FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-97-10
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Tuesday, January 14, 1996
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
                                    
                  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  DECEMBER 1996
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was
 unchanged before seasonal adjustment in December to a level of 158.6
 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
 Labor reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in December, the
 CPI-U increased 3.3 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W) also was unchanged in December, prior to seasonal
 adjustment.  The December 1996 CPI-W level of 155.9 was 3.3 percent
 higher than the index in December 1995.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3 percent in December, the same as in
 each of the three preceding months.  The food index increased 0.1
 percent in December, after advancing at a 0.5 percent average monthly
 rate in the preceding six-month period.  The indexes for dairy products
 and for fruits and vegetables, which had increased substantially during
 this period, declined in December.  The energy index increased for the
 third consecutive month, advancing 1.6 percent in December.  The index
 for petroleum-based energy increased 2.9 percent, and the index for
 energy services rose 0.2 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U
 rose 0.1 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the
 preceding two months.

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      1996                3-mos. Ended  ended
                     June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.   Dec.'96   Dec.'96
 All Items            .1    .3   .1   .3   .3   .3   .3    3.3       3.3
  Food and beverages  .7    .5   .3   .5   .6   .3   .1    3.9       4.2
  Housing             .1    .4   .2   .2   .3   .2   .3    3.2       2.9
  Apparel and upkeep -.4   -.1 -1.4   .5   .5   .5   .2    4.4       -.2
  Transportation     -.4   -.2  -.2   .5   .1   .2   .6    3.7       4.4
  Medical care        .3    .3   .2   .2   .2   .3   .2    2.8       3.0
  Entertainment       .3    .1   .2   .1   .3   .1   .4    3.3       2.9
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .2    .4   .3   .0   .4   .4   .0    3.2       3.6
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy            -2.2   -.4  -.6   .0   .7  1.2  1.6   15.1       8.6
  Food                .7    .5   .4   .5   .6   .3   .1    3.9       4.3
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .3   .1   .3   .2   .2   .1    2.2       2.6


     For the 12-month period ended in December 1996, the CPI-U advanced
 3.3 percent.  This compares with an increase of 2.5 percent in 1995.
 Increases in the food and energy components, which acted as moderating
 influences throughout most of the past five years, were responsible for
 the acceleration in 1996.  The food index rose 4.3 percent in 1996,
 following a 2.1 percent increase in 1995.  Grocery store food prices rose
 4.9 percent.  Among the five major grocery store groups, the largest
 advance was a 10.1 percent increase in prices for dairy products.  The
 index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 5.6 percent, reflecting
 double-digit price increases for pork and for eggs.  The index for fruits
 and vegetables increased 5.2 percent as a 12.0 percent increase in fresh
 fruit prices more than offset a 3.8 percent decline in prices for fresh
 vegetables.  The energy index, which declined 1.3 percent in 1995, 
 increased 8.6 percent in 1996.  Petroleum-based energy costs rose 13.8
 percent, and charges for energy services increased 3.8 percent.

     The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced 2.6 percent in 1996,
 following an increase of 3.0 percent in 1995.  The 1996 advance, along
 with an increase of the same magnitude in 1994, represents the smallest
 annual increase in this index since a 1.5 percent rise in 1965. The
 slightly smaller increase in 1996 than in 1995 is broad based in that it
 reflects somewhat smaller increases in all major expenditure groups
 (after excluding energy and food) other than transportation.  Excluding
 motor fuel from the transportation group resulted in a 2.6 percent rise
 in 1995 and 2.7 percent in 1996.  The rates for selected groups during
 the past nine years are shown below.

                                                                                                                                     
                           Percent change 12 months
                              ended in December
                1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996
                                                                
 All Items       4.4    4.6   6.1   3.1   2.9   2.7   2.7   2.5   3.3
  Food and
   beverages     5.1    5.5   5.3   2.5   1.6   2.7   2.7   2.1   4.2
  Housing        4.0    3.9   4.5   3.4   2.6   2.7   2.2   3.0   2.9
  Apparel and
   upkeep        4.7    1.0   5.1   3.4   1.4    .9  -1.6    .1   -.2
  Transportation 3.0    4.0  10.4  -1.5   3.0   2.4   3.8   1.5   4.4
  Medical care   6.9    8.5   9.6   7.9   6.6   5.4   4.9   3.9   3.0
  Entertainment  4.6    5.1   4.3   3.9   2.8   2.8   2.3   3.3   2.9
  Other goods                                                   
   and services  7.0    8.2   7.6   8.0   6.5   2.7   4.2   4.3   3.6
                                                                
 Special Indexes                                                         
  Energy          .5    5.1  18.1  -7.4   2.0  -1.4   2.2  -1.3   8.6
  Food           5.2    5.6   5.3   1.9   1.5   2.9   2.9   2.1   4.3
  All items                                                     
   less food
   and energy    4.7    4.4   5.2   4.4   3.3   3.2   2.6   3.0   2.6

 
    The food and beverage index rose 0.1 percent in December.  The index
 for grocery store food prices, which increased 0.3 percent in November,
 fell 0.1 percent in December, its first decrease since November 1995.
 Declines of 0.8 and 1.7 percent, respectively, in the indexes for dairy
 products and for fruits and vegetables were responsible for the downturn.
 On the other hand, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
 increased 0.9 percent in December, largely as a result of a sharp
 increase in egg prices.  The 8.9 percent rise in the December index for
 egg prices brought its increase to 12.0 percent in 1996 after an advance
 of 25.0 percent in 1995.  In December, the indexes for beef and for pork
 prices rose 0.7 and 0.8 percent, respectively.  During the 12-month
 period ended in December, beef prices increased 2.4 percent and pork
 prices, 11.3 percent.  Poultry prices, which rose 0.3 percent in
 December, have risen 7.9 percent in the last 12 months.  In December, the
 indexes for cereal and bakery products and other food at home rose 0.2
 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  Cereal prices rose 0.1 percent in
 December, but have declined  4.2 percent since December 1995.  The other
 two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and
 alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively, in
 December.  During the last 12 months, these groups rose 3.1 and 3.6
 percent, respectively.

     The housing component rose 0.3 percent in December.  Shelter costs
 increased 0.2 percent in December, the same as in November.  Within
 shelter, renters' costs rose 0.1 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.2 percent;
 and maintenance and repair costs, 0.3 percent.  Shelter costs advanced
 2.9 percent in the 12 months ended in December 1996, following a 3.5
 percent rise in 1995.  The index for fuel and other utilities rose 0.3
 percent in December.  Household fuels increased 0.5 percent, reflecting
 increases of 0.9 percent in the index for natural gas and 0.7 percent in
 the index for fuel oil.  The index for electricity declined 0.1 percent.
 For the 12-month period ended in December, charges for natural gas
 increased 11.0 percent and those for electricity rose 0.7 percent.  Fuel
 oil prices increased  23.3 percent in the last 12 months.  In December,
 the index for other utilities and public services rose 0.1 percent.
 Within this group, the index for telephone services rose 0.2 percent in
 December and 2.1 percent in the last 12 months.  The index for household
 furnishings and operation increased 0.4 percent in December, reflecting
 in part, a 1.4 percent increase in the index for textile
 housefurnishings.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, prices for textile
 housefurnishings rose 0.1 percent in December.)

     The transportation index rose 0.6 percent in December after
 increasing 0.2 percent in November, reflecting a larger advance in the
 index for motor fuels and a sharp upturn in the index for airline fares.
 The index for gasoline, which advanced 1.8 percent in November, increased
 3.1 percent in December.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices
 rose 0.7 percent in December after increasing 1.8 percent in November.)
 Gasoline prices rose 12.4 percent in the last 12 months and as of
 December the gasoline index was 7.0 percent below its peak level of
 December 1990.  The index for airline fares, which declined 0.7 percent
 in November, increased 3.9 percent in December.  This brought the annual
 change to 14.7 percent for 1996.   Vehicle purchase costs declined for
 the third consecutive month in December.  The index for new vehicle
 prices was unchanged in December, following decreases of  0.2  and 0.1
 percent in October and November, respectively.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 0.4 percent in December.)   As of
 December, about 65 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by
 1997 models.  The 1997 models will continue to be phased in over the next
 several months as they replace old models at dealerships.  The index for
 automobile finance charges declined for the third consecutive month--down
 1.1 percent in December.  The index for used cars also declined for the
 third consecutive month--down 0.2 percent.  In all of 1996, new vehicle
 prices rose 1.8 percent, while automobile finance charges and used car
 prices fell 2.0 and 1.6 percent, respectively.

     The index for apparel and upkeep increased for the fourth
 consecutive month in December--up 0.2 percent after increasing 0.5
 percent in each of the preceding three months. (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, clothing prices fell 2.6 percent in December, reflecting pre-
 holiday discounting.)

     Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in December and have risen 3.0
 percent in the past 12 months.  This compares with a 3.9 percent increase
 in 1995 and represents the smallest annual advance since a 2.8 percent
 increase in 1965.  In December, the index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical supplies--was
 virtually unchanged.  The index for medical care services rose 0.3
 percent.  Charges for professional services and hospital and related
 services increased 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively, in December and 3.5
 and 4.1 percent, respectively in 1996.
     Entertainment costs rose 0.4 percent in December to a level 2.9
 percent above a year ago.  In 1996, fees for lessons or instructions
 increased 5.9 percent; admission prices to movies, theaters, concerts,
 and sporting events, 4.0 percent; and newspapers, 3.0 percent.
 
     The index for other goods and services was unchanged in December.
 During the last 12 months, this index advanced 3.6 percent, reflecting
 increases of 5.5 percent for school books and supplies, 5.3 percent for
 college tuition, and 2.7 percent for tobacco products.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers rose 0.3 percent in December.


