FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-168
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
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 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:      		    Wednesday June 16, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
  
                                     
                      CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MAY 1999
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was
 unchanged in May, before seasonal adjustment, remaining at a level of
 166.2 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
 of Labor reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in May, the CPI-U
 increased 2.1 percent.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in May, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The May
 level of 162.8 was 2.1 percent higher than the index in May 1998.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in May,
 following a 0.7 percent rise in April.  Energy costs declined 1.3 percent
 in May, reflecting a sharp turnaround in the index for gasoline.  After
 advancing a record 15.0 percent in April and accounting for more than half
 of the overall April CPI rise, the index for gasoline declined 2.7 percent
 in May.  The index for energy services fell 0.3 percent.  The food index,
 which increased 0.1 percent in April, rose 0.4 percent in May.  The index
 for food at home increased 0.6 percent, largely as a result of an upturn
 in the index for dairy products and a larger increase in the index for
 fruits and vegetables.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.1
 percent in May, following a 0.4 percent rise in April.  The deceleration
 in May reflects downturns in the indexes for apparel, for tobacco and
 smoking products, and for airline fares, coupled with a smaller increase
 in shelter costs.
      
 
 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category          1998             1999           3-mos. ended  ended
                     Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May   May `99   May `99
 All Items            .2    .1   .1   .1   .2   .7   .0    3.7       2.1
  Food and beverages  .2    .1   .4   .2  -.2   .1   .4    1.0       2.2
  Housing             .3    .1  -.1   .1   .2   .4   .1    3.0       2.1
  Apparel            -.1   -.6 -1.1  -.2  -.3  1.5  -.2    4.0       -.8
  Transportation     -.1   -.4  -.1  -.1   .7  2.4  -.5   11.0       1.5
  Medical care        .2    .3   .3   .2   .2   .4   .2    3.4       3.4
  Recreation          .1    .1   .4  -.1   .0   .3   .2    2.0       1.2
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .3   -.2   .3   .1   .0   .1  -.1     .0        .3
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         -.3   4.2  2.0  -.1  -.6  1.0  -.2     .9       8.1
 Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            -.3  -1.1  -.2   .0  1.6  6.1 -1.3   28.1       1.7
   Food               .1    .1   .5   .1  -.2   .1   .4    1.0       2.1
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1    .3   .1   .1   .1   .4   .1    2.5       2.0
 
 
      During the first five months of 1999, the CPI-U rose at a 2.6 percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 1.6 percent for all of 1998.  The index for energy, which acted as a
 moderating influence on overall consumer price index movements in 1998
 (down 8.8 percent), turned up sharply during the first five months of
 1999, increasing at a 15.4 percent annual rate.  Food costs, which rose
 2.3 percent in 1998, have increased at a 2.1 percent SAAR thus far in
 1999.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 1.8 percent
 rate thus far in 1999, compared with a 2.4 percent rise for all of 1998.
 The more moderate rate of advance this year is largely due to smaller
 increases in the indexes for shelter and for tobacco and smoking products.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.4 percent in May. The index for
 food at home increased 0.6 percent in May, following a 0.1 percent rise in
 April.  An upturn in the index for dairy products and a larger increase in
 the index for fruits and vegetables were responsible for the acceleration
 in the food at home index.  The index for dairy products, which fell 3.3
 percent in April, rose 0.1 percent in May, reflecting increases in the
 prices for milk and cheese.  The index for fruits and vegetables, which
 increased 1.4 percent in April, advanced 2.6 percent in May.  The index
 for fresh fruits rose 1.5 percent, reflecting large price increases for
 citrus fruits.  Fresh vegetable prices, which generally decline at this
 time of year, rose slightly, resulting in a 4.9 percent increase in this
 index.  Prices for processed fruits and vegetables increased 1.4 percent.
 The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.2 percent in May, as a
 1.5 percent increase in the index for pork was largely offset by a 1.2
 percent decrease in poultry prices; the index for beef rose 0.2 percent.
 Among the other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for
 nonalcoholic beverages, for cereal and bakery products, and for other food
 at home rose 0.4, 0.3, and 0.1 percent, respectively.  The other two
 components of the food and beverages index--food away from home and
 alcoholic beverages--rose 0.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively.
      
      The housing component rose 0.1 percent in May.  Shelter costs, which
 increased 0.4 percent in April, advanced 0.2 percent in May. Within
 shelter, the index for rent increased 0.2 percent; owners' equivalent rent
 rose 0.3 percent, while the cost of lodging away from home decreased 0.2
 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the cost of lodging while away
 from home fell 2.4 percent in May.)  The index for fuels and utilities
 declined 0.2 percent in May.  The index for household fuels decreased 0.3
 percent, as declines in the indexes for natural gas and for electricity--
 down 0.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively--more than offset a 0.9 percent
 increase in the index for fuel oil.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 charges for natural gas and electricity rose 0.5 and 0.8 percent,
 respectively.)  The index for household furnishings and operations
 decreased 0.3 percent in May.
      
      The transportation component, which rose 2.4 percent in April,
 declined 0.5 percent in May, reflecting downturns in the indexes for
 gasoline and airline fares.  The gasoline index, which rose 15.0 percent
 in April, declined 2.7 percent in May.   (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 gasoline prices increased 0.4 percent.)  Airline fares declined 2.5
 percent in May, following five consecutive monthly increases, totaling
 12.5 percent.  The index for new and used vehicles rose 0.2 percent in
 May, the same as in April.  The index for new vehicles fell 0.1 percent,
 while the index for used cars and trucks increased 0.9 percent in May.
      
      The index for apparel, which rose 1.5 percent in April, declined 0.2
 percent in May. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 0.7
 percent, reflecting seasonal discounting on women's and girl's wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in May to a level 3.4 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.1 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.2
 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation costs increased 0.2 percent in May.  A 1.3
 percent increase in the index for admissions to movies, theaters,
 concerts, and sporting events more than offset small decreases in most
 recreational goods.
      
      The index for education and communication declined 0.1 percent in
 May.  Educational costs rose 0.5 percent, while the index for
 communication declined 0.6 percent.  Within the latter group, the indexes
 for personal computers and peripheral equipment and for telephone services
 declined 1.9 and 0.4 percent, respectively.  Decreases of 2.3 percent in
 both long distance telephone charges and the cost of cellular telephone
 services more than offset a 1.8 percent increase in local telephone
 service charges.
      
      The index for other goods and services decreased 0.2 percent,
 following a 1.0 percent increase in April.  The index for tobacco and
 smoking products, which rose 3.6 percent in April, declined 1.4 percent in
 May.  The recent movements in tobacco prices largely reflect variations in
 the discounting of some major cigarette brands.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers was unchanged in May.
 
 
 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category          1998             1999           3-mos. ended  ended
                     Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May   May '99   May '99
 All Items            .2    .2   .2   .0   .1   .7   .0    3.5       2.1
  Food and beverages  .2    .1   .4   .1  -.2   .1   .3     .7       2.1
  Housing             .3    .2   .0   .1   .3   .3   .1    2.5       2.0
  Apparel            -.1   -.5 -1.1  -.4  -.4  1.4  -.1    3.8       -.5
  Transportation     -.1   -.5  -.1  -.4   .6  2.6  -.4   11.7       1.4
  Medical care        .2    .2   .3   .2   .3   .4   .2    3.8       3.4
  Recreation          .1    .1   .4  -.2  -.1   .2   .2    1.2        .6
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .3   -.2   .3   .2   .0  -.1   .0    -.4        .4
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         -.5   5.8  2.5  -.2 -1.0  1.4  -.4    -.2      10.2
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy             -.4  -1.3  -.1  -.2  2.0  6.4 -1.4   31.4       1.9
  Food                .2    .0   .5   .1  -.2   .1   .3     .7       2.1
  All Items less                                                        
    food and energy   .2    .4   .1   .0   .0   .4   .1    1.9       2.1
 
 
 Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on Thursday,
 July 15, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
     

 CPI (Old Series)
 
      For the first six months of 1999, BLS will also publish Old Series
 CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the former method of calculating the
 elementary aggregates, that is, employing an arithmetic mean in all index
 categories.  These old series data are contained in tables 1 (LAS)-4
 (LAS).  From April to May, the Old Series CPI-U and the Old Series CPI-W
 were unchanged and rose 0.1 percent, respectively; these series are not
 seasonally adjusted.  (The unadjusted CPI-U and CPI-W using the new method
 of calculating the elementary aggregates also were unchanged and rose 0.1
 percent, respectively, in May.)
 
