Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL-12-0061

8:30 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 19, 2012 

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

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

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – DECEMBER 2011 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in December on a 

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

the all items index increased 3.0 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

Similar to last month, the energy index declined in December and offset increases in other indexes. The 

gasoline index declined for the third month in a row and the household energy index declined as well. 

The food index rose in December, with the index for food at home turning up after declining last month. 

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in December after rising 0.2 percent 

in November. The indexes for shelter, recreation, medical care, and tobacco all posted increases, while 

the indexes for used cars and trucks, new vehicles, and apparel all declined. 

The all items index has risen 3.0 percent over the last 12 months, a decline from last month’s 3.4 percent 

figure. Recent declines in the energy index have brought its 12-month change down to 6.6 percent from 

19.3 percent in September. The 12-month change in the index for all items less food and energy held at 

2.2 percent, while the 12-month change in the food index edged up from 4.6 percent to 4.7 percent. 

 

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Dec'10 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec'11

Chart 1. One-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), seasonally adjusted, Dec. 2010 - Dec. 2011

Percent change

 0.4 0.4

 0.5 0.5

 0.4

 0.2

 -0.2

 0.5

 0.4

 0.3

 -0.1

 0.0 0.0
- 2 - 

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted, Dec. 2010 - Dec. 2011

Percent change

All items All items less food and energy

0

1

2

3

4

Dec'10 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec'11
- 3 - 

Year in Review 

The CPI rose 3.0 percent in 2011 after a 1.5 percent increase in 2010. This was the largest DecemberDecember increase since 2007. 

The energy index increased 6.6 percent in 2011, a deceleration from the 2010 increase of 7.7 percent. 

The gasoline index, which rose 13.8 percent in 2010, increased 9.9 percent in 2011. In contrast, the 

household energy index accelerated in 2011, rising 1.8 percent after a 0.8 percent increase in 2010. The 

fuel oil index rose 18.0 percent and the electricity index increased 2.2 percent, although the index for 

natural gas declined for the third straight year, falling 3.7 percent. 

The index for food accelerated in 2011, rising 4.7 percent compared to a 1.5 percent increase in 2010. 

The index for food at home rose 6.0 percent in 2011 compared to 1.7 percent in 2010. All six major 

grocery store food group indexes rose in 2011, with increases ranging from 2.3 percent (fruits and 

vegetables) to 8.1 percent (dairy and related products). The index for food away from home rose 2.9 

percent in 2011 after increasing 1.3 percent in 2010. 

The index for all items less food and energy also accelerated in 2011, increasing 2.2 percent after its 

historical low 2010 increase of 0.8 percent. This was the largest increase since 2007. Several indexes 

turned up in 2011. The apparel index rose 4.6 percent after a 1.1 percent decline the previous year. 

Similarly, the new vehicles index rose 3.2 percent in 2011 after a slight decline in 2010. The indexes for 

recreation and household furnishings and operations also rose in 2011 after declining in 2010. A number 

of other indexes rose more quickly in 2011 than in 2010. The shelter index accelerated notably, 

advancing 1.9 percent in 2011 after rising only 0.4 percent the previous year. The indexes for used cars 

and trucks, medical care, education, and personal care also rose more quickly in 2011 than in 2010. In 

contrast, the indexes for tobacco and airline fare posted smaller increases in 2011 than 2010. 

 

Consumer Price Index Data for December 2011 

Food 

The food index rose 0.2 percent in December after a 0.1 percent increase in November. The index for 

food at home, which fell 0.1 percent in November, rose 0.3 percent in December as four of the six major 

grocery store food group indexes increased. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose the most, 

increasing 0.7 percent, even though the index for eggs declined. Also rising in December were the 

indexes for cereals and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages, each increasing 0.3 percent, 

while the index for other food at home rose 0.4 percent. In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index 

decreased 0.5 percent in December as the fresh vegetables index fell 1.4 percent, and the index for dairy 

and related products declined 0.1 percent. The index for food away from home, which rose 0.3 percent 

in November, increased 0.2 percent in December. 

 

Energy 

The energy index declined for the third month in a row, falling 1.3 percent in December as all of its 

major component indexes declined. The gasoline index, which fell 2.4 percent in November, declined 

2.0 percent in December. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 4.0 percent in December.) 

The household energy index also declined, falling 0.4 percent in December, the same decrease as 
- 4 - 

November. The index for fuel oil fell 1.0 percent, the natural gas index declined 0.8 percent, and the 

electricity index decreased 0.2 percent. 

All items less food and energy 

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in December after rising 0.2 percent 

in November. The shelter index rose 0.2 percent for the third month in a row. The rent index increased 

0.3 percent and the index for owners’ equivalent rent advanced 0.2 percent. The medical care index 

continued to rise significantly; its 0.4 percent increase in December was the third in a row of at least that 

size. The medical care services index rose 0.4 percent with the hospital services index up 0.5 percent. 

The recreation index increased 0.4 percent in December and the indexes for tobacco, household 

furnishings and operations, and airline fares posted increases as well. In contrast, the index for used cars 

and trucks declined for the fourth month in a row, falling 0.9 percent, while the index for new vehicles 

fell 0.2 percent, its third consecutive decline. The apparel index fell 0.1 percent in December after 

increasing in seven of the last eight months. The index for personal care, which rose 0.6 percent in 

November, was unchanged in December. 

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.0 percent over the last 12 

months to an index level of 225.672 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.2 percent prior 

to seasonal adjustment. 

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.2 

percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 222.166 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index 

declined 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. 

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 2.8 percent over the 

last 12 months. For the month, the index declined 0.3 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please 

note that the indexes for the post-2009 period are subject to revision. 

The Consumer Price Index for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Friday, February 17, 

2012, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
- 5 - 

Redesigning the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Press Release Tables 

The format of the tables contained in the CPI News Release will change beginning with the CPI News 

Release for March, 2012, which will be issued on Friday, April 13, 2012. News Release tables are 

currently available as part of the News Release pdf and html files, and independently in html format. 

The new tables will also be available in Excel format. In addition, the BLS will begin issuing monthly 

companion Excel files, which will contain additional index level and CPI-W information. 

These tables were made available for public comment during October 2011. In response to the public 

comments, the BLS will issue Excel files each month, as companions to the News Release. There will 

be CPI-U and CPI-W files, and in addition to the data contained in the News Release tables, the Excel 

files will contain index values. Samples of the companion Excel files will be available with the 

February CPI News Release in March 2012. Samples of the new CPI press release tables are available 

now at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/mock-ups.htm.

In August 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) restructured the text of the CPI press release to 

focus on the price movements of three broad expenditure categories, namely Food, Energy, and All 

items less food and energy. Table A within the CPI press release text was also updated in August 2009 

to reflect this new structure. Before August 2009, the text of the CPI press release had focused on eight 

CPI ‘major groups’ (Food and beverages; Housing; Apparel; Transportation; Medical care; Recreation; 

Education and communication; and Other goods and services). 

 

While the text of the CPI press release was restructured in 2009, seven additional CPI press release 

tables continued to be published using the eight major groups. BLS has redesigned these press release 

tables, to reflect the focus on Food, Energy, and All items less food and energy. Within these three broad 

categories, CPI item series will be further divided into commodities and services. The CPI News 

Release will contain these updated tables beginning with the March 2012 News Release, to be issued on 

Friday, April 13, 2012. 

Beyond the redesign in the structure of the CPI press release tables, several other improvements to these 

tables have been made. 

The new Table 1 gives a summary of the index series which typically contribute to changes in the 

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

The new Table 2 will show the full publication stub using the new structure for the CPI-U, including 11 

new items series that were created to augment the redesign in the publication structure. Table 3 will 

show aggregate item series (e.g., Transportation) that do not fall under the Food, Energy, and All items 

less food and energy structure. 

Table 4 will show the All items indexes at the local, regional, and city-size class levels. 

Table 5 will show the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), and presents 

a history of annual percentage changes in the C-CPI-U compared to the CPI-U. 

Table 6 will focus on 1-month seasonally adjusted changes in the CPI-U, while table 7 will focus on 12-

month not seasonally adjusted changes. Tables 6 and 7 will present three additional pieces of data to 

help users better interpret index changes. First, these tables will show the ‘effect’ each item has on the 

price change for All items. For example, if the effect of food is 0.4, and the index for All items increased 
- 6 - 

1.2 percent, it can be said that increases in food prices accounted for 0.4 / 1.2, or 33.3 percent, of the 

increase in overall prices for that period. Said another way, had food prices been unchanged, the All 

items index only would have increased 0.8 percent (or 1.2 percent for All items, minus the 0.4 effect for 

Food). Effects can be negative as well. For example, if the effect of food was a negative 0.1, and the All 

items index rose 0.5 percent, the All items index actually would have been 0.1 percent higher (or 0.6 

percent) had food prices been unchanged. 

 

Second, standard errors for percent changes will be shown on tables 6 and 7. Confidence intervals for 

statistics can be created using standard errors; e.g., roughly 95% confidence intervals can be constructed 

using two standard errors. For example, if an item increased 3.7 percent, and its standard error was 0.6 

percent, the 95% confidence interval for that price change can be said to be 3.7 percent plus or minus 

two standard errors, or 3.7 percent plus or minus 1.2 percent. 

Finally, each item series in tables 6 and 7 will show the last time that item had a price change as large 

(or as small) as the percent change published that period. For example, if bananas rose 3.7 percent, and 

that was its largest increase since November 2007, that would be noted in the new tables. 

