FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-73
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Tuesday, February 24, 1998
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
 
 Note:  Beginning with this report, the Consumer Price Indexes are being
 calculated on a revised basis, using 1993-95 expenditure patterns and
 updated population weights.  In addition, changes have been made to the
 item classification and structure and a number of technical improvements
 have been made.  Over the next two years, additional improvements also
 will be introduced.  See page 4 for more revision information.

                                     
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  JANUARY 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in January before seasonal adjustment to a level of 161.6 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today. For the 12-month period ended in January, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.6 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in January, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 January 1998 CPI-W level of 158.4 was 1.3 percent higher than the index in
 January 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in January,
 following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding two months.
 The food index advanced 0.3 percent in January.  Grocery store food

 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                    1997             1998 3-mos. ended  ended
                     July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.   Jan.'98   Jan.'98
 All Items            .1    .2   .2   .2   .1   .1   .0     .7       1.6
  Food and beverages  .3    .3   .1   .2   .2   .1   .3    2.0       2.2
  Housing             .2    .1   .3   .3   .3   .1   .1    1.8       2.1
  Apparel             .2   -.5   .2   .1   .1   .2  -.5   -1.2        .2
  Transportation     -.1    .6   .3   .0  -.6  -.3  -.3   -4.6      -1.6
  Medical care        .1    .2   .2   .2   .3   .3   .1    3.3       2.7
  Recreation           -     -    -    -    -    -   .3      -       1.5
  Education and                                                         
      communication    -     -    -    -    -    -   .0      -       2.6
  Other goods and                                                    
      services        .3    .5   .3   .7   .4   .4   .4    5.0       5.1
 Special indexes:                                                       
  Energy             -.4   1.5   .9  -.2   .0 -1.8 -2.4  -15.5      -6.5
  Food                .3    .3   .1   .3   .1   .0   .3    1.8       2.2
  All items less                                                        
      food and energy .2    .1   .2   .2   .1   .2   .2    2.1       2.2
     
     
     Note:  Seasonal factors have been recalculated to reflect developments
 during 1997.  For this reason, some of the seasonally adjusted figures
 above and elsewhere in this report differ from those previously published.
     
     
 prices rose 0.4 percent in January, resulting from a sharp increase in
 prices for fruits and vegetables.  The energy index, which fell 1.8 percent
 in December, declined 2.4 percent in January.  The index for petroleum-
 based energy decreased 3.5 percent, and the index for energy services
 declined 1.5 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2
 percent, the same as in December.  The index for commodities less food and
 energy commodities rose 0.1 percent, and the index for services less energy
 services increased 0.2 percent in January.
     
     The food and beverages index rose 0.3 percent in January.  The index
 for grocery store food prices, which decreased 0.1 percent in December,
 rose 0.4 percent in January, due to a sharp turnaround in the index for
 fruits and vegetables--up 2.9 percent in January after registering a 0.4
 percent decrease in December.  The index for fresh vegetables rose 7.9
 percent, while the index for fresh fruits declined 1.0 percent in January.
 The index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 1.6 percent.  The index
 for dairy and related products increased 0.3 percent and was the only other
 major grocery food group to register an advance in January.  The indexes
 for cereal and bakery products, for nonalcoholic beverages, and for meats,
 poultry, fish, and eggs each declined-down 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 percent,
 respectively--while the index for other food at home was unchanged in
 January.  Within the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, prices for
 beef, pork, poultry, and egg prices all declined.  The other two components
 of the food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages-
 -rose 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively.

     The housing component, which was unchanged in December, rose 0.1
 percent in January.  Shelter costs rose 0.2 percent.  Within shelter, rent
 and owners' equivalent rent each rose 0.2 percent, while lodging away from
 home decreased 0.2 percent.  The index for fuel and utilities, which
 decreased 1.1 percent in December, fell 1.2 percent in January.  The index
 for household fuels declined 1.6 percent, reflecting decreases of 2.7
 percent each in the indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas and 1.0
 percent in the index for electricity.  The index for household furnishings
 and operation increased 0.2 percent in January.

     The transportation component declined for the third consecutive month,
 down 0.3 percent in January.  A drop in the index for motor fuels offset
 upturns in the indexes for public transportation and for new vehicles.  The
 index for gasoline, which declined 1.6 percent in December, fell 3.6
 percent in January.  Gasoline prices have fallen 9.9 percent over the last
 12 months and as of January were 18.2 percent lower than their peak level
 of November 1990.  The index for new vehicle prices increased 0.1 percent,
 following declines in each of the preceding five months.  (As of January,
 about 80 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by 1998 models.)
 The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.1 percent.  Public
 transportation costs rose 1.6 percent in January.  The index for airline
 fares, which declined 3.9 and 1.4 percent in November and December,
 respectively, increased 2.7 percent in January.

     The index for apparel decreased 0.5 percent in January, following a
 0.2 percent rise in December.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel
 prices fell 1.4 percent.)
     
     Medical care costs rose 0.1 percent in January to a level 2.7 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.2 percent.  The
 index for medical care services rose 0.1 percent.  Charges for professional
 services increased 0.3 percent, while those for hospital and related
 services declined 0.1 percent.

     Recreation costs rose 0.3 percent in January, reflecting a 1.7 percent
 rise in the index for cable television.
     
     The index for education and communication was unchanged in January.  A
 0.4 percent increase in education costs was offset by a 0.4 percent
 decrease in communication costs.  Within the communication category, the
 indexes for telephone services and for other information and information
 processing services each declined; the cost of cellular telephone services
 fell 1.0 percent.

     The index for other goods and services rose 0.4 percent in January,
 the same as in each of the two preceding months.  The index for tobacco and
 smoking products rose 0.7 percent, and prices for personal care products
 increased 0.6 percent.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers was unchanged in January.
 
 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                    1997             1998 3-mos. ended  ended
                     July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.   Jan.'98   Jan.'98
 All Items            .1    .3   .2   .2   .1   .1   .0     .5       1.3
  Food and beverages  .3    .3   .1   .3   .1   .0   .3    1.8       2.0
  Housing             .2    .1   .3   .3   .3   .0   .0    1.3       2.0
  Apparel             .2   -.5   .2   .0   .0   .0  -.5   -2.1        .0
  Transportation     -.1    .7   .2  -.1  -.6  -.3  -.5   -5.2      -2.0
  Medical care        .1    .2   .2   .2   .3   .4   .2    3.3       2.7
  Recreation           -     -    -    -    -    -   .3      -       1.6
  Education and                                                         
    communication      -     -    -    -    -    -  -.1      -       2.6
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .3    .4   .5   .7   .4   .4   .5    5.4       5.3
  Special indexes:                                                       
    Energy           -.4   1.7   .9  -.2  -.2 -1.9 -2.5  -16.8      -7.1
    Food              .3    .3   .1   .2   .2  -.1   .4    2.0       2.0
  All items less                                                         
    food and energy   .2    .0   .2   .2   .1   .2   .2    1.9       2.1
 

      Consumer Price Index data for February are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, March 19, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 CPI (Old Series)
 
          For the first six months of 1998, BLS also will calculate Old
 Series CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the 1982-84 expenditure pattern
 used in the CPI from 1987 through 1997.  These Old Series data are
 contained in tables 1(OS)-4(OS).  From December 1997 to January 1998, the
 Old Series CPI-U rose 0.2 percent and the Old Series CPI-W rose 0.1
 percent.  Note these series are not seasonally adjusted.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

       Overview of Publication Changes
       
       Beginning in 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
       has introduced a new geographic area sample, a revised
       item structure and updated expenditure weights into the
       Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Approximately every ten
       years the CPI undertakes this type of revision in order
       to keep the index up-to-date.  Since World War II,
       revisions of the CPI have been introduced in 1953, 1964,
       1978, and 1987.
       
       Because the changes the CPI undergoes during each
       revision can have a major impact on our users, special
       steps are taken in order to ameliorate the effects of
       these changes.  Beginning with the release of the
       January, 1997 index, data series that are changing or
       being dropped from publication have been footnoted in
       all BLS published tables.  This provided an early
       warning to users to reconsider their use of those
       indexes and provided time for them to make changes in
       their use.  The 1998 CPI Revision contains substantial
       changes in both the items being presented and the
       frequency of local area index publication.
       
       Changes to the Item Structure
       
       Effective in 1998, there are considerable changes to
       both the items being priced and the manner in which they
       are being aggregated in the CPI.  The most notable
       change in presentation is a reconstruction of several
       major groups with a resulting change from the currently
       available seven major groups to the new total of eight.
       
       Currently the major groups are: Food and Beverages,
       Housing, Apparel and Upkeep, Transportation, Medical
       Care, Entertainment and Other Goods and Services.  Three
       of these groups-- Food and Beverages, Transportation,
       and Medical care will remain the same.  The Apparel
       group was modified to exclude apparel upkeep products
       and services.  The Entertainment group has been slightly
       redefined into a major group called Recreation and a new
       major group, Education and Communication, has been
       formed from  past subelements of the Housing,
       Entertainment and Other Goods and Services groups
       
       Other important changes in our item structure at lower
       levels are an expansion of our Food Away from Home
       index, a reorientation of our car and truck indexes to a
       vehicle index, and the expansion of our information
       processing equipment index.
       
