TEXT
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index

 
 
 
 
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
    Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-96-142
CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
    INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Friday, April 12, 1996
 
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MARCH 1996
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.5 percent before seasonal adjustment in March to a level of 155.7
(1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in March, the CPI-U
increased 2.8 percent.
 
     The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.5 percent in March, prior to seasonal
adjustment.  The March 1996 CPI-W level of 152.9 was 2.8 percent higher
than the index in March 1995.
 
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
   On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.4 percent in March,
following increases of 0.4 and 0.2 percent in the first 2 months of
1996.  Each of the three groups--food, energy, and all items less food
and energy--contributed to the larger advance in March.  The food index,
which had risen 0.1 percent in each of the 3 preceding months, increased
0.6 percent in March.  A 6.0 percent rise in the index for fresh fruits
and vegetables accounted for about 85 percent of the March increase.
The energy index registered its fourth consecutive increase--up 1.4
percent in March--after declining throughout most of 1995. The index for
petroleum-based energy increased 3.5 percent in March, more than
offsetting a 0.6 percent decline in the index for energy services.
Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent after increasing
0.2 percent in March.  Within this index, an upturn in the index for
apparel and upkeep more than offset the deceleration in the indexes for
public transportation and entertainment.
 
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               1995             1996     3-mos. ended  ended
                    Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. '96    Mar. '96
 
All Items            .1    .3   .1   .2   .4  .2  .4     4.0        2.8
 Food and beverages  .3    .3   .0   .1   .1  .1  .5     3.2        2.8
 Housing             .1    .3   .2   .3   .3  .2  .3     3.2        2.9
 Apparel and upkeep -.2    .3   .0   .1   .7 -.9  .6     1.5         .3
 Transportation     -.1    .1  -.4   .1   .7  .5  .7     8.0        2.3
 Medical care        .4    .2   .3   .4   .4  .2  .3     3.2        3.8
 Entertainment       .3    .3   .4   .4   .3  .8  .1     4.7        3.8
 Other goods
  and services       .4    .4   .4   .2   .2  .4  .4     4.4        4.4
 
Special Indexes:
 Energy            -1.3    .3  -.9  1.1  1.9  .4 1.4    15.8        2.8
 Food                .3    .3   .0   .1   .1  .1  .6     3.2        2.8
 All items less
  food and energy    .2    .3   .1   .1   .3  .2  .3     3.5        2.8
 
 
    During the first 3 months of 1996, The CPI-U rose at a 4.0 percent
seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with a 2.5
percent increase for all of 1995.  The food index has increased at a 3.2
percent SAAR and energy at a 15.8 percent SAAR thus far in 1996.
 
     Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased at a 3.5 percent
SAAR in the first 3 months of 1996.  This compares with a 3.0 percent
increase in all of 1995. The indexes for apparel and upkeep and public
transportation increased at a faster pace during the first quarter of
1996 than during all of 1995 and were largely responsible for the
acceleration in the overall index for all items less food and energy .
The rates for selected groups during the last 8 and 1/4 years are shown
below.
 
 
 
                                                                    SAAR
                                                                   3 months
                            Percent change 12 months               ended in
                                                                    March
                 1988  1989   1990  1991   1992  1993   1994  1995  1996
 
All Items         4.4  4.6    6.1   3.1    2.9   2.7    2.7   2.5    4.0
Food & beverages 5.1  5.5    5.3   2.5    1.6   2.7    2.7   2.1    3.2
Housing          4.0  3.9    4.5   3.4    2.6   2.7    2.2   3.0    3.2
Apparel & upkeep 4.7  1.0    5.1   3.4    1.4    .9   -1.6    .1    1.5
Transportation   3.0  4.0   10.4  -1.5    3.0   2.4    3.8   1.5    8.0
Medical care     6.9  8.5    9.6   7.9    6.6   5.4    4.9   3.9    3.2
Entertainment    4.6  5.1    4.3   3.9    2.8   2.8    2.3   3.3    4.7
Other goods
 and services    7.0  8.2    7.6   8.0    6.5   2.7    4.2   4.3    4.4
 
Special Indexes
Energy            .5   5.1   18.1 -7.4    2.0  -1.4    2.2  -1.3   15.8
Food             5.2   5.6    5.3  1.9    1.5   2.9    2.9   2.1    3.2
All items less
 food and energy 4.7   4.4    5.2  4.4    3.3   3.2    2.6   3.0    3.5
 