In addition, most of the existing tables show the ‘relative importance’, or weight, of each item category 

as of the previous December. The relative importance columns in the new tables will be improved in that 

they will be updated monthly to reflect the change in relative prices over time. 

Finally, there will no longer be any press release tables that focus on the Consumer Price Index for 

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). That said, the CPI-W All items index level and 

percent changes will still be noted in the text of the press release, and a companion Excel file with CPIW information will be available. 

Expenditure Weight Update 

Effective with the release of the January 2012 CPI on February 17, 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(BLS) will update the consumption expenditure weights in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 

Consumers (CPI-U) and Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) 

to the 2009-10 period. The updated expenditure weights for these indexes will replace the 2007-2008 

weights that were introduced effective with the January 2010 CPI release. As originally announced by 

BLS in December 1998, CPI expenditure weights will continue to be updated at two-year intervals. 

Facilities for Sensory Impaired

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

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

Brief Explanation of the CPI 

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

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

groups: (1) the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers households 
- 7 - 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

units and approximately 26,000 retail establishments-department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

two annual revisions. 

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

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

100. An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown as 116.500. This 

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

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

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

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

Note on Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index 

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

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

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

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

example, the estimated standard error of the 1 month percent change is 0.03 percent for the U.S. All 

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

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

these estimates would be within 0.06 percent of the 1 month percentage change based on all retail prices. 

For example, for a 1-month change of 0.2 percent in the All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers, we are 
- 8 - 

95 percent confident that the actual percent change based on all retail prices would fall between 0.14 and 

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

see “Variance Estimates for Price Changes in the Consumer Price Index, January-December 2010”. 

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

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpivar2010.pdf 

Calculating Index Changes 

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

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

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

of index point and percent changes. 

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

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

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

Index Point Change

CPI 202.416 

Less previous index 201.800 

Equals index point change .616 

Percent Change

Index point difference .616 

Divided by the previous index 201.800 

Equals 0.003 

Results multiplied by one hundred 0.003x100 

Equals percent change 0.3

Regions Defined 

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

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

and Vermont. 

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

and Wisconsin. 

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

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

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

Washington, and Wyoming. 
- 9 - 

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data 

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

publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. 

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

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

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

cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. 

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

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

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

before adjustment for seasonal variation. 

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

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

Each year, the last 5 years of seasonally adjusted data are revised. Data from January 2006 through 

December 2010 were replaced in January 2011. Exceptions to the usual revision schedule were: the 

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

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

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

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

CPI Detailed Report. 

Effective with the publication of data from January 2006 through December 2010 in January 2011, the 

Video and audio series and the Information technology, hardware and services series were changed from 

independently adjusted to dependently adjusted. This resulted in an increase in the number of seasonal 

components used in deriving seasonal movement of the All items and 54 other lower level aggregations, 

from 73 for the publication of January 1998 through December 2005 data to 82 for the publication of 

seasonally adjusted data for January 2006 and later. Each year the seasonal status of every series is 

reevaluated based upon certain statistical criteria. If any of the 82 components change their seasonal 

adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will 

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

indexes before that period will not be changed. Note: 37 of the 82 components are not seasonally 

adjusted for 2011. 

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

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

agreements. 

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

enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some 

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

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

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

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

Seasonal Adjustment. 
- 10 -

For the seasonal factors introduced in January 2011, BLS adjusted 29 series using Intervention Analysis 

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

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

damage to oil refineries from Hurricane Katrina. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-7000. 

Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 15, 2012 

Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect 

price movements from the just-completed calendar year. This routine annual recalculation may result in 

revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years. BLS will make available recalculated 

seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 

2007 through December 2011, on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. This date is two working days before 

the scheduled release of the January 2012 CPI on Friday, February 17, 2012. 

The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the internet. The address is 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpisapage.htm. Look under Seasonal Adjustment in the CPI and select Revised 

Seasonally Adjusted Indexes and Factors, 2007-2011. 

For further information please contact David Levin by electronic mail at: Levin.David@bls.gov or by 

telephone at: (202) 691-5261. 
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and

service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2010

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2011 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 226.230 225.672 3.0 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0 

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

 677.684 676.014 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.792 230.656 231.130 4.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 13.742 230.790 231.301 4.7 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 7.816 229.380 229.982 6.0 .3 .1 -.1 .3 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.090 265.552 265.997 6.1 .2 .4 .3 .3 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 1.813 227.583 228.853 7.9 .6 .5 -.1 .7 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .839 218.767 218.458 8.1 -.1 .1 -.3 -.1 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.152 282.605 283.550 2.3 .3 -1.7 -.6 -.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ .926 168.606 168.520 5.8 -.1 .5 .2 .3 

Other food at home .............................................................. 1.996 199.924 200.566 5.5 .3 .4 -.1 .4 

Sugar and sweets 1 ............................................................ .297 210.039 210.846 3.8 .4 .1 -1.7 .4 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .232 224.907 227.601 13.5 1.2 .3 .8 1.7 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.466 211.649 211.986 4.5 .2 .4 .1 .2 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .432 125.702 126.293 3.2 .5 .3 .2 .5 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 5.926 234.046 234.435 2.9 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .329 164.120 164.095 2.1 .0 .4 .1 .0 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.051 227.363 227.335 1.4 .0 .0 .0 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 41.460 219.969 220.193 1.9 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 31.955 253.312 253.716 1.9 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 5.925 256.367 257.189 2.5 .3 .4 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .776 130.687 128.131 2.0 -2.0 -1.7 -.1 -.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 24.905 261.503 261.982 1.8 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 23.310 261.479 261.960 1.8 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .349 128.777 129.480 2.6 .5 .4 .3 .5 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.096 218.199 217.674 2.4 -.2 -.2 -.3 -.2

Household energy .................................................................. 4.000 190.444 189.711 1.8 -.4 -.3 -.4 -.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .309 342.823 340.512 14.3 -.7 .1 2.3 -.7 

Energy services 3 ................................................................. 3.691 190.572 189.891 .8 -.4 -.4 -.7 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.095 182.254 182.758 4.7 .3 .2 .2 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 4.409 125.073 125.170 1.0 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .772 152.578 152.729 1.4 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.601 127.285 123.470 4.6 -3.0 .4 .6 -.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .882 119.930 115.997 5.7 -3.3 .6 1.2 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.520 115.603 110.918 4.9 -4.1 .6 .9 -.4 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .192 118.775 118.032 4.9 -.6 -.8 1.2 2.1 

Footwear .................................................................................. .700 130.293 128.208 1.3 -1.6 -1.0 -.3 .4 

Transportation ............................................................................ 17.308 211.358 208.585 5.2 -1.3 -1.1 -.8 -.7 

Private transportation ............................................................... 16.082 206.635 203.809 5.3 -1.4 -1.2 -.9 -.8

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.333 100.021 99.795 2.8 -.2 -.4 -.3 -.4 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.513 142.736 142.953 3.2 .2 -.3 -.3 -.2 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 2.055 149.230 148.140 4.0 -.7 -.6 -.1 -.9 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 5.079 294.049 282.501 10.3 -3.9 -3.1 -2.4 -2.0 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 4.865 292.486 280.713 9.9 -4.0 -3.1 -2.4 -2.0

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .408 146.338 147.499 5.9 .8 -.2 .7 .8 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.172 255.663 255.644 2.2 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Public transportation ................................................................ 1.227 268.478 266.958 3.8 -.6 .0 .1 .0 

Medical care ............................................................................... 6.627 404.858 405.629 3.5 .2 .5 .4 .4

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.633 326.624 327.254 3.2 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.994 429.191 430.005 3.6 .2 .5 .5 .4 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.830 337.347 337.907 2.2 .2 .3 .2 .3 

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

service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Relative

importance,

December

2010

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2011 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ................................................. 1.703 654.117 653.839 5.3 0.0 0.6 0.7 0.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 6.293 113.232 113.499 1.0 .2 -.1 .1 .4 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.816 98.315 98.225 1.1 -.1 .3 -.1 .3 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.421 132.750 132.728 1.7 .0 .2 .2 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 3.107 212.751 212.745 4.6 .0 .4 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .204 541.618 540.742 5.2 -.2 .4 .7 -.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.903 611.581 611.633 4.6 .0 .4 .5 .3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.313 83.016 82.990 -1.1 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Information and information processing 2 .............................. 3.138 79.625 79.599 -1.4 .0 .0 .0 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.334 101.259 101.397 -.3 .1 .2 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ................ .804 8.866 8.818 -4.5 -.5 -.4 -.1 -.6 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .228 65.849 64.348 -12.5 -2.3 -.8 .7 -2.5 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.497 390.761 391.043 1.7 .1 .1 .5 .1 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ .906 843.604 847.063 2.3 .4 .0 .1 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.591 210.354 210.257 1.5 .0 .1 .6 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .671 161.585 160.825 .1 -.5 .3 .5 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .638 232.216 232.302 .9 .0 .1 .4 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.055 367.157 367.912 3.2 .2 .2 .5 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 40.012 184.791 183.345 4.2 -.8 -.4 -.3 -.3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 14.792 230.656 231.130 4.5 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 25.219 160.091 157.921 4.0 -1.4 -.8 -.5 -.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 15.474 208.902 204.529 5.5 -2.1 -1.4 -.1 -.7 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.601 127.285 123.470 4.6 -3.0 .4 .6 -.1

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 11.873 264.478 259.668 5.8 -1.8 -1.8 -.6 -.9 

Durables ................................................................................... 9.745 112.405 112.277 1.6 -.1 -.4 -.4 -.1 