       For a complete listing of the new CPI Publication
       Structure see Table X.
       
       Changes to the Geographic Structure
       
       In each revision, the CPI geographic sample is selected
       to be representative of the current demographics of the
       United States. The 1998 revision utilizes the 1990
       Census of population.  The CPI developed an updated area
       sample design, decided on new local area indexes and
       changed the frequency of publication for local area
       indexes in order to better reflect these new
       demographics.
       
       In addition to the national index, the BLS formerly
       published indexes for 29 metropolitan areas.  In 1998,
       it continues to publish indexes for all but two of
       these areas--Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY, and New Orleans,
       LA.  Due to the revised Metropolitan Area (MA)
       definitions issued by the Office of Management and
       Budget(OMB), two other areas, Washington, DC, and
       Baltimore, MD, which the BLS formerly published
       separately, constitute a new Consolidated Metropolitan
       Statistical Area.  A single index will be published for
       this consolidated area.
       
       The new publication plan for local area indexes, that
       began with the index for January, 1998, is summarized
       below:
       
            *  Monthly indexes are now published for the three
       largest metropolitan areas.  Because of sample design
       considerations, indexes for the Philadelphia and San
       Francisco areas, both formerly published monthly, are
       now published every other month following the release of
       the December 1997 index.
       
            *  Bimonthly indexes will be published for the next
       11 largest areas, including Atlanta and Seattle, which
       used to have semiannual average indexes.
       
            *  Semiannual average indexes are now published for
       12 additional areas, including Pittsburgh and St. Louis,
       which formerly had bimonthly indexes.
       
            *  The BLS continues to publish separate
       indexes for the four Census regions of the United
       States.  However, beginning in 1998, there will only be
       two area size classes for metropolitan areas, instead of
       the current three: Size A - areas with a population
       greater than 1.5 million; and Size B/C - areas with less
       than 1.5 million population.  This cutoff of 1.5 million
       in population reflects a rise from the current cutoff of
       1.2 million and is important since cities in size class
       A are those for which the Bureau publishes city level
       indexes.  The B/C size class is a combination of the old
       Size B and Size C metropolitan areas.  In addition to
       the two metropolitan area size indexes for each region,
       separate Size D indexes for urban non-metropolitan areas
       continue to be published for both the Midwest and
       the South.  Separate indexes for Northeast and West
       urban nonmetropolitan areas were discontinued in 1987.
       
       The following is the full list of areas for which
       indexes are currently published, beginning in January, 1998:
       
 1. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published monthly:
 
  New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
  Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
  Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA
 
 2. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published bimonthly:
 
 In Odd Months (i.e. January,            In Even Months (i.e.
 March, etc.)                            February, April, etc.)
 ----------------------------            ----------------------                  

 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-          Philadelphia-Wilmington-
 ME-CT                                   Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-            San Francisco-Oakland-San
 VA-WV                                   Jose, CA
 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH                     Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
                                         
 Atlanta, GA                             Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
                                         
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX                   Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
                                         
                                         Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA
          
                      
 3. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published  
    semiannually (In January and July)
 
 Pittsburgh, PA                          Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN 
 Kansas City, MO-KS                      Milwaukee-Racine, WI
 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI             St. Louis, MO-IL
 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL     Anchorage, AK
 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO              Honolulu, HI
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA                   San Diego, CA
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------       

       A note on seasonally adjusted data
            Beginning with release of seasonal adjustment factors
       for 1997 in February 1998, seasonal adjustment will be
       performed using X-12-ARIMA.  X-12-ARIMA is a seasonal
       adjustment software package developed by the U.S. Department
       of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.  The X-12-ARIMA seasonal
       adjustment program is an enhanced version of the X-11
       Variant of the Census Method II seasonal adjustment program.
       The enhancements include a variety of new diagnostics and
       modeling tools to help the user detect and remedy any
       inadequacies in the seasonal adjustments obtained under the
       program options selected.
            In addition, seasonally adjusted data for some index
       series have been affected by changes to the CPI publication
       structure introduced with data for January 1998.  A detailed
       presentation of these impacts will be presented in the
       January 1998 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------       
       
       BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84=100 for
       most CPI index series
          The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated
       its intention to change the numerical reference base for
       both the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-
       U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and
       Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base
       to a 1993-95=100 base, effective with release of the January
       1999 index in February 1999.  BLS also indicated that the
       alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be discontinued in 1999
       as well.  This plan was initially described in the December
       1996 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which contained
       several articles that dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision.
       
          The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing
       plan.  Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of
       1982-84=100 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100
       reference base will continue to be the alternate base for
       the All Items indexes.  This decision is based in part on
       the fact that historical data have less precision after
       rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an arithmetic transformation
       that does not substantively impact the index.  Because the
       rebased index values are smaller, however, the loss of
       precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
       retaining the old index reference bases would spare users
       the inconvenience associated with conversion.
       
          Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
       confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket
       of the CPI.  With release of the January CPI in February
       1998, the expenditure weights applied to CPI categories will
       be based on consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.
       
 ------------------------------------------------------------------      
              
          Using a hedonic model to adjust prices of personal
       computers in the Consumer Price Index for changes in quality
           
          Effective with the release of data for January 1998, the
       Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has introduced an improved
       quality adjustment technique in the new stratum of the
       Consumer Price Index (CPI) called Personal Computers and
       Peripheral Equipment.
           
          Formerly, personal computers were part of the
       Information Processing Equipment stratum.  As previously
       announced, beginning with the CPI for January 1998,
       Information Processing Equipment became an expenditure class
       entitled Information and Information Processing Other Than
       Telephone Services.  Personal Computers and Peripheral
       Equipment are one of four strata in that expenditure class.
           
          Analysts in the Producer Price Index (PPI) program have
       developed and implemented a regression procedure, called a
       hedonic model, that decomposes the price of personal
       computers into implicit prices for each important feature
       and component of the computer.  This model, which has been
       used in the PPI since 1991, provides a way to estimate the
       value of changes or improvements.  The CPI has used similar
       hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for many years.
           
          Starting with the CPI for January 1998, when a personal
       computer or selected item of peripheral equipment, such as a
       modem, in the CPI sample improves in some way, a regression-
       based quality adjustment is made.  The value of the
       improvement, as derived from the PPI regression estimates,
       is deducted from the observed price change for the product.
       (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value of the
       difference is added to the price.)
           
          Additional information on these changes was published in
       the June 1997 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the
       Internet (at http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This
       information can also be obtained by writing to Bureau of
       Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price
       Indexes, Room 3260, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC
       20212 or by telephoning  Joseph Chelena at (202) 606-6982
       ext. 255.
       