 __________________________________________________________________________ 
 

 Consumer Price Index Formula Changed
     
      On April 16, 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its
 decision to use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the
 Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer
 Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This
 change is effective with data for January 1999.

      The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they have
 been. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the new
 formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.

      The geometric mean estimator has been introduced in both the CPI-U
 and the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the
 past practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the former calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.

      Additional information on this change was published in the April 1998
 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information also may be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Room 3615, Washington, D.C.
 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000.
      
      Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
      
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care

 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     adult daycare
      
 __________________________________________________________________________    
      
      
 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
 
     Because price data are used for different purposes by
 different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
 seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month.
 
      For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally
 adjusted changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the
 effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in
 about the same magnitude every year--such as price movements
 resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles,
 model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
 
      The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers
 concerned about the prices they actually pay.  Unadjusted data
 also are used extensively for escalation purposes.  Many
 collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for
 example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index
 unadjusted for seasonal variation.
 
      Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted
 indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.
 The updated seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from
 1967 through 1977.  Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5
 years of seasonal data, e.g., data from 1994 through 1998 were
 replaced at the end of 1998.  The seasonal movement of all items
 and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal
 movement of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status
 of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
 criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
 adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5
 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before
 that period.
 
      Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index
 levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their
 original release.  For this reason, BLS advises against the use of
 these data in escalation agreements.
 
      Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for
 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal
 adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment for some CPI series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted
 data.  Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort
 the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior
 to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
 calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
 
      For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this procedure
 was used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would
 otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data
 for those series.  For some women's apparel indexes and the girls'
 apparel index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of
 changes in pricing methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking
 products index, this procedure was used to offset the effects
 wholesale tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers.
 For some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases.
 For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to
 offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to
 adverse weather.  The procedure was used to account for unusual
 butter fat supply reductions affecting the Fats and oils series.
 For the Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was
 used to account for a data collection anomaly.
 