Services ....................................................................................... 59.988 267.413 267.737 2.2 .1 .2 .1 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 31.607 263.931 264.341 1.9 .2 .2 .3 .3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .349 128.777 129.480 2.6 .5 .4 .3 .5 

Energy services 3 ....................................................................... 3.691 190.572 189.891 .8 -.4 -.4 -.7 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.095 182.254 182.758 4.7 .3 .2 .2 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .772 152.578 152.729 1.4 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 6.140 270.117 269.858 2.5 -.1 .1 .1 .1 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.994 429.191 430.005 3.6 .2 .5 .5 .4 

Other services ............................................................................ 11.340 317.275 318.043 2.3 .2 .2 .3 .5

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 86.258 225.532 224.805 2.7 -.3 -.1 .0 .0 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 68.045 218.205 217.260 3.5 -.4 -.2 -.1 -.1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 93.373 217.479 216.875 2.9 -.3 -.1 .0 .0 

Commodities less food ................................................................. 26.270 162.572 160.453 3.9 -1.3 -.7 -.4 -.6

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 16.525 210.101 205.966 5.2 -2.0 -1.3 -.1 -.5

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 12.923 259.934 255.567 5.4 -1.7 -1.7 -.5 -.8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 30.266 220.592 218.411 5.0 -1.0 -.6 .1 -.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 28.382 292.242 292.487 2.5 .1 .2 .1 .3 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 54.994 254.978 255.271 2.0 .1 .2 .3 .3 

Energy .......................................................................................... 9.079 238.177 232.300 6.6 -2.5 -2.0 -1.6 -1.3 

All items less energy .................................................................... 90.921 226.818 226.795 2.6 .0 .1 .2 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 77.179 226.859 226.740 2.2 -.1 .1 .2 .1 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 20.882 146.811 145.929 2.2 -.6 -.1 .1 -.2 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 5.388 298.530 287.363 10.6 -3.7 -2.9 -2.1 -1.9

Services less energy services .................................................. 56.297 275.224 275.643 2.3 .2 .2 .2 .3 

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

 $ .442 $ .443 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .148 $ .148 - ----

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

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

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

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Mar.

2011

June

2011

Sep.

2011

Dec.

2011 June

2011

Dec.

2011

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 226.955 226.763 226.720 226.747 6.1 1.5 4.8 -0.4 3.8 2.2 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.542 230.795 230.917 231.401 7.1 4.0 5.3 1.5 5.5 3.4

Food ................................................................................ 230.673 230.948 231.073 231.571 7.5 4.1 5.7 1.6 5.8 3.6 

Food at home ................................................................ 229.911 230.077 229.869 230.448 11.2 4.7 7.4 .9 7.9 4.1 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 264.757 265.757 266.605 267.352 5.7 7.1 7.8 4.0 6.4 5.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 226.323 227.379 227.206 228.825 13.5 9.0 5.0 4.5 11.2 4.8 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 219.381 219.493 218.767 218.458 8.4 12.4 14.1 -1.7 10.4 5.9 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 289.690 284.749 283.020 281.558 23.3 -10.2 11.0 -10.8 5.3 -.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 167.995 168.863 169.220 169.663 10.4 6.3 2.7 4.0 8.3 3.4 

Other food at home ..................................................... 200.393 201.118 200.969 201.782 7.1 5.1 7.0 2.8 6.1 4.9 

Sugar and sweets 1 .................................................. 213.330 213.602 210.039 210.846 4.8 4.3 11.4 -4.6 4.6 3.1 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 223.600 224.341 226.162 230.040 25.8 9.2 7.9 12.0 17.2 10.0 

Other foods ............................................................... 211.873 212.752 212.965 213.360 4.8 4.6 6.0 2.8 4.7 4.4

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 125.044 125.461 125.702 126.293 .8 3.4 4.4 4.1 2.1 4.2 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 233.032 233.459 234.046 234.435 2.8 3.2 3.4 2.4 3.0 2.9 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 163.334 163.978 164.120 164.095 3.0 1.5 2.1 1.9 2.3 2.0 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 227.285 227.240 227.322 227.617 1.6 3.4 .0 .6 2.5 .3

Housing ............................................................................. 220.162 220.446 220.631 220.918 1.9 1.7 2.6 1.4 1.8 2.0 

Shelter ............................................................................. 252.726 253.214 253.601 254.071 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.1 1.6 2.2 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 254.857 255.853 256.398 257.043 1.7 1.2 3.5 3.5 1.5 3.5 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 139.636 137.306 137.157 136.846 -1.0 25.8 -6.1 -7.8 11.6 -6.9 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 260.548 261.086 261.466 261.932 1.3 1.3 2.4 2.1 1.3 2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 260.522 261.064 261.443 261.910 1.3 1.3 2.4 2.1 1.3 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 127.922 128.416 128.777 129.480 -1.0 4.2 2.4 5.0 1.5 3.7 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 222.606 222.093 221.414 221.013 7.1 .8 4.9 -2.8 3.9 1.0 

Household energy ......................................................... 195.624 194.943 194.073 193.353 7.2 -.1 5.2 -4.6 3.5 .2

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 334.735 335.148 342.823 340.512 73.2 -1.3 -6.9 7.1 30.7 -.2 

Energy services 3 ........................................................ 196.677 195.909 194.549 193.883 2.8 .0 6.4 -5.6 1.4 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 181.374 181.744 182.124 183.054 6.7 4.3 4.1 3.8 5.5 3.9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 125.249 125.369 125.428 125.550 .2 1.4 1.4 1.0 .8 1.2 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 151.967 152.415 152.578 152.729 -.3 3.2 .6 2.0 1.4 1.3 

Apparel .............................................................................. 123.529 124.021 124.802 124.656 -1.5 11.5 5.0 3.7 4.8 4.3 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 116.635 117.293 118.669 117.681 -2.3 17.1 5.4 3.6 7.0 4.5

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.218 110.866 111.907 111.514 -2.3 12.4 5.2 4.8 4.8 5.0

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 116.253 115.333 116.712 119.110 -12.7 6.6 17.9 10.2 -3.5 14.0 

Footwear ......................................................................... 129.833 128.577 128.246 128.778 1.0 5.0 2.4 -3.2 3.0 -.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 217.280 214.819 213.076 211.532 23.9 -3.1 13.9 -10.2 9.5 1.2 

Private transportation ...................................................... 212.785 210.201 208.351 206.725 24.1 -2.6 14.6 -10.9 9.9 1.0 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 101.095 100.651 100.359 99.928 4.5 11.6 .4 -4.5 8.0 -2.1 

New vehicles ............................................................... 143.509 143.020 142.605 142.288 6.4 10.1 .0 -3.4 8.3 -1.7 

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 152.354 151.440 151.235 149.807 2.5 16.8 4.4 -6.5 9.4 -1.2

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 318.141 308.228 300.919 294.963 74.8 -20.2 43.9 -26.1 18.1 3.1 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 317.446 307.494 300.146 294.255 71.2 -20.5 45.4 -26.2 16.7 3.6 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 145.646 145.308 146.338 147.499 4.3 11.7 2.9 5.2 7.9 4.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 255.244 255.774 255.663 255.644 1.1 2.8 4.4 .6 1.9 2.5 

Public transportation ....................................................... 269.718 269.679 270.023 270.081 21.4 -9.5 5.2 .5 4.8 2.8 

Medical care ...................................................................... 402.269 404.134 405.817 407.278 2.9 3.2 2.8 5.1 3.1 3.9 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 325.130 325.962 326.624 327.254 7.1 1.8 1.3 2.6 4.4 2.0 

Medical care services ..................................................... 426.192 428.457 430.539 432.322 1.6 3.7 3.3 5.9 2.6 4.6

Professional services .................................................... 336.855 337.940 338.505 339.393 2.3 1.4 2.1 3.0 1.8 2.6

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Mar.

2011

June

2011

Sep.

2011

Dec.

2011 June

2011

Dec.

2011

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ........................................ 647.688 651.366 655.671 658.660 2.3 7.7 4.2 7.0 4.9 5.6 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 113.379 113.299 113.381 113.887 1.8 .8 -.2 1.8 1.3 .8 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 98.421 98.742 98.676 98.934 2.5 -2.2 2.1 2.1 .1 2.1 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 131.772 132.015 132.333 132.494 1.8 1.2 1.4 2.2 1.5 1.8 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 209.477 210.224 211.311 211.924 5.2 3.9 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.7 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 535.859 537.994 541.856 540.898 6.6 4.1 6.4 3.8 5.4 5.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 601.966 604.094 607.131 609.094 5.1 3.9 4.5 4.8 4.5 4.7 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 83.064 83.078 83.052 83.016 -1.4 -1.3 -1.6 -.2 -1.3 -.9 

Information and information processing 2 ..................... 79.673 79.688 79.662 79.626 -2.3 -1.4 -1.6 -.2 -1.9 -.9 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 101.084 101.257 101.259 101.397 -1.9 -.2 -.5 1.2 -1.0 .4 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ....... 8.933 8.895 8.882 8.830 -3.5 -4.9 -5.0 -4.5 -4.2 -4.8 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 66.391 65.874 66.318 64.684 -14.3 -9.3 -16.4 -9.9 -11.8 -13.2 

Other goods and services ................................................. 388.859 389.064 390.879 391.225 .6 .9 2.9 2.5 .7 2.7 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 843.141 842.785 843.604 847.063 1.5 -.9 7.1 1.9 .3 4.4 