 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                 Seasonally adjusted                 Un-
                                                                   adjust
                                                        Compound     ed
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month      annual      12-
                                                          rate      mos.
      Category                     1996                  3-mos.     ended
                                                          ended
                    June July  Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.  Dec.'96   Dec.'96
 All Items           .1    .2   .1   .3   .3   .3   .3    3.7       3.3
  Food and
   beverages         .7    .4   .4   .5   .5   .3   .1    3.7       4.2
  Housing            .1    .4   .2   .1   .2   .3   .3    3.2       2.9
  Apparel and
   upkeep           -.6    .0 -1.5   .5   .4   .5   .0    3.4       -.2
  Transportation    -.6   -.4  -.1   .4   .2   .3   .7    4.8       4.2
  Medical care       .3    .3   .1   .2   .2   .3   .3    3.0       3.1
  Entertainment      .3    .0   .3   .1   .3   .3   .3    3.1       3.0
  Other goods                                                          
   and services      .1    .4   .2   .2   .5   .3  -.1    2.8       3.4
 
 Special Indexes:                                                      
  Energy           -2.0   -.9  -.5   .0   .8  1.4  1.7   16.8       9.2
  Food               .8    .5   .3   .5   .6   .3   .1    3.9       4.3
  All items less                                                       
   food and energy   .1    .2   .1   .3   .2   .2   .2    2.2       2.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on
 Wednesday, February 19, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EST). Changing the Hospital
 and Related Services Component of the Consumer Price Index
 
      Effective with the release of data for January 1997, the Bureau of
 Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce improvements in the way in which
 the Hospital and related services component of the Consumer Price Index
 (CPI) is calculated.  Two complementary changes will be made:
 
      Items within the hospital and related services component will be
 reclassified into two main groups, or item strata--Hospital services and
 Nursing home services, instead of the current three--Hospital rooms,
 Other inpatient services, and Hospital outpatient services.
      The definition of the specific items selected for pricing within
 individual hospitals will be broadened substantially.  These newly
 defined items will be reelected using new procedures in the majority of
 the hospitals from which price data currently are collected for the CPI.
 
      Additional information on these changes will be published in the
 June 1996 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet.  (Go to
 gopher://stats.bls.gov and access
 /pub/special.requests/cpi/hospital.txt.)  This information may also be
 obtained by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of
 Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,
 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260, Washington, DC 20212, or by
 telephoning Elaine Cardenas at (202) 606-6985 ext. 251
 
 
 
 Improving the Procedures for Substitute Items
 
 Effective for the CPI to replace an item it has been pricing, the CPI
 field agent finds a replacement item.  The object of the substitution
 process is to find the item in the outlet that is most similar to the
 one the CPI had been following.   About 3.5 percent of all pricing
 result in substitutions.  Whenever there is a substitution, a CPI
 analyst determines if the new item is comparable to, that is, not
 significantly different from, the item it replaces.   If the item is
 judged comparable, there is no break in the series or change in the
 item's weight.  About 55 percent of substitutions are comparable.   If
 the substitute is not comparable to the previous item, the analyst may
 be able to determine the value of the difference and make a quality
 adjustment to keep the series continuous.  CPI analysts adjust for
 quality in about 15 percent of the substitutions.  However, about 30
 percent of the substitutes are neither comparable nor adjustable.   In
 this case, the CPI had started the item's series anew and recalculated
 its base period price, and hence the implicit quantity weight,  using
 the price of the substitute item.  This created a situation in which the
 item's weight was not independent of its probability of price change.
 Effective with the CPI for July 1996, the CPI will--except in rare and
 extreme cases--no longer recalculate the base period price of a
 noncomparable substitute item.  Instead, the CPI will use the originally
 calculated weight for the item throughout the life of that item series.
 For more details, see "Improving CPI Item Substitution Procedures" in
 the July 1996 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
 New Seasonal Adjustment Method to be Implemented
 
 Effective with the release of revised seasonally adjusted data for 1992-
 1996 on February 14, 1997, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will
 begin using X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment software (developed by the
 Bureau of the Census) for performing Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment (IASA) for selected CPI series.  The X-12 ARIMA methodology
 incorporates a number of technical enhancements that improve the
 estimation of seasonal factors.  This change will affect 20 CPI series.
 In addition, all remaining Consumer Price Index series requiring
 seasonal adjustment will be processed using X-12-ARIMA software
 beginning in February 1998.  Seasonal adjustment methods in the Producer
 Price Index will change in similar fashion.
 
 For more information, please contact Claire Gallagher on (202) 606-6968.
 
 
 Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 14,
 1997
 
 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
 1992 through December 1996, at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 1997.
 Seasonal factors for 1997 for directly adjusted series will also be
 available.  This date is two working days before the scheduled release
 of the January 1997 CPI on Wednesday, February 19, 1997.
 
 
 The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the
 internet at gopher://stats.bls.gov.  Choose the "special requests"
 directory, and then the "cpi" directory.  The revised seasonal data will
 be in the file revseas.cpi.
 
 For further information please contact Claire McAnaw Gallagher or
 Richard Kerr on (202) 606-6968.
 
 
 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)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Nov.      Dec.       Dec. 1996 from-     Sept. to   Oct. to    Nov. to
                                                 1995       1996      1996    Dec. 1995  Nov. 1996     Oct.       Nov.       Dec.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     158.6     158.6        3.3        0.0        0.3        0.3        0.3
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        475.0     475.0        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    17.332     156.2     156.6        4.2         .3         .6         .3         .1
     Food ...................................    15.766     155.9     156.3        4.3         .3         .6         .3         .1
       Food at home .........................     9.880     157.2     157.7        4.9         .3         .7         .3        -.1
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.473     175.4     175.7        3.7         .2         .2         .6         .2
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     2.936     148.9     150.0        5.6         .7         .5         .3         .9
         Dairy products .....................     1.169     149.3     148.6       10.1        -.5        1.7         .1        -.8
         Fruits and vegetables ..............     1.936     186.3     187.2        5.2         .5        1.5         .2       -1.7
         Other food at home .................     2.365     143.4     143.6        2.2         .1         .1         .1         .3
           Sugar and sweets .................      .327     144.2     144.7        4.5         .3        -.1        -.3         .6
           Fats and oils ....................      .248     140.8     140.7        2.3        -.1        -.2         .2         .1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .763     127.2     126.9       -2.0        -.2        -.5         .0         .2
           Other prepared food ..............     1.027     158.3     158.9        4.5         .4         .6         .4         .3
       Food away from home ..................     5.886     154.7     155.0        3.1         .2         .5         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.566     160.2     160.5        3.6         .2         .4        -.1         .4

   Housing ..................................    41.346     153.9     154.0        2.9         .1         .3         .2         .3
     Shelter ................................    28.289     172.4     172.3        2.9        -.1         .3         .2         .2
       Renters' costs 1/ ....................     7.988     179.9     179.1        3.4        -.4         .3         .2         .1
         Rent, residential ..................     5.762     163.7     164.0        2.8         .2         .2         .2         .2
         Other renters' costs ...............     2.227     207.9     203.8        4.9       -2.0         .7         .1        -.5
       Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    20.102     178.6     178.8        2.8         .1         .3         .3         .2
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    19.716     178.9     179.1        2.8         .1         .3         .3         .2
         Household insurance 1/ .............      .386     164.6     162.4        2.6       -1.3         .8         .9       -1.3
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .199     141.1     141.5        3.6         .3         .2         .6         .3
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .122     147.6     148.0        4.2         .3        -.1         .2         .3
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 2/ .................      .077     132.3     132.6        2.7         .2         .8        1.4         .2
     Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.014     128.4     129.4        4.6         .8         .5         .5         .3
       Fuels ................................     3.792     115.7     117.1        5.6        1.2         .7         .9         .5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .356     105.9     110.3       23.1        4.2        6.3        2.0        3.1
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.436     121.7     122.8        3.8         .9         .0         .7         .2
       Other utilities and public
           services 2/ ......................     3.222     158.9     159.1        3.4         .1         .2         .2         .1
     Household furnishings and operation ....     6.043     124.8     125.0        1.0         .2        -.1        -.1         .4
       Housefurnishings .....................     3.445     110.8     111.0        -.1         .2        -.3        -.2         .5
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.116     141.8     141.4        1.1        -.3         .0         .1         .0
       Housekeeping services ................     1.482     149.6     150.1        3.3         .3         .5        -.1         .3

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.516     133.4     130.3        -.2       -2.3         .5         .5         .2
     Apparel commodities ....................     4.967     129.9     126.5        -.5       -2.6         .5         .5         .1
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.303     131.2     127.8        1.4       -2.6         .3        1.3        -.7
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.195     126.7     123.3       -1.1       -2.7         .9         .6        1.0
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .195     126.7     126.9       -1.4         .2       -2.2       -1.4         .2
       Footwear .............................      .732     127.7     125.9        1.5       -1.4         .6         .2         .2
       Other apparel commodities ............      .542     149.0     141.6       -4.7       -5.0         .1        -.8       -1.8
     Apparel services 2/ ....................      .550     160.9     161.5        2.4         .4         .1         .2         .4

   Transportation ...........................    16.953     144.8     145.2        4.4         .3         .1         .2         .6
     Private transportation .................    15.430     141.5     141.7        3.7         .1         .1         .3         .5
       New vehicles .........................     5.027     144.8     145.4        1.8         .4        -.2        -.1         .0
         New cars ...........................     4.015     142.3     143.0        1.6         .5        -.2        -.4         .1
       Used cars ............................     1.342     156.5     155.6       -1.6        -.6        -.3        -.4        -.2
       Motor fuel ...........................     2.908     107.8     108.6       12.7         .7         .8        1.7        2.8
         Gasoline ...........................      -        107.1     107.9       12.4         .7         .7        1.8        3.1
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.535     160.5     160.6        3.1         .1         .4         .1         .1
       Other private transportation .........     4.618     176.2     176.0        2.1        -.1        -.1         .1        -.2
         Other private transportation
             commodities ....................      .608     105.1     105.2         .0         .1         .0        -.2         .0
         Other private transportation
             services .......................     4.010     193.0     192.7        2.3        -.2        -.2         .1        -.2
     Public transportation ..................     1.523     187.3     189.9       11.2        1.4        1.2        -.9        1.1