      A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment,
 as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors
 for these items may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,
 Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on
 (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                       May 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Apr.      May                                             
                                                              1999      1999      May     Apr.   Feb. to Mar. to Apr. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Mar.    Apr.    May  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     166.2     166.2      2.1      0.0     0.2     0.7     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     497.8     497.7        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     163.9     164.2      2.2      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.4 
   Food ......................................     15.422     163.4     163.7      2.1      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Food at home .............................      9.691     163.5     163.9      2.0      0.2    -0.5     0.1     0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.544     184.8     185.1      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.569     146.7     146.7      0.3      0.0    -0.2     0.3     0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.088     156.1     156.2      5.5      0.1    -0.5    -3.3     0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.440     203.3     207.2      1.6      1.9    -2.2     1.4     2.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.049     134.3     134.2      1.0     -0.1     0.1    -0.3     0.4 
     Other food at home ......................      2.002     153.6     153.4      2.7     -0.1    -0.2     0.3     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     151.7     153.0      2.3      0.9    -0.3     0.5     0.9 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .309     149.0     147.2      4.2     -1.2    -0.9    -0.2    -1.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.316     169.2     168.7      2.4     -0.3     0.0     0.5     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .320     105.6     105.0      3.6     -0.6    -0.9     0.7    -0.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.730     164.5     164.6      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .175     104.0     104.3      3.7      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .986     168.8     169.3      2.5      0.3    -0.1     0.2     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.828     163.0     163.0      2.1      0.0     0.2     0.4     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     30.283     186.6     186.5      2.9     -0.1     0.3     0.4     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.007     176.4     176.7      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.376     114.6     111.8      2.9     -2.4     1.8     1.9    -0.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.529     191.9     192.2      2.9      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .371     100.3     100.5      0.9      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.735     125.7     126.5     -1.1      0.6     0.2     0.2    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.801     110.2     111.0     -1.9      0.7     0.3     0.1    -0.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .227      87.7      87.7     -4.5      0.0     1.0     2.7     0.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.574     117.5     118.4     -1.7      0.8     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .934     103.6     103.7      2.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.810     127.2     126.7      0.1     -0.4    -0.1     0.2    -0.3 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .908     104.0     104.1      3.1      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     135.2     134.2     -0.8     -0.7    -0.3     1.5    -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.358     133.5     133.8      0.2      0.2    -0.8     1.6    -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.939     128.7     127.3     -1.9     -1.1     0.4     1.1     0.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     128.2     127.6      0.6     -0.5    -0.6     2.1    -0.5 
   Footwear ..................................       .876     129.2     127.4     -0.7     -1.4     0.7     1.1    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     16.999     144.3     144.2      1.5     -0.1     0.7     2.4    -0.5 
   Private transportation ....................     15.653     140.1     140.2      1.3      0.1     0.5     2.6    -0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.843      99.7      99.7     -0.2      0.0    -0.2     0.2     0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      4.983     143.3     142.9     -0.3     -0.3    -0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.914     148.3     149.6     -0.3      0.9    -0.6     0.6     0.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.493     100.9     101.4      7.1      0.5     3.6    15.0    -2.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.476     100.4     100.8      7.0      0.4     3.7    15.0    -2.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .549     100.3     100.2     -0.4     -0.1    -0.6     0.5     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.624     170.9     171.3      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.346     201.4     198.4      4.2     -1.5     3.0     1.3    -1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.713     249.1     249.5      3.4      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.252     229.3     229.4      3.6      0.0     0.4     0.6     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.461     253.5     254.0      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Professional services (3).................      2.854     228.2     228.6      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.354     296.3     297.0      4.0      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.120     102.0     102.2      1.2      0.2     0.0     0.3     0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.748     101.0     100.9     -0.3     -0.1    -0.5    -0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.478     100.7     100.4      0.3     -0.3     0.0     0.1    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.694     105.5     105.6      4.7      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     261.2     261.6      5.1      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.492     303.8     304.1      4.7      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.783      96.3      95.7     -3.7     -0.6    -0.3    -0.3    -0.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.580      95.8      95.2     -4.1     -0.6    -0.4    -0.3    -0.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.327     100.0      99.6     -1.5     -0.4    -0.2    -0.2    -0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .253      32.1      30.9    -25.5     -3.7    -2.7    -0.9    -3.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .148      56.8      55.7    -32.6     -1.9    -3.5    -1.4    -1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.624     256.1     255.8      8.1     -0.1    -0.6     1.0    -0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.159     349.9     345.5     28.0     -1.3    -3.5     3.6    -1.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.465     160.2     160.7      2.6      0.3     0.4     0.1     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .742     150.9     150.9      1.1      0.0     0.7     0.1     0.0 
    Personal care services (1)................       .973     170.3     171.0      3.4      0.4     0.4     0.2     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.491     241.4     242.1      3.5      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.109     144.6     144.5      1.5     -0.1    -0.1     1.3    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     163.9     164.2      2.2      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.702     133.2     132.8      1.1     -0.3     0.0     2.1    -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.345     138.6     138.2      3.1     -0.3     0.3     3.4    -0.5 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     135.2     134.2     -0.8     -0.7    -0.3     1.5    -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.514     145.7     145.6      5.2     -0.1     0.7     4.4    -0.8 
   Durables ..................................     11.356     126.1     125.8     -1.4     -0.2    -0.2     0.0     0.0 
 Services ....................................     57.891     187.8     187.9      2.5      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.912     194.3     194.2      3.0     -0.1     0.4     0.4     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .371     100.3     100.5      0.9      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.574     117.5     118.4     -1.7      0.8     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .934     103.6     103.7      2.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .908     104.0     104.1      3.1      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.1 
  Transportation services ....................      6.963     191.0     190.4      1.4     -0.3     0.8     0.2    -0.3 
  Medical care services ......................      4.461     253.5     254.0      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.768     221.7     221.9      2.7      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.578     166.7     166.6      2.0     -0.1     0.2     0.8    -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.717     159.9     159.9      1.7      0.0     0.1     0.9    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.287     161.6     161.6      2.0      0.0     0.2     0.7     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.688     134.6     134.3      1.2     -0.2     0.1     2.0    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.331     140.4     140.1      3.1     -0.2     0.4     3.2    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.500     147.0     147.0      4.9      0.0     0.7     4.0    -0.8 
 Nondurables .................................     30.753     151.4     151.4      2.6      0.0     0.2     1.3     0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.979     194.5     194.7      1.9      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.429     181.8     181.8      2.4      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      6.294     105.0     105.6      1.7      0.6     1.6     6.1    -1.3 
 All items less energy .......................     93.706     174.2     174.1      2.1     -0.1     0.1     0.4     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.284     176.8     176.6      2.0     -0.1     0.1     0.4     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.967     144.9     144.5      0.6     -0.3    -0.3     0.6    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.720      99.9     100.3      6.0      0.4     3.5    14.0    -2.4 
   Services less energy services .............     54.316     195.0     195.0      2.7      0.0     0.3     0.4     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .602    $ .602        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .201    $ .201        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    May                                            
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Aug.   Nov.   Feb.    May   Nov.    May 
                                                                                1998   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  164.7   165.0   166.2   166.2    1.5    1.7    1.2    3.7    1.6    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  163.8   163.4   163.6   164.2    2.3    2.8    2.7    1.0    2.5    1.9 
   Food ......................................  163.5   163.2   163.3   163.9    2.3    2.8    2.7    1.0    2.5    1.9 
    Food at home .............................  163.7   162.9   163.0   163.9    2.3    2.8    2.5    0.5    2.5    1.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  183.6   183.9   184.6   185.1    3.1    1.5    2.0    3.3    2.3    2.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.8   146.5   147.0   147.3    2.5   -1.9   -0.8    1.4    0.3    0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  162.3   161.5   156.1   156.2    6.6   15.1   17.5  -14.2   10.8    0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  202.6   198.1   200.9   206.2   -5.8    1.2    4.5    7.3   -2.4    5.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  133.7   133.9   133.5   134.0   -1.2    2.4    1.8    0.9    0.6    1.4 
     Other food at home ......................  153.1   152.8   153.3   153.4    7.1    4.8   -1.8    0.8    6.0   -0.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  151.0   150.6   151.3   152.7    3.3    1.9    0.0    4.6    2.6    2.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................  150.5   149.1   148.8   147.2   26.0   18.5  -13.6   -8.5   22.2  -11.1 
      Other foods ............................  167.9   167.9   168.7   168.7    4.4    2.7    0.5    1.9    3.6    1.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  105.9   104.9   105.6   105.0    8.5    5.1    4.3   -3.4    6.8    0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................  163.8   164.2   164.5   164.6    2.3    2.8    3.0    2.0    2.5    2.5 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  103.7   103.7   104.0   104.3    6.9    4.0    1.6    2.3    5.4    1.9 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  168.3   168.1   168.5   169.0    2.7    2.7    2.9    1.7    2.7    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  162.1   162.5   163.1   163.3    2.0    2.8    0.7    3.0    2.4    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  184.9   185.4   186.2   186.6    2.9    4.0    1.3    3.7    3.5    2.5 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  175.6   176.0   176.5   176.9    3.5    3.8    2.8    3.0    3.7    2.9 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  101.4   103.2   105.2   105.0   -1.6   12.8  -12.4   15.0    5.4    0.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  191.3   191.5   192.1   192.6    3.2    3.0    2.8    2.7    3.1    2.8 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.1   100.2   100.3   100.5   -1.6    2.9    0.8    1.6    0.6    1.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.1   127.4   127.6   127.3   -2.8   -2.2   -0.3    0.6   -2.5    0.2 
    Fuels ....................................  111.1   111.4   111.5   111.2   -4.2   -3.2   -1.1    0.4   -3.7   -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   83.6    84.4    86.7    87.4   -8.1  -12.7  -13.2   19.5  -10.4    1.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  119.1   119.4   119.3   118.9   -3.9   -2.3   -0.3   -0.7   -3.1   -0.5 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.0   103.3   103.6   103.7    2.0    2.4    2.4    2.7    2.2    2.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.7   126.6   126.9   126.5    1.3    0.3   -0.6   -0.6    0.8   -0.6 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  103.3   103.7   104.0   104.1    4.0    3.2    2.0    3.1    3.6    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  130.6   130.2   132.1   131.9    3.4   -2.7   -7.3    4.0    0.3   -1.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.1   130.1   132.2   131.9    1.5   -1.8   -1.5    2.5   -0.2    0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  121.7   122.2   123.5   123.9    6.5   -8.7  -11.0    7.4   -1.4   -2.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.4   125.6   128.2   127.6   -7.7   24.1  -14.1    3.9    7.1   -5.6 