 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,                      Jan. 1998 from     percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Dec.      Jan.                                            
                                                              1997      1998     Jan.     Dec.   Oct. to Nov. to Dec. to
                                                                                 1997     1997     Nov.    Dec.    Jan. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     161.3     161.6      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     483.2     484.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     159.1     160.3      2.2      0.8     0.2     0.1     0.3 
   Food ......................................     15.326     158.7     159.9      2.2      0.8     0.1     0.0     0.3 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     159.2     161.0      2.0      1.1     0.1    -0.1     0.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     178.4     179.0      1.4      0.3     0.1     0.2    -0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     148.4     148.3     -0.9     -0.1     0.1    -0.6    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     147.8     148.3      0.3      0.3     0.9     0.5     0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     191.3     202.1      7.9      5.6     0.3    -0.4     2.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     133.1     134.1      4.5      0.8    -0.9    -0.7    -0.2 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     147.7     148.7      2.7      0.7    -0.3     0.1     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     147.9     150.3      2.3      1.6     0.3     0.4     0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     140.3     140.5     -1.3      0.1    -0.2     0.1    -1.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     162.8     163.6      2.6      0.5     0.1     0.6     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     100.0     100.4        -      0.4       -       -     0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     159.0     159.2      2.5      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     100.0     100.1        -      0.1       -       -     0.1 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................       .983     164.0     164.6      2.2      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     157.7     158.3      2.1      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     178.1     179.2      3.2      0.6     0.2     0.4     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     169.1     169.5      3.1      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     100.0     105.1        -      5.1       -       -    -0.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     184.7     185.1      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377     100.0     100.3        -      0.3       -       -     0.3 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     130.0     128.8     -1.5     -0.9     0.8    -1.1    -1.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     115.8     114.5     -3.9     -1.1     1.5    -2.0    -1.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      97.2      96.4    -13.5     -0.8     0.1    -0.4    -2.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     123.0     121.6     -2.6     -1.1     1.6    -2.2    -1.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     125.1     125.6      0.6      0.4     0.1     0.0     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     131.6     129.8      0.2     -1.4     0.1     0.2    -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     131.2     129.8      2.2     -1.1    -0.2     0.6     0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     123.6     120.2     -1.1     -2.8     0.4    -0.4    -1.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     125.8     124.8     -2.4     -0.8    -0.2    -0.2    -0.8 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     128.2     127.4      1.9     -0.6    -0.3     0.8    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     143.2     142.7     -1.6     -0.3    -0.6    -0.3    -0.3 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     140.0     139.3     -1.8     -0.5    -0.5    -0.3    -0.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899     100.0     100.2     -1.5      0.2       -       -     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     144.1     144.4     -0.7      0.2    -0.2    -0.2     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     147.9     148.1     -4.3      0.1    -0.2     0.2     0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995     101.9      97.8     -9.9     -4.0    -1.8    -1.5    -3.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976     101.3      97.2     -9.9     -4.0    -2.0    -1.6    -3.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.4     101.3     -1.1     -0.1     0.0    -0.2    -0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     164.7     165.0      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     184.3     187.1      0.7      1.5    -1.8    -0.2     1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     237.1     238.1      2.7      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     216.8     217.6      2.3      0.4     0.2     0.5     0.2 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     241.8     242.9      2.8      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.1 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     217.5     218.5      3.0      0.5     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     282.5     283.5      2.8      0.4     0.4     0.5    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     100.0     100.3      1.5      0.3       -       -     0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     100.0     100.6      2.5      0.6     0.4    -0.3     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     100.0      99.9      2.6     -0.1       -       -     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     100.0     100.3      5.0      0.3       -       -     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     242.8     245.1      4.5      0.9     0.3     0.4    -0.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     288.5     289.2      5.1      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913     100.0      99.6     -0.9     -0.4     0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706     100.0      99.6     -0.9     -0.4     0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     100.0      99.9        -     -0.1       -       -    -0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      47.4      46.2    -13.6     -2.5    -2.7    -0.4    -2.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234     100.0      96.9        -     -3.1       -       -    -3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     230.1     231.3      5.1      0.5     0.4     0.4     0.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     251.2     253.8      7.4      1.0     0.3     0.7     0.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     154.0     154.6      2.0      0.4     0.7    -0.2     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     145.3     146.1      1.7      0.6     1.1    -0.5     0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     163.9     164.3      2.2      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     230.0     230.9      5.2      0.4     0.3     0.5     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.7     141.6      0.1     -0.1     0.0    -0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     159.1     160.3      2.2      0.8     0.2     0.1     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     131.2     130.5     -1.2     -0.5    -0.2    -0.2    -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     133.5     132.0     -1.3     -1.1    -0.2    -0.1    -1.1 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     131.6     129.8      0.2     -1.4     0.1     0.2    -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     139.5     138.1     -2.1     -1.0    -0.4    -0.4    -1.2 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     128.0     128.2     -1.2      0.2    -0.2    -0.2     0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.365     181.0     181.8      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     185.3     186.5      3.3      0.6     0.3     0.4     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     186.0     187.1      2.0      0.6    -0.4     0.1     0.6 
  Other services .............................     10.625     213.1     213.7      3.8      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     161.8     161.9      1.4      0.1     0.1     0.1    -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     156.4     156.4      0.9      0.0     0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     157.0     157.3      1.5      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     132.6     131.9     -1.1     -0.5    -0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     135.3     133.9     -1.1     -1.0    -0.2    -0.1    -0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     141.0     139.8     -1.5     -0.9    -0.4    -0.3    -1.1 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.5     146.2      0.5     -0.2     0.1    -0.1    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     189.5     189.9      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     175.4     176.1      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     108.4     105.9     -6.5     -2.3     0.0    -1.8    -2.4 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     168.3     169.0      2.2      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     170.7     171.2      2.2      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     142.1     142.0      0.4     -0.1     0.1     0.0     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256     101.6      97.8    -10.4     -3.7    -1.5    -1.4    -3.5 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     186.9     187.9      3.0      0.5     0.2     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .620    $ .619        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .207    $ .207        -        -       -       -       - 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4    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--   
                                                 Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.                                           
                                                 1997    1997    1997    1998                                           
                                                                                Apr.   July   Oct.   Jan.   July   Jan. 
                                                                                1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  161.6   161.8   161.9   161.9    1.5    1.5    2.5    0.7    1.5    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  158.9   159.2   159.3   159.7    1.0    3.1    2.6    2.0    2.1    2.3 
   Food ......................................  158.7   158.9   158.9   159.4    1.0    3.1    2.8    1.8    2.1    2.3 
    Food at home .............................  159.3   159.5   159.3   159.9    0.0    3.9    2.6    1.5    1.9    2.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  178.6   178.8   179.1   179.0   -0.5    3.0    2.0    0.9    1.2    1.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  148.5   148.6   147.7   147.3   -1.6    3.6   -2.1   -3.2    0.9   -2.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  145.7   147.0   147.8   148.3   -5.6   -6.4    6.9    7.3   -6.0    7.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  191.1   191.7   190.9   196.5    1.1    8.1   10.0   11.8    4.5   10.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  136.5   135.3   134.3   134.0    9.4   19.3   -1.5   -7.1   14.2   -4.3 
     Other food at home ......................  148.9   148.5   148.7   148.7    4.5    6.7    0.8   -0.5    5.6    0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  148.2   148.7   149.3   150.0    2.2    3.6   -1.3    4.9    2.9    1.8 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.6   141.3   141.5   140.0    0.6   -3.1    2.0   -4.4   -1.3   -1.3 
      Other foods ............................  162.4   162.5   163.4   163.6    3.3    1.3    3.0    3.0    2.3    3.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......      -       -   100.0   100.4      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  158.2   158.6   159.0   159.2    2.3    2.3    2.8    2.6    2.3    2.7 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........      -       -   100.0   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................  163.8   164.1   164.5   164.9    1.2    2.7    2.0    2.7    2.0    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  157.7   158.2   158.3   158.4    1.6    2.6    2.3    1.8    2.1    2.1 
   Shelter ...................................  177.6   178.0   178.7   179.0    3.0    3.2    3.2    3.2    3.1    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  168.2   168.6   169.1   169.5    2.7    3.2    3.4    3.1    2.9    3.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      -       -   100.0    99.8      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  183.4   183.9   184.5   184.9    2.9    3.4    2.7    3.3    3.1    3.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..      -       -   100.0   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  131.0   132.1   130.7   129.1   -3.0    1.5    1.2   -5.7   -0.8   -2.3 
    Fuels ....................................  116.7   118.4   116.0   114.2   -6.9   -0.7    1.0   -8.3   -3.8   -3.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   96.4    96.5    96.1    94.1  -26.3  -13.2   -4.0   -9.2  -20.0   -6.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  124.4   126.4   123.6   121.8   -4.4    1.0    1.6   -8.1   -1.8   -3.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.3   125.4   125.4   125.7    0.6    1.0   -0.6    1.3    0.8    0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.9   133.0   133.2   132.5    3.1    0.3   -1.2   -1.2    1.7   -1.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.2   130.9   131.7   132.0    3.1    1.2    2.2    2.5    2.2    2.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  125.6   126.1   125.6   124.4    2.9    0.3   -2.8   -3.8    1.6   -3.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.2   126.0   125.8   124.8   19.4   -7.0  -14.7   -4.4    5.4   -9.7 
   Footwear ..................................  128.9   128.5   129.5   128.8    2.9    0.3    4.8   -0.3    1.6    2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  144.7   143.9   143.5   143.0   -1.4   -3.3    3.4   -4.6   -2.3   -0.7 
   Private transportation ....................  141.4   140.7   140.3   139.6   -1.7   -3.6    3.5   -5.0   -2.7   -0.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      -       -   100.0   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  144.0   143.7   143.4   143.6    0.6   -0.8   -1.1   -1.1   -0.1   -1.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  147.9   147.6   147.9   148.1   -1.0  -10.9   -5.2    0.5   -6.1   -2.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................  107.0   105.1   103.5    99.7  -14.0  -15.8   20.6  -24.6  -14.9   -4.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  106.8   104.7   103.0    99.3  -14.4  -16.3   23.1  -25.3  -15.3   -4.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.5   101.5   101.3   101.0   -0.8    2.4   -3.8   -2.0    0.8   -2.9 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  163.6   163.9   164.7   165.0    2.0    3.0    1.2    3.5    2.5    2.3 
   Public transportation .....................  189.6   186.1   185.8   188.8    1.5   -1.1    4.3   -1.7    0.2    1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  236.3   237.1   237.9   238.2    3.0    2.2    2.2    3.3    2.6    2.7 
   Medical care commodities ..................  215.9   216.4   217.4   217.8    3.4    1.9    0.4    3.6    2.6    2.0 
   Medical care services .....................  240.8   241.6   242.4   242.6    2.9    2.4    2.7    3.0    2.6    2.9 
    Professional services ....................  217.1   217.5   218.1   218.7    3.8    2.4    2.6    3.0    3.1    2.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  280.5   281.5   282.8   282.6    3.1    2.3    2.9    3.0    2.7    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      -       -   100.0   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................   99.9   100.3   100.0   100.6    1.2    6.2    0.0    2.8    3.7    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      -       -   100.0   100.0      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................      -       -   100.0   100.4      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  242.1   242.8   243.8   243.2    5.1    7.0    4.6    1.8    6.0    3.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   284.4   285.6   286.8   288.1    4.9    5.4    4.9    5.3    5.2    5.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................  100.0   100.1   100.0    99.6    0.4    0.0   -2.4   -1.6    0.2   -2.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................  100.0   100.1   100.0    99.6    0.4    0.4   -2.8   -1.6    0.4   -2.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      -       -   100.0    99.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   48.9    47.6    47.4    46.2  -14.8  -16.7   -1.6  -20.3  -15.8  -11.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................      -       -   100.0    96.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  229.0   229.9   230.8   231.8    6.5    2.9    6.2    5.0    4.7    5.6 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  249.5   250.3   252.1   253.8   12.7   -2.1   12.2    7.1    5.1    9.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  153.3   154.3   154.0   154.6    2.9   -0.3    1.8    3.4    1.3    2.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  144.5   146.1   145.3   146.1    2.5   -2.2    2.2    4.5    0.1    3.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  163.4   163.5   163.9   164.3    3.3    1.2    2.2    2.2    2.3    2.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  229.3   230.1   231.2   231.6    6.3    6.2    4.5    4.1    6.3    4.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.3   142.3   142.1   141.9    0.0   -0.6    2.3   -1.1   -0.3    0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  158.9   159.2   159.3   159.7    1.0    3.1    2.6    2.0    2.1    2.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.3   132.0   131.8   131.3   -0.6   -3.0    2.1   -3.0   -1.8   -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  135.1   134.8   134.6   133.1   -1.8   -1.8    3.6   -5.8   -1.8   -1.2 
    Apparel ..................................  132.9   133.0   133.2   132.5    3.1    0.3   -1.2   -1.2    1.7   -1.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  141.3   140.7   140.2   138.5   -2.8   -4.2    7.1   -7.7   -3.5   -0.6 
   Durables ..................................  128.1   127.9   127.7   128.0   -0.3   -2.1   -1.5   -0.3   -1.2   -0.9 
 Services ....................................  181.0   181.4   181.7   181.9    3.0    2.9    2.7    2.0    3.0    2.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  185.1   185.6   186.3   186.6    3.1    3.1    3.3    3.3    3.1    3.3 
  Transportation services ....................  186.5   185.7   185.9   187.1    3.3    1.7    2.0    1.3    2.5    1.6 
  Other services .............................  212.4   212.7   213.5   214.0    4.5    4.3    3.1    3.0    4.4    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  162.0   162.2   162.3   162.2    1.5    1.3    2.5    0.5    1.4    1.5 
 All items less shelter ......................  156.8   156.9   156.8   156.7    1.0    0.8    2.3   -0.3    0.9    1.0 
 All items less medical care .................  157.2   157.4   157.4   157.4    1.3    1.6    2.6    0.5    1.4    1.5 
 Commodities less food .......................  133.7   133.5   133.3   132.8   -0.6   -2.7    2.1   -2.7   -1.6   -0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  136.8   136.5   136.3   135.1   -1.2   -1.5    3.3   -4.9   -1.3   -0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  142.6   142.1   141.7   140.2   -2.5   -3.1    6.4   -6.6   -2.8   -0.3 
 Nondurables .................................  147.0   147.2   147.1   146.8   -1.1    0.8    2.8   -0.5   -0.1    1.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  189.6   190.0   190.0   189.9    2.4    3.2    2.1    0.6    2.8    1.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  175.4   175.8   176.1   176.3    2.8    3.0    2.8    2.1    2.9    2.4 
 Energy ......................................  111.3   111.3   109.3   106.7  -10.4   -7.4    9.1  -15.5   -8.9   -4.0 
 All items less energy .......................  168.4   168.6   168.9   169.2    2.4    2.2    2.2    1.9    2.3    2.0 
  All items less food and energy .............  170.8   171.0   171.4   171.7    2.9    1.9    1.9    2.1    2.4    2.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.4   142.5   142.5   142.6    1.7   -0.6    0.0    0.6    0.6    0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................  105.9   104.3   102.8    99.2  -15.6  -15.6   17.6  -23.0  -15.6   -4.9 
   Services less energy services .............  186.7   187.0   187.6   188.0    3.3    3.1    2.8    2.8    3.2    2.8 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4    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. 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                                  Jan.1998 from--      Dec.1997 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.                                           
                                                 (1)   1997   1997   1997   1998   Jan.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.   Oct.   Nov. 
                                                                                   1997   1997   1997   1996   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.6  161.5  161.3  161.6    1.6    0.1    0.2    1.7   -0.2   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.7  168.5  168.4  168.8    1.6    0.2    0.2    1.6   -0.2   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    169.5  169.3  169.1  169.5    1.6    0.1    0.2    1.7   -0.2   -0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.4  101.3  101.3  101.6    1.6    0.3    0.3    1.3   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    157.7  157.7  157.3  157.6    1.4   -0.1    0.2    1.3   -0.3   -0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.4  158.4  158.1  158.5    1.6    0.1    0.3    1.7   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.3  101.3  101.0  101.2    1.2   -0.1    0.2    1.0   -0.3   -0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.2  153.7  153.0  152.9    0.5   -0.5   -0.1    0.7   -0.1   -0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.8  157.3  157.6    1.2   -0.1    0.2    1.4   -0.3   -0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.7  156.4  156.3  156.6    1.1    0.1    0.2    1.5   -0.3   -0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.8  101.9  101.3  101.5    1.2   -0.4    0.2    1.3   -0.5   -0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    156.9  157.1  157.0  157.5    1.7    0.3    0.3    1.7    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    162.8  162.8  162.8  163.0    2.1    0.1    0.1    2.6    0.0    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    163.1  162.8  163.1  163.3    2.3    0.3    0.1    2.8    0.0    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  102.4  102.0  102.3    1.9   -0.1    0.3    2.0   -0.1   -0.4 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    146.0  145.8  145.7  146.0    1.7    0.1    0.2    2.0   -0.2   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.7  101.7  101.4  101.6    1.4   -0.1    0.2    1.4   -0.3   -0.3 
   D .........................................   M    157.6  157.8  157.5  157.7    1.2   -0.1    0.1    1.3   -0.1   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    162.5  162.9  162.8  162.8    1.5   -0.1    0.0    1.9    0.2   -0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    161.1  160.7  161.2  161.0    1.2    0.2   -0.1    1.8    0.1    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    172.3  172.0  171.9  172.1    1.8    0.1    0.1    2.0   -0.2   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  169.4      -  171.2    2.1    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  157.1      -  158.2    2.9    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    152.8      -  152.5  152.1      -      -   -0.3    1.7   -0.2      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  100.5      -  101.0    0.6    0.5      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -      -  159.4      -      -      -      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    157.9      -  157.1      -      -      -      -    1.8   -0.5      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    147.3      -  145.6      -      -      -      -    1.4   -1.2      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  159.5  159.3      -      -      -      -      -      -   -0.1 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    167.7  166.4  166.4      -      -      -      -    1.3   -0.8    0.0 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    162.5  162.6  162.6      -      -      -      -    4.2    0.1    0.0 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -      -  165.0      -      -      -      -      -      -      - 