 
     The food and beverage index rose 0.5 percent in March.  The index
for grocery store foods, which registered no change in each of the
preceding 2 months, increased 0.9 percent in March.  The index for fresh
fruits and vegetables advanced 6.0 percent; the index for fresh
vegetables rose 10.0 percent and that for fresh fruits rose 2.6 percent.
Among the other major grocery store foods, the indexes for cereal and
bakery products and for other food at home each increased 0.5 percent,
while the indexes for dairy products and for meats, poultry, fish, and
eggs each declined 0.2 percent.  Within the latter group, price declines
for beef and for poultry offset price increases for pork, for fish and
seafood, and for eggs.  The drop in the beef and veal index--down 1.0
percent in March--was its fourth consecutive decline and the largest
monthly fall since a 1.1 percent decrease in January 1992.  The other
two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and
alcoholic beverages--increased 0.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively, in
March.
 
     The housing component rose 0.3 percent in March, following an
increase of 0.2 percent in February.  Shelter costs increased 0.2
percent for the second consecutive month.  Within shelter, renters'
costs rose 0.3 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.2 percent; and maintenance
and repair costs, 0.4 percent.  The index for fuel and utilities, which
rose 0.6 percent in February, increased 0.2 percent in March.  The index
for household fuels fell 0.3 percent, as a result of a 2.7 percent
decrease in the index for natural gas.  Partially offsetting this
decline, the index for electricity increased 0.3 percent and the index
for fuel oil rose 3.0 percent.  The index for other utilities and public
services rose 1.0 percent, reflecting increases in the index for
telephone services and water and sewerage treatment--up 0.6 and 2.6
percent, respectively.  The index for household furnishings and
operation rose 0.2 percent in March, following a 0.2 percent decline in
February.
 
     The transportation index advanced 0.7 percent in March, following
an increase of 0.5 percent in February.  The index for motor fuels,
which fell 0.2 percent in February after increasing 3.8 percent in
January, turned back up in March, advancing 3.6 percent and accounting
for 90 percent of the overall transportation increase.  Despite the
sharp increase thus far in 1996, gasoline prices remain well below their
peak level of December 1990, 11.3 percent lower as of March.  Automobile
purchase costs continued their pattern of very little movement evident
since the intoduction of the 1996 models.  The index for new car prices
increased 0.1 percent in March and the index for automobile finance
charges also rose 0.1 percent, its first increase in 6 months.  The
index for used cars rose 0.8 percent in March. The index for public
transportation increased 0.2 percent.  A decline in airline fares--down
1.9 percent in March after increasing 5.9 percent in February--was more
than offset by a 1.0 percent increase in other intercity transportation
costs and a 4.0 percent rise in intracity transportation costs.
 
     The index for apparel and upkeep, which declined 0.9 percent in
February, increased 0.6 percent in March.  (Prior to seasonal
adjustment, clothing prices rose 3.0 percent, reflecting seasonal price
increases associated with the continued introduction of the 1996 spring-
summer wear.)
 
     Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in March to a level 3.8 percent
above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.2
percent in March.  The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent
in March.  Charges for professional services and hospital and related
services increased 0.2 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
 
     Entertainment costs rose 0.1 percent in March, following a 0.8
percent rise in February.  The indexes for toys, hobbies, and music
equipment and for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting
events, which increased 2.3 and 1.4 percent, respectively, in February,
rose 0.1 and declined 0.1 percent, respectively, in March.
 
     The index for other goods and services advanced 0.4 percent in
March, the same as in February.  In March, the indexes for tobacco and
smoking products and for legal service fees rose 0.7 and 0.8 percent,
respectively, accounting for about one half of the overall increase in
this major group.
 
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers rose 0.5 percent in March.
 