   Footwear ..................................  125.5   126.4   127.8   126.1    6.8   -0.3  -10.4    1.9    3.2   -4.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.2   141.2   144.6   143.9   -0.3   -1.4   -2.5   11.0   -0.8    4.0 
   Private transportation ....................  136.4   137.1   140.6   140.0   -0.9   -0.6   -3.7   11.0   -0.7    3.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   99.8    99.6    99.8   100.0    2.4    0.8   -4.7    0.8    1.6   -2.0 
     New vehicles ............................  143.0   142.7   142.8   142.7    2.5   -1.9   -0.8   -0.8    0.3   -0.8 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  148.3   147.4   148.3   149.6    3.0    7.9  -14.0    3.6    5.4   -5.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................   86.1    89.2   102.6    99.9  -11.1   -8.5  -10.8   81.2   -9.8   27.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   85.6    88.8   102.1    99.3  -11.9   -7.4  -11.3   81.1   -9.7   26.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.0   100.5   100.6    1.2    0.0   -2.4    0.0    0.6   -1.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  170.2   170.6   171.1   171.5    3.4    4.4    2.1    3.1    3.9    2.6 
   Public transportation (1)..................  193.1   198.8   201.4   198.4    3.8   -9.6   12.7   11.4   -3.1   12.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  247.5   248.1   249.0   249.6    3.9    2.8    3.5    3.4    3.3    3.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................  226.6   227.5   228.8   229.0    3.7    4.0    2.3    4.3    3.8    3.3 
   Medical care services .....................  252.1   252.6   253.3   254.0    3.8    2.6    3.9    3.0    3.2    3.5 
    Professional services (3).................  226.4   227.0   227.7   228.2    3.7    2.9    2.7    3.2    3.3    3.0 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  295.0   296.0   296.3   297.6    4.7    2.2    5.6    3.6    3.5    4.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.5   101.5   101.8   102.0    1.2    0.0    1.6    2.0    0.6    1.8 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   100.7   100.6   100.8    0.0    0.0    0.4   -1.6    0.0   -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.1   101.1   101.2   101.1   -1.2    2.0    0.8    0.0    0.4    0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  105.8   106.2   106.6   107.1    3.6    4.7    5.9    5.0    4.2    5.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  259.4   260.3   260.7   262.4    1.1   11.5    3.5    4.7    6.2    4.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   303.3   304.4   305.6   307.2    3.7    3.8    6.2    5.2    3.8    5.7 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   96.9    96.6    96.3    95.7   -5.9   -0.4   -3.6   -4.9   -3.2   -4.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   96.5    96.1    95.8    95.2   -6.3   -0.4   -4.4   -5.3   -3.4   -4.9 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.4   100.2   100.0    99.6   -2.7    2.8   -2.7   -3.1    0.0   -2.9 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   33.3    32.4    32.1    30.9  -32.6  -22.3  -20.8  -25.9  -27.6  -23.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   59.7    57.6    56.8    55.7  -45.4  -27.5  -31.4  -24.2  -37.1  -27.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  255.6   254.1   256.6   256.2    3.1    3.6   26.7    0.9    3.3   13.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  349.0   336.9   348.9   344.1    9.2    8.1  140.7   -5.5    8.7   50.8 
   Personal care (1)..........................  159.4   160.0   160.2   160.7    1.3    2.3    3.6    3.3    1.8    3.4 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.8   150.8   150.9   150.9   -2.1    0.8    2.7    3.0   -0.7    2.8 
    Personal care services (1)................  169.3   169.9   170.3   171.0    2.9    2.4    4.1    4.1    2.7    4.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  240.4   240.7   241.0   241.6    4.0    3.6    4.4    2.0    3.8    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.5   142.4   144.3   144.1    0.8    0.0    0.8    4.6    0.4    2.7 
  Food and beverages .........................  163.8   163.4   163.6   164.2    2.3    2.8    2.7    1.0    2.5    1.9 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.1   130.1   132.8   132.3   -0.3   -1.5   -0.3    6.9   -0.9    3.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.7   133.1   137.6   136.9   -0.3   -0.9    1.2   13.3   -0.6    7.1 
    Apparel ..................................  130.6   130.2   132.1   131.9    3.4   -2.7   -7.3    4.0    0.3   -1.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  138.7   139.7   145.8   144.6   -0.9   -0.6    5.4   18.1   -0.7   11.6 
   Durables ..................................  126.0   125.7   125.7   125.7    0.6   -0.9   -4.3   -0.9   -0.2   -2.7 
 Services ....................................  186.9   187.5   188.1   188.3    2.2    2.6    1.9    3.0    2.4    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  192.7   193.4   194.1   194.4    2.8    4.1    1.3    3.6    3.4    2.4 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  100.1   100.2   100.3   100.5   -1.6    2.9    0.8    1.6    0.6    1.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  119.1   119.4   119.3   118.9   -3.9   -2.3   -0.3   -0.7   -3.1   -0.5 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.0   103.3   103.6   103.7    2.0    2.4    2.4    2.7    2.2    2.6 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  103.3   103.7   104.0   104.1    4.0    3.2    2.0    3.1    3.6    2.5 
  Transportation services ....................  189.1   190.6   191.0   190.4    1.1   -1.1    2.8    2.8    0.0    2.8 
  Medical care services ......................  252.1   252.6   253.3   254.0    3.8    2.6    3.9    3.0    3.2    3.5 
  Other services .............................  221.3   221.6   222.2   222.7    2.2    3.0    3.1    2.6    2.6    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  164.8   165.2   166.6   166.5    1.2    1.5    1.2    4.2    1.4    2.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  158.4   158.5   159.9   159.8    1.0    0.8    1.5    3.6    0.9    2.6 
 All items less medical care .................  159.9   160.2   161.4   161.4    1.3    1.5    1.3    3.8    1.4    2.5 
 Commodities less food .......................  131.7   131.8   134.4   133.9    0.0   -1.5   -0.3    6.9   -0.8    3.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.7   135.2   139.5   138.9    0.0   -0.3    0.6   13.1   -0.1    6.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  140.5   141.5   147.2   146.0   -0.6    0.0    4.7   16.6   -0.3   10.5 
 Nondurables .................................  148.2   148.5   150.5   150.6    1.4    0.5    1.9    6.6    1.0    4.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  193.8   194.4   194.9   195.1    1.7    1.0    2.1    2.7    1.4    2.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  180.9   181.4   182.0   182.2    2.5    2.3    2.0    2.9    2.4    2.5 
 Energy ......................................   98.8   100.4   106.5   105.1   -6.8   -5.4   -5.1   28.1   -6.1   10.2 
 All items less energy .......................  173.3   173.4   174.1   174.3    2.1    2.1    1.9    2.3    2.1    2.1 
  All items less food and energy .............  175.8   176.0   176.7   176.9    2.1    1.8    1.8    2.5    2.0    2.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.8   143.3   144.1   144.0    1.4   -0.3    0.8    0.6    0.6    0.7 
    Energy commodities .......................   85.8    88.8   101.2    98.8  -10.7   -9.0  -11.3   75.8   -9.8   24.9 
   Services less energy services .............  193.8   194.4   195.1   195.4    2.5    3.0    2.1    3.3    2.8    2.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  May1999 from--       Apr.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999    May   Mar.   Apr.   Apr.   Feb.   Mar. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    164.5  165.0  166.2  166.2    2.1    0.7    0.0    2.3    1.0    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    171.6  171.9  172.8  172.8    2.0    0.5    0.0    1.9    0.7    0.5 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    172.4  172.8  173.6  173.6    2.0    0.5    0.0    2.0    0.7    0.5 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    103.0  103.2  103.9  103.9    2.1    0.7    0.0    1.8    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    160.5  161.0  162.2  162.2    1.8    0.7    0.0    2.0    1.1    0.7 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.8  162.4  163.6  163.6    1.9    0.7    0.0    2.2    1.1    0.7 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.6  103.0  103.7  103.7    1.4    0.7    0.0    1.8    1.1    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    155.6  155.7  156.4  156.5    2.0    0.5    0.1    2.1    0.5    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    160.0  160.6  161.5  161.6    1.8    0.6    0.1    1.9    0.9    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.9  159.7  160.5  160.5    1.8    0.5    0.0    1.8    1.0    0.5 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    103.0  103.3  103.9  104.1    1.9    0.8    0.2    1.9    0.9    0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.9  161.5  162.6  162.1    1.8    0.4   -0.3    2.2    1.1    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    166.9  167.3  169.0  168.7    2.7    0.8   -0.2    3.3    1.3    1.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    167.8  168.2  170.0  169.8    2.9    1.0   -0.1    3.5    1.3    1.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.8  104.1  105.1  104.8    2.3    0.7   -0.3    2.8    1.3    1.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    149.0  149.5  150.5  150.5    2.2    0.7    0.0    2.4    1.0    0.7 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    103.0  103.3  104.1  104.1    1.9    0.8    0.0    2.1    1.1    0.8 
   D .........................................   M    160.7  161.1  162.1  161.9    2.0    0.5   -0.1    2.3    0.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    166.4  167.0  167.6  168.2    1.6    0.7    0.4    1.7    0.7    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    164.6  165.0  166.6  166.2    2.4    0.7   -0.2    3.0    1.2    1.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    175.1  175.5  176.0  176.1    1.8    0.3    0.1    1.7    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  174.8      -  174.2    1.9   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  161.2      -  161.5    1.4    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  156.4      -  157.2    2.7    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  103.2      -  103.6    2.1    0.4      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    161.9      -  164.0      -      -      -      -    2.0    1.3      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    161.2      -  164.1      -      -      -      -    3.1    1.8      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.6      -  148.3      -      -      -      -    1.4    1.2      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    161.4      -  161.7      -      -      -      -    0.9    0.2      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    168.6      -  171.1      -      -      -      -    2.4    1.5      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    169.4      -  172.2      -      -      -      -    4.6    1.7      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    170.6      -  172.2      -      -      -      -    3.5    0.9      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                       May 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Apr.      May                                             
                                                              1999      1999      May     Apr.   Feb. to Mar. to Apr. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Mar.    Apr.    May  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     162.7     162.8      2.1      0.1     0.1     0.7     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     484.7     484.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.0     163.3      2.1      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.3 
   Food ......................................     16.966     162.6     162.9      2.1      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Food at home .............................     10.832     162.2     162.6      1.9      0.2    -0.4     0.0     0.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.689     184.5     184.8      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.055     146.3     146.1      0.2     -0.1    -0.3     0.3     0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.193     155.7     155.8      5.4      0.1    -0.4    -3.6     0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.492     201.7     205.3      1.2      1.8    -2.2     1.1     2.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.184     133.2     133.1      1.1     -0.1     0.2    -0.3     0.4 
     Other food at home ......................      2.220     153.0     152.6      2.6     -0.3    -0.2     0.3     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     151.7     152.8      2.3      0.7    -0.1     0.5     0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .354     148.6     147.0      4.2     -1.1    -1.1     0.0    -1.0 
      Other foods ............................      1.446     169.0     168.5      2.4     -0.3     0.0     0.4     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .355     105.2     104.7      3.2     -0.5    -0.8     0.2    -0.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.133     164.4     164.5      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .216     104.1     104.2      3.6      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.045     167.8     168.5      2.7      0.4    -0.4     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.685     159.1     159.2      2.0      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.496     180.8     180.9      3.0      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.500     176.0     176.4      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.379     114.5     112.0      3.1     -2.2     1.6     1.8    -0.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.296     174.8     175.1      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .320     100.6     100.9      1.2      0.3     0.2     0.0     0.3 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.850     125.5     126.3     -1.3      0.6     0.4     0.1    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.928     109.7     110.6     -2.0      0.8     0.5     0.0    -0.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .201      88.1      88.0     -4.3     -0.1     1.1     2.5     0.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.727     116.9     117.9     -1.9      0.9     0.4    -0.1    -0.4 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .922     103.7     103.8      2.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.339     125.2     124.8     -0.3     -0.3    -0.2     0.2    -0.3 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .402     104.3     104.5      3.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.199     133.7     133.0     -0.5     -0.5    -0.4     1.4    -0.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.474     133.6     134.0      0.7      0.3    -0.5     1.5    -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.948     126.5     125.5     -1.5     -0.8     0.0     1.2     0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .344     129.3     128.9      1.2     -0.3    -0.6     2.2    -0.3 