Personal care .................................................................. 209.012 209.193 210.441 210.389 .2 1.5 1.5 2.7 .9 2.1 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.162 160.705 161.585 160.825 .8 -2.0 .0 1.7 -.6 .8 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 230.974 231.238 232.216 232.302 -.2 1.0 .6 2.3 .4 1.5 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 364.789 365.594 367.300 369.186 1.7 2.8 3.4 4.9 2.3 4.1 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 186.622 185.783 185.276 184.737 12.6 .9 8.1 -4.0 6.6 1.9 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.542 230.795 230.917 231.401 7.1 4.0 5.3 1.5 5.5 3.4

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 162.643 161.394 160.650 159.718 15.9 -.8 9.7 -7.0 7.2 1.0 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 212.876 209.810 209.529 208.056 23.3 -2.5 13.0 -8.8 9.6 1.6 

Apparel .......................................................................... 123.529 124.021 124.802 124.656 -1.5 11.5 5.0 3.7 4.8 4.3 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 273.642 268.818 267.123 264.843 32.0 -7.2 16.6 -12.3 10.7 1.1 

Durables .......................................................................... 113.488 113.001 112.495 112.398 3.1 7.6 -.3 -3.8 5.4 -2.0 

Services .............................................................................. 267.015 267.482 267.869 268.465 2.1 1.8 2.6 2.2 1.9 2.4 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 263.256 263.905 264.781 265.563 -.3 1.6 2.9 3.6 .6 3.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 127.922 128.416 128.777 129.480 -1.0 4.2 2.4 5.0 1.5 3.7 

Energy services 3 .............................................................. 196.677 195.909 194.549 193.883 2.8 .0 6.4 -5.6 1.4 .2 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 181.374 181.744 182.124 183.054 6.7 4.3 4.1 3.8 5.5 3.9 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 151.967 152.415 152.578 152.729 -.3 3.2 .6 2.0 1.4 1.3 

Transportation services ..................................................... 269.113 269.469 269.605 269.976 6.4 .3 2.1 1.3 3.3 1.7

Medical care services ....................................................... 426.192 428.457 430.539 432.322 1.6 3.7 3.3 5.9 2.6 4.6 

Other services ................................................................... 315.430 315.958 316.890 318.326 2.0 1.7 1.9 3.7 1.8 2.8 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 226.389 226.124 226.054 226.007 5.9 1.1 4.7 -.7 3.5 2.0 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 219.458 218.994 218.781 218.633 8.5 1.3 6.0 -1.5 4.8 2.2 

All items less medical care .................................................. 218.324 218.055 217.947 217.919 6.4 1.3 5.0 -.7 3.8 2.1 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 165.062 163.841 163.117 162.214 15.3 -.7 9.3 -6.7 7.0 1.0 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 213.675 210.929 210.810 209.658 21.0 -2.3 12.0 -7.3 8.7 1.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 268.178 263.695 262.297 260.257 29.3 -6.2 14.9 -11.3 10.1 .9

Nondurables ........................................................................ 222.435 221.009 221.167 220.517 15.4 .2 8.8 -3.4 7.5 2.5 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 291.867 292.461 292.863 293.829 2.9 1.7 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.6 

Services less medical care services ................................... 254.668 255.055 255.717 256.482 1.0 1.5 2.7 2.9 1.3 2.8 

Energy ................................................................................. 252.319 247.248 243.319 240.111 42.4 -12.5 26.6 -18.0 11.6 1.9 

All items less energy ........................................................... 226.190 226.491 226.841 227.196 2.8 3.1 2.7 1.8 3.0 2.2 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 226.137 226.444 226.836 227.166 2.0 2.9 2.1 1.8 2.5 2.0

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 146.533 146.428 146.573 146.337 1.9 5.9 1.5 -.5 3.9 .5 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 321.179 311.714 305.104 299.289 74.7 -19.2 40.5 -24.6 18.8 2.9 

Services less energy services ......................................... 274.216 274.800 275.351 276.067 2.1 1.9 2.3 2.7 2.0 2.5 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2011 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2011 from—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Nov.

2010

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

U.S. city average ............................................ M 226.889 226.421 226.230 225.672 3.0 -0.3 -0.2 3.4 -0.3 -0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 243.323 243.014 242.652 241.987 2.9 -.4 -.3 3.2 -.3 -.1 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 244.983 244.534 244.076 243.328 2.7 -.5 -.3 3.1 -.4 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 145.369 145.404 145.335 145.062 3.4 -.2 -.2 3.6 .0 .0 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 216.968 215.653 215.614 215.173 2.8 -.2 -.2 3.3 -.6 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 217.360 216.130 216.097 215.633 2.7 -.2 -.2 3.2 -.6 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 139.542 138.573 138.453 138.186 2.9 -.3 -.2 3.3 -.8 -.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 213.606 212.476 212.907 212.505 3.1 .0 -.2 3.3 -.3 .2 

South urban .................................................... M 220.371 219.969 219.961 219.469 3.3 -.2 -.2 3.8 -.2 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 221.242 220.515 220.654 220.152 2.9 -.2 -.2 3.4 -.3 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.471 140.303 140.218 139.838 3.4 -.3 -.3 3.9 -.2 -.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 224.462 224.574 224.714 224.892 4.0 .1 .1 4.2 .1 .1 

West urban ..................................................... M 229.147 229.195 228.771 228.117 2.7 -.5 -.3 3.2 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 233.221 233.259 232.851 232.106 2.7 -.5 -.3 3.1 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.564 138.696 138.411 138.017 2.7 -.5 -.3 3.3 -.1 -.2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 206.883 206.393 206.201 205.636 2.8 -.4 -.3 3.2 -.3 -.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 140.584 140.355 140.225 139.881 3.2 -.3 -.2 3.6 -.3 -.1 

D ................................................................. M 220.391 219.959 220.020 219.950 3.5 .0 .0 3.7 -.2 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 220.027 219.592 219.181 218.180 2.1 -.6 -.5 2.9 -.4 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 233.022 233.049 232.731 231.567 2.2 -.6 -.5 3.0 -.1 -.1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 250.559 250.051 249.317 248.307 2.7 -.7 -.4 3.0 -.5 -.3 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 245.310 -

 245.030 ---- 2.9 -.1 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 213.004 - 211.225 ---- 2.5 -.8 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 209.255 - 209.283 ---- 4.0 .0 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 147.658 - 147.565 ---- 3.3 -.1 -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 - 209.182 - 208.590 3.0 -.3 ----

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 - 212.927 - 213.505 3.5 .3 ----

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 201.398 - 200.477 3.1 -.5 ----

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 - 232.141 - 231.794 3.1 -.1 ----

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 - 235.440 - 234.312 2.8 -.5 ----

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 - 235.331 - 234.327 2.9 -.4 ----

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 235.916 - 234.812 3.5 -.5 ----

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated:

 M - Every month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2010

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2011 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

All items ........................................................................................ 100.000 222.813 222.166 3.2 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 

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

 663.692 661.766 - ----

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.401 230.186 230.642 4.6 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food ......................................................................................... 15.315 230.143 230.624 4.8 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Food at home ......................................................................... 8.906 228.405 228.925 6.1 .2 .1 -.1 .2 

Cereals and bakery products ............................................... 1.236 266.639 266.752 6.1 .0 .4 .4 .2 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................. 2.227 227.643 228.845 8.0 .5 .5 -.1 .7 

Dairy and related products 1 ................................................ .917 217.557 217.503 8.2 .0 .0 -.4 .0 

Fruits and vegetables ........................................................... 1.219 279.989 280.711 2.5 .3 -1.5 -.7 -.5 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ................ 1.091 167.739 167.577 5.6 -.1 .5 .2 .2 

Other food at home .............................................................. 2.217 199.146 199.694 5.6 .3 .3 .0 .3 

Sugar and sweets 1 ............................................................ .324 209.091 209.639 3.7 .3 .3 -1.5 .3 

Fats and oils ....................................................................... .258 226.119 229.065 14.0 1.3 .4 .8 1.7 

Other foods ........................................................................ 1.635 211.618 211.835 4.6 .1 .3 .1 .1 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ......................................... .463 125.761 126.235 3.2 .4 .4 .1 .4 

Food away from home 1 ......................................................... 6.409 234.240 234.666 3.0 .2 .2 .3 .2 

Other food away from home 1 2 ........................................... .326 165.228 165.205 2.2 .0 .4 .1 .0 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................................. 1.086 229.379 229.467 1.7 .0 .0 .1 .1 

Housing ...................................................................................... 39.228 216.723 217.009 1.9 .1 .1 .1 .1 

Shelter ...................................................................................... 29.811 247.313 247.858 1.9 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Rent of primary residence 3 ................................................... 8.396 254.446 255.322 2.4 .3 .3 .2 .3 

Lodging away from home 2 .................................................... .436 131.860 129.754 1.9 -1.6 -1.6 .2 .0 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .............................. 20.672 236.869 237.350 1.7 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ................ 19.942 236.859 237.342 1.7 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ................................... .306 129.912 130.695 2.4 .6 .4 .3 .6 

Fuels and utilities ..................................................................... 5.633 216.546 216.074 2.5 -.2 -.3 -.3 -.2

Household energy .................................................................. 4.476 188.244 187.586 1.9 -.3 -.4 -.4 -.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ...................................................... .301 342.717 340.375 13.6 -.7 .2 2.3 -.7 

Energy services 3 ................................................................. 4.175 189.671 189.060 1.1 -.3 -.5 -.6 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ................... 1.157 182.664 183.178 4.7 .3 .2 .2 .5 

Household furnishings and operations ..................................... 3.784 121.459 121.409 1.2 .0 .1 .0 .1 