   Medical care .............................     7.362     230.5     230.6        3.0         .0         .2         .3         .2
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.282     211.9     212.0        2.6         .0         .5        -.2         .0
     Medical care services ..................     6.081     234.9     235.0        3.2         .0         .2         .4         .3
       Professional medical services ........     3.465     210.9     211.0        3.5         .0         .3         .5         .2

   Entertainment ............................     4.367     160.7     160.8        2.9         .1         .3         .1         .4
     Entertainment commodities ..............     1.975     144.0     144.1        2.4         .1         .3         .0         .3
     Entertainment services .................     2.392     180.3     180.5        3.4         .1         .3         .3         .4

   Other goods and services .................     7.123     219.2     218.7        3.6        -.2         .4         .4         .0
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.610     236.2     234.3        2.7        -.8         .7         .4        -.8
     Personal care 2/ .......................     1.170     151.2     150.5        1.1        -.5         .1         .2        -.5
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ....................      .613     144.7     142.8        -.9       -1.3        -.3         .1       -1.3
       Personal care services 2/ ............      .557     158.6     159.2        3.2         .4         .4         .4         .4
     Personal and educational expenses ......     4.342     252.8     252.9        4.6         .0         .4         .4         .4
       School books and supplies ............      .258     230.7     231.1        5.5         .2         .7         .3         .4
       Personal and educational services ....     4.084     254.7     254.8        4.6         .0         .4         .4         .5

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     158.6     158.6        3.3         .0         .3         .3         .3
   Commodities ..............................    42.916     141.5     141.4        3.2        -.1         .4         .3         .3
     Food and beverages .....................    17.332     156.2     156.6        4.2         .3         .6         .3         .1
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.584     132.6     132.1        2.5        -.4         .2         .3         .5
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.075     134.7     133.7        3.8        -.7         .5         .9         .7
         Apparel commodities ................     4.967     129.9     126.5        -.5       -2.6         .5         .5         .1
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    10.108     140.3     140.5        5.9         .1         .7         .7         .9
       Durables .............................    10.509     129.6     129.9         .7         .2        -.1        -.2         .2
   Services .................................    57.084     175.9     176.1        3.3         .1         .3         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    27.671     179.4     179.3        2.9        -.1         .2         .3         .2
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 1/ .........................     8.681     142.9     143.4        3.5         .3         .1         .4         .3
     Transportation services ................     7.068     183.7     184.1        4.4         .2         .3        -.1         .2
     Medical care services ..................     6.081     234.9     235.0        3.2         .0         .2         .4         .3
     Other services .........................     7.583     204.8     205.0        3.9         .1         .3         .3         .4

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    84.234     159.0     159.0        3.1         .0         .3         .3         .3
 All items less shelter .....................    71.711     154.6     154.7        3.4         .1         .3         .3         .3
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    79.898     159.6     159.6        3.4         .0         .4         .3         .3
 All items less medical care ................    92.638     154.5     154.5        3.3         .0         .3         .3         .2
 Commodities less food ......................    27.150     133.7     133.3        2.6        -.3         .2         .3         .5
 Nondurables less food ......................    16.641     136.1     135.3        3.8        -.6         .6         .6         .7
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.674     141.2     141.5        5.6         .2         .6         .8         .9
 Nondurables ................................    32.407     145.6     145.3        4.0        -.2         .5         .6         .3
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    29.414     184.8     185.2        3.8         .2         .1         .3         .3
 Services less medical care services ........    51.004     170.4     170.6        3.4         .1         .2         .2         .2
 Energy .....................................     6.700     111.1     112.2        8.6        1.0         .7        1.2        1.6
 All items less energy ......................    93.300     164.9     164.8        2.9        -.1         .3         .2         .1
   All items less food and energy ...........    77.534     167.2     167.0        2.6        -.1         .2         .2         .1
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    23.885     142.2     141.5        1.1        -.5         .1         .1         .1
       Energy commodities ...................     3.264     107.9     109.1       13.8        1.1        1.4        1.7        2.9
     Services less energy services ..........    53.648     181.4     181.5        3.3         .1         .3         .2         .2
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.631     $.631       -3.1         .0        -.3        -.2         .0
   1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .211      .211        -          -          -          -          -


    1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


      Table 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and
      service group

      (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)


                                                                       Annual               Annual           Percent change
                                                                      average              average             from 1995
                                                                        1995                 1996               to 1996

                        Expenditure category

      All items ...............................................         152.4                156.9                  3.0
      All items (1967=100) ....................................         456.5                469.9                  -

        Food and beverages ....................................         148.9                153.7                  3.2
          Food ................................................         148.4                153.3                  3.3
            Food at home ......................................         148.8                154.3                  3.7
              Cereals and bakery products .....................         167.5                174.0                  3.9
              Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................         138.8                144.8                  4.3
              Dairy products ..................................         132.8                142.1                  7.0
              Fruits and vegetables ...........................         177.7                183.9                  3.5
              Other food at home ..............................         140.8                142.9                  1.5
                Sugar and sweets ..............................         137.5                143.7                  4.5
                Fats and oils .................................         137.3                140.5                  2.3
                Nonalcoholic beverages ........................         131.7                128.6                 -2.4
                Other prepared food ...........................         151.1                156.2                  3.4
            Food away from home ...............................         149.0                152.7                  2.5
          Alcoholic beverages .................................         153.9                158.5                  3.0

        Housing ...............................................         148.5                152.8                  2.9
          Shelter .............................................         165.7                171.0                  3.2
            Renters' costs 1/ .................................         174.3                180.2                  3.4
              Rent, residential ...............................         157.8                162.0                  2.7
              Other renters' costs ............................         204.3                214.7                  5.1
            Homeowners' costs 1/ ..............................         171.0                176.5                  3.2
              Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......................         171.3                176.8                  3.2
              Household insurance 1/ ..........................         157.4                161.0                  2.3
            Maintenance and repairs ...........................         135.0                139.0                  3.0
              Maintenance and repair services .................         139.8                145.5                  4.1
              Maintenance and repair commodities ..............         128.5                130.2                  1.3
          Fuel and other utilities ............................         123.7                127.5                  3.1
            Fuels .............................................         111.5                115.2                  3.3
              Fuel oil and other household fuel
                  commodities .................................          88.1                 99.2                 12.6
              Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services) ...         119.2                122.1                  2.4
            Other utilities and public services ...............         152.8                157.2                  2.9
          Household furnishings and operation .................         123.0                124.7                  1.4
            Housefurnishings ..................................         111.2                111.3                   .1
            Housekeeping supplies .............................         137.1                141.1                  2.9
            Housekeeping services .............................         143.7                148.0                  3.0
        Apparel and upkeep ....................................         132.0                131.7                  -.2
          Apparel commodities .................................         128.7                128.2                  -.4
            Men's and boys' apparel ...........................         126.2                127.7                  1.2
            Women's and girls' apparel.........................         126.9                124.7                 -1.7
            Infants' and toddlers' apparel ....................         127.2                129.7                  2.0
            Footwear ..........................................         125.4                126.6                  1.0
            Other apparel commodities .........................         152.4                150.6                 -1.2
          Apparel services ....................................         157.3                159.8                  1.6

        Transportation ........................................         139.1                143.0                  2.8
          Private transportation ..............................         136.3                140.0                  2.7
            New vehicles ......................................         141.0                143.7                  1.9
              New cars ........................................         139.0                141.4                  1.7
            Used cars .........................................         156.5                157.0                   .3
            Motor fuel ........................................         100.0                106.3                  6.3
              Gasoline ........................................          99.8                105.9                  6.1
            Maintenance and repairs ...........................         154.0                158.4                  2.9
            Other private transportation ......................         170.6                173.9                  1.9
              Other private transportation commodities ........         104.8                105.1                   .3
              Other private transportation services ...........         186.0                190.1                  2.2
          Public transportation ...............................         175.9                181.9                  3.4

        Medical care ..........................................         220.5                228.2                  3.5
          Medical care commodities ............................         204.5                210.4                  2.9
          Medical care services ...............................         224.2                232.4                  3.7
            Professional medical services .....................         201.0                208.3                  3.6

        Entertainment .........................................         153.9                159.1                  3.4
          Entertainment commodities ...........................         138.7                143.0                  3.1
          Entertainment services ..............................         172.0                178.1                  3.5

        Other goods and services ..............................         206.9                215.4                  4.1
          Tobacco and smoking products ........................         225.7                232.8                  3.1
          Personal care .......................................         147.1                150.1                  2.0
            Toilet goods and personal care appliances .........         143.1                144.3                   .8
            Personal care services ............................         151.5                156.6                  3.4
          Personal and educational expenses ...................         235.5                247.5                  5.1
            School books and supplies .........................         214.4                226.9                  5.8
            Personal and educational services .................         237.3                249.3                  5.1

                     Commodity and service group

      All items ...............................................         152.4                156.9                  3.0
        Commodities ...........................................         136.4                139.9                  2.6
          Food and beverages ..................................         148.9                153.7                  3.2
          Commodities less food and beverages .................         128.9                131.5                  2.0
            Nondurables less food and beverages ...............         129.5                133.0                  2.7
              Apparel commodities .............................         128.7                128.2                  -.4
              Nondurables less food, beverages,
                  and apparel .................................         132.9                138.6                  4.3
            Durables ..........................................         128.0                129.4                  1.1
        Services ..............................................         168.7                174.1                  3.2
          Rent of shelter 1/ ..................................         172.4                178.0                  3.2
          Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ..........         138.3                142.0                  2.7
          Transportation services .............................         175.9                180.5                  2.6
          Medical care services ...............................         224.2                232.4                  3.7
          Other services ......................................         193.3                201.4                  4.2

                           Special indexes

      All items less food .....................................         153.1                157.5                  2.9
      All items less shelter ..................................         148.6                152.8                  2.8
      All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .....................         153.5                157.9                  2.9
      All items less medical care .............................         148.6                152.8                  2.8
      Commodities less food ...................................         129.8                132.6                  2.2
      Nondurables less food ...................................         130.9                134.5                  2.8
      Nondurables less food and apparel .......................         134.1                139.5                  4.0
      Nondurables .............................................         139.3                143.5                  3.0
      Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................         176.8                182.5                  3.2
      Services less medical care services .....................         163.5                168.7                  3.2
      Energy ..................................................         105.2                110.1                  4.7
      All items less energy ...................................         158.7                163.1                  2.8
        All items less food and energy ........................         161.2                165.6                  2.7
          Commodities less food and energy commodities ........         139.3                141.3                  1.4
            Energy commodities ................................          98.8                105.7                  7.0
          Services less energy services .......................         173.7                179.4                  3.3
      Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
        1982-84=$1.00 .........................................         $.656                $.638                 -2.7
        1967=$1.00 ............................................          .219                 .213                  -



         1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
         -      Data not available.

  Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
  commodity and service group

  (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Sept.   Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.     June      Dec.
                                                  1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996     1996      1996

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.0     3.1     2.6     3.3      3.5       3.0

    Food and beverages .........................   155.3   156.3   156.7   156.8     3.2     4.6     5.0     3.9      3.9       4.5
      Food .....................................   155.1   156.1   156.5   156.6     3.2     4.6     5.3     3.9      3.9       4.6
        Food at home ...........................   156.5   157.6   158.0   157.9     3.8     5.6     6.7     3.6      4.7       5.1
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   174.7   175.1   176.2   176.5     5.5     3.3     1.9     4.2      4.4       3.0
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   147.4   148.1   148.6   150.0     -.6     5.5    10.7     7.2      2.4       9.0
          Dairy products .......................   147.2   149.7   149.8   148.6     4.2    10.3    22.6     3.9      7.2      12.8
          Fruits and vegetables ................   186.1   188.9   189.2   185.9    12.0     9.1      .4     -.4     10.6        .0
          Other food at home ...................   143.7   143.8   144.0   144.4     1.4     2.6     2.5     2.0      2.0       2.3
            Sugar and sweets ...................   145.6   145.4   144.9   145.7     7.7     4.9     5.1      .3      6.3       2.7
            Fats and oils ......................   141.9   141.6   141.9   142.1     2.3     3.2     3.2      .6      2.8       1.9
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   128.2   127.5   127.5   127.8    -4.5    -1.8     -.6    -1.2     -3.2       -.9
            Other prepared food ................   157.6   158.5   159.2   159.6     4.0     5.3     3.6     5.2      4.6       4.4
        Food away from home ....................   153.5   154.2   154.7   155.0     2.1     2.9     3.2     4.0      2.5       3.6
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   159.7   160.3   160.2   160.9     4.7     3.1     3.6     3.0      3.9       3.3

    Housing ....................................   153.5   154.0   154.3   154.7     3.2     2.1     3.2     3.2      2.7       3.2
      Shelter ..................................   171.7   172.3   172.7   173.0     3.4     2.6     3.1     3.1      3.0       3.1
        Renters' costs 1/ ......................   180.5   181.1   181.4   181.5     5.1     2.3     4.1     2.2      3.7       3.2
          Rent, residential ....................   162.9   163.3   163.6   164.0     2.5     3.0     2.7     2.7      2.8       2.7
          Other renters' costs .................   216.5   218.0   218.2   217.1    11.3      .2     7.5     1.1      5.6       4.3
        Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   177.4   177.9   178.4   178.8     2.6     2.8     2.8     3.2      2.7       3.0
          Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   177.7   178.2   178.7   179.1     2.5     2.8     2.7     3.2      2.7       3.0
          Household insurance 1/ ...............   162.1   163.4   164.8   162.6     2.0     3.3     3.8     1.2      2.7       2.5
        Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   139.9   140.2   141.1   141.5     2.7     3.8     3.2     4.7      3.2       3.9
          Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   147.4   147.3   147.6   148.0     4.9     2.2     8.0     1.6      3.5       4.8
          Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    129.5   130.5   132.3   132.6     -.3     6.0    -4.2     9.9      2.8       2.6
      Fuel and other utilities .................   128.3   128.9   129.6   130.0     5.2     2.9     4.5     5.4      4.1       4.9
        Fuels ..................................   115.0   115.8   116.8   117.4     4.4     2.5     6.5     8.6      3.4       7.6
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................    97.7   103.9   106.0   109.3    47.1    -9.8    10.5    56.6     15.2      31.5
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   122.3   122.3   123.2   123.5      .3     4.1     6.5     4.0      2.2       5.2
        Other utilities and public services 2/ .   158.3   158.6   158.9   159.1     6.7     3.1     1.8     2.0      4.9       1.9
      Household furnishings and operation ......   125.0   124.9   124.8   125.3     1.0      .0     1.9     1.0       .5       1.5
        Housefurnishings .......................   111.4   111.1   110.9   111.5     -.7     -.7      .7      .4      -.7        .5
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   141.4   141.4   141.6   141.6     4.1    -2.5     2.6      .6       .7       1.6
        Housekeeping services ..................   149.3   150.1   150.0   150.5     1.7     4.2     4.1     3.3      2.9       3.7

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   130.5   131.1   131.7   131.9     1.5    -2.7    -3.9     4.4      -.6        .2
      Apparel commodities ......................   126.7   127.3   128.0   128.1     1.2    -3.4    -4.3     4.5     -1.1        .0
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   126.6   127.0   128.7   127.8     8.9    -2.8    -3.4     3.8      2.9        .2
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   122.3   123.4   124.2   125.5    -4.0    -3.5    -6.9    10.9     -3.7       1.6
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   131.4   128.5   126.7   126.9    15.1   -12.0     7.3   -13.0       .6      -3.4
        Footwear ...............................   126.1   126.8   127.0   127.3     6.5     -.3    -3.7     3.9      3.1        .0
        Other apparel commodities ..............   150.5   150.6   149.4   146.7    -2.6    -5.9     -.5    -9.7     -4.2      -5.2
      Apparel services 2/.......................   160.4   160.6   160.9   161.5     3.1     2.0     1.8     2.8      2.6       2.3

    Transportation .............................   143.8   144.0   144.3   145.1     8.0     5.8      .3     3.7      6.9       2.0
      Private transportation ...................   140.5   140.7   141.1   141.8     7.5     4.4     -.6     3.8      5.9       1.6
        New vehicles ...........................   145.0   144.7   144.5   144.5     2.0     2.8     3.7    -1.4      2.4       1.1
          New cars .............................   142.8   142.5   142.0   142.2     2.3     2.3     4.0    -1.7      2.3       1.1
        Used cars ..............................   156.2   155.8   155.1   154.8     9.7   -12.3      .8    -3.5     -1.9      -1.4
        Motor fuel .............................   104.2   105.0   106.8   109.8    32.5    16.6   -15.6    23.3     24.3       2.0
          Gasoline .............................   103.5   104.2   106.1   109.4    32.0    18.8   -18.4    24.8     25.3        .9
        Maintenance and repairs ................   159.8   160.4   160.5   160.7     2.9     2.3     5.2     2.3      2.6       3.7
        Other private transportation ...........   175.5   175.3   175.4   175.1      .0     4.5     4.5     -.9      2.2       1.7
          Other private transportation
              commodities ......................   105.2   105.2   105.0   105.0      .8      .8     -.8     -.8       .8       -.8
          Other private transportation
              services .........................   192.3   192.0   192.2   191.9      .0     5.0     5.2     -.8      2.5       2.1
      Public transportation ....................   187.1   189.3   187.6   189.7    12.5    21.6     6.0     5.7     17.0       5.8

    Medical care ...............................   229.8   230.3   230.9   231.4     3.2     3.4     2.7     2.8      3.3       2.7
      Medical care commodities .................   211.4   212.4   211.9   212.0     3.5     4.3     1.3     1.1      3.9       1.2
      Medical care services ....................   233.8   234.2   235.1   235.7     3.2     3.2     3.0     3.3      3.2       3.1
        Professional medical services ..........   209.8   210.4   211.4   211.9     3.0     3.1     4.1     4.1      3.1       4.1

    Entertainment ..............................   159.7   160.2   160.4   161.0     4.7     2.3     1.3     3.3      3.5       2.3
      Entertainment commodities ................   143.3   143.7   143.7   144.2     5.2     1.1      .6     2.5      3.1       1.5
      Entertainment services ...................   178.9   179.5   180.1   180.8     3.9     3.7     1.6     4.3      3.8       2.9

    Other goods and services ...................   217.6   218.5   219.3   219.3     4.4     3.6     3.2     3.2      4.0       3.2
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   234.6   236.2   237.2   235.2     3.7     1.9     4.2     1.0      2.8       2.6
      Personal care 2/ .........................   150.8   150.9   151.2   150.5     1.3      .5     3.2     -.8       .9       1.2
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 2/ ......................   145.1   144.6   144.7   142.8     -.3     -.3     3.4    -6.2      -.3      -1.5
        Personal care services 2/ ..............   157.2   157.9   158.6   159.2     2.6     1.6     3.4     5.2      2.1       4.3
      Personal and educational expenses ........   249.5   250.4   251.5   252.6     5.8     5.0     2.8     5.1      5.4       3.9
        School books and supplies ..............   229.0   230.5   231.1   232.0     8.4     2.3     6.2     5.3      5.3       5.8
        Personal and educational services ......   250.9   251.8   252.9   254.1     5.5     5.1     2.6     5.2      5.3       3.9