   Footwear ..................................      1.057     129.5     127.9     -0.9     -1.2     0.5     1.2    -1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.166     142.9     143.1      1.4      0.1     0.6     2.6    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     18.109     140.1     140.3      1.2      0.1     0.6     2.6    -0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.250      99.7      99.8     -0.3      0.1    -0.2     0.2     0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.224     144.5     144.0     -0.3     -0.3    -0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.216     149.6     150.9     -0.3      0.9    -0.6     0.6     0.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.066     100.8     101.3      6.6      0.5     4.0    14.5    -2.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.045     100.3     100.8      6.7      0.5     3.9    14.7    -2.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .682      99.6      99.7     -0.2      0.1    -0.5     0.1     0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.690     172.3     172.7      3.4      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.056     196.4     193.9      3.5     -1.3     2.6     1.2    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.672     248.2     248.7      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .926     225.7     225.7      3.4      0.0     0.3     0.8     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      3.746     253.3     253.8      3.3      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Professional services (3).................      2.415     229.7     230.2      3.1      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.114     292.3     293.0      4.0      0.2     0.3     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.925     101.4     101.5      0.6      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.951     100.8     100.6     -0.5     -0.2    -0.5    -0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.361     100.9     100.7      0.4     -0.2     0.0    -0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.478     105.7     105.9      5.0      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .200     263.9     264.3      5.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.278     298.3     298.7      4.8      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.6 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.883      97.0      96.5     -3.2     -0.5    -0.3    -0.4    -0.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.733      96.7      96.2     -3.5     -0.5    -0.3    -0.4    -0.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.519     100.0      99.8     -1.4     -0.2    -0.1    -0.4    -0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .213      33.0      31.8    -25.4     -3.6    -2.6    -1.5    -3.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .120      55.9      55.1    -32.7     -1.4    -4.0    -1.8    -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.981     259.5     258.8     10.2     -0.3    -1.0     1.4    -0.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.694     350.5     345.9     28.1     -1.3    -3.5     3.9    -1.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.287     160.4     160.8      2.6      0.2     0.4     0.1     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .838     151.7     151.6      0.7     -0.1     0.5     0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .975     170.6     171.4      3.4      0.5     0.4     0.2     0.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.253     241.7     242.3      4.0      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.764     144.7     144.6      1.8     -0.1    -0.1     1.4    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     163.0     163.3      2.1      0.2    -0.2     0.1     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.753     133.6     133.4      1.5     -0.1     0.0     2.2    -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.564     139.1     138.8      3.9     -0.2     0.5     3.7    -0.6 
    Apparel ..................................      5.199     133.7     133.0     -0.5     -0.5    -0.4     1.4    -0.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.365     146.7     146.6      6.1     -0.1     0.7     4.9    -1.2 
   Durables ..................................     13.189     125.8     125.6     -1.3     -0.2    -0.3     0.0     0.1 
 Services ....................................     53.236     184.2     184.4      2.3      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.175     174.1     174.2      3.0      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .320     100.6     100.9      1.2      0.3     0.2     0.0     0.3 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.727     116.9     117.9     -1.9      0.9     0.4    -0.1    -0.4 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .922     103.7     103.8      2.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.0 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .402     104.3     104.5      3.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.800     187.9     187.5      1.1     -0.2     0.6     0.1    -0.2 
  Medical care services ......................      3.746     253.3     253.8      3.3      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.144     218.1     218.4      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.034     162.6     162.6      2.0      0.0     0.2     0.9    -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.504     157.7     157.7      1.7      0.0     0.1     1.0    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.328     158.8     158.8      2.0      0.0     0.1     0.8     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.798     135.0     134.8      1.6     -0.1     0.0     2.2    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.609     140.8     140.6      3.8     -0.1     0.4     3.6    -0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.410     147.9     147.9      5.9      0.0     0.6     4.5    -0.9 
 Nondurables .................................     33.575     151.4     151.4      2.9      0.0     0.2     1.7    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.061     172.7     173.0      1.6      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.490     178.4     178.6      2.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.994     104.5     105.2      1.9      0.7     2.0     6.4    -1.4 
 All items less energy .......................     93.006     170.7     170.7      2.0      0.0    -0.1     0.4     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.040     172.9     172.8      2.1     -0.1     0.0     0.4     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.531     144.8     144.5      1.0     -0.2    -0.5     0.6    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.267     100.2     100.6      5.9      0.4     3.7    13.9    -2.5 
   Services less energy services .............     49.509     191.8     191.9      2.7      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .615    $ .614        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .206    $ .206        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    May                                            
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Aug.   Nov.   Feb.    May   Nov.    May 
                                                                                1998   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  161.3   161.5   162.7   162.7    1.5    1.8    1.5    3.5    1.6    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  163.1   162.8   162.9   163.4    2.3    2.8    2.5    0.7    2.5    1.6 
   Food ......................................  162.7   162.4   162.5   163.0    2.3    2.8    2.5    0.7    2.5    1.6 
    Food at home .............................  162.6   161.9   161.9   162.6    2.0    2.8    2.5    0.0    2.4    1.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  183.3   183.6   184.3   184.8    3.4    1.5    1.8    3.3    2.5    2.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.5   146.1   146.6   146.8    1.9   -1.6   -0.5    0.8    0.1    0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  162.2   161.5   155.7   155.8    6.4   15.2   18.4  -14.9   10.7    0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  202.1   197.7   199.9   204.9   -6.4    2.0    4.1    5.7   -2.3    4.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.5   132.8   132.4   132.9   -1.2    2.8    1.8    1.2    0.8    1.5 
     Other food at home ......................  152.4   152.1   152.6   152.6    7.2    4.8   -1.8    0.5    6.0   -0.7 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.9   150.7   151.4   152.4    3.5    1.6    0.0    4.0    2.6    2.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  150.1   148.5   148.5   147.0   25.0   18.0  -13.2   -8.0   21.5  -10.6 
      Other foods ............................  167.8   167.8   168.5   168.5    4.4    2.7    0.5    1.7    3.6    1.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  105.9   105.0   105.2   104.7    8.1    5.5    3.9   -4.5    6.8   -0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................  163.8   164.1   164.4   164.5    2.0    3.0    3.0    1.7    2.5    2.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  103.7   103.8   104.1   104.2    6.5    4.8    1.2    1.9    5.6    1.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  167.5   166.9   167.4   168.1    2.7    2.7    3.7    1.4    2.7    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  158.4   158.8   159.2   159.4    1.8    2.6    1.3    2.5    2.2    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  179.7   180.2   180.7   181.2    2.8    4.1    1.8    3.4    3.4    2.6 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  175.3   175.6   176.0   176.6    3.6    3.8    3.0    3.0    3.7    3.0 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  101.4   103.0   104.9   104.7   -1.6   15.9  -12.4   13.7    6.8   -0.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  174.2   174.6   174.9   175.4    3.1    3.1    2.6    2.8    3.1    2.7 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.4   100.6   100.6   100.9   -1.2    3.7    0.4    2.0    1.2    1.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  126.7   127.2   127.3   127.0   -3.1   -1.6   -0.9    1.0   -2.3    0.0 
    Fuels ....................................  110.4   110.9   110.9   110.6   -4.2   -2.8   -1.4    0.7   -3.5   -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   84.1    85.0    87.1    87.8   -7.6  -12.3  -13.1   18.8  -10.0    1.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.3   118.8   118.7   118.2   -4.2   -2.0   -1.0   -0.3   -3.1   -0.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.1   103.4   103.7   103.7    2.0    2.8    2.4    2.3    2.4    2.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  124.8   124.6   124.9   124.5    0.6    0.0   -1.3   -1.0    0.3   -1.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  103.8   104.1   104.3   104.5    3.6    3.6    2.7    2.7    3.6    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  129.4   128.9   130.7   130.6    2.1    0.0   -7.6    3.8    1.1   -2.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.1   130.5   132.4   132.1    0.6    0.0   -1.2    3.1    0.3    0.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  120.0   120.0   121.4   122.0    3.9   -3.5  -12.3    6.8    0.2   -3.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.2   126.5   129.3   128.9   -7.3   27.0  -15.6    5.5    8.5   -5.6 
   Footwear ..................................  126.2   126.8   128.3   126.7    6.4   -0.6   -9.8    1.6    2.8   -4.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  138.7   139.6   143.2   142.6   -0.6   -0.9   -3.9   11.7   -0.7    3.6 
   Private transportation ....................  136.0   136.8   140.4   139.9   -0.9   -0.3   -4.8   12.0   -0.6    3.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   99.7    99.5    99.7    99.9    2.4    2.0   -6.2    0.8    2.2   -2.7 
     New vehicles ............................  144.1   143.8   143.9   143.7    2.5   -1.4   -1.4   -1.1    0.6   -1.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.6   148.7   149.6   150.9    2.9    7.6  -13.7    3.5    5.2   -5.5 
    Motor fuel ...............................   86.0    89.4   102.4    99.7  -11.8   -8.1  -11.6   80.6  -10.0   26.3 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   85.6    88.9   102.0    99.1  -11.9   -7.8  -11.3   79.6   -9.9   26.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.2    99.7    99.8   100.1    1.2    0.0   -1.6   -0.4    0.6   -1.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  171.6   172.0   172.3   172.9    3.4    4.8    2.4    3.1    4.1    2.7 
   Public transportation (1)..................  189.1   194.1   196.4   193.9    3.2   -9.6   11.1   10.5   -3.4   10.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  246.4   247.2   248.1   248.7    3.9    2.8    3.0    3.8    3.4    3.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................  223.0   223.6   225.4   225.3    3.9    3.3    2.2    4.2    3.6    3.2 
   Medical care services .....................  251.5   252.3   253.0   253.8    4.0    2.6    3.2    3.7    3.3    3.5 
    Professional services (3).................  228.0   228.5   229.2   229.8    3.5    3.1    2.9    3.2    3.3    3.0 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  291.2   292.2   292.3   293.6    4.8    2.3    5.8    3.3    3.5    4.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   100.9   101.1   101.3    0.4   -0.4    1.2    1.2    0.0    1.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.0   100.5   100.4   100.5    0.0    0.4   -0.4   -2.0    0.2   -1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.4   101.4   101.3   101.3   -1.6    2.4    1.2   -0.4    0.4    0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  105.9   106.3   106.7   107.3    3.6    4.3    6.3    5.4    3.9    5.8 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  262.1   263.0   263.4   265.1    0.6   11.4    4.2    4.7    5.9    4.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   297.8   298.9   299.8   301.5    3.8    4.1    6.6    5.1    3.9    5.8 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   97.7    97.4    97.0    96.5   -5.1    0.4   -3.2   -4.8   -2.4   -4.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   97.4    97.1    96.7    96.2   -5.5    0.4   -4.0   -4.8   -2.6   -4.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.5   100.4   100.0    99.8   -2.7    2.8   -2.7   -2.8    0.0   -2.7 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   34.4    33.5    33.0    31.8  -30.5  -21.6  -22.0  -27.0  -26.2  -24.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   59.3    56.9    55.9    55.1  -42.9  -29.2  -32.0  -25.5  -36.4  -28.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  258.7   256.1   259.7   258.6    3.6    4.1   36.8   -0.2    3.9   16.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  349.3   337.0   350.1   344.2    9.2    7.9  141.8   -5.7    8.6   51.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................  159.6   160.3   160.4   160.8    1.3    2.3    3.8    3.0    1.8    3.4 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.8   151.6   151.7   151.6   -2.4    0.5    2.7    2.1   -0.9    2.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  169.6   170.2   170.6   171.4    3.2    2.4    3.9    4.3    2.8    4.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  240.4   240.9   241.0   241.8    4.0    4.5    5.2    2.3    4.3    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.5   142.4   144.4   144.2    0.6    0.8    0.8    4.9    0.7    2.8 