 
Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W)
 
                           Seasonally adjusted         Compound
                       Changes from preceding month     Annual      Un-
   Expenditure                                          rate      adjusted
     Category             1995              1996        3-mos.     12-mos.
                                                         ended     ended
                   Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar   Mar. '96   Mar.'96
All Items           .1    .3   .1   .2   .4   .2   .5    4.3       2.8
 Food and beverages .4    .3   .1   .1   .1   .1   .5    3.2       2.9
 Housing            .1    .3   .1   .3   .3   .1   .3    3.3       2.9
 Apparel and upkeep .0    .3  -.2   .2   .7  -.7   .6    2.5        .5
 Transportation    -.1    .1  -.3   .4   .9   .3   .9    8.3       2.4
 Medical care       .4    .2   .3   .4   .4   .2   .2    3.1       3.8
 Entertainment      .3    .1   .4   .3   .4   .8   .0    4.8       3.7
 Other goods
  and services      .5    .4   .4   .1   .2   .4   .3    3.7       4.2
 
Special Indexes:
 Energy           -1.2    .2  -.8  1.0  2.1   .2  1.8   17.7       3.2
 Food               .4    .3   .0   .2   .1   .1   .6    3.2       2.9
 All items less
   food and energy  .3    .3   .2   .2   .3   .2   .3    3.3       2.8
 
 
 
 
 
     Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on
Tuesday, May 14, 1996, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 
 
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
group
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1996 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                1995       1996      1996    Mar. 1995  Feb. 1996     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     154.9     155.7        2.8        0.5        0.4        0.2        0.4
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        464.2     466.5        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    17.332     151.3     152.1        2.8         .5         .1         .1         .5
    Food ...................................    15.766     150.8     151.6        2.8         .5         .1         .1         .6
      Food at home .........................     9.880     151.4     152.5        3.3         .7         .0         .0         .9
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.473     172.1     172.0        4.1        -.1         .9        -.1         .5
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     2.936     142.4     142.6        3.0         .1         .1         .0        -.2
        Dairy products .....................     1.169     137.2     136.7        3.4        -.4         .2        1.0        -.2
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     1.936     177.7     183.7        5.6        3.4       -1.0        -.1        4.0
        Other food at home .................     2.365     141.9     142.4        1.2         .4         .1        -.2         .5
          Sugar and sweets .................      .327     141.6     142.3        4.3         .5        1.4         .1         .4
          Fats and oils ....................      .248     139.7     140.1        2.4         .3         .3        -.2         .5
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .763     129.9     129.7       -2.4        -.2        -.8        -.7         .3
          Other prepared food ..............     1.027     153.4     154.6        2.7         .8         .3         .0         .7
      Food away from home ..................     5.886     150.9     151.2        2.1         .2         .1         .3         .1
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.566     156.7     157.4        2.8         .4         .4         .5         .3
 
  Housing ..................................    41.346     151.2     151.7        2.9         .3         .3         .2         .3
    Shelter ................................    28.289     169.4     170.1        3.4         .4         .4         .2         .2
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     7.988     178.8     180.4        3.3         .9         .7         .2         .3
        Rent, residential ..................     5.762     160.4     160.6        2.5         .1         .3         .3         .1
        Other renters' costs ...............     2.227     214.1     219.7        5.3        2.6        1.6         .2         .9
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    20.102     174.6     175.0        3.4         .2         .2         .2         .2
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    19.716     175.0     175.3        3.4         .2         .3         .2         .2
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .386     158.6     159.1        1.3         .3        -.3         .4         .3
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .199     137.0     137.5        2.5         .4        -.2         .5         .4
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .122     143.0     143.8        3.6         .6         .0         .6         .6
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .077     128.8     129.0         .6         .2        -.4         .2         .2
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.014     125.0     125.2        2.4         .2         .5         .6         .2
      Fuels ................................     3.792     112.5     111.9        1.9        -.5         .6         .7        -.3
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .356      97.7      99.3       11.6        1.6        7.5         .2        2.2
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.436     119.1     118.2         .9        -.8        -.2         .8        -.6
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.222     154.9     156.4        3.0        1.0         .3         .3        1.0
    Household furnishings and operation ....     6.043     124.3     124.6        1.6         .2         .2        -.2         .2
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.445     111.4     111.7         .4         .3         .3        -.4         .0
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.116     140.4     140.9        3.8         .4         .4        -.2         .9
      Housekeeping services ................     1.482     146.3     146.6        2.6         .2         .0         .2         .2
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.516     131.2     134.8         .3        2.7         .7        -.9         .6
    Apparel commodities ....................     4.967     127.8     131.6         .2        3.0         .7       -1.0         .6
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.303     126.4     129.1        1.5        2.1        1.1         .2         .8
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.195     124.6     129.9       -1.2        4.3        1.3       -2.5         .2
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .195     134.4     133.3        4.9        -.8        2.2        2.2        -.8
      Footwear .............................      .732     125.8     128.1        1.7        1.8        -.6        1.4         .8
      Other apparel commodities ............      .542     149.7     154.7        -.2        3.3        -.6       -2.1        2.1
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .550     158.5     158.9         .8         .3         .3         .2         .3
 