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.0     3.1     2.6     3.3      3.5       3.0
    Commodities ................................   140.4   140.9   141.3   141.7     5.0     2.3     1.4     3.8      3.7       2.6
      Food and beverages .......................   155.3   156.3   156.7   156.8     3.2     4.6     5.0     3.9      3.9       4.5
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   131.3   131.6   132.0   132.6     6.0     1.2    -1.2     4.0      3.6       1.4
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   132.0   132.7   133.9   134.8     9.9     1.2    -3.8     8.8      5.5       2.3
          Apparel commodities ..................   126.7   127.3   128.0   128.1     1.2    -3.4    -4.3     4.5     -1.1        .0
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   137.7   138.7   139.7   140.9    15.6     3.8    -4.5     9.6      9.5       2.3
        Durables ...............................   129.7   129.6   129.3   129.6     2.5     -.6     1.2     -.3       .9        .5
    Services ...................................   175.4   175.9   176.3   176.7     3.6     3.5     3.5     3.0      3.5       3.2
      Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   179.0   179.4   179.9   180.2     3.5     2.5     3.2     2.7      3.0       2.9
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 1/ ........................   143.2   143.4   144.0   144.4     2.3     4.1     4.3     3.4      3.2       3.8
      Transportation services ..................   183.0   183.5   183.3   183.7     3.2     7.9     5.2     1.5      5.5       3.3
      Medical care services ....................   233.8   234.2   235.1   235.7     3.2     3.2     3.0     3.3      3.2       3.1
      Other services ...........................   203.1   203.8   204.5   205.4     4.7     4.1     2.4     4.6      4.4       3.5

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   158.1   158.6   159.0   159.5     4.5     2.8     1.8     3.6      3.7       2.7
  All items less shelter .......................   153.7   154.2   154.6   155.0     4.3     3.5     2.4     3.4      3.9       2.9
  All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   158.8   159.4   159.8   160.2     4.5     3.4     2.3     3.6      3.9       2.9
  All items less medical care ..................   153.5   154.0   154.5   154.8     4.1     3.2     2.4     3.4      3.6       2.9
  Commodities less food ........................   132.6   132.9   133.3   133.9     6.3     1.2     -.9     4.0      3.7       1.5
  Nondurables less food ........................   133.7   134.5   135.3   136.2     8.8     1.8    -3.2     7.7      5.2       2.1
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   139.1   140.0   141.1   142.3    11.8     4.4    -2.8     9.5      8.0       3.2
  Nondurables ..................................   143.8   144.5   145.3   145.8     6.7     3.1      .6     5.7      4.9       3.1
  Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   184.2   184.4   185.0   185.6     3.6     4.1     4.5     3.1      3.8       3.8
  Services less medical care services ..........   170.0   170.4   170.8   171.1     3.7     3.2     4.1     2.6      3.4       3.4
  Energy .......................................   109.1   109.9   111.2   113.0    15.8     8.4    -3.9    15.1     12.1       5.1
  All items less energy ........................   164.3   164.8   165.2   165.4     3.3     2.7     3.0     2.7      3.0       2.8
    All items less food and energy .............   166.7   167.1   167.4   167.6     3.5     2.2     2.7     2.2      2.8       2.4
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.5   141.6   141.7   141.8     2.6     -.3      .9      .9      1.1        .9
        Energy commodities .....................   103.6   105.0   106.8   109.9    34.3    13.3   -13.1    26.6     23.4       4.9
      Services less energy services ............   180.8   181.3   181.7   182.1     3.4     3.9     3.2     2.9      3.7       3.0


     1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
     2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
     -      Data not available.
     NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Dec. 1996 from-         Nov. 1996 from-
                                           schedule    Sept.   Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Nov.    Sept.   Oct.
                                              1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996



 U.S. city average ......................      M        157.8   158.3   158.6   158.6     3.3     0.2     0.0     3.3     0.5     0.2

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        164.6   165.1   165.4   165.7     3.2      .4      .2     3.1      .5      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        165.4   165.7   166.0   166.2     3.2      .3      .1     2.9      .4      .2
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        162.2   162.4   163.1   164.3     3.6     1.2      .7     3.0      .6      .4
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        162.2   163.8   164.3   164.6     3.8      .5      .2     3.7     1.3      .3

 North Central urban ....................      M        154.0   154.4   155.0   155.3     3.9      .6      .2     3.7      .6      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        154.5   154.8   155.3   155.5     3.5      .5      .1     3.4      .5      .3
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        153.3   154.0   154.5   154.5     4.4      .3      .0     4.3      .8      .3
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        155.4   156.5   157.1   157.7     4.1      .8      .4     3.7     1.1      .4
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        151.0   151.1   151.9   151.9     4.2      .5      .0     4.0      .6      .5

 South urban ............................      M        154.5   154.9   155.1   155.1     3.2      .1      .0     3.1      .4      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        153.5   153.7   153.8   154.0     3.0      .2      .1     2.7      .2      .1
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        157.3   157.7   158.2   158.2     3.8      .3      .0     3.7      .6      .3
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        154.4   154.8   154.7   154.4     2.7     -.3     -.2     2.9      .2     -.1
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        153.2   154.3   154.6   154.4     3.6      .1     -.1     3.8      .9      .2

 West urban .............................      M        158.6   159.1   159.2   158.7     2.9     -.3     -.3     3.1      .4      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        158.7   159.2   159.1   158.7     2.8     -.3     -.3     3.0      .3     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        163.0   163.2   163.9   163.9     3.3      .4      .0     3.5      .6      .4

 Size classes
   A 3/ .................................      M        142.4   142.7   142.9   142.9     3.1      .1      .0     3.0      .4      .1
   B ....................................      M        157.9   158.4   158.9   159.0     3.7      .4      .1     3.5      .6      .3
   C ....................................      M        157.4   158.2   158.5   158.6     3.3      .3      .1     3.3      .7      .2
   D ....................................      M        154.7   155.5   155.8   155.5     3.6      .0     -.2     3.9      .7      .2

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        158.3   158.8   159.4   159.7     3.8      .6      .2     3.5      .7      .4
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        158.2   158.8   158.4   158.3     2.4     -.3     -.1     2.6      .1     -.3
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        168.2   168.2   168.4   168.5     2.9      .2      .1     2.8      .1      .1
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        164.5   164.9   164.3   164.3     3.3     -.4      .0     2.9     -.1     -.4
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        156.3   156.9   156.9   156.0     2.6     -.6     -.6     3.0      .4      .0

 Baltimore, MD ..........................      1        155.4    -      154.8    -       -       -       -        2.4     -.4    -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        163.5    -      166.3    -       -       -       -        3.7     1.7    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        153.5    -      153.8    -       -       -       -        3.8      .2    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        154.6    -      156.4    -       -       -       -        4.1     1.2    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1        151.0    -      151.4    -       -       -       -        3.9      .3    -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1        160.8    -      161.2    -       -       -       -        3.9      .2    -

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      150.7    -      150.0     3.1     -.5    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      153.8    -      154.3     2.7      .3    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      143.2    -      143.6     1.9      .3    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2         -      154.5    -      155.4     3.6      .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 map in technical notes.
    3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
           the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
           result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
           similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
           CPI for use in their escalator clauses.


 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Nov.      Dec.       Dec. 1996 from-     Sept. to   Oct. to    Nov. to
                                                 1995       1996      1996    Dec. 1995  Nov. 1996     Oct.       Nov.       Dec.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     155.9     155.9        3.3        0.0        0.3        0.3        0.3
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        464.2     464.3        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    19.262     155.7     156.1        4.2         .3         .5         .3         .1
     Food ...................................    17.581     155.4     155.8        4.3         .3         .6         .3         .1
       Food at home .........................    11.206     156.4     156.9        4.9         .3         .6         .4        -.1
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.682     175.1     175.4        3.7         .2         .2         .7         .1
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.453     148.6     149.8        5.7         .8         .5         .4        1.0
         Dairy products .....................     1.300     149.2     148.5       10.2        -.5        1.6         .2        -.8
         Fruits and vegetables ..............     2.052     185.2     186.0        5.1         .4        1.3         .3       -1.9
         Other food at home .................     2.719     143.0     143.2        2.2         .1        -.1         .2         .3
           Sugar and sweets .................      .369     144.0     144.5        4.4         .3        -.1        -.4         .6
           Fats and oils ....................      .285     140.5     140.4        2.3        -.1        -.1         .2         .1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .885     126.7     126.5       -1.8        -.2        -.6         .2         .3
           Other prepared food ..............     1.180     158.2     158.8        4.5         .4         .4         .5         .3
       Food away from home ..................     6.374     154.7     155.0        3.1         .2         .5         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.681     159.6     159.9        3.6         .2         .4         .1         .3

   Housing ..................................    38.888     150.7     151.0        2.9         .2         .2         .3         .3
     Shelter ................................    25.976     167.7     167.7        2.8         .0         .2         .4         .2
       Renters' costs 1/ ....................     8.091     157.6     157.3        3.1        -.2         .2         .2         .2
         Rent, residential ..................     6.616     163.4     163.7        2.8         .2         .1         .2         .3
         Other renters' costs ...............     1.475     207.4     203.7        4.9       -1.8         .4         .0        -.3
       Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    17.695     162.8     163.0        2.7         .1         .2         .4         .2
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    17.366     163.1     163.4        2.8         .2         .2         .4         .3
         Household insurance 1/ .............      .329     150.0     147.2        1.1       -1.9         .5         .9       -1.9
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .189     139.9     140.1        3.2         .1         .4        1.0         .1
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .105     149.9     150.1        3.7         .1         .1         .3         .1
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 2/ .................      .085     127.1     127.1        2.3         .0        1.0        1.8         .0
     Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.247     128.1     129.0        4.6         .7         .5         .5         .4
       Fuels ................................     3.887     115.1     116.5        5.7        1.2         .7         .9         .5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .327     105.7     110.6       23.6        4.6        6.5        2.0        3.6
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.560     121.2     122.3        4.1         .9         .2         .7         .2
       Other utilities and public
           services 2/ ......................     3.360     159.5     159.6        3.4         .1         .3         .2         .1
     Household furnishings and operation ....     5.666     123.3     123.5         .9         .2        -.2         .1         .4
       Housefurnishings .....................     3.367     109.5     109.8         .1         .3        -.5         .0         .5
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.149     142.4     142.0        1.5        -.3        -.1         .3         .0
       Housekeeping services ................     1.150     152.4     152.9        2.9         .3         .3         .1         .4