  Food and beverages .........................  163.1   162.8   162.9   163.4    2.3    2.8    2.5    0.7    2.5    1.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.3   130.3   133.2   132.6   -0.3   -0.6    0.0    7.2   -0.5    3.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.6   133.2   138.1   137.3    0.0   -0.6    2.1   14.9   -0.3    8.4 
    Apparel ..................................  129.4   128.9   130.7   130.6    2.1    0.0   -7.6    3.8    1.1   -2.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  139.1   140.1   147.0   145.3   -0.9   -0.9    8.5   19.1   -0.9   13.6 
   Durables ..................................  125.8   125.4   125.4   125.5    0.6   -0.3   -4.6   -1.0    0.2   -2.8 
 Services ....................................  183.5   184.1   184.5   184.8    1.8    2.7    2.0    2.9    2.2    2.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  173.1   173.5   174.1   174.4    2.9    4.0    1.9    3.0    3.5    2.5 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  100.4   100.6   100.6   100.9   -1.2    3.7    0.4    2.0    1.2    1.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  118.3   118.8   118.7   118.2   -4.2   -2.0   -1.0   -0.3   -3.1   -0.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.1   103.4   103.7   103.7    2.0    2.8    2.4    2.3    2.4    2.4 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  103.8   104.1   104.3   104.5    3.6    3.6    2.7    2.7    3.6    2.7 
  Transportation services ....................  186.5   187.7   187.9   187.5    0.6   -0.6    2.2    2.2    0.0    2.2 
  Medical care services ......................  251.5   252.3   253.0   253.8    4.0    2.6    3.2    3.7    3.3    3.5 
  Other services .............................  217.8   218.2   218.5   219.1    1.9    3.2    2.8    2.4    2.5    2.6 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  160.6   160.9   162.4   162.3    1.0    1.5    1.3    4.3    1.3    2.8 
 All items less shelter ......................  156.0   156.1   157.6   157.5    0.8    0.8    1.3    3.9    0.8    2.6 
 All items less medical care .................  157.2   157.4   158.6   158.6    1.3    1.8    1.3    3.6    1.5    2.4 
 Commodities less food .......................  131.9   131.9   134.8   134.2   -0.3   -0.6    0.0    7.2   -0.5    3.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.6   135.2   140.0   139.2   -0.6    0.3    1.8   14.4   -0.1    7.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  140.8   141.6   148.0   146.7   -0.9   -0.3    7.7   17.8   -0.6   12.7 
 Nondurables .................................  148.0   148.3   150.8   150.5    1.7    0.8    2.5    6.9    1.2    4.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  172.3   172.8   173.0   173.3    1.7    0.9    1.6    2.3    1.3    2.0 
 Services less medical care services .........  177.8   178.2   178.6   179.0    2.1    2.5    1.8    2.7    2.3    2.3 
 Energy ......................................   97.7    99.7   106.1   104.6   -7.9   -5.1   -6.3   31.4   -6.5   11.0 
 All items less energy .......................  170.1   170.0   170.6   170.8    2.2    2.4    2.1    1.7    2.3    1.9 
  All items less food and energy .............  172.1   172.1   172.8   172.9    2.1    2.4    1.9    1.9    2.3    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.9   143.2   144.1   144.0    1.4    0.8    1.4    0.3    1.1    0.8 
    Energy commodities .......................   85.9    89.1   101.5    99.0  -11.5   -8.5  -11.6   76.4  -10.0   24.9 
   Services less energy services .............  191.0   191.6   192.1   192.4    2.6    3.0    2.1    3.0    2.8    2.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  May1999 from--       Apr.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999    May   Mar.   Apr.   Apr.   Feb.   Mar. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.1  161.4  162.7  162.8    2.1    0.9    0.1    2.3    1.0    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.3  168.5  169.5  169.7    2.0    0.7    0.1    1.9    0.7    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    168.1  168.3  169.3  169.4    2.0    0.7    0.1    2.0    0.7    0.6 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.6  102.8  103.5  103.5    2.0    0.7    0.0    2.0    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    156.5  156.9  158.2  158.3    1.7    0.9    0.1    2.1    1.1    0.8 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    157.2  157.5  158.8  158.9    1.9    0.9    0.1    2.2    1.0    0.8 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.6  103.5  103.4    1.3    0.8   -0.1    1.8    1.3    0.9 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.4  153.4  154.4  154.4    2.0    0.7    0.0    2.3    0.7    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    158.0  158.4  159.4  159.7    1.9    0.8    0.2    1.9    0.9    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.4  156.9  157.9  158.1    1.8    0.8    0.1    1.8    1.0    0.6 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.6  102.8  103.5  103.7    1.9    0.9    0.2    2.0    0.9    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    161.0  161.5  162.7  162.6    1.9    0.7   -0.1    2.3    1.1    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    162.7  163.2  164.9  164.7    2.7    0.9   -0.1    3.3    1.4    1.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.9  162.3  164.2  164.0    2.9    1.0   -0.1    3.6    1.4    1.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.6  104.0  105.0  104.7    2.4    0.7   -0.3    2.9    1.4    1.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    147.4  147.7  148.9  149.0    2.2    0.9    0.1    2.4    1.0    0.8 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.6  102.9  103.7  103.8    1.9    0.9    0.1    2.1    1.1    0.8 
   D .........................................   M    159.4  159.8  160.9  160.8    1.9    0.6   -0.1    2.3    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    160.6  161.1  161.7  162.3    1.5    0.7    0.4    1.7    0.7    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    158.1  158.3  160.1  159.7    2.2    0.9   -0.2    2.9    1.3    1.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    170.6  170.8  171.3  171.5    1.7    0.4    0.1    1.7    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  172.3      -  172.6    2.2    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  152.9      -  153.7    1.7    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  155.8      -  157.0    2.7    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  102.8      -  103.4    2.1    0.6      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    159.1      -  160.9      -      -      -      -    2.0    1.1      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    155.8      -  158.7      -      -      -      -    3.4    1.9      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    145.0      -  146.6      -      -      -      -    1.2    1.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    158.8      -  159.1      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.2      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    167.8      -  170.6      -      -      -      -    2.5    1.7      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    165.7      -  168.8      -      -      -      -    5.0    1.9      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    166.0      -  167.8      -      -      -      -    3.6    1.1      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes          May 1999 from-  
                     CPI-U                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Apr.      May       May       Apr.  
                                                               1999      1999      1998      1999  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     166.3     166.3       2.1       0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     498.2     498.2         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     163.9     164.3       2.2       0.2 
   Food ......................................      15.422     163.5     163.9       2.2       0.2 
    Food at home .............................       9.691     163.6     164.1       2.1       0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.544     184.7     185.1       2.5       0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       2.569     146.9     146.9       0.5       0.0 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.088     156.3     156.2       5.5      -0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.440     203.7     208.1       2.1       2.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.049     134.0     134.2       1.0       0.1 
     Other food at home ......................       2.002     153.6     153.3       2.7      -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .377     151.8     152.9       2.3       0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .309     148.9     147.2       4.2      -1.1 
      Other foods ............................       1.316     169.2     168.8       2.5      -0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .320     105.7     105.2       3.7      -0.5 
    Food away from home ......................       5.730     164.5     164.7       2.6       0.1 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .175     104.0     104.3       3.7       0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................        .986     168.8     169.3       2.5       0.3 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      39.828     163.2     163.1       2.1      -0.1 
   Shelter ...................................      30.283     186.7     186.5       2.9      -0.1 
    Rent of primary residence ................       7.007     176.4     176.7       3.3       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       2.376     115.4     111.7       2.8      -3.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      20.529     191.9     192.2       2.9       0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .371     100.3     100.5       0.9       0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.735     125.7     126.5      -1.1       0.6 
    Fuels ....................................       3.801     110.2     111.0      -1.9       0.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .227      87.7      87.6      -4.6      -0.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.574     117.5     118.4      -1.7       0.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.810     127.4     127.1       0.4      -0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       4.831     135.8     134.8      -0.4      -0.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.358     133.9     134.0       0.4       0.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.939     130.1     128.6      -0.8      -1.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .272     128.3     127.4       0.4      -0.7 
   Footwear ..................................        .876     129.1     127.5      -0.6      -1.2 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      16.999     144.3     144.4       1.7       0.1 
   Private transportation ....................      15.653     140.1     140.3       1.4       0.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       7.843      99.8      99.8      -0.1       0.0 
     New vehicles ............................       4.983     143.3     142.9      -0.3      -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       1.914     148.4     149.6      -0.3       0.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................       2.493     100.9     101.3       7.0       0.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       2.476     100.3     100.8       7.0       0.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .549     100.3     100.5      -0.1       0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.624     171.0     171.4       3.3       0.2 
   Public transportation .....................       1.346     201.3     199.9       5.0      -0.7 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       5.713     249.2     249.6       3.4       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       1.252     229.8     230.1       3.9       0.1 
   Medical care services .....................       4.461     253.5     254.0       3.3       0.2 
    Professional services ....................       2.854     228.2     228.6       3.1       0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.354     296.3     297.0       4.0       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       6.120     102.2     102.4       1.4       0.2 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.748     101.0     101.1      -0.1       0.1 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.478     100.7     100.5       0.4      -0.2 
   Education (1)..............................       2.694     105.5     105.6       4.7       0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .203     260.9     261.3       5.0       0.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.492     303.8     304.1       4.7       0.1 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.783      96.4      95.9      -3.5      -0.5 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.580      95.9      95.4      -3.9      -0.5 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.327     100.1      99.7      -1.4      -0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .253      32.2      31.4     -24.3      -2.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .148      57.0      55.9     -32.4      -1.9 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.624     256.2     256.1       8.2       0.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.159     348.5     344.8      27.7      -1.1 
   Personal care .............................       3.465     160.4     161.0       2.8       0.4 
    Personal care products ...................        .742     150.9     151.2       1.3       0.2 
    Personal care services ...................        .973     170.6     171.3       3.6       0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.491     241.8     242.5       3.6       0.3 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      42.109     144.8     144.8       1.8       0.0 
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     163.9     164.3       2.2       0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      25.702     133.3     133.1       1.4      -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      14.345     138.8     138.5       3.4      -0.2 