   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    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6    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.
   7    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,                      Jan. 1998 from     percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Dec.      Jan.                                            
                                                              1997      1998     Jan.     Dec.   Oct. to Nov. to Dec. to
                                                                                 1997     1997     Nov.    Dec.    Jan. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     158.2     158.4      1.3      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     471.3     471.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     158.5     159.6      2.0      0.7     0.1     0.0     0.3 
   Food ......................................     16.861     158.1     159.3      2.0      0.8     0.2    -0.1     0.4 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     158.2     159.9      1.8      1.1     0.1    -0.2     0.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     178.1     178.8      1.5      0.4     0.2     0.2    -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     148.0     148.0     -0.9      0.0     0.1    -0.5    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     147.5     147.9      0.2      0.3     0.9     0.5     0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     190.0     200.9      8.0      5.7     0.2    -0.7     3.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     131.7     132.9      3.9      0.9    -0.9    -0.8    -0.2 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     147.1     148.1      2.6      0.7    -0.3     0.1     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     147.7     150.2      2.3      1.7     0.3     0.5     0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     140.0     140.4     -1.1      0.3    -0.2     0.1    -0.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     162.7     163.6      2.7      0.6     0.0     0.5     0.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     100.0     100.5        -      0.5       -       -     0.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     159.0     159.3      2.5      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     100.0     100.1        -      0.1       -       -     0.1 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................      1.042     163.1     163.6      2.0      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     154.4     154.8      2.0      0.3     0.3     0.0     0.0 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     173.1     173.9      3.1      0.5     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     168.8     169.2      3.1      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     100.0     104.8        -      4.8       -       -     0.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     168.3     168.7      3.1      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324     100.0     100.4        -      0.4       -       -     0.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     129.7     128.6     -1.5     -0.8     0.8    -1.1    -1.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     115.2     113.9     -3.9     -1.1     1.5    -2.1    -1.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      97.0      96.2    -13.8     -0.8     0.2    -0.4    -2.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     122.4     121.0     -2.8     -1.1     1.6    -2.3    -1.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     123.6     124.1      0.6      0.4     0.1     0.0     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     130.3     128.7      0.0     -1.2     0.0     0.0    -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     130.7     129.4      1.9     -1.0     0.0     0.4     0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     121.5     118.5     -1.2     -2.5     0.3    -0.6    -0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     126.5     125.3     -2.5     -0.9    -0.5    -0.5    -0.9 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     129.2     128.4      1.9     -0.6    -0.5     0.7    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     142.4     141.7     -2.0     -0.5    -0.6    -0.3    -0.5 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     140.1     139.3     -2.2     -0.6    -0.6    -0.3    -0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.0     100.1     -1.9      0.1       -       -     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     145.3     145.6     -0.7      0.2    -0.3    -0.2     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     149.5     149.7     -4.0      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682     101.7      97.6    -10.3     -4.0    -2.0    -1.5    -3.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658     101.2      97.1    -10.3     -4.1    -2.0    -1.6    -3.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.8     100.7     -0.7     -0.1     0.0    -0.1    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     165.7     166.0      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     182.5     184.7      0.6      1.2    -1.4     0.0     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     236.5     237.4      2.7      0.4     0.3     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     214.1     214.7      2.2      0.3     0.2     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     241.6     242.5      2.8      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.1 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     218.9     219.8      3.0      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     278.7     279.6      2.8      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     100.0     100.3      1.6      0.3       -       -     0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     100.0     100.5      2.8      0.5     0.4    -0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.0     100.0      2.6      0.0       -       -    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     100.0     100.3      5.2      0.3       -       -     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     245.2     247.5      4.8      0.9     0.3     0.4    -0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     282.7     283.5      5.3      0.3     0.4     0.5     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994     100.0      99.7     -0.6     -0.3     0.2    -0.1    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841     100.0      99.6     -0.7     -0.4     0.2    -0.1    -0.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     100.0      99.9        -     -0.1       -       -    -0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      48.9      47.7    -12.2     -2.5    -1.6    -0.8    -2.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191     100.0      96.6        -     -3.4       -       -    -3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     226.9     228.2      5.3      0.6     0.4     0.4     0.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     250.9     253.6      7.4      1.1     0.3     0.7     0.8 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     153.9     154.5      1.9      0.4     0.7    -0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     146.1     147.0      1.8      0.6     1.2    -0.7     0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     164.1     164.5      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     228.9     229.8      4.9      0.4     0.4     0.5     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.6     141.4     -0.1     -0.1    -0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     158.5     159.6      2.0      0.7     0.1     0.0     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     131.3     130.5     -1.4     -0.6    -0.3    -0.2    -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     133.1     131.5     -1.6     -1.2    -0.3    -0.3    -1.0 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     130.3     128.7      0.0     -1.2     0.0     0.0    -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     139.3     137.6     -2.3     -1.2    -0.4    -0.4    -1.4 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.5     127.7     -1.4      0.2    -0.2     0.0     0.2 
 Services ....................................     52.766     178.2     178.7      2.6      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     166.6     167.4      3.1      0.5     0.2     0.4     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     183.9     184.9      2.0      0.5    -0.2     0.2     0.5 
  Other services .............................     10.006     209.9     210.5      3.8      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     158.1     158.1      1.2      0.0     0.1     0.0    -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     154.2     154.2      0.7      0.0     0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     154.5     154.7      1.2      0.1     0.1     0.0    -0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     132.5     131.8     -1.3     -0.5    -0.2    -0.1    -0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     135.0     133.5     -1.3     -1.1    -0.3    -0.2    -1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     140.7     139.2     -1.8     -1.1    -0.4    -0.4    -1.5 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.2     145.9      0.3     -0.2     0.0    -0.1    -0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     168.8     169.1      2.1      0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     172.7     173.2      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     107.7     105.0     -7.1     -2.5    -0.2    -1.9    -2.5 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     165.2     165.8      2.0      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     167.1     167.5      2.1      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     141.5     141.5      0.4      0.0     0.0     0.0     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910     101.6      97.7    -10.7     -3.8    -1.8    -1.4    -3.5 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     184.3     185.1      2.9      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .632    $ .631        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .212    $ .212        -        -       -       -       - 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4    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--   
                                                 Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.                                           
                                                 1997    1997    1997    1998                                           
                                                                                Apr.   July   Oct.   Jan.   July   Jan. 
                                                                                1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  158.5   158.6   158.7   158.7    1.3    1.3    2.6    0.5    1.3    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  158.5   158.7   158.7   159.2    0.8    3.1    2.6    1.8    1.9    2.2 
   Food ......................................  158.0   158.3   158.2   158.8    0.5    3.4    2.3    2.0    1.9    2.2 
    Food at home .............................  158.4   158.6   158.3   158.9   -0.3    3.9    2.3    1.3    1.8    1.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  178.2   178.5   178.9   178.6    0.0    3.0    1.8    0.9    1.5    1.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  148.1   148.2   147.4   147.0   -1.6    3.6   -2.4   -2.9    0.9   -2.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  145.5   146.8   147.5   147.9   -5.8   -6.4    7.2    6.8   -6.1    7.0 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  190.7   191.1   189.7   196.5    0.4    8.6   10.0   12.7    4.4   11.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  135.2   134.0   132.9   132.7    8.4   17.3   -1.2   -7.2   12.8   -4.2 
     Other food at home ......................  148.2   147.8   147.9   148.1    4.2    6.2    0.8   -0.3    5.2    0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  148.0   148.5   149.2   149.9    2.8    3.3   -1.9    5.2    3.0    1.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.4   141.1   141.3   140.0    0.9   -3.1    2.3   -3.9   -1.1   -0.9 
      Other foods ............................  162.3   162.3   163.1   163.6    3.0    1.8    2.8    3.2    2.4    3.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......      -       -   100.0   100.5      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  158.2   158.6   159.0   159.3    2.1    2.3    2.8    2.8    2.2    2.8 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........      -       -   100.0   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................  162.9   163.2   163.6   164.0    1.3    2.8    1.5    2.7    2.0    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  154.3   154.8   154.8   154.8    1.6    2.4    2.4    1.3    2.0    1.8 