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.533     132.4     129.3        -.2       -2.3         .4         .5         .0
     Apparel commodities ....................     5.017     129.1     125.7        -.4       -2.6         .5         .6        -.1
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.310     130.9     127.5        1.4       -2.6         .6        1.4        -.9
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.148     125.0     121.7       -1.3       -2.6         .5         .7        1.0
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .251     127.7     128.1       -1.3         .3       -2.6        -.9         .3
       Footwear .............................      .812     128.9     127.0        1.6       -1.5         .5         .2         .2
       Other apparel commodities ............      .495     148.7     139.7       -3.9       -6.1        1.4        -.9       -2.9
     Apparel services 2/ ....................      .516     160.0     160.5        2.2         .3         .0         .2         .3

   Transportation ...........................    19.020     144.5     144.8        4.2         .2         .2         .3         .7
     Private transportation .................    17.847     142.2     142.4        3.8         .1         .2         .3         .6
       New vehicles .........................     4.958     146.0     146.5        1.9         .3        -.1        -.1        -.1
         New cars ...........................     3.591     141.9     142.7        1.6         .6        -.2        -.3         .1
       Used cars ............................     2.432     157.7     156.8       -1.4        -.6        -.3        -.5        -.1
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.584     108.1     108.9       13.0         .7        1.0        1.9        2.8
         Gasoline ...........................      -        107.4     108.3       12.9         .8         .9        2.0        3.0
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.619     161.4     161.4        3.1         .0         .3         .1         .1
       Other private transportation .........     5.255     171.9     171.6        1.9        -.2        -.1        -.1        -.2
         Other private transportation
             commodities ....................      .767     104.2     104.3        -.1         .1        -.1        -.1        -.1
         Other private transportation
             services .......................     4.488     189.1     188.6        2.2        -.3         .0        -.1        -.2
     Public transportation ..................     1.173     184.5     186.9       10.6        1.3        1.0        -.2        2.0

   Medical care .............................     6.262     229.9     230.1        3.1         .1         .2         .3         .3
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.055     209.1     209.4        2.5         .1         .5        -.4         .2
     Medical care services ..................     5.208     234.6     234.7        3.2         .0         .1         .4         .3
       Professional medical services ........     2.965     212.1     212.3        3.6         .1         .3         .5         .2

   Entertainment ............................     4.029     158.3     158.4        3.0         .1         .3         .3         .3
     Entertainment commodities ..............     2.053     142.8     142.9        2.5         .1         .1         .2         .2
     Entertainment services .................     1.976     180.4     180.7        3.5         .2         .3         .3         .3

   Other goods and services .................     7.006     215.8     215.2        3.4        -.3         .5         .3        -.1
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.135     235.8     233.9        2.4        -.8         .7         .3        -.7
     Personal care 2/ .......................     1.132     151.3     150.4        1.0        -.6         .1         .3        -.6
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ....................      .635     145.4     143.5        -.8       -1.3        -.2         .0       -1.3
       Personal care services 2/ ............      .497     158.7     159.4        3.4         .4         .5         .4         .4
     Personal and educational expenses ......     3.739     248.1     248.3        4.6         .1         .4         .4         .5
       School books and supplies ............      .227     232.6     232.9        5.7         .1         .7         .3         .4
       Personal and educational services ....     3.512     249.7     249.8        4.6         .0         .4         .4         .5

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     155.9     155.9        3.3         .0         .3         .3         .3
   Commodities ..............................    47.052     141.6     141.4        3.3        -.1         .4         .4         .3
     Food and beverages .....................    19.262     155.7     156.1        4.2         .3         .5         .3         .1
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.790     132.9     132.4        2.6        -.4         .3         .3         .5
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.074     134.6     133.6        4.1        -.7         .5         .9         .8
         Apparel commodities ................     5.017     129.1     125.7        -.4       -2.6         .5         .6        -.1
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    11.057     140.2     140.4        6.3         .1         .8         .9         .9
       Durables .............................    11.716     129.5     129.6         .5         .1        -.2        -.2         .2
   Services .................................    52.948     173.2     173.4        3.3         .1         .2         .3         .2
     Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    25.430     161.3     161.4        2.9         .1         .2         .2         .1
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 1/ .........................     8.531     131.2     131.7        3.5         .4         .3         .4         .3
     Transportation services ................     7.279     181.3     181.5        3.8         .1         .2         .0         .2
     Medical care services ..................     5.208     234.6     234.7        3.2         .0         .1         .4         .3
     Other services .........................     6.501     201.5     201.7        4.0         .1         .3         .3         .4

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    82.419     155.8     155.8        3.1         .0         .2         .3         .3
 All items less shelter .....................    74.024     152.8     152.8        3.4         .0         .3         .3         .3
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    82.305     146.4     146.4        3.5         .0         .3         .3         .3
 All items less medical care ................    93.738     152.3     152.4        3.3         .1         .3         .3         .3
 Commodities less food ......................    29.471     134.0     133.5        2.7        -.4         .3         .3         .4
 Nondurables less food ......................    17.756     136.0     135.2        4.2        -.6         .6         .7         .8
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    12.739     141.1     141.3        5.9         .1         .7         .9        1.0
 Nondurables ................................    35.336     145.4     145.2        4.2        -.1         .6         .6         .3
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    27.518     164.7     165.0        3.6         .2         .1         .4         .2
 Services less medical care services ........    47.740     167.9     168.1        3.3         .1         .3         .2         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.470     110.9     112.0        9.2        1.0         .8        1.4        1.7
 All items less energy ......................    92.530     162.2     162.1        2.9        -.1         .2         .2         .1
   All items less food and energy ...........    74.949     163.9     163.7        2.5        -.1         .2         .2         .2
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    25.560     141.8     141.0        1.0        -.6         .1         .1         .0
       Energy commodities ...................     3.911     108.2     109.4       14.0        1.1        1.4        1.9        2.9
     Services less energy services ..........    49.388     178.9     179.0        3.2         .1         .2         .3         .2
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.642     $.641       -3.3        -.2        -.3        -.2        -.2
   1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .215      .215        -          -          -          -          -


    1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


      Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category
      and commodity and service group

      (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)


                                                                       Annual               Annual           Percent change
                                                                      average              average             from 1995
                                                                        1995                 1996               to 1996

                        Expenditure category

      All items ...............................................         149.8                154.1                  2.9
      All items (1967=100) ....................................         446.1                459.1                  -

        Food and beverages ....................................         148.3                153.2                  3.3
          Food ................................................         147.9                152.8                  3.3
            Food at home ......................................         147.9                153.5                  3.8
              Cereals and bakery products .....................         167.2                173.6                  3.8
              Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................         138.5                144.5                  4.3
              Dairy products ..................................         132.5                141.9                  7.1
              Fruits and vegetables ...........................         176.7                183.1                  3.6
              Other food at home ..............................         140.3                142.6                  1.6
                Sugar and sweets ..............................         137.5                143.6                  4.4
                Fats and oils .................................         137.1                140.3                  2.3
                Nonalcoholic beverages ........................         131.0                128.1                 -2.2
                Other prepared food ...........................         150.8                156.0                  3.4
            Food away from home ...............................         148.8                152.6                  2.6
          Alcoholic beverages .................................         153.3                157.9                  3.0

        Housing ...............................................         145.4                149.6                  2.9
          Shelter .............................................         161.2                166.2                  3.1
            Renters' costs 1/ .................................         152.5                157.3                  3.1
              Rent, residential ...............................         157.4                161.6                  2.7
              Other renters' costs ............................         204.4                214.6                  5.0
            Homeowners' costs 1/ ..............................         156.0                160.9                  3.1
              Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ......................         156.2                161.2                  3.2
              Household insurance 1/ ..........................         144.6                147.1                  1.7
            Maintenance and repairs ...........................         134.5                137.6                  2.3
              Maintenance and repair services .................         142.7                147.6                  3.4
              Maintenance and repair commodities ..............         123.6                124.9                  1.1
          Fuel and other utilities ............................         123.2                127.2                  3.2
            Fuels .............................................         110.8                114.7                  3.5
              Fuel oil and other household fuel
                  commodities .................................          88.0                 99.0                 12.5
              Gas (piped) and electricity (energy services) ...         118.4                121.6                  2.7
            Other utilities and public services ...............         153.2                157.7                  2.9
          Household furnishings and operation .................         121.8                123.2                  1.1
            Housefurnishings ..................................         109.9                109.9                   .0
            Housekeeping supplies .............................         137.3                141.5                  3.1
            Housekeeping services .............................         146.8                150.9                  2.8
        Apparel and upkeep ....................................         130.9                130.9                   .0
          Apparel commodities .................................         127.7                127.6                  -.1
            Men's and boys' apparel ...........................         125.9                127.4                  1.2
            Women's and girls' apparel.........................         125.4                123.6                 -1.4
            Infants' and toddlers' apparel ....................         128.1                130.8                  2.1
            Footwear ..........................................         126.2                127.6                  1.1
            Other apparel commodities .........................         150.6                149.6                  -.7
          Apparel services ....................................         156.8                159.0                  1.4