  Transportation ...........................    16.953     140.4     141.2        2.3         .6         .7         .5         .7
    Private transportation .................    15.430     137.5     138.3        2.3         .6         .8         .2         .8
      New vehicles .........................     5.027     143.5     143.6        2.1         .1         .1         .3         .1
        New cars ...........................     4.015     141.3     141.5        1.8         .1         .1         .3         .1
      Used cars ............................     1.342     157.5     157.3        1.6        -.1         .8         .7         .8
      Motor fuel ...........................     2.908      98.2     101.4        4.0        3.3        3.8        -.2        3.6
        Gasoline ...........................      -         97.8     101.1        4.0        3.4        3.7        -.3        3.7
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.535     156.6     156.9        2.8         .2         .4         .1         .2
      Other private transportation .........     4.618     173.2     172.5        1.4        -.4        -.1         .4        -.3
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .608     105.4     105.3         .7        -.1         .0         .1         .1
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.010     189.2     188.3        1.5        -.5        -.1         .5        -.4
    Public transportation ..................     1.523     177.4     178.9        2.5         .8        -.5        3.3         .2
 
  Medical care .............................     7.362     226.2     226.6        3.8         .2         .4         .2         .3
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.282     208.5     208.9        2.6         .2         .5         .2         .2
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     230.3     230.7        4.0         .2         .4         .2         .3
      Professional medical services ........     3.465     206.1     206.5        3.7         .2         .3         .2         .2
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.367     158.3     158.4        3.8         .1         .3         .8         .1
    Entertainment commodities ..............     1.975     142.5     142.7        3.9         .1         .3         .8         .1
    Entertainment services .................     2.392     177.0     177.0        3.7         .0         .2         .7         .0
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.123     212.6     213.0        4.4         .2         .2         .4         .4
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.610     229.8     230.8        3.7         .4        -.3         .4         .7
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.170     149.3     149.4        2.3         .1         .1         .1         .1
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .613     144.1     144.0        1.3        -.1        -.3         .3        -.1
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .557     155.2     155.3        3.4         .1         .5         .1         .1
    Personal and educational expenses ......     4.342     243.7     244.1        5.2         .2         .5         .5         .5
      School books and supplies ............      .258     224.7     225.2        5.9         .2        1.0         .4         .6
      Personal and educational services ....     4.084     245.4     245.7        5.2         .1         .4         .5         .4
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     154.9     155.7        2.8         .5         .4         .2         .4
  Commodities ..............................    42.916     138.0     139.2        2.4         .9         .5         .0         .7
    Food and beverages .....................    17.332     151.3     152.1        2.8         .5         .1         .1         .5
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.584     129.9     131.3        2.1        1.1         .8        -.1         .8
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.075     130.3     132.6        2.6        1.8        1.4        -.1        1.1
        Apparel commodities ................     4.967     127.8     131.6         .2        3.0         .7       -1.0         .6
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    10.108     134.6     136.2        3.9        1.2        1.7         .4        1.6
      Durables .............................    10.509     129.4     129.5        1.4         .1         .2         .2         .2
  Services .................................    57.084     172.2     172.6        3.2         .2         .3         .4         .2
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    27.671     176.3     177.0        3.4         .4         .3         .2         .3
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.681     139.5     139.6        2.0         .1        -.1         .4         .2
    Transportation services ................     7.068     178.5     178.5        2.0         .0        -.1        1.0        -.1
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     230.3     230.7        4.0         .2         .4         .2         .3
    Other services .........................     7.583     199.0     199.2        4.2         .1         .4         .6         .3
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    84.234     155.7     156.5        2.9         .5         .5         .3         .4
All items less shelter .....................    71.711     150.8     151.6        2.6         .5         .4         .2         .5
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    79.898     155.9     156.9        2.8         .6         .5         .2         .4
All items less medical care ................    92.638     150.9     151.7        2.8         .5         .4         .2         .4
Commodities less food ......................    27.150     131.0     132.4        2.2        1.1         .8        -.1         .8
Nondurables less food ......................    16.641     131.8     134.0        2.7        1.7        1.2        -.1        1.0
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.674     135.9     137.3        3.7        1.0        1.3         .1        1.3
Nondurables ................................    32.407     141.0     142.5        2.7        1.1         .8         .1         .8
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    29.414     180.2     180.4        3.0         .1         .2         .6         .1
Services less medical care services ........    51.004     166.8     167.2        3.1         .2         .2         .4         .2
Energy .....................................     6.700     104.9     106.1        2.8        1.1        1.9         .4        1.4
All items less energy ......................    93.300     161.6     162.3        2.9         .4         .3         .2         .3
  All items less food and energy ...........    77.534     164.2     164.9        2.8         .4         .3         .2         .3
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    23.885     140.8     141.9        1.8         .8         .4        -.1         .4
      Energy commodities ...................     3.264      98.3     101.4        4.9        3.2        4.2        -.2        3.5
    Services less energy services ..........    53.648     177.6     178.1        3.3         .3         .3         .3         .2
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.645     $.642       -2.7        -.5        -.5        -.5        -.5
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .215      .214        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                percent change for
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                 1995    1996    1996    1996    1995    1995    1995    1996     1995      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.5     1.6     2.4     4.0      2.5       3.2
 