   Shelter ...................................  172.6   172.9   173.5   174.0    3.1    3.1    3.1    3.3    3.1    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  167.9   168.3   168.7   169.2    2.7    3.4    3.2    3.1    3.1    3.1 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      -       -   100.0   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  167.2   167.6   168.1   168.5    3.0    3.2    2.7    3.1    3.1    2.9 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..      -       -   100.0   100.4      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  130.7   131.8   130.4   128.8   -3.3    1.9    1.2   -5.7   -0.8   -2.3 
    Fuels ....................................  116.1   117.8   115.3   113.5   -7.2   -0.3    1.0   -8.7   -3.9   -3.9 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   96.1    96.3    95.9    93.9  -27.7  -12.5   -4.5   -8.8  -20.5   -6.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  123.9   125.9   123.0   121.1   -4.7    0.7    1.6   -8.7   -2.1   -3.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  123.8   123.9   123.9   124.2    0.3    1.0   -0.6    1.3    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.0   132.0   132.0   131.3    3.4    0.3   -1.5   -2.1    1.8   -1.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.7   130.7   131.2   131.4    3.1    1.2    0.9    2.2    2.2    1.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.4   124.8   124.1   123.0    3.3    1.0   -4.1   -4.4    2.1   -4.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.7   127.1   126.5   125.3   21.5   -8.3  -12.4   -7.3    5.5   -9.9 
   Footwear ..................................  130.2   129.6   130.5   129.9    2.2   -0.3    6.4   -0.9    0.9    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  143.8   143.0   142.6   141.9   -1.9   -4.1    3.4   -5.2   -3.0   -1.0 
   Private transportation ....................  141.5   140.7   140.3   139.5   -2.2   -4.2    3.5   -5.5   -3.2   -1.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      -       -   100.0   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  145.4   144.9   144.6   144.7    0.6   -0.8   -0.5   -1.9   -0.1   -1.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.4   149.2   149.5   149.7   -0.5  -10.6   -5.2    0.8   -5.7   -2.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................  106.9   104.8   103.2    99.5  -15.0  -15.5   20.2  -24.9  -15.2   -5.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  106.7   104.6   102.9    99.2  -15.3  -15.9   22.1  -25.3  -15.6   -4.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.7   100.7   100.6   100.5   -1.2    3.2   -3.9   -0.8    1.0   -2.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  164.7   165.0   165.8   166.0    2.0    3.5    1.2    3.2    2.7    2.2 
   Public transportation .....................  186.8   184.1   184.1   185.8    0.7   -0.6    4.4   -2.1    0.0    1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  235.7   236.3   237.2   237.6    3.2    2.1    2.6    3.3    2.6    2.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  213.3   213.7   214.6   215.0    3.1    1.9    0.8    3.2    2.5    2.0 
   Medical care services .....................  240.6   241.2   242.2   242.5    3.1    2.2    2.9    3.2    2.6    3.0 
    Professional services ....................  218.5   219.0   219.6   220.0    3.8    2.6    2.8    2.8    3.2    2.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  276.7   277.7   278.9   278.8    3.0    2.2    2.9    3.1    2.6    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      -       -   100.0   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................   99.9   100.3   100.0   100.5    2.1    7.1   -0.4    2.4    4.5    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      -       -   100.0    99.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................      -       -   100.0   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  244.3   245.1   246.1   245.3    5.0    8.5    4.0    1.6    6.8    2.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   278.7   279.9   281.2   282.1    5.3    5.6    5.2    5.0    5.4    5.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.9   100.1   100.0    99.7    0.8    0.4   -2.8   -0.8    0.6   -1.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.9   100.1   100.0    99.6    0.8    0.8   -3.1   -1.2    0.8   -2.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      -       -   100.0    99.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   50.1    49.3    48.9    47.7  -13.3  -16.4    0.0  -17.8  -14.9   -9.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................      -       -   100.0    96.6      -      -      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  225.5   226.4   227.4   228.5    7.2    2.2    6.6    5.4    4.7    6.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  249.2   249.9   251.6   253.6   12.8   -2.1   12.3    7.3    5.1    9.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................  153.3   154.3   153.9   154.5    2.7   -0.5    2.4    3.2    1.1    2.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  145.4   147.1   146.1   147.0    2.8   -2.2    2.2    4.5    0.3    3.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  163.5   163.7   164.1   164.5    3.3    1.2    2.2    2.5    2.3    2.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  228.0   228.8   230.0   230.5    6.1    4.6    4.5    4.5    5.3    4.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.3   142.1   142.0   141.8   -0.3   -0.8    2.6   -1.4   -0.6    0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  158.5   158.7   158.7   159.2    0.8    3.1    2.6    1.8    1.9    2.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.4   132.0   131.7   131.2   -1.2   -3.3    2.5   -3.6   -2.2   -0.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  135.0   134.6   134.2   132.9   -1.8   -2.1    3.6   -6.1   -1.9   -1.3 
    Apparel ..................................  132.0   132.0   132.0   131.3    3.4    0.3   -1.5   -2.1    1.8   -1.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  141.2   140.6   140.1   138.1   -3.4   -4.5    7.7   -8.5   -3.9   -0.7 
   Durables ..................................  127.6   127.3   127.3   127.5   -0.9   -2.5   -1.9   -0.3   -1.7   -1.1 
 Services ....................................  177.9   178.4   178.6   178.8    2.5    3.0    2.5    2.0    2.8    2.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  166.2   166.6   167.2   167.6    3.2    3.2    2.9    3.4    3.2    3.2 
  Transportation services ....................  183.9   183.5   183.8   184.7    3.1    2.2    1.3    1.8    2.7    1.5 
  Other services .............................  209.1   209.5   210.2   210.7    5.0    3.7    3.3    3.1    4.4    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  158.3   158.4   158.4   158.3    1.5    0.8    2.6    0.0    1.2    1.3 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.7   154.8   154.6   154.5    0.5    0.5    2.4   -0.5    0.5    0.9 
 All items less medical care .................  154.8   154.9   154.9   154.8    1.3    1.0    2.6    0.0    1.2    1.3 
 Commodities less food .......................  133.8   133.5   133.3   132.7   -0.9   -3.2    2.4   -3.2   -2.1   -0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  136.7   136.3   136.0   134.7   -1.5   -1.8    3.6   -5.7   -1.6   -1.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  142.8   142.3   141.8   139.7   -3.3   -4.5    9.5   -8.4   -3.9    0.1 
 Nondurables .................................  146.8   146.8   146.7   146.5   -0.5    0.6    2.5   -0.8    0.0    0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  168.9   169.3   169.3   169.1    2.4    2.9    2.4    0.5    2.7    1.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  172.6   173.0   173.2   173.4    2.6    3.1    2.6    1.9    2.9    2.2 
 Energy ......................................  111.0   110.8   108.7   106.0  -11.1   -8.1    9.9  -16.8   -9.6   -4.4 
 All items less energy .......................  165.2   165.4   165.7   166.0    2.5    2.0    2.0    2.0    2.2    2.0 
  All items less food and energy .............  167.2   167.4   167.7   168.0    2.7    1.9    1.7    1.9    2.3    1.8 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.0   142.0   142.0   142.1    2.0   -0.8    0.0    0.3    0.6    0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................  106.2   104.3   102.8    99.2  -16.2  -15.2   18.0  -23.9  -15.7   -5.2 
   Services less energy services .............  184.1   184.4   184.9   185.4    3.4    3.1    2.7    2.9    3.2    2.8 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4    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 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                                  Jan.1998 from--      Dec.1997 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.                                           
                                                 (1)   1997   1997   1997   1998   Jan.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.   Oct.   Nov. 
                                                                                   1997   1997   1997   1996   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.5  158.5  158.2  158.4    1.3   -0.1    0.1    1.5   -0.2   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    165.8  165.7  165.5  165.7    1.3    0.0    0.1    1.4   -0.2   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    165.5  165.5  165.2  165.4    1.4   -0.1    0.1    1.6   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.2  101.1  101.1  101.3    1.3    0.2    0.2    1.1   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    154.0  154.0  153.7  153.9    1.2   -0.1    0.1    1.2   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    153.9  153.8  153.6  153.9    1.3    0.1    0.2    1.4   -0.2   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.2  101.2  101.0  101.1    1.1   -0.1    0.1    1.0   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    151.1  151.6  151.0  150.9    0.3   -0.5   -0.1    0.5   -0.1   -0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    156.1  156.2  155.6  155.8    1.0   -0.3    0.1    1.2   -0.3   -0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    154.7  154.5  154.2  154.4    0.8   -0.1    0.1    1.2   -0.3   -0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.5  101.7  101.1  101.2    1.0   -0.5    0.1    1.1   -0.4   -0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    157.3  157.5  157.5  157.6    1.5    0.1    0.1    1.6    0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    159.3  159.2  159.2  159.4    2.0    0.1    0.1    2.4   -0.1    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    157.9  157.7  157.9  158.0    2.1    0.2    0.1    2.7    0.0    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  102.3  101.9  102.2    1.7   -0.1    0.3    1.9   -0.2   -0.4 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    144.7  144.6  144.4  144.6    1.5    0.0    0.1    1.8   -0.2   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.5  101.5  101.2  101.3    1.2   -0.2    0.1    1.2   -0.3   -0.3 
   D .........................................   M    156.7  156.9  156.7  156.7    0.9   -0.1    0.0    1.2    0.0   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    156.9  157.2  157.3  157.3    1.3    0.1    0.0    1.7    0.3    0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    155.4  154.9  155.3  155.1    1.0    0.1   -0.1    1.7   -0.1    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.1  168.0  167.7  167.7    1.6   -0.2    0.0    1.8   -0.2   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  167.8      -  169.3    1.6    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  149.1      -  150.0    2.6    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    152.8      -  152.7  152.2      -      -   -0.3    1.7   -0.1      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  100.4      -  100.8    0.4    0.4      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -      -  156.8      -      -      -      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    152.4      -  151.7      -      -      -      -    1.5   -0.5      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.3      -  144.5      -      -      -      -    1.0   -1.2      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  157.0  156.8      -      -      -      -      -      -   -0.1 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    166.8  165.9  165.7      -      -      -      -    1.3   -0.7   -0.1 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    159.5  159.5  159.4      -      -      -      -    4.1   -0.1   -0.1 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -      -  160.6      -      -      -      -      -      -      - 