        Transportation ........................................         138.8                142.8                  2.9
          Private transportation ..............................         136.9                140.7                  2.8
            New vehicles ......................................         141.8                144.7                  2.0
              New cars ........................................         138.7                141.1                  1.7
            Used cars .........................................         157.3                158.2                   .6
            Motor fuel ........................................          99.9                106.3                  6.4
              Gasoline ........................................          99.7                105.9                  6.2
            Maintenance and repairs ...........................         154.8                159.3                  2.9
            Other private transportation ......................         166.5                169.6                  1.9
              Other private transportation commodities ........         104.0                104.2                   .2
              Other private transportation services ...........         182.2                186.1                  2.1
          Public transportation ...............................         171.9                179.6                  4.5

        Medical care ..........................................         219.8                227.6                  3.5
          Medical care commodities ............................         202.2                207.8                  2.8
          Medical care services ...............................         223.8                232.1                  3.7
            Professional medical services .....................         202.0                209.5                  3.7

        Entertainment .........................................         151.8                156.8                  3.3
          Entertainment commodities ...........................         137.9                142.0                  3.0
          Entertainment services ..............................         171.9                178.2                  3.7

        Other goods and services ..............................         204.2                212.2                  3.9
          Tobacco and smoking products ........................         225.9                232.5                  2.9
          Personal care .......................................         147.3                150.1                  1.9
            Toilet goods and personal care appliances .........         143.8                145.0                   .8
            Personal care services ............................         151.5                156.6                  3.4
          Personal and educational expenses ...................         231.2                242.9                  5.1
            School books and supplies .........................         215.5                228.2                  5.9
            Personal and educational services .................         232.6                244.4                  5.1

                     Commodity and service group

      All items ...............................................         149.8                154.1                  2.9
        Commodities ...........................................         136.4                139.9                  2.6
          Food and beverages ..................................         148.3                153.2                  3.3
          Commodities less food and beverages .................         129.0                131.8                  2.2
            Nondurables less food and beverages ...............         129.0                132.8                  2.9
              Apparel commodities .............................         127.7                127.6                  -.1
              Nondurables less food, beverages,
                  and apparel .................................         132.6                138.3                  4.3
            Durables ..........................................         127.9                129.2                  1.0
        Services ..............................................         166.0                171.4                  3.3
          Rent of shelter 1/ ..................................         155.0                159.9                  3.2
          Household services less rent of shelter 1/ ..........         127.0                130.5                  2.8
          Transportation services .............................         173.6                178.3                  2.7
          Medical care services ...............................         223.8                232.1                  3.7
          Other services ......................................         190.1                198.1                  4.2

                           Special indexes

      All items less food .....................................         150.0                154.3                  2.9
      All items less shelter ..................................         146.8                151.0                  2.9
      All items less homeowners' costs 1/ .....................         140.7                144.8                  2.9
      All items less medical care .............................         146.4                150.7                  2.9
      Commodities less food ...................................         130.0                132.8                  2.2
      Nondurables less food ...................................         130.4                134.3                  3.0
      Nondurables less food and apparel .......................         133.7                139.3                  4.2
      Nondurables .............................................         139.0                143.3                  3.1
      Services less rent of shelter 1/ ........................         157.6                162.7                  3.2
      Services less medical care services .....................         161.1                166.2                  3.2
      Energy ..................................................         104.7                109.8                  4.9
      All items less energy ...................................         156.1                160.4                  2.8
        All items less food and energy ........................         158.2                162.3                  2.6
          Commodities less food and energy commodities ........         138.9                140.9                  1.4
            Energy commodities ................................          99.1                105.9                  6.9
          Services less energy services .......................         171.3                176.8                  3.2
      Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
        1982-84=$1.00 .........................................         $.668                $.649                 -2.8
        1967=$1.00 ............................................          .224                 .218                  -



         1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
         -      Data not available.
  Table 5. 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)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Sept.   Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.     June      Dec.
                                                  1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996     1996      1996

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.3     3.2     2.1     3.7      3.7       2.9

    Food and beverages .........................   155.0   155.8   156.3   156.4     3.2     4.6     5.3     3.7      3.9       4.5
      Food .....................................   154.6   155.5   156.0   156.1     3.2     4.6     5.3     3.9      3.9       4.6
        Food at home ...........................   155.7   156.6   157.2   157.1     3.5     5.4     7.0     3.6      4.5       5.3
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   174.3   174.7   175.9   176.1     5.3     3.8     1.4     4.2      4.5       2.8
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   147.0   147.7   148.3   149.8     -.8     5.2    11.0     7.8      2.1       9.4
          Dairy products .......................   147.0   149.4   149.7   148.5     4.8    10.7    22.2     4.1      7.7      12.8
          Fruits and vegetables ................   185.7   188.1   188.6   185.1    13.3     7.0     1.1    -1.3     10.1       -.1
          Other food at home ...................   143.4   143.3   143.6   144.1     1.4     2.6     2.8     2.0      2.0       2.4
            Sugar and sweets ...................   145.5   145.3   144.7   145.5     8.3     4.3     5.1      .0      6.3       2.5
            Fats and oils ......................   141.5   141.4   141.7   141.8     2.3     3.5     2.3      .9      2.9       1.6
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.8   127.0   127.2   127.6    -4.5    -1.5     -.3     -.6     -3.1       -.5
            Other prepared food ................   157.5   158.2   159.0   159.4     3.7     5.3     4.2     4.9      4.5       4.5
        Food away from home ....................   153.4   154.2   154.7   155.0     2.1     3.2     2.9     4.2      2.7       3.6
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   159.1   159.7   159.9   160.4     4.7     2.8     3.9     3.3      3.8       3.6

    Housing ....................................   150.2   150.5   151.0   151.4     3.3     2.2     3.0     3.2      2.7       3.1
      Shelter ..................................   167.0   167.3   167.9   168.2     3.0     2.7     2.9     2.9      2.8       2.9
        Renters' costs 1/ ......................   157.9   158.2   158.5   158.8     4.5     2.6     3.4     2.3      3.5       2.8
          Rent, residential ....................   162.6   162.8   163.2   163.7     2.5     3.0     2.8     2.7      2.8       2.7
          Other renters' costs .................   216.6   217.4   217.4   216.7    12.8     1.5     5.7      .2      7.0       2.9
        Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   161.7   162.1   162.7   163.0     2.3     2.8     2.5     3.3      2.5       2.9
          Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   162.0   162.3   162.9   163.4     2.0     2.8     2.8     3.5      2.4       3.1
          Household insurance 1/ ...............   147.9   148.7   150.0   147.2     1.1     1.9     3.3    -1.9      1.5        .7
        Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   138.0   138.5   139.9   140.1     1.5     3.6     1.5     6.2      2.5       3.8
          Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   149.4   149.5   149.9   150.1     3.1     2.5     7.6     1.9      2.8       4.7
          Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    123.6   124.8   127.1   127.1     -.3     4.9    -6.2    11.8      2.3       2.4
      Fuel and other utilities .................   127.8   128.5   129.1   129.6     5.9     2.6     4.2     5.8      4.2       5.0
        Fuels ..................................   114.3   115.1   116.1   116.7     5.5     1.8     6.6     8.7      3.7       7.6
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................    97.4   103.7   105.8   109.6    46.6   -10.2    10.5    60.3     14.7      33.1
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   121.6   121.8   122.7   123.0     2.4     3.1     6.1     4.7      2.7       5.4
        Other utilities and public services 2/ .   158.8   159.2   159.5   159.6     7.2     3.1     1.5     2.0      5.1       1.8
      Household furnishings and operation ......   123.6   123.3   123.4   123.9     1.0      .0     2.0     1.0       .5       1.5
        Housefurnishings .......................   110.1   109.6   109.6   110.2      .0     -.7      .7      .4      -.4        .5
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.0   141.8   142.2   142.2     4.6    -2.2     3.2      .6      1.1       1.9
        Housekeeping services ..................   152.1   152.6   152.7   153.3      .3     4.1     4.0     3.2      2.2       3.6

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   129.6   130.1   130.7   130.7     2.5    -2.4    -4.2     3.4       .0       -.5
      Apparel commodities ......................   126.2   126.8   127.5   127.4     2.5    -2.8    -4.9     3.9      -.2       -.6
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   126.1   126.8   128.6   127.5     8.9    -4.0    -3.4     4.5      2.2        .5
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   121.3   121.9   122.7   123.9    -2.8    -2.2    -8.4     8.9     -2.5       -.2
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   132.4   128.9   127.7   128.1    16.0   -13.0     7.3   -12.4       .5      -3.1
        Footwear ...............................   127.3   127.9   128.1   128.4     5.8     -.3    -2.5     3.5      2.7        .5
        Other apparel commodities ..............   149.2   151.3   149.9   145.6     -.8    -2.4    -2.6    -9.3     -1.6      -6.0
      Apparel services 2/.......................   159.7   159.7   160.0   160.5     2.8     2.0     1.8     2.0      2.4       1.9