Household operations 1 2 ....................................................... .364 155.567 155.744 1.7 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Apparel ....................................................................................... 3.668 126.764 123.203 5.2 -2.8 .2 .6 .1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel .......................................................... .921 120.739 116.906 6.4 -3.2 1.2 .9 -.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel ...................................................... 1.502 115.324 110.883 5.6 -3.9 .1 .8 .0 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ................................................... .280 122.228 121.842 5.2 -.3 -.6 1.2 2.2 

Footwear .................................................................................. .750 130.676 128.560 2.3 -1.6 -1.1 .2 .3 

Transportation ............................................................................ 19.418 212.119 209.013 5.7 -1.5 -1.2 -.9 -.8 

Private transportation ............................................................... 18.631 208.743 205.607 5.7 -1.5 -1.3 -1.0 -.8

New and used motor vehicles 2 ............................................. 6.914 99.539 99.250 3.2 -.3 -.4 -.3 -.5 

New vehicles ........................................................................ 3.320 143.778 143.994 3.2 .2 -.3 -.3 -.2 

Used cars and trucks ........................................................... 3.003 150.310 149.207 4.1 -.7 -.6 -.1 -.9 

Motor fuel ............................................................................... 6.470 295.069 283.528 10.3 -3.9 -3.1 -2.4 -1.9 

Gasoline (all types) .............................................................. 6.193 293.628 281.852 9.9 -4.0 -3.2 -2.7 -1.6

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ..................................... .479 146.151 147.223 5.8 .7 -.2 .6 .7 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ................................ 1.184 258.342 258.355 2.2 .0 .2 .0 .0 

Public transportation ................................................................ .787 265.815 264.424 4.0 -.5 .0 .1 .2 

Medical care ............................................................................... 5.355 407.128 407.909 3.6 .2 .5 .5 .4

Medical care commodities 1 ..................................................... 1.318 318.671 319.396 3.4 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................... 4.038 433.269 434.051 3.7 .2 .6 .5 .4 

Professional services ............................................................. 2.220 341.148 341.593 2.3 .1 .4 .2 .2 

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

and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Relative

importance,

December

2010

Unadjusted

indexes

Unadjusted

percent change to

Dec. 2011 from—

Seasonally adjusted

percent change from—

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Sep. to

Oct.

Oct. to

Nov.

Nov. to

Dec.

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ................................................. 1.414 657.707 657.440 5.4 0.0 0.6 0.8 0.5 

Recreation 2 ............................................................................... 5.862 109.723 109.959 1.3 .2 .0 .0 .4 

Video and audio 2 .................................................................... 1.959 99.095 99.028 1.3 -.1 .4 -.1 .3 

Education and communication 2 ................................................ 6.118 126.392 126.413 1.1 .0 .2 .1 .1 

Education 2 .............................................................................. 2.380 209.453 209.452 4.5 .0 .5 .5 .3 

Educational books and supplies ............................................. .199 548.418 547.576 6.1 -.2 .5 .7 -.1 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ................................ 2.181 588.409 588.489 4.3 .0 .5 .4 .3 

Communication 2 ..................................................................... 3.738 85.486 85.510 -1.1 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Information and information processing 2 .............................. 3.605 83.139 83.163 -1.3 .0 .0 -.1 .0 

Telephone services 1 2 ......................................................... 2.823 100.620 100.764 -.6 .1 .1 .0 .1 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ................ .782 9.408 9.371 -4.1 -.4 -.3 -.3 -.4 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ............... .208 65.613 64.421 -11.8 -1.8 -.4 .5 -1.9 

Other goods and services .......................................................... 3.950 420.462 421.000 1.7 .1 .0 .4 .2 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ............................................ 1.450 848.791 852.435 2.4 .4 -.1 .1 .4 

Personal care ........................................................................... 2.500 207.847 207.747 1.3 .0 .0 .5 .0 

Personal care products 1 ....................................................... .717 161.716 160.954 -.2 -.5 .2 .5 -.5 

Personal care services 1 ........................................................ .572 232.222 232.313 .9 .0 .1 .4 .0 

Miscellaneous personal services ........................................... 1.027 368.036 368.816 2.9 .2 .1 .4 .5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ................................................................................ 43.898 189.073 187.472 4.5 -.8 -.5 -.3 -.3 

Food and beverages .................................................................. 16.401 230.186 230.642 4.6 .2 .1 .1 .2 

Commodities less food and beverages ...................................... 27.497 166.502 164.072 4.5 -1.5 -.9 -.6 -.6 

Nondurables less food and beverages ..................................... 17.244 220.183 215.404 6.0 -2.2 -1.5 -.2 -.7 

Apparel ................................................................................... 3.668 126.764 123.203 5.2 -2.8 .2 .6 .1

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .................... 13.576 283.006 277.351 6.2 -2.0 -1.8 -.9 -.9 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.253 114.319 114.098 2.1 -.2 -.4 -.5 -.2 

Services ....................................................................................... 56.102 262.535 262.954 2.2 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Rent of shelter 4 ......................................................................... 29.504 238.318 238.834 1.9 .2 .3 .2 .2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ....................................... .306 129.912 130.695 2.4 .6 .4 .3 .6 

Energy services 3 ....................................................................... 4.175 189.671 189.060 1.1 -.3 -.5 -.6 -.3 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 ....................... 1.157 182.664 183.178 4.7 .3 .2 .2 .5 

Household operations 1 2 ........................................................... .364 155.567 155.744 1.7 .1 .3 .2 .1 

Transportation services .............................................................. 5.994 271.172 271.174 2.9 .0 .2 .1 .2 

Medical care services ................................................................. 4.038 433.269 434.051 3.7 .2 .6 .5 .4 

Other services ............................................................................ 10.563 301.609 302.364 2.0 .3 .2 .2 .4

Special indexes

All items less food ........................................................................ 84.685 221.324 220.479 2.9 -.4 -.2 -.1 .0 

All items less shelter .................................................................... 70.189 216.274 215.189 3.7 -.5 -.3 -.2 -.1 

All items less medical care ........................................................... 94.645 215.342 214.658 3.2 -.3 -.2 -.1 .0

Commodities less food ................................................................. 28.583 168.725 166.354 4.4 -1.4 -.9 -.6 -.6

Nondurables less food ................................................................. 18.329 220.944 216.421 5.7 -2.0 -1.5 -.1 -.6

Nondurables less food and apparel ............................................. 14.662 277.198 272.053 5.8 -1.9 -1.7 -.7 -.8 

Nondurables ................................................................................. 33.644 226.140 223.793 5.3 -1.0 -.7 .0 -.3 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ...................................................... 26.598 257.664 257.915 2.4 .1 .2 .1 .3 

Services less medical care services ............................................ 52.065 250.753 251.150 2.0 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Energy .......................................................................................... 10.946 240.073 233.943 6.9 -2.6 -2.1 -1.7 -1.3 

All items less energy .................................................................... 89.054 221.720 221.735 2.8 .0 .1 .1 .2

All items less food and energy ................................................... 73.739 220.404 220.325 2.3 .0 .1 .2 .2 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ..................... 21.812 149.572 148.692 2.5 -.6 -.1 .1 -.1 

Energy commodities ............................................................... 6.771 298.469 287.221 10.5 -3.8 -3.0 -2.2 -1.8

Services less energy services .................................................. 51.927 270.500 271.036 2.3 .2 .3 .2 .3 

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

 $ .449 $ .450 - ----

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ............. - $ .151 $ .151 - ----

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

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

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

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Mar.

2011

June

2011

Sep.

2011

Dec.

2011 June

2011

Dec.

2011

Expenditure category

All items .............................................................................. 223.845 223.535 223.363 223.352 7.1 1.2 5.7 -0.9 4.1 2.4 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.060 230.351 230.472 230.940 7.3 4.0 5.6 1.5 5.6 3.6

Food ................................................................................ 230.030 230.337 230.457 230.939 7.7 4.1 6.0 1.6 5.9 3.8 

Food at home ................................................................ 228.884 229.153 228.934 229.456 11.5 4.7 7.5 1.0 8.0 4.2 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 265.587 266.730 267.677 268.117 5.6 7.1 7.9 3.9 6.3 5.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 226.446 227.546 227.302 228.820 13.9 9.2 5.0 4.3 11.5 4.6 

Dairy and related products 1 ....................................... 218.406 218.451 217.557 217.503 8.6 12.7 14.0 -1.6 10.6 5.9 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 287.175 282.740 280.755 279.301 25.0 -12.2 12.3 -10.5 4.8 .2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ....... 167.262 168.076 168.479 168.789 10.3 5.7 3.0 3.7 8.0 3.3 

Other food at home ..................................................... 199.568 200.240 200.154 200.840 7.3 5.4 7.0 2.6 6.3 4.8 

Sugar and sweets 1 .................................................. 211.591 212.276 209.091 209.639 4.4 4.0 10.4 -3.6 4.2 3.2 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 224.718 225.509 227.310 231.283 25.4 10.0 9.1 12.2 17.5 10.6 

Other foods ............................................................... 211.956 212.671 212.891 213.145 5.2 4.9 6.1 2.3 5.1 4.1

Other miscellaneous foods 1 2 ................................ 125.167 125.681 125.761 126.235 1.9 3.5 4.1 3.5 2.7 3.8 

Food away from home 1 ............................................... 233.257 233.622 234.240 234.666 2.5 3.2 3.8 2.4 2.9 3.1 

Other food away from home 1 2 .................................. 164.421 165.008 165.228 165.205 3.0 1.7 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.1 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 229.060 229.130 229.262 229.522 1.7 3.4 1.0 .8 2.5 .9