   Food and beverages .........................   150.5   150.7   150.9   151.7     3.6     2.7     1.9     3.2      3.1       2.6
     Food .....................................   150.2   150.3   150.5   151.4     3.6     2.7     1.9     3.2      3.1       2.6
       Food at home ...........................   150.5   150.5   150.5   151.9     4.4     3.3     1.9     3.8      3.8       2.8
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   170.2   171.8   171.7   172.5     3.2     3.1     4.3     5.5      3.2       4.9
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   142.0   142.1   142.1   141.8     -.3     6.6     6.7     -.6      3.1       3.0
         Dairy products .......................   135.1   135.4   136.8   136.5     1.2     1.5     7.1     4.2      1.4       5.6
         Fruits and vegetables ................   176.8   175.1   174.9   181.9    19.1     2.0    -8.8    12.0     10.2       1.1
         Other food at home ...................   141.4   141.5   141.2   141.9     1.1     1.7      .6     1.4      1.4       1.0
           Sugar and sweets ...................   139.5   141.4   141.5   142.1     3.6     3.2     2.9     7.7      3.4       5.3
           Fats and oils ......................   138.9   139.3   139.0   139.7      .0     4.2     3.2     2.3      2.1       2.8
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   130.5   129.5   128.6   129.0    -1.8     1.2    -4.5    -4.5      -.3      -4.5
           Other prepared food ................   152.7   153.1   153.1   154.2     3.0     1.3     2.7     4.0      2.1       3.3
       Food away from home ....................   150.4   150.6   151.1   151.2     1.9     2.2     2.2     2.1      2.0       2.2
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   155.3   155.9   156.7   157.1     2.6     2.4     1.6     4.7      2.5       3.1
 