    Transportation .............................   143.1   143.4   143.8   144.8     8.3     4.6     -.6     4.8      6.4       2.1
      Private transportation ...................   140.9   141.2   141.6   142.4     8.1     4.4    -1.1     4.3      6.2       1.6
        New vehicles ...........................   145.9   145.8   145.7   145.6     2.5     2.5     3.4     -.8      2.5       1.2
          New cars .............................   142.4   142.1   141.7   141.8     1.7     2.0     4.3    -1.7      1.9       1.3
        Used cars ..............................   157.4   157.0   156.2   156.0     9.4   -11.1      .5    -3.5     -1.4      -1.5
        Motor fuel .............................   104.2   105.2   107.2   110.2    31.9    17.9   -16.5    25.1     24.7       2.2
          Gasoline .............................   103.6   104.5   106.6   109.8    33.6    16.6   -17.2    26.2     24.8       2.2
        Maintenance and repairs ................   160.7   161.2   161.4   161.6     2.8     2.3     4.9     2.3      2.6       3.6
        Other private transportation ...........   171.5   171.4   171.3   171.0     -.5     4.4     5.3    -1.2      1.9       2.0
          Other private transportation
              commodities ......................   104.4   104.3   104.2   104.1      .4      .8     -.4    -1.1       .6       -.8
          Other private transportation
              services .........................   188.4   188.4   188.3   187.9     -.7     4.9     6.2    -1.1      2.1       2.5
      Public transportation ....................   182.9   184.8   184.5   188.2    12.0    14.2     4.3    12.1     13.1       8.1

    Medical care ...............................   229.1   229.6   230.2   230.8     3.1     3.6     2.7     3.0      3.3       2.8
      Medical care commodities .................   208.9   210.0   209.1   209.6     3.4     3.9     1.7     1.3      3.7       1.5
      Medical care services ....................   233.6   233.9   234.8   235.4     3.0     3.5     3.0     3.1      3.3       3.0
        Professional medical services ..........   211.0   211.6   212.6   213.1     2.9     3.1     4.3     4.0      3.0       4.2

    Entertainment ..............................   157.4   157.8   158.2   158.6     4.8     2.6     1.3     3.1      3.7       2.2
      Entertainment commodities ................   142.4   142.5   142.8   143.1     5.6      .9     1.4     2.0      3.2       1.7
      Entertainment services ...................   179.1   179.7   180.3   180.8     4.2     4.1     1.6     3.9      4.2       2.7

    Other goods and services ...................   214.0   215.0   215.7   215.5     3.7     3.5     3.4     2.8      3.6       3.1
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   234.2   235.8   236.5   234.9     3.0     2.1     3.7     1.2      2.5       2.4
      Personal care 2/ .........................   150.8   150.9   151.3   150.4     1.1      .8     3.2    -1.1       .9       1.1
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 2/ ......................   145.7   145.4   145.4   143.5     -.3      .0     3.1    -5.9      -.1      -1.5
        Personal care services 2/ ..............   157.2   158.0   158.7   159.4     2.6     2.1     3.1     5.7      2.3       4.4
      Personal and educational expenses ........   244.8   245.7   246.6   247.8     5.0     5.1     3.3     5.0      5.0       4.2
        School books and supplies ..............   230.6   232.2   233.0   233.9     7.8     1.8     7.6     5.8      4.8       6.7
        Personal and educational services ......   246.1   247.0   247.9   249.1     4.8     5.2     3.1     5.0      5.0       4.1

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.3     3.2     2.1     3.7      3.7       2.9
    Commodities ................................   140.4   140.9   141.4   141.8     5.3     2.6     1.1     4.0      4.0       2.6
      Food and beverages .......................   155.0   155.8   156.3   156.4     3.2     4.6     5.3     3.7      3.9       4.5
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   131.4   131.8   132.2   132.8     7.0     1.2    -1.8     4.3      4.1       1.2
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   131.8   132.4   133.6   134.7    10.6     2.4    -4.7     9.1      6.4       2.0
          Apparel commodities ..................   126.2   126.8   127.5   127.4     2.5    -2.8    -4.9     3.9      -.2       -.6
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   137.3   138.4   139.7   141.0    15.9     4.1    -5.1    11.2      9.9       2.8
        Durables ...............................   129.7   129.4   129.2   129.4     2.5     -.9     1.9     -.9       .8        .5
    Services ...................................   172.5   172.9   173.4   173.8     3.1     3.6     3.3     3.0      3.4       3.2
      Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   160.9   161.3   161.7   161.9     3.1     3.1     2.8     2.5      3.1       2.6
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 1/ ........................   131.4   131.8   132.3   132.7     3.5     3.1     3.7     4.0      3.3       3.9
      Transportation services ..................   180.5   180.9   180.9   181.3     2.1     5.8     5.5     1.8      3.9       3.6
      Medical care services ....................   233.6   233.9   234.8   235.4     3.0     3.5     3.0     3.1      3.3       3.0
      Other services ...........................   199.8   200.4   201.1   201.9     4.4     4.3     2.6     4.3      4.4       3.5

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   154.7   155.0   155.5   156.0     4.3     2.9     1.6     3.4      3.6       2.5
  All items less shelter .......................   151.8   152.3   152.8   153.2     4.7     3.2     2.1     3.7      4.0       2.9
  All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   145.5   146.0   146.4   146.8     4.6     3.1     2.2     3.6      3.8       2.9
  All items less medical care ..................   151.3   151.8   152.3   152.7     4.4     3.0     2.1     3.8      3.7       2.9
  Commodities less food ........................   132.7   133.1   133.5   134.1     7.2     1.2    -1.5     4.3      4.2       1.4
  Nondurables less food ........................   133.4   134.2   135.2   136.3    10.2     2.1    -3.8     9.0      6.1       2.4
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   138.6   139.6   140.8   142.2    13.1     4.4    -3.7    10.8      8.7       3.3
  Nondurables ..................................   143.5   144.4   145.3   145.8     7.3     2.8      .6     6.6      5.1       3.5
  Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   164.2   164.4   165.0   165.3     3.0     4.0     4.8     2.7      3.5       3.7
  Services less medical care services ..........   167.3   167.8   168.2   168.5     3.0     3.5     3.7     2.9      3.2       3.3
  Energy .......................................   108.7   109.6   111.1   113.0    17.7     9.6    -5.7    16.8     13.6       5.0
  All items less energy ........................   161.5   161.9   162.3   162.5     3.3     2.5     3.0     2.5      2.9       2.8
    All items less food and energy .............   163.4   163.7   164.0   164.3     3.3     2.0     2.5     2.2      2.6       2.4
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.1   141.3   141.4   141.4     3.2     -.8      .9      .9      1.1        .9
        Energy commodities .....................   103.8   105.3   107.3   110.4    33.2    15.4   -14.7    28.0     24.0       4.5
      Services less energy services ............   178.3   178.7   179.2   179.6     3.3     3.5     3.2     2.9      3.4       3.1


     1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
     2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
     -      Data not available.
     NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Dec. 1996 from-         Nov. 1996 from-
                                           schedule    Sept.   Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Nov.    Sept.   Oct.
                                              1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996



 U.S. city average ......................      M        155.1   155.5   155.9   155.9     3.3     0.3     0.0     3.3     0.5     0.3

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        162.0   162.4   163.0   163.2     3.3      .5      .1     3.2      .6      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        161.8   162.1   162.6   162.6     3.2      .3      .0     3.1      .5      .3
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        159.8   160.1   160.7   162.0     3.5     1.2      .8     2.9      .6      .4
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        163.7   165.3   166.0   166.3     3.7      .6      .2     3.7     1.4      .4

 North Central urban ....................      M        150.6   151.0   151.7   151.9     3.8      .6      .1     3.8      .7      .5
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        150.4   150.7   151.3   151.5     3.5      .5      .1     3.5      .6      .4
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        149.5   150.2   150.8   150.7     4.3      .3     -.1     4.4      .9      .4
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        152.6   153.7   154.5   155.1     4.2      .9      .4     3.8     1.2      .5
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        149.1   149.2   150.1   150.3     4.3      .7      .1     4.2      .7      .6

 South urban ............................      M        153.1   153.5   153.7   153.7     3.2      .1      .0     3.2      .4      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        151.7   151.9   152.0   152.3     3.0      .3      .2     2.8      .2      .1
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        153.6   153.9   154.5   154.5     3.8      .4      .0     3.7      .6      .4
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        154.4   154.8   154.7   154.5     2.8     -.2     -.1     2.9      .2     -.1
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        153.9   154.8   155.1   155.0     3.7      .1     -.1     4.0      .8      .2

 West urban .............................      M        155.5   155.9   155.9   155.4     2.7     -.3     -.3     3.0      .3      .0
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        154.0   154.4   154.3   153.8     2.5     -.4     -.3     2.9      .2     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        159.9   160.2   160.8   160.7     3.3      .3     -.1     3.5      .6      .4

 Size classes
   A 3/ .................................      M        141.4   141.7   142.0   141.9     3.1      .1     -.1     3.1      .4      .2
   B ....................................      M        155.0   155.4   156.0   156.2     3.6      .5      .1     3.5      .6      .4
   C ....................................      M        156.6   157.4   157.7   157.9     3.4      .3      .1     3.3      .7      .2
   D ....................................      M        154.0   154.7   155.1   154.9     3.7      .1     -.1     3.9      .7      .3

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        153.2   153.7   154.4   154.6     3.8      .6      .1     3.6      .8      .5
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        152.7   153.2   152.9   152.7     2.2     -.3     -.1     2.5      .1     -.2
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        164.4   164.4   164.7   164.7     3.0      .2      .0     3.0      .2      .2
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        163.7   164.2   164.0   163.6     3.1     -.4     -.2     3.0      .2     -.1
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        153.8   154.3   154.2   153.1     2.3     -.8     -.7     2.9      .3     -.1

 Baltimore, MD ..........................      1        154.4    -      153.6    -       -       -       -        2.5     -.5    -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        162.1    -      165.4    -       -       -       -        3.8     2.0    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        145.8    -      146.2    -       -       -       -        4.0      .3    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        152.6    -      154.6    -       -       -       -        4.3     1.3    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1        150.1    -      150.5    -       -       -       -        3.8      .3    -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1        158.2    -      158.7    -       -       -       -        4.1      .3    -

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      150.7    -      150.2     3.3     -.3    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      148.8    -      149.4     2.7      .4    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      142.5    -      143.0     1.8      .4    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2         -      148.0    -      148.8     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 map in technical notes.
    3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI 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.