   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    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6    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.
   7    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(OS).  Old Series 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)
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                               Relati-                    Unadjusted  
                                                  ve      Unadjusted    percent change
                                               import-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                  ance,                  Jan. 1998 from-
                                               Decemb-                                
                                                  er     Dec.    Jan.                 
                                                 1997    1997    1998    Jan.    Dec. 
                                                                         1997    1997 
                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                      
             Expenditure category                                                     
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items ................................... 100.000  161.3   161.6     1.6     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................      -   483.2   484.2     1.6      .2 
                                                                                      
   Food and beverages ........................ 17.465   159.1   160.3     2.2      .8 
     Food .................................... 15.886   158.7   159.9     2.2      .8 
       Food at home ..........................  9.964   159.2   161.1     2.0     1.2 
         Cereals and bakery products .........  1.476   178.4   179.0     1.4      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......  2.921   148.4   148.1    -1.0     -.2 
         Dairy products ......................  1.218   147.8   148.1      .2      .2 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............  1.982   191.3   200.5     7.0     4.8 
         Other food at home ..................  2.366   147.7   148.9     2.8      .8 
           Sugar and sweets ..................   .332   147.9   150.3     2.3     1.6 
           Fats and oils .....................   .241   140.3   140.6    -1.2      .2 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............   .747   133.1   134.4     4.8     1.0 
           Other prepared food ...............  1.046   162.8   163.7     2.7      .6 
       Food away from home ...................  5.923   159.0   159.2     2.5      .1 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................  1.578   164.0   164.5     2.1      .3 
                                                                                      