   Housing ....................................   150.3   150.8   151.1   151.5     2.7     2.7     3.3     3.2      2.7       3.2
     Shelter ..................................   167.9   168.6   168.9   169.3     3.7     2.9     3.4     3.4      3.3       3.4
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   175.5   176.7   177.1   177.7     3.3     3.0     1.8     5.1      3.2       3.5
         Rent, residential ....................   159.6   160.0   160.4   160.6     2.3     2.3     2.8     2.5      2.3       2.7
         Other renters' costs .................   206.9   210.3   210.7   212.5     5.5     5.0      .0    11.3      5.2       5.5
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   173.9   174.3   174.6   175.0     3.8     3.3     4.0     2.6      3.6       3.3
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   174.2   174.7   175.0   175.3     3.8     3.3     4.0     2.5      3.6       3.3
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   158.5   158.1   158.8   159.3     1.8    -2.8     4.4     2.0      -.5       3.2
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   136.6   136.3   137.0   137.5     2.4     1.2     3.6     2.7      1.8       3.1
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   142.1   142.1   143.0   143.8     1.7     2.6     5.2     4.9      2.2       5.1
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    129.1   128.6   128.8   129.0     2.5     -.3      .6     -.3      1.1        .2
     Fuel and other utilities .................   124.4   125.0   125.7   126.0     1.3     -.3     3.3     5.2       .5       4.3
       Fuels ..................................   111.3   112.0   112.8   112.5      .4    -1.4     4.4     4.4      -.5       4.4
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................    88.8    95.5    95.7    97.8     3.7     -.5     1.8    47.1      1.6      22.4
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   119.1   118.9   119.9   119.2      .0    -1.3     4.8      .3      -.7       2.6
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   153.9   154.4   154.9   156.4     2.1     1.3     1.8     6.7      1.7       4.2
     Household furnishings and operation ......   124.1   124.4   124.1   124.4      .0     4.0     1.6     1.0      2.0       1.3
       Housefurnishings .......................   111.6   111.9   111.4   111.4     -.7     3.3      .0     -.7      1.3       -.4
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   140.0   140.5   140.2   141.4      .0     6.9     4.7     4.1      3.4       4.4
       Housekeeping services ..................   145.7   145.7   146.0   146.3     1.7     3.7     3.4     1.7      2.7       2.5
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   132.2   133.1   131.9   132.7    -2.7      .9     1.5     1.5      -.9       1.5
     Apparel commodities ......................   128.8   129.7   128.4   129.2    -2.8      .9     1.6     1.2      -.9       1.4
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   125.9   127.3   127.6   128.6    -1.6     -.6     -.3     8.9     -1.1       4.2
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   126.9   128.5   125.3   125.6    -3.1    -2.2     4.9    -4.0     -2.7        .3
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   128.7   131.5   134.4   133.3   -16.2    35.5    -7.4    15.1      6.6       3.2
       Footwear ...............................   125.4   124.6   126.4   127.4    -1.9     4.9    -2.5     6.5      1.4       1.9
       Other apparel commodities ..............   154.0   153.0   149.8   153.0      .5     1.0      .3    -2.6       .8      -1.2
     Apparel services 2/.......................   157.7   158.2   158.5   158.9    -1.8     1.3      .8     3.1      -.3       1.9
 
   Transportation .............................   139.0   140.0   140.7   141.7     6.8    -3.9    -1.1     8.0      1.3       3.3
     Private transportation ...................   136.7   137.8   138.1   139.2     4.2    -2.9      .6     7.5       .6       4.0
       New vehicles ...........................   142.0   142.1   142.5   142.7     3.5     1.7      .8     2.0      2.6       1.4
         New cars .............................   139.8   140.0   140.4   140.6     2.9     1.2      .6     2.3      2.0       1.4
       Used cars ..............................   157.4   158.7   159.8   161.1    -4.0    -3.0     4.2     9.7     -3.5       6.9
       Motor fuel .............................    97.5   101.2   101.0   104.6    12.9   -20.6    -1.6    32.5     -5.3      14.2
         Gasoline .............................    97.3   100.9   100.6   104.3    16.5   -23.3    -1.2    32.0     -5.5      14.2
       Maintenance and repairs ................   155.8   156.5   156.6   156.9     2.6     3.2     2.3     2.9      2.9       2.6
       Other private transportation ...........   171.7   171.6   172.3   171.7     2.4     2.8      .2      .0      2.6        .1
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   105.0   105.0   105.1   105.2     1.5      .8     -.4      .8      1.2        .2
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   187.6   187.4   188.3   187.6     2.6     3.0      .4      .0      2.8        .2
     Public transportation ....................   170.5   169.6   175.2   175.6    35.5   -13.0   -16.6    12.5      8.6      -3.1
 
   Medical care ...............................   224.6   225.4   225.8   226.4     3.9     4.2     3.6     3.2      4.1       3.4
     Medical care commodities .................   206.7   207.7   208.1   208.5     1.4     2.2     3.2     3.5      1.8       3.3
     Medical care services ....................   228.5   229.3   229.7   230.3     4.4     4.7     3.8     3.2      4.6       3.5
       Professional medical services ..........   204.6   205.2   205.6   206.1     3.9     4.0     4.0     3.0      4.0       3.5
 
   Entertainment ..............................   156.5   156.9   158.1   158.3     2.9     3.7     4.2     4.7      3.3       4.4
     Entertainment commodities ................   140.9   141.3   142.5   142.7     2.6     3.2     4.7     5.2      2.9       4.9
     Entertainment services ...................   174.9   175.3   176.6   176.6     2.8     4.3     3.7     3.9      3.6       3.8
 