    Apparel ..................................       4.831     135.8     134.8      -0.4      -0.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................       9.514     145.7     145.8       5.3       0.1 
   Durables ..................................      11.356     126.2     126.0      -1.3      -0.2 
 Services ....................................      57.891     187.9     188.0       2.5       0.1 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      29.912     194.4     194.2       3.0      -0.1 
  Transportation services ....................       6.963     191.1     190.9       1.7      -0.1 
  Other services .............................      10.768     221.9     222.2       2.8       0.1 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      84.578     166.8     166.7       2.1      -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................      69.717     160.1     160.1       1.8       0.0 
 All items less medical care .................      94.287     161.7     161.7       2.1       0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................      26.688     134.8     134.6       1.4      -0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................      15.331     140.7     140.4       3.3      -0.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      10.500     147.1     147.2       5.1       0.1 
 Nondurables .................................      30.753     151.6     151.6       2.8       0.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      27.979     194.6     194.9       2.0       0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........      53.429     181.9     181.9       2.4       0.0 
 Energy ......................................       6.294     104.9     105.6       1.7       0.7 
 All items less energy .......................      93.706     174.3     174.3       2.2       0.0 
  All items less food and energy .............      78.284     177.0     176.8       2.1      -0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      23.967     145.1     144.8       0.8      -0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................       2.720      99.9     100.3       6.0       0.4 
   Services less energy services .............      54.316     195.1     195.1       2.8       0.0 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .601    $ .601         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .201    $ .201         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1982=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): U.S.
 city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes          May 1999 from-  
                     CPI-W                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Apr.      May       May       Apr.  
                                                               1999      1999      1998      1999  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     162.8     162.9       2.1       0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     485.0     485.3         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     163.1     163.4       2.2       0.2 
   Food ......................................      16.966     162.7     163.0       2.1       0.2 
    Food at home .............................      10.832     162.3     162.7       1.9       0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.689     184.4     184.8       2.5       0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       3.055     146.5     146.4       0.4      -0.1 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.193     155.9     155.8       5.4      -0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.492     202.0     206.2       1.7       2.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.184     132.9     133.1       1.1       0.2 
     Other food at home ......................       2.220     153.0     152.6       2.6      -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .420     151.7     152.8       2.3       0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .354     148.5     147.0       4.2      -1.0 
      Other foods ............................       1.446     169.0     168.6       2.4      -0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .355     105.4     104.9       3.3      -0.5 
    Food away from home ......................       6.133     164.5     164.6       2.5       0.1 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .216     104.1     104.2       3.6       0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       1.045     167.8     168.5       2.7       0.4 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      36.685     159.1     159.2       2.0       0.1 
   Shelter ...................................      27.496     180.9     180.9       3.0       0.0 
    Rent of primary residence ................       8.500     176.0     176.4       3.3       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       1.379     115.0     111.7       2.9      -2.9 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      17.296     174.8     175.1       2.9       0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .320     100.7     100.9       1.2       0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.850     125.5     126.3      -1.3       0.6 
    Fuels ....................................       3.928     109.7     110.6      -2.0       0.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .201      88.1      88.0      -4.3      -0.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.727     116.9     117.9      -1.9       0.9 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.339     125.6     125.2       0.0      -0.3 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       5.199     134.2     133.5      -0.1      -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.474     134.0     134.2       0.8       0.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.948     127.8     126.7      -0.5      -0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .344     129.5     128.8       1.1      -0.5 
   Footwear ..................................       1.057     129.4     128.0      -0.8      -1.1 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      19.166     143.0     143.2       1.5       0.1 
   Private transportation ....................      18.109     140.2     140.4       1.3       0.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       9.250      99.7      99.8      -0.3       0.1 
     New vehicles ............................       5.224     144.4     144.0      -0.3      -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       3.216     149.7     151.0      -0.2       0.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................       3.066     100.7     101.2       6.5       0.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       3.045     100.2     100.7       6.6       0.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .682      99.8     100.1       0.2       0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.690     172.5     172.9       3.5       0.2 
   Public transportation .....................       1.056     196.2     195.0       4.1      -0.6 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       4.672     248.3     248.8       3.4       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................        .926     226.1     226.3       3.7       0.1 
   Medical care services .....................       3.746     253.3     253.8       3.3       0.2 
    Professional services ....................       2.415     229.7     230.2       3.1       0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.114     292.3     293.0       4.0       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       5.925     101.5     101.7       0.8       0.2 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.951     100.8     100.8      -0.3       0.0 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.361     100.9     100.8       0.5      -0.1 
   Education (1)..............................       2.478     105.7     105.8       4.9       0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .200     263.5     264.0       5.1       0.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.278     298.3     298.7       4.8       0.1 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.883      97.1      96.7      -3.0      -0.4 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.733      96.8      96.4      -3.3      -0.4 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.519     100.1      99.9      -1.3      -0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .213      33.2      32.4     -23.9      -2.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .120      56.1      55.3     -32.5      -1.4 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.981     259.4     258.9      10.3      -0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.694     349.0     345.2      27.8      -1.1 
   Personal care .............................       3.287     160.7     161.1       2.8       0.2 
    Personal care products ...................        .838     151.7     151.8       0.9       0.1 
    Personal care services ...................        .975     170.9     171.6       3.6       0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.253     242.1     242.7       4.2       0.2 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      46.764     144.8     144.8       1.9       0.0 
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     163.1     163.4       2.2       0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      28.753     133.8     133.6       1.7      -0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      15.564     139.2     139.0       4.0      -0.1 
    Apparel ..................................       5.199     134.2     133.5      -0.1      -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................      10.365     146.7     146.7       6.2       0.0 
   Durables ..................................      13.189     125.9     125.8      -1.2      -0.1 
 Services ....................................      53.236     184.3     184.5       2.3       0.1 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      27.175     174.2     174.2       3.0       0.0 
  Transportation services ....................       6.800     188.1     187.9       1.3      -0.1 
  Other services .............................      10.144     218.3     218.6       2.6       0.1 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      83.034     162.7     162.8       2.1       0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................      72.504     157.8     157.9       1.8       0.1 
 All items less medical care .................      95.328     158.9     158.9       2.1       0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................      29.798     135.1     135.0       1.7      -0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................      16.609     141.0     140.8       3.9      -0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      11.410     147.9     147.9       5.9       0.0 
 Nondurables .................................      33.575     151.5     151.6       3.1       0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      26.061     172.8     173.1       1.7       0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........      49.490     178.5     178.7       2.3       0.1 
 Energy ......................................       6.994     104.5     105.2       1.9       0.7 
 All items less energy .......................      93.006     170.9     170.9       2.2       0.0 
  All items less food and energy .............      76.040     173.0     172.9       2.1      -0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      26.531     145.0     144.7       1.1      -0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................       3.267     100.1     100.6       5.9       0.5 
   Services less energy services .............      49.509     191.8     191.9       2.7       0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .614    $ .614         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .206    $ .206         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1984=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): Selected areas, all items index
 using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 May 1999 from--   
                     CPI-U                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May   Feb.   Mar.   Apr. 
                                                           1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      164.7  165.2  166.3  166.3    1.0    0.7    0.0 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      171.7  172.1  173.0  173.0    0.8    0.5    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      172.6  173.1  173.8  173.8    0.7    0.4    0.0 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      103.0  103.3  104.0  103.9    0.9    0.6   -0.1 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      160.6  161.2  162.3  162.3    1.1    0.7    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      161.9  162.5  163.7  163.7    1.1    0.7    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.7  103.1  103.8  103.8    1.1    0.7    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      155.7  155.8  156.5  156.6    0.6    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      160.2  160.8  161.6  161.7    0.9    0.6    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      159.1  159.8  160.6  160.6    0.9    0.5    0.0 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      103.1  103.4  104.0  104.2    1.1    0.8    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      161.1  161.7  162.8  162.1    0.6    0.2   -0.4 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      167.0  167.5  169.2  169.0    1.2    0.9   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      167.9  168.4  170.1  170.1    1.3    1.0    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      103.9  104.3  105.2  105.0    1.1    0.7   -0.2 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      149.1  149.6  150.7  150.6    1.0    0.7   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      103.1  103.5  104.1  104.2    1.1    0.7    0.1 
   D .........................................     M      160.8  161.3  162.3  162.0    0.7    0.4   -0.2 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      166.4  166.9  167.6  168.2    1.1    0.8    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      164.7  165.2  166.6  166.4    1.0    0.7   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      175.4  175.8  176.3  176.4    0.6    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  175.2      -  174.3      -   -0.5      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  161.1      -  161.6      -    0.3      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  156.4      -  157.3      -    0.6      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  103.4      -  103.7      -    0.3      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      162.1      -  163.8      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      161.3      -  164.0      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      146.8      -  148.3      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      161.4      -  161.8      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      168.7      -  171.1      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      169.5      -  172.5      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      170.8      -  172.6      -      -      -      - 