   Housing ................................... 41.469   157.7   158.2     2.0      .3 
     Shelter ................................. 28.640   178.1   179.1     3.2      .6 
       Renters' costs (1).....................  8.169   186.1   188.9     3.4     1.5 
         Rent, residential ...................  5.810   169.1   169.5     3.1      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................  2.359   216.1   225.9     4.0     4.5 
       Homeowners' costs (1).................. 20.269   184.3   184.7     3.1      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1).......... 19.881   184.7   185.1     3.1      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............   .388   167.1   167.7     3.1      .4 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............   .202   145.6   146.0     3.2      .3 
         Maintenance and repair services .....   .126   154.1   154.4     4.2      .2 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..   .076   133.9   134.4     1.4      .4 
     Fuel and other utilities ................  7.015   130.0   129.3    -1.1     -.5 
       Fuels .................................  3.769   115.8   114.4    -3.9    -1.2 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                            
     commodities .............................   .368    97.2    96.4   -13.5     -.8 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                          
     services)................................  3.401   123.0   121.5    -2.7    -1.2 
       Other utilities and public services ...  3.246   162.9   163.4     2.3      .3 
     Household furnishings and operation .....  5.814   125.1   125.3      .3      .2 
       Housefurnishings ......................  3.232   109.5   109.8     -.9      .3 
       Housekeeping supplies .................  1.090   143.4   143.2      .6     -.1 
       Housekeeping services .................  1.492   153.7   154.0     2.9      .2 
                                                                                      
   Apparel and upkeep ........................  5.291   131.6   129.7      .1    -1.4 
     Apparel commodities .....................  4.748   127.7   125.6     -.2    -1.6 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............  1.292   131.2   129.4     1.9    -1.4 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............  2.072   123.6   119.6    -1.6    -3.2 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........   .182   125.8   124.4    -2.7    -1.1 
       Footwear ..............................   .719   128.2   127.3     1.8     -.7 
       Other apparel commodities .............   .484   139.6   144.3     -.9     3.4 
     Apparel services ........................   .543   163.8   164.3     1.6      .3 
                                                                                      
   Transportation ............................ 16.620   143.2   142.7    -1.6     -.3 
     Private transportation .................. 15.054   140.0   139.3    -1.8     -.5 
       New vehicles ..........................  4.829   144.1   144.4     -.7      .2 
         New cars ............................  3.842   141.5   141.8     -.8      .2 
       Used cars .............................  1.195   147.9   148.1    -4.3      .1 
       Motor fuel ............................  2.925   101.9    97.8    -9.9    -4.0 
         Gasoline ............................      -   101.3    97.2    -9.9    -4.0 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............  1.546   164.7   164.9     2.4      .1 
       Other private transportation ..........  4.560   178.9   180.0     2.2      .6 
         Other private transportation                                                 
     commodities .............................   .574   104.4   104.2    -1.0     -.2 
         Other private transportation services                                        
     .........................................  3.986   196.6   198.0     2.6      .7 
     Public transportation ...................  1.566   184.3   187.0      .6     1.5 
                                                                                      
   Medical care ..............................  7.426   237.1   238.0     2.7      .4 
     Medical care commodities ................  1.280   216.8   217.4     2.2      .3 
     Medical care services ...................  6.145   241.8   242.8     2.8      .4 
       Professional medical services .........  3.518   217.5   218.4     2.9      .4 
                                                                                      
   Entertainment .............................  4.339   163.1   163.4     1.3     0.2 
     Entertainment commodities ...............  1.924   144.0   144.3      .1      .2 
     Entertainment services ..................  2.415   185.1   185.4     2.3      .2 
                                                                                      
   Other goods and services ..................  7.390   230.1   231.2     5.1      .5 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............  1.688   251.2   253.8     7.4     1.0 
     Personal care ...........................  1.152   154.0   154.7     2.0      .5 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                 
     appliances ..............................   .589   145.3   146.2     1.8      .6 
       Personal care services ................   .564   163.9   164.3     2.2      .2 
     Personal and educational expenses .......  4.550   266.1   267.0     5.1      .3 
       School books and supplies .............   .273   242.8   244.9     4.4      .9 
       Personal and educational services .....  4.277   268.1   268.9     5.1      .3 
                                                                                      
          Commodity and service group                                                 
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items ................................... 100.000  161.3   161.6     1.6      .2 
   Commodities ............................... 42.255   141.7   141.7      .1      .0 
     Food and beverages ...................... 17.465   159.1   160.3     2.2      .8 
     Commodities less food and beverages ..... 24.791   131.2   130.4    -1.3     -.6 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ... 14.865   133.5   132.0    -1.3    -1.1 
         Apparel commodities .................  4.748   127.7   125.6     -.2    -1.6 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                        
     apparel ................................. 10.117   139.5   138.2    -2.0     -.9 
       Durables ..............................  9.926   128.0   128.2    -1.2      .2 
   Services .................................. 57.745   181.0   181.8     2.7      .4 
     Rent of shelter (1)...................... 28.016   185.3   186.4     3.2      .6 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                          
     (1)......................................  8.687   145.7   145.2      .4     -.3 
     Transportation services .................  7.097   186.0   187.4     2.1      .8 
     Medical care services ...................  6.145   241.8   242.8     2.8      .4 
     Other services ..........................  7.799   213.1   213.7     3.8      .3 
                                                                                      
                Special indexes                                                       
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items less food ......................... 84.114   161.8   161.9     1.4      .1 
 All items less shelter ...................... 71.360   156.4   156.5     1.0      .1 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1)......... 79.731   161.8   162.1     1.2      .2 
 All items less medical care ................. 92.574   157.0   157.3     1.5      .2 
 Commodities less food ....................... 26.369   132.6   131.8    -1.1     -.6 
 Nondurables less food ....................... 16.443   135.3   134.0    -1.0    -1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 11.695   141.0   140.0    -1.4     -.7 
 Nondurables ................................. 32.329   146.5   146.3      .5     -.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............ 29.728   189.5   190.0     2.2      .3 
 Services less medical care services ......... 51.599   175.4   176.1     2.7      .4 
 Energy ......................................  6.695   108.4   105.8    -6.6    -2.4 
 All items less energy ....................... 93.305   168.3   169.0     2.2      .4 
   All items less food and energy ............ 77.419   170.7   171.2     2.2      .3 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                 
     commodities ............................. 23.076   142.1   142.0      .4     -.1 
       Energy commodities ....................  3.293   101.6    97.8   -10.4    -3.7 
     Services less energy services ........... 54.343   186.9   187.9     3.0      .5 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                             
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................      -  $ .620  $ .619       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................      -  $ .207  $ .207       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2(OS).  Old Series 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)
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                               Relati-                    Unadjusted  
                                                  ve      Unadjusted    percent change
                                               import-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                  ance,                  Jan. 1998 from-
                                               Decemb-                                
                                                  er     Dec.    Jan.                 
                                                 1997    1997    1998    Jan.    Dec. 
                                                                         1997    1997 
                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                      
             Expenditure category                                                     
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items ................................... 100.000  158.2   158.4     1.3     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................      -   471.3   472.0     1.4      .1 
                                                                                      
   Food and beverages ........................ 19.434   158.5   159.6     2.0      .7 
     Food .................................... 17.739   158.1   159.3     2.0      .8 
       Food at home .......................... 11.309   158.2   159.9     1.8     1.1 
         Cereals and bakery products .........  1.689   178.1   178.7     1.4      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......  3.441   148.0   147.8    -1.0     -.1 
         Dairy products ......................  1.358   147.5   147.8      .1      .2 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............  2.100   190.0   198.9     6.9     4.7 
         Other food at home ..................  2.722   147.1   148.3     2.7      .8 
           Sugar and sweets ..................   .376   147.7   150.2     2.3     1.7 
           Fats and oils .....................   .277   140.0   140.3    -1.1      .2 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............   .863   131.7   133.1     4.1     1.1 
           Other prepared food ...............  1.206   162.7   163.5     2.6      .5 
       Food away from home ...................  6.430   159.0   159.2     2.4      .1 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................  1.695   163.1   163.5     1.9      .2 
                                                                                      