Housing ............................................................................. 216.896 217.175 217.376 217.701 2.0 1.5 2.9 1.5 1.7 2.2 

Shelter ............................................................................. 246.496 247.041 247.477 248.030 1.3 1.5 2.4 2.5 1.4 2.5 

Rent of primary residence 3 .......................................... 253.029 253.907 254.476 255.184 1.8 1.2 3.4 3.5 1.5 3.4 

Lodging away from home 2 ........................................... 140.409 138.160 138.422 138.405 -1.1 25.1 -7.9 -5.6 11.2 -6.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 3 4 .................... 235.969 236.463 236.831 237.307 1.3 1.2 2.3 2.3 1.2 2.3 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 3 4 ....... 235.959 236.454 236.821 237.299 1.3 1.2 2.3 2.3 1.2 2.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ......................... 129.090 129.562 129.912 130.695 -2.4 4.3 2.7 5.1 .9 3.9 

Fuels and utilities ............................................................ 221.302 220.648 219.974 219.603 6.5 1.2 5.5 -3.0 3.9 1.1 

Household energy ......................................................... 193.702 192.887 192.056 191.394 6.6 .4 5.8 -4.7 3.5 .4

Fuel oil and other fuels 1 ............................................. 334.361 334.886 342.717 340.375 68.8 -2.7 -5.5 7.4 28.1 .8 

Energy services 3 ........................................................ 195.994 195.083 193.825 193.209 3.0 .7 6.8 -5.6 1.8 .4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .......... 181.809 182.163 182.494 183.431 6.3 4.6 4.2 3.6 5.4 3.9 

Household furnishings and operations ............................ 121.613 121.679 121.730 121.794 .2 1.4 2.4 .6 .8 1.5 

Household operations 1 2 ............................................. 154.718 155.235 155.567 155.744 -.4 4.3 .4 2.7 1.9 1.5 

Apparel .............................................................................. 123.110 123.381 124.145 124.246 -1.5 12.6 6.4 3.7 5.3 5.1 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ................................................. 116.944 118.380 119.388 118.454 -2.9 17.6 6.6 5.3 6.9 6.0

Women’s and girls’ apparel ............................................. 110.315 110.444 111.363 111.358 -1.9 14.1 7.0 3.8 5.8 5.4

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel .......................................... 119.637 118.953 120.347 122.982 -13.7 6.7 19.1 11.7 -4.0 15.3 

Footwear ......................................................................... 130.053 128.627 128.839 129.178 2.9 7.1 2.0 -2.7 5.0 -.4 

Transportation ................................................................... 218.765 216.031 214.037 212.368 26.0 -3.7 15.9 -11.2 10.2 1.5 

Private transportation ...................................................... 215.526 212.729 210.680 208.957 26.3 -3.5 16.4 -11.6 10.4 1.4 

New and used motor vehicles 2 .................................... 100.694 100.304 100.029 99.543 4.3 12.3 1.4 -4.5 8.3 -1.6 

New vehicles ............................................................... 144.429 144.033 143.590 143.357 6.4 9.6 .0 -2.9 8.0 -1.5

Used cars and trucks .................................................. 153.401 152.535 152.333 150.895 2.5 16.7 4.6 -6.4 9.4 -1.0

Motor fuel ...................................................................... 319.294 309.254 301.734 296.032 75.4 -20.6 44.0 -26.1 18.0 3.1 

Gasoline (all types) ..................................................... 318.744 308.583 300.344 295.628 71.3 -20.8 45.2 -26.0 16.5 3.7 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment 1 ............................ 145.652 145.326 146.151 147.223 4.5 11.1 3.3 4.4 7.8 3.9 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair 1 ....................... 258.001 258.440 258.342 258.355 1.0 2.8 4.6 .5 1.9 2.5 

Public transportation ....................................................... 266.655 266.551 266.708 267.122 20.2 -7.9 4.9 .7 5.2 2.8 

Medical care ...................................................................... 404.101 406.170 408.043 409.570 2.9 3.3 2.7 5.5 3.1 4.1 

Medical care commodities 1 ............................................ 316.869 317.901 318.671 319.396 7.1 1.9 1.5 3.2 4.5 2.3 

Medical care services ..................................................... 429.797 432.259 434.560 436.394 1.6 3.8 3.2 6.3 2.7 4.7

Professional services .................................................... 340.515 341.718 342.285 343.065 2.4 1.6 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.5

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

expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

Seasonally adjusted indexes Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent

change for

3 months ended— 6 months

ended—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Mar.

2011

June

2011

Sep.

2011

Dec.

2011 June

2011

Dec.

2011

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ........................................ 650.292 653.945 658.879 662.235 2.7 7.5 4.0 7.6 5.1 5.7 

Recreation 2 ...................................................................... 109.921 109.929 109.877 110.349 3.2 .7 -.3 1.6 2.0 .6 

Video and audio 2 ........................................................... 99.049 99.493 99.413 99.711 3.0 -2.4 1.9 2.7 .3 2.3 

Education and communication 2 ....................................... 125.624 125.928 126.108 126.269 .7 .9 .6 2.1 .8 1.3 

Education 2 ..................................................................... 206.130 207.239 208.172 208.774 5.0 4.0 3.7 5.2 4.5 4.5 

Educational books and supplies ................................... 541.400 544.346 548.369 547.987 8.4 4.5 6.8 5.0 6.4 5.9 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ...................... 578.907 582.018 584.481 586.366 4.7 3.9 3.4 5.3 4.3 4.3 

Communication 2 ............................................................ 85.530 85.570 85.517 85.534 -2.0 -1.1 -1.4 .0 -1.5 -.7 

Information and information processing 2 ..................... 83.182 83.223 83.170 83.188 -2.6 -1.2 -1.5 .0 -1.9 -.7 

Telephone services 1 2 ............................................... 100.475 100.616 100.620 100.764 -2.4 -.2 -.7 1.2 -1.3 .2 

Information technology, hardware and services 5 ....... 9.482 9.455 9.425 9.384 -3.4 -4.7 -4.2 -4.1 -4.0 -4.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 6 ..... 66.005 65.750 66.076 64.788 -15.1 -10.1 -14.7 -7.2 -12.7 -11.0 

Other goods and services ................................................. 419.144 419.022 420.534 421.260 .6 .5 3.6 2.0 .6 2.8 

Tobacco and smoking products 1 ................................... 848.513 847.868 848.791 852.435 1.3 -.9 7.4 1.9 .2 4.6 

Personal care .................................................................. 206.855 206.852 207.903 207.951 .3 1.3 1.4 2.1 .8 1.8 

Personal care products 1 .............................................. 160.623 160.970 161.716 160.954 1.1 -2.2 -.4 .8 -.5 .2 

Personal care services 1 ............................................... 231.139 231.409 232.222 232.313 -.1 1.0 .6 2.0 .4 1.3 

Miscellaneous personal services .................................. 366.100 366.640 368.253 370.030 1.5 2.8 3.0 4.4 2.2 3.7 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ....................................................................... 191.372 190.348 189.684 189.089 14.1 .4 9.5 -4.7 7.0 2.2 

Food and beverages ......................................................... 230.060 230.351 230.472 230.940 7.3 4.0 5.6 1.5 5.6 3.6

Commodities less food and beverages ............................. 169.769 168.215 167.235 166.205 18.2 -1.6 11.9 -8.1 7.9 1.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ........................... 225.168 221.806 221.403 219.962 25.1 -3.1 14.1 -8.9 10.1 2.0 

Apparel .......................................................................... 123.110 123.381 124.145 124.246 -1.5 12.6 6.4 3.7 5.3 5.1 

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel .......... 294.063 288.888 286.359 283.735 34.8 -8.6 18.9 -13.3 11.0 1.5 

Durables .......................................................................... 115.500 115.002 114.444 114.200 4.0 8.8 .3 -4.4 6.4 -2.1 

Services .............................................................................. 262.136 262.648 262.993 263.626 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.3 1.9 2.5 

Rent of shelter 4 ................................................................ 237.511 238.113 238.707 239.293 .8 1.2 2.7 3.0 1.0 2.9 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 2 ............................. 129.090 129.562 129.912 130.695 -2.4 4.3 2.7 5.1 .9 3.9 

Energy services 3 .............................................................. 195.994 195.083 193.825 193.209 3.0 .7 6.8 -5.6 1.8 .4 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 2 .............. 181.809 182.163 182.494 183.431 6.3 4.6 4.2 3.6 5.4 3.9 

Household operations 1 2 ................................................. 154.718 155.235 155.567 155.744 -.4 4.3 .4 2.7 1.9 1.5 

Transportation services ..................................................... 269.601 270.174 270.407 270.923 5.2 1.7 2.6 2.0 3.4 2.3 

Medical care services ....................................................... 429.797 432.259 434.560 436.394 1.6 3.8 3.2 6.3 2.7 4.7 

Other services ................................................................... 300.175 300.871 301.416 302.758 1.7 1.3 1.4 3.5 1.5 2.4 

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................... 222.557 222.138 221.915 221.818 7.0 .7 5.6 -1.3 3.8 2.1 

All items less shelter ........................................................... 217.988 217.364 216.969 216.755 9.6 1.0 7.1 -2.2 5.2 2.3 

All items less medical care .................................................. 216.487 216.108 215.876 215.820 7.4 1.1 5.9 -1.2 4.2 2.3 

Commodities less food ........................................................ 171.906 170.390 169.437 168.439 17.5 -1.4 11.4 -7.8 7.7 1.4 

Nondurables less food ........................................................ 225.645 222.347 222.079 220.747 23.7 -2.8 13.4 -8.4 9.6 1.9 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................... 287.198 282.244 280.213 277.864 32.2 -7.7 17.3 -12.4 10.5 1.4

Nondurables ........................................................................ 228.532 226.833 226.847 226.209 17.0 -.2 9.7 -4.0 8.0 2.6 

Services less rent of shelter 4 ............................................. 257.577 258.101 258.375 259.214 2.7 1.9 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.5 

Services less medical care services ................................... 250.450 250.871 251.321 251.987 1.6 1.5 2.6 2.5 1.5 2.5 

Energy ................................................................................. 254.922 249.471 245.282 242.089 44.5 -13.2 28.1 -18.7 12.0 2.1 

All items less energy ........................................................... 221.083 221.394 221.708 222.083 3.0 3.3 3.0 1.8 3.1 2.4 

All items less food and energy .......................................... 219.660 219.972 220.326 220.680 2.0 3.1 2.3 1.9 2.6 2.1

Commodities less food and energy commodities ........... 149.394 149.226 149.345 149.143 2.1 6.4 2.4 -.7 4.2 .9 

Energy commodities ..................................................... 321.564 311.879 304.912 299.309 75.1 -19.9 41.4 -24.9 18.4 3.0 

Services less energy services ......................................... 269.335 270.009 270.537 271.311 2.0 1.8 2.3 3.0 1.9 2.6 

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

item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means

estimator.