   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 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): Selected
 areas, all items index using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 May 1999 from--   
                     CPI-W                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May   Feb.   Mar.   Apr. 
                                                           1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      161.2  161.6  162.8  162.9    1.1    0.8    0.1 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      168.4  168.7  169.7  169.8    0.8    0.7    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      168.3  168.5  169.5  169.6    0.8    0.7    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      102.7  102.8  103.5  103.5    0.8    0.7    0.0 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      156.6  157.1  158.3  158.4    1.1    0.8    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      157.2  157.6  158.8  159.0    1.1    0.9    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.3  102.7  103.6  103.5    1.2    0.8   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      153.5  153.5  154.4  154.6    0.7    0.7    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      158.1  158.5  159.5  159.8    1.1    0.8    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      156.5  157.0  157.9  158.1    1.0    0.7    0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      102.7  102.9  103.6  103.8    1.1    0.9    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      161.2  161.7  162.8  162.7    0.9    0.6   -0.1 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      162.8  163.3  165.0  164.9    1.3    1.0   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      162.0  162.4  164.2  164.2    1.4    1.1    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      103.7  104.1  105.1  104.8    1.1    0.7   -0.3 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      147.5  147.8  149.0  149.1    1.1    0.9    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      102.7  103.0  103.8  103.9    1.2    0.9    0.1 
   D .........................................     M      159.5  159.9  160.9  160.9    0.9    0.6    0.0 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      160.6  161.1  161.7  162.4    1.1    0.8    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      158.1  158.5  160.1  159.9    1.1    0.9   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      170.8  171.0  171.6  171.7    0.5    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  172.7      -  172.8      -    0.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  152.9      -  153.8      -    0.6      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  155.9      -  157.0      -    0.7      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  103.0      -  103.5      -    0.5      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      159.3      -  160.9      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      155.9      -  158.6      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      145.2      -  146.6      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      158.8      -  159.2      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      167.9      -  170.5      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      165.8      -  169.0      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      166.2      -  168.1      -      -      -      - 

   1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;  
   most other goods and services priced as indicated:                      
        M - Every month.                                                   
         1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.            
         2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.          
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.