   Housing ................................... 39.037   154.4   154.8     2.0      .3 
     Shelter ................................. 26.305   173.1   173.9     3.1      .5 
       Renters' costs (1).....................  8.250   163.1   164.7     3.3     1.0 
         Rent, residential ...................  6.686   168.8   169.2     3.1      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................  1.564   215.8   225.2     4.1     4.4 
       Homeowners' costs (1).................. 17.864   168.0   168.4     3.1      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1).......... 17.538   168.3   168.7     3.1      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............   .327   151.6   152.1     3.2      .3 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............   .191   143.4   143.7     2.6      .2 
         Maintenance and repair services .....   .107   155.2   155.3     3.5      .1 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..   .084   128.6   129.0     1.3      .3 
     Fuel and other utilities ................  7.274   129.7   129.1    -1.1     -.5 
       Fuels .................................  3.875   115.2   113.9    -3.9    -1.1 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                            
     commodities .............................   .338    97.0    96.3   -13.7     -.7 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                          
     services)................................  3.537   122.4   121.0    -2.8    -1.1 
       Other utilities and public services ...  3.399   163.7   164.3     2.5      .4 
     Household furnishings and operation .....  5.458   123.6   123.7      .2      .1 
       Housefurnishings ......................  3.171   108.3   108.5     -.9      .2 
       Housekeeping supplies .................  1.130   144.3   144.0      .8     -.2 
       Housekeeping services .................  1.157   156.7   157.1     2.9      .3 
                                                                                      
   Apparel and upkeep ........................  5.311   130.3   128.5     -.2    -1.4 
     Apparel commodities .....................  4.801   126.6   124.6    -0.4    -1.6 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............  1.298   130.7   129.1     1.7    -1.2 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............  2.019   121.5   117.8    -1.8    -3.0 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........   .233   126.5   125.0    -2.7    -1.2 
       Footwear ..............................   .800   129.2   128.3     1.8     -.7 
       Other apparel commodities .............   .450   138.5   141.1    -2.4     1.9 
     Apparel services ........................   .510   162.9   163.5     1.7      .4 
                                                                                      
   Transportation ............................ 18.597   142.4   141.7    -2.0     -.5 
     Private transportation .................. 17.389   140.1   139.3    -2.2     -.6 
       New vehicles ..........................  4.781   145.3   145.6     -.7      .2 
         New cars ............................  3.439   140.9   141.3    -1.0      .3 
       Used cars .............................  2.179   149.5   149.7    -4.0      .1 
       Motor fuel ............................  3.608   101.7    97.6   -10.3    -4.0 
         Gasoline ............................      -   101.2    97.0   -10.4    -4.2 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............  1.634   165.7   166.0     2.5      .2 
       Other private transportation ..........  5.188   174.3   175.2     1.9      .5 
         Other private transportation                                                 
     commodities .............................   .727   103.7   103.6     -.6     -.1 
         Other private transportation services                                        
     .........................................  4.460   192.3   193.5     2.4      .6 
     Public transportation ...................  1.208   182.5   184.6      .5     1.2 
                                                                                      
   Medical care ..............................  6.331   236.5   237.4     2.7      .4 
     Medical care commodities ................  1.054   214.1   214.7     2.2      .3 
     Medical care services ...................  5.276   241.6   242.6     2.8      .4 
       Professional medical services .........  3.020   218.9   219.8     3.0      .4 
                                                                                      
   Entertainment .............................  4.006   160.4   160.7     1.2     0.2 
     Entertainment commodities ...............  2.005   142.8   143.0      .1      .1 
     Entertainment services ..................  2.001   185.4   185.8     2.4      .2 
                                                                                      
   Other goods and services ..................  7.285   226.9   228.2     5.3      .6 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............  2.237   250.9   253.6     7.4     1.1 
     Personal care ...........................  1.116   153.9   154.5     1.9      .4 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                 
     appliances ..............................   .612   146.1   146.9     1.7      .5 
       Personal care services ................   .504   164.1   164.5     2.3      .2 
     Personal and educational expenses .......  3.932   261.6   262.4     5.1      .3 
       School books and supplies .............   .241   245.2   247.0     4.6      .7 
       Personal and educational services .....  3.692   263.2   263.9     5.1      .3 
                                                                                      
          Commodity and service group                                                 
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items ................................... 100.000  158.2   158.4     1.3      .1 
   Commodities ............................... 46.401   141.6   141.4     -.1     -.1 
     Food and beverages ...................... 19.434   158.5   159.6     2.0      .7 
     Commodities less food and beverages ..... 26.967   131.3   130.4    -1.5     -.7 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ... 15.915   133.1   131.5    -1.6    -1.2 
         Apparel commodities .................  4.801   126.6   124.6     -.4    -1.6 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                        
     apparel ................................. 11.114   139.3   137.8    -2.2    -1.1 
       Durables .............................. 11.052   127.5   127.7    -1.4      .2 
   Services .................................. 53.599   178.2   178.8     2.6      .3 
     Rent of shelter (1)...................... 25.761   166.6   167.4     3.1      .5 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                          
     (1)......................................  8.554   133.7   133.3      .3     -.3 
     Transportation services .................  7.302   183.9   185.0     2.0      .6 
     Medical care services ...................  5.276   241.6   242.6     2.8      .4 
     Other services ..........................  6.706   209.9   210.4     3.8      .2 
                                                                                      
                Special indexes                                                       
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All items less food ......................... 82.261   158.1   158.2     1.2      .1 
 All items less shelter ...................... 73.695   154.2   154.3      .7      .1 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1)......... 82.136   148.1   148.3     1.0      .1 
 All items less medical care ................. 93.669   154.5   154.7     1.2      .1 
 Commodities less food ....................... 28.662   132.5   131.7    -1.3     -.6 
 Nondurables less food ....................... 17.610   135.0   133.5    -1.3    -1.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ........... 12.809   140.7   139.4    -1.7     -.9 
 Nondurables ................................. 35.349   146.2   145.9      .3     -.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............ 27.838   168.8   169.2     2.1      .2 
 Services less medical care services ......... 48.322   172.7   173.3     2.5     0.3 
 Energy ......................................  7.483   107.7   105.0    -7.1    -2.5 
 All items less energy ....................... 92.517   165.2   165.8     2.0      .4 
   All items less food and energy ............ 74.778   167.1   167.6     2.1      .3 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                 
     commodities ............................. 24.717   141.5   141.4      .3     -.1 
       Energy commodities ....................  3.946   101.6    97.7   -10.7    -3.8 
     Services less energy services ........... 50.062   184.3   185.1     2.9      .4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                             
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................      -  $ .632  $ .631       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................      -  $ .212  $ .212       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all
 items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  Jan.1998 from--  
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                       1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.6  161.5  161.3  161.6    0.0    0.1    0.2 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    162.5  162.9  162.8  162.5     .0    -.2    -.2 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    161.1  160.7  161.2  161.0    -.1     .2    -.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    172.3  172.0  171.9  172.1    -.1     .1     .1 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1        -  169.4      -  171.0      -     .9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1        -  157.1      -  158.0      -     .6      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    152.8      -  152.5  152.2    -.4      -    -.2 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2    157.9      -  157.1      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    147.3      -  145.6      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  159.5      -      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    167.7  166.4  166.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    162.5  162.6  162.6      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.7  168.5  168.4  168.8     .1     .2     .2 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    157.7  157.7  157.3  157.6    -.1    -.1     .2 
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.8  157.3  157.7    -.1    -.1     .3 
 West urban ..................................   M    162.8  162.8  162.8  163.0     .1     .1     .1 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    146.0  145.8  145.7  146.0     .0     .1     .2 
 D ...........................................   M    157.6  157.8  157.5  157.9     .2     .1     .3 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
     classifications                                                                                  
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    169.5  169.3  169.1  169.5     .0     .1     .2 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    158.4  158.4  158.1  158.3    -.1    -.1     .1 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    156.7  156.4  156.3  156.7     .0     .2     .3 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    163.1  162.8  163.1  163.2     .1     .2     .1 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    153.2  153.7  153.0  153.0    -.1    -.5     .0 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    156.9  157.1  157.0  157.7     .5     .4     .4 

   1    The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W):
 Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  Jan.1998 from--  
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                       1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.5  158.5  158.2  158.4   -0.1   -0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    156.9  157.2  157.3  156.8    -.1    -.3    -.3 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    155.4  154.9  155.3  155.1    -.2     .1    -.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    168.1  168.0  167.7  167.7    -.2    -.2     .0 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1        -  167.8      -  169.5      -    1.0      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1        -  149.1      -  149.9      -     .5      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    152.8      -  152.7  152.2    -.4      -    -.3 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2    152.4      -  151.7      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.3      -  144.5      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  157.0      -      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    166.8  165.9  165.7      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    159.5  159.5  159.4      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    165.8  165.7  165.5  165.8     .0     .1     .2 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    154.0  154.0  153.7  153.9    -.1    -.1     .1 
 South urban .................................   M    156.1  156.2  155.6  155.8    -.2    -.3     .1 
 West urban ..................................   M    159.3  159.2  159.2  159.3     .0     .1     .1 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    144.7  144.6  144.4  144.6    -.1     .0     .1 
 D ...........................................   M    156.7  156.9  156.7  156.8     .1    -.1     .1 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
     classifications                                                                                  
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    165.5  165.5  165.2  165.4    -.1    -.1     .1 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    153.9  153.8  153.6  153.7    -.1    -.1     .1 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    154.7  154.5  154.2  154.4    -.2    -.1     .1 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    157.9  157.7  157.9  157.9     .0     .1     .0 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    151.1  151.6  151.0  151.0    -.1    -.4     .0 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    157.3  157.5  157.5  157.7     .3     .1     .1 

   1    The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.