4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 6 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base.

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

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W

All items 

Pricing

schedule 1

Indexes Percent change to

Dec.2011 from—

Percent change to

Nov.2011 from—

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011

Dec.

2010

Oct.

2011

Nov.

2011

Nov.

2010

Sep.

2011

Oct.

2011

U.S. city average ............................................ M 223.688 223.043 222.813 222.166 3.2 -0.4 -0.3 3.8 -0.4 -0.1 

Region and area size2

Northeast urban .............................................. M 241.838 241.549 241.167 240.431 3.2 -.5 -.3 3.5 -.3 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 241.752 241.355 240.912 240.148 3.0 -.5 -.3 3.4 -.3 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 147.039 146.999 146.843 146.432 3.4 -.4 -.3 3.8 -.1 -.1 

Midwest urban ................................................ M 213.626 212.038 211.969 211.459 3.1 -.3 -.2 3.7 -.8 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 213.070 211.604 211.505 210.962 3.0 -.3 -.3 3.6 -.7 .0 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.363 139.157 139.048 138.741 3.2 -.3 -.2 3.7 -.9 -.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 212.520 211.193 211.533 211.040 3.4 -.1 -.2 3.7 -.5 .2 

South urban .................................................... M 218.787 218.109 218.030 217.463 3.6 -.3 -.3 4.1 -.3 .0 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 220.130 219.075 219.215 218.603 3.3 -.2 -.3 3.8 -.4 .1 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 140.229 139.879 139.721 139.299 3.6 -.4 -.3 4.3 -.4 -.1 

Size D - Nonmetropolitan (less than

50,000) ............................................... M 225.478 225.364 225.404 225.422 4.1 .0 .0 4.4 .0 .0 

West urban ..................................................... M 224.237 224.268 223.785 222.968 2.8 -.6 -.4 3.5 -.2 -.2 

Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..................... M 226.764 226.759 226.250 225.267 2.7 -.7 -.4 3.4 -.2 -.2 

Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 3 ................ M 138.770 138.884 138.587 138.157 2.9 -.5 -.3 3.6 -.1 -.2 

Size classes

A 4 .............................................................. M 206.484 205.846 205.627 204.954 3.0 -.4 -.3 3.5 -.4 -.1 

B/C 3 ........................................................... M 140.883 140.505 140.330 139.931 3.4 -.4 -.3 4.0 -.4 -.1 

D ................................................................. M 219.494 218.914 218.973 218.780 3.7 -.1 -.1 4.0 -.2 .0 

Selected local areas5

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ................... M 215.005 214.145 213.704 212.597 2.5 -.7 -.5 3.4 -.6 -.2 

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA ... M 226.096 226.116 225.786 224.444 2.2 -.7 -.6 3.2 -.1 -.1 

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

NY-NJ-CT-PA ......................................... M 246.877 246.297 245.546 244.586 3.0 -.7 -.4 3.3 -.5 -.3 

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT ..... 1 246.424 -

 246.349 ---- 3.1 .0 -

Cleveland-Akron, OH ...................................... 1 204.981 - 202.824 ---- 2.7 -1.1 -

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................................... 1 214.567 - 214.581 ---- 4.7 .0 -

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV 6 ...... 1 148.352 - 148.038 ---- 3.6 -.2 -

Atlanta, GA ..................................................... 2 - 208.362 - 207.654 3.1 -.3 ----

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .............................. 2 - 209.427 - 210.199 3.9 .4 ----

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .................... 2 - 200.464 - 199.480 3.4 -.5 ----

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ............................. 2 - 230.728 - 230.394 3.5 -.1 ----

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,

PA-NJ-DE-MD ........................................ 2 - 236.478 - 235.194 3.1 -.5 ----

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ........... 2 - 232.371 - 231.109 3.1 -.5 ----

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA .................... 2 - 232.697 - 231.297 3.8 -.6 ----

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

 most other goods and services priced as indicated:

 M - Every month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement

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

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

Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national

average CPI for use in their escalator clauses. 

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

category and commodity and service group

(December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)

C-CPI-U Relative

importance,

2007-2008

 Unadjusted

 indexes

 Unadjusted

 percent change to

 Dec. 2011 from—

 Nov.

 2011

 Dec.

 2011

 Dec.

 2010

 Nov.

 2011

Expenditure category

All items ...................................................................................... 100.000 130.066 129.719 2.8 -0.3

Food and beverages ................................................................ 14.519 134.171 134.423 4.4 .2 

Food ....................................................................................... 13.493 134.494 134.772 4.6 .2 

Food at home ....................................................................... 7.780 130.468 130.777 5.8 .2 

Food away from home .......................................................... 5.712 139.972 140.202 2.9 .2 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................... 1.027 130.692 130.624 1.1 -.1 

Housing .................................................................................... 42.074 130.194 130.301 1.8 .1 

Shelter .................................................................................... 32.119 133.712 133.914 1.9 .2 

Fuels and utilities .................................................................... 5.231 159.730 159.240 1.9 -.3 

Household furnishings and operations ................................... 4.724 92.441 92.475 .7 .0 

Apparel ..................................................................................... 3.772 95.243 92.266 4.0 -3.1 

Transportation .......................................................................... 17.199 142.352 140.488 5.2 -1.3 

Private transportation ............................................................. 16.013 143.221 141.264 5.3 -1.4 

Public transportation ............................................................... 1.186 131.272 130.566 3.7 -.5 

Medical care ............................................................................. 6.294 156.542 156.863 3.4 .2 

Medical care commodities ...................................................... 1.570 137.526 137.778 3.1 .2 

Medical care services ............................................................. 4.723 163.537 163.884 3.5 .2 

Recreation ................................................................................ 6.625 101.658 101.796 .0 .1 

Education and communication ................................................. 6.288 113.913 113.836 1.0 -.1 

Education ............................................................................... 2.804 195.884 195.882 4.4 .0 

Communication ...................................................................... 3.484 70.896 70.810 -1.7 -.1 

Other goods and services ........................................................ 3.229 143.798 143.811 2.7 .0 

Commodity and service group

Services ...................................................................................... 59.383 138.534 138.684 2.1 .1 

Commodities .............................................................................. 40.617 119.922 118.947 3.8 -.8 

Durables ................................................................................... 10.376 80.807 80.673 .7 -.2 

Nondurables ............................................................................... 30.241 140.452 139.001 4.8 -1.0 

All items less food and energy ................................................. 76.901 122.630 122.530 2.0 -.1 

Energy ........................................................................................ 9.606 202.191 197.356 6.3 -2.4 

Indexes for 2011 are initial estimates. Indexes for 2010 are interim adjustments.

NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
Table 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure

category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U Annual

average

2010

Annual

average

2011

Percent

change

from 2010

to 2011

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 218.056 224.939 3.2 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 653.198 673.818 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 219.984 227.866 3.6 

Food ............................................................................................................. 219.625 227.842 3.7 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 215.836 226.201 4.8 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 250.449 260.311 3.9 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 207.694 223.161 7.4 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 199.245 212.745 6.8 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 273.458 284.662 4.1 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 161.602 166.790 3.2 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 191.124 197.358 3.3 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 201.242 207.832 3.3 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 200.587 219.163 9.3 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 204.553 209.292 2.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 121.683 123.996 1.9 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 226.114 231.401 2.3 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 159.276 162.794 2.2 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 223.291 226.685 1.5 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 216.256 219.102 1.3 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 248.396 251.646 1.3 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................................ 249.385 253.638 1.7 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 133.656 137.401 2.8 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 2 3 .................................................. 256.584 259.570 1.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 ..................................... 256.578 259.553 1.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 125.682 127.379 1.4 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 214.187 220.367 2.9

Household energy ...................................................................................... 189.286 193.648 2.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 275.132 337.123 22.5 

Energy services 2 ..................................................................................... 192.886 194.386 .8 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 125.490 124.943 -.4 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 119.503 122.111 2.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 111.914 114.698 2.5 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 107.081 109.166 1.9 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 114.180 113.571 -.5 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 127.988 128.482 .4

Transportation ................................................................................................ 193.396 212.366 9.8

Private transportation ................................................................................... 188.747 207.641 10.0 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 97.149 99.770 2.7 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 138.005 141.883 2.8 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 143.128 149.011 4.1 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 239.178 302.619 26.5

