157.9  158.1  158.5    0.8    0.4    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      170.5  170.9  170.8  171.0    0.3    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  172.2      -  172.7      -    0.3      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  152.8      -  152.9      -    0.1      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  154.8      -  155.9      -    0.7      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  102.7      -  103.0      -    0.3      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      158.8      -  159.3      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      155.9      -  155.9      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      144.8      -  145.2      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      158.7      -  158.8      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      168.5      -  167.9      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      163.7      -  165.8      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      164.9      -  166.2      -      -      -      - 

   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 map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.