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 238.594 301.694 26.4 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 136.995 143.909 5.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 247.954 253.099 2.1 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 251.351 269.403 7.2 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 388.436 400.258 3.0

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 314.717 324.089 3.0 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 411.208 423.810 3.1 

Professional services .................................................................................. 328.186 335.666 2.3 

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 607.679 641.488 5.6 

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 113.313 113.357 .0 

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

category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-U Annual

average

2010

Annual

average

2011

Percent

change

from 2010

to 2011

Expenditure category

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 99.122 98.401 -0.7 

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 129.919 131.466 1.2 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 199.337 207.768 4.2 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 505.569 529.545 4.7 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 573.174 597.208 4.2 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 84.681 83.345 -1.6 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 81.513 79.964 -1.9 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 102.379 101.209 -1.1 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 .................................... 9.413 9.030 -4.1 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 5 ................................... 76.377 68.901 -9.8 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 381.291 387.224 1.6 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 807.330 834.769 3.4 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 206.643 208.556 .9 

Personal care products ............................................................................... 161.062 160.529 -.3 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 229.614 230.800 .5 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 354.052 362.854 2.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 174.566 183.862 5.3 

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 219.984 227.866 3.6 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 150.392 159.943 6.4 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 189.916 208.427 9.7 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 119.503 122.111 2.2

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 238.053 266.957 12.1 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 111.324 112.557 1.1

Services ............................................................................................................ 261.274 265.762 1.7 

Rent of shelter 3 ............................................................................................. 258.823 262.208 1.3 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 259.823 268.002 3.1 

Other services ................................................................................................ 309.602 314.431 1.6

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 217.828 224.503 3.1 

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 208.643 217.048 4.0

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 209.689 216.325 3.2 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 152.990 162.409 6.2 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 191.927 209.615 9.2 

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 235.601 262.123 11.3 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 205.271 219.049 6.7 

Services less rent of shelter 3 ........................................................................... 284.368 290.554 2.2 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 249.569 253.554 1.6 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 211.449 243.909 15.4 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 220.458 224.806 2.0

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 221.337 225.008 1.7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 143.588 145.499 1.3 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 242.636 306.445 26.3 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 268.278 273.057 1.8 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .459 $ .445 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .153 $ .148 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a

geometric means estimator. 3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base. 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.
Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W Annual

average

2010

Annual

average

2011

Percent

change

from 2010

to 2011

Expenditure category

All items ............................................................................................................ 213.967 221.575 3.6 

All items (1967=100) ........................................................................................ 637.342 660.005 -

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 219.182 227.276 3.7 

Food ............................................................................................................. 218.730 227.125 3.8 

Food at home ............................................................................................. 214.638 225.181 4.9 

Cereals and bakery products .................................................................... 251.024 261.085 4.0 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................... 207.431 223.191 7.6 

Dairy and related products ....................................................................... 197.992 211.772 7.0 

Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 270.713 282.180 4.2 

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials ..................................... 161.214 166.067 3.0 

Other food at home ................................................................................... 190.294 196.512 3.3 

Sugar and sweets ................................................................................... 200.035 206.668 3.3 

Fats and oils ........................................................................................... 200.909 219.844 9.4 

Other foods ............................................................................................. 204.577 209.273 2.3 

Other miscellaneous foods 1 ................................................................ 121.872 124.148 1.9 

Food away from home ................................................................................ 226.204 231.504 2.3 

Other food away from home 1 .................................................................. 159.794 163.841 2.5 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................................................................... 224.368 228.041 1.6 

Housing .......................................................................................................... 212.880 215.810 1.4 

Shelter .......................................................................................................... 242.309 245.526 1.3 

Rent of primary residence 2 ........................................................................ 247.725 251.857 1.7 

Lodging away from home 1 ........................................................................ 135.119 138.828 2.7 

Owners’ equivalent rent of residences 2 3 .................................................. 232.461 235.147 1.2 

Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence 2 3 ..................................... 232.462 235.141 1.2 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .......................................................... 126.739 128.563 1.4 

Fuels and utilities .......................................................................................... 212.885 218.859 2.8

Household energy ...................................................................................... 187.272 191.522 2.3 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................................................. 277.433 336.592 21.3 

Energy services 2 ..................................................................................... 191.552 193.519 1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ....................................... 171.446 179.953 5.0 

Household furnishings and operations ......................................................... 121.555 121.109 -.4 

Household operations 1 .............................................................................. 152.707 154.495 1.2 

Apparel ........................................................................................................... 118.733 121.293 2.2 

Men’s and boys’ apparel ............................................................................... 111.811 114.971 2.8 

Women’s and girls’ apparel .......................................................................... 106.360 108.733 2.2 

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel ....................................................................... 117.415 116.753 -.6 

Footwear ....................................................................................................... 127.593 128.560 .8

Transportation ................................................................................................ 192.560 213.296 10.8

Private transportation ................................................................................... 189.257 209.939 10.9 

New and used motor vehicles 1 .................................................................. 96.271 99.205 3.0 

New vehicles ............................................................................................ 139.044 142.866 2.7 

Used cars and trucks ................................................................................ 144.007 150.010 4.2 

Motor fuel .................................................................................................... 240.094 303.848 26.6

Gasoline (all types) ................................................................................... 239.629 303.067 26.5 

Motor vehicle parts and equipment ............................................................ 136.998 143.796 5.0 

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair ....................................................... 250.543 255.760 2.1 

Public transportation ..................................................................................... 248.713 266.151 7.0 

Medical care ................................................................................................... 389.766 402.187 3.2

Medical care commodities ............................................................................ 306.257 315.845 3.1 

Medical care services ................................................................................... 414.273 427.551 3.2 

Professional services .................................................................................. 331.456 339.328 2.4 

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

average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group-Continued

(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

CPI-W Annual

average

2010

Annual

average

2011

Percent

change

from 2010

to 2011

Expenditure category

Hospital and related services ..................................................................... 608.516 644.431 5.9 

Recreation 1 ................................................................................................... 109.812 109.898 .1 

Video and audio 1 ......................................................................................... 99.643 99.087 -.6 

Education and communication 1 ..................................................................... 124.891 125.520 .5 

Education 1 ................................................................................................... 196.606 204.761 4.1 

Educational books and supplies ................................................................. 508.386 534.846 5.2 

Tuition, other school fees, and childcare .................................................... 552.958 575.357 4.1 

Communication 1 .......................................................................................... 87.317 85.789 -1.7 

Information and information processing 1 ................................................... 85.126 83.447 -2.0 

Telephone services 1 ................................................................................ 102.086 100.626 -1.4 

Information technology, hardware and services 4 .................................... 9.960 9.571 -3.9 

Personal computers and peripheral equipment 5 ................................... 76.273 68.439 -10.3 

Other goods and services ............................................................................... 409.278 416.899 1.9 

Tobacco and smoking products .................................................................... 812.347 839.665 3.4 

Personal care ............................................................................................... 204.299 206.361 1.0

Personal care products ............................................................................... 161.174 161.045 -.1 

Personal care services ............................................................................... 229.824 230.958 .5 

Miscellaneous personal services ................................................................ 355.502 364.346 2.5 

Commodity and service group

Commodities ..................................................................................................... 177.545 188.157 6.0 

Food and beverages ....................................................................................... 219.182 227.276 3.7 

Commodities less food and beverages .......................................................... 155.064 166.459 7.3 

Nondurables less food and beverages ......................................................... 198.517 220.100 10.9 

Apparel ....................................................................................................... 118.733 121.293 2.2

Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........................................ 252.481 286.167 13.3 

Durables ....................................................................................................... 112.513 114.313 1.6

Services ............................................................................................................ 256.628 260.925 1.7 

Rent of shelter 3 ............................................................................................. 233.507 236.603 1.3 

Tenants’ and household insurance 1 .............................................................. 126.739 128.563 1.4 

Energy services 2 ........................................................................................... 191.552 193.519 1.0 

Water and sewer and trash collection services 1 ........................................... 171.446 179.953 5.0 

Household operations 1 .................................................................................. 152.707 154.495 1.2 

Transportation services .................................................................................. 259.985 268.161 3.1 

Medical care services ..................................................................................... 414.273 427.551 3.2 

Other services ................................................................................................ 296.066 299.544 1.2

Special indexes

All items less food ............................................................................................. 212.938 220.401 3.5 

All items less shelter ......................................................................................... 205.943 215.223 4.5

All items less medical care ............................................................................... 206.828 214.226 3.6 

Commodities less food ..................................................................................... 157.422 168.646 7.1 

Nondurables less food ...................................................................................... 200.147 220.793 10.3

Nondurables less food and apparel .................................................................. 248.965 279.965 12.5 

Nondurables ..................................................................................................... 209.360 224.728 7.3 

Services less rent of shelter 3 ........................................................................... 251.210 256.386 2.1 

Services less medical care services ................................................................. 245.533 249.355 1.6 

Energy .............................................................................................................. 211.926 246.086 16.1 

All items less energy ......................................................................................... 215.173 219.598 2.1

All items less food and energy ........................................................................ 214.835 218.461 1.7 

Commodities less food and energy commodities ......................................... 145.728 148.050 1.6 

Energy commodities ................................................................................... 242.805 306.719 26.3 

Services less energy services ...................................................................... 263.713 268.270 1.7 

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) ............................ $ .467 $ .451 -

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) .................................. $ .157 $ .152 -

1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base. 2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a

geometric means estimator. 3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base 4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base. 5 Indexes on a December 2007=100 base. - Data not available.