   Other goods and services ...................   211.7   212.2   213.1   214.0     4.2     4.9     4.1     4.4      4.5       4.2
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   229.0   228.4   229.4   231.1     5.5     5.2      .7     3.7      5.4       2.2
     Personal care 2/ .........................   148.9   149.1   149.3   149.4     1.9     2.2     3.9     1.3      2.1       2.6
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.1   143.7   144.1   144.0     1.7      .6     3.1     -.3      1.1       1.4
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   154.3   155.0   155.2   155.3     2.1     3.8     5.1     2.6      3.0       3.8
     Personal and educational expenses ........   241.4   242.5   243.7   244.8     4.4     5.6     5.5     5.8      5.0       5.6
       School books and supplies ..............   219.8   222.1   222.9   224.3     3.6     4.8     7.0     8.4      4.2       7.7
       Personal and educational services ......   242.9   243.9   245.1   246.2     4.3     5.7     5.3     5.5      5.0       5.4
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.5     1.6     2.4     4.0      2.5       3.2
   Commodities ................................   137.4   138.1   138.1   139.1     2.4      .6     1.8     5.0      1.5       3.4
     Food and beverages .......................   150.5   150.7   150.9   151.7     3.6     2.7     1.9     3.2      3.1       2.6
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   129.4   130.4   130.3   131.3     1.9     -.9     1.6     6.0       .5       3.8
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   129.8   131.6   131.5   132.9     2.2    -3.0     2.2     9.9      -.5       6.0
         Apparel commodities ..................   128.8   129.7   128.4   129.2    -2.8      .9     1.6     1.2      -.9       1.4
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   133.1   135.3   135.8   138.0     4.6    -5.5     2.1    15.6      -.6       8.6
       Durables ...............................   128.7   129.0   129.2   129.5      .9     1.3      .9     2.5      1.1       1.7
   Services ...................................   170.9   171.4   172.1   172.4     4.1     2.6     2.6     3.6      3.4       3.1
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   175.0   175.6   176.0   176.5     4.0     3.1     3.3     3.5      3.5       3.4
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   139.5   139.4   140.0   140.3     1.5      .6     3.5     2.3      1.0       2.9
     Transportation services ..................   175.9   175.7   177.5   177.3     9.3     -.9    -3.1     3.2      4.1        .0
     Medical care services ....................   228.5   229.3   229.7   230.3     4.4     4.7     3.8     3.2      4.6       3.5
     Other services ...........................   197.6   198.3   199.4   199.9     3.2     4.8     4.4     4.7      4.0       4.6
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   154.6   155.3   155.7   156.3     3.5     1.6     2.1     4.5      2.5       3.3
 All items less shelter .......................   149.9   150.5   150.8   151.5     3.3     1.4     1.6     4.3      2.3       3.0
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   154.9   155.6   155.9   156.6     3.2     1.3     1.8     4.5      2.2       3.1
 All items less medical care ..................   149.9   150.5   150.8   151.4     3.3     1.6     2.2     4.1      2.5       3.1
 Commodities less food ........................   130.5   131.6   131.5   132.5     1.9     -.6     1.2     6.3       .6       3.7
 Nondurables less food ........................   131.4   133.0   132.9   134.2     2.5    -2.4     2.5     8.8       .0       5.6
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   134.8   136.6   136.8   138.6     4.9    -4.1     3.0    11.8       .3       7.3
 Nondurables ..................................   140.2   141.3   141.4   142.5     2.9      .0     1.7     6.7      1.4       4.2
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   178.8   179.2   180.2   180.4     3.9     2.5     2.0     3.6      3.2       2.8
 Services less medical care services ..........   165.5   165.9   166.6   167.0     3.5     2.7     2.5     3.7      3.1       3.1
 Energy .......................................   104.1   106.1   106.5   108.0     5.8   -10.5     1.9    15.8     -2.6       8.7
 All items less energy ........................   160.7   161.2   161.5   162.0     3.3     2.5     2.3     3.3      2.9       2.8
   All items less food and energy .............   163.3   163.8   164.2   164.7     3.0     2.8     2.2     3.5      2.9       2.9
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   140.4   140.9   140.8   141.3      .9     2.0     1.7     2.6      1.4       2.2
       Energy commodities .....................    96.6   100.7   100.5   104.0    12.2   -18.9    -1.2    34.3     -4.6      15.2
     Services less energy services ............   176.2   176.7   177.3   177.7     4.3     3.0     2.5     3.4      3.6       3.0
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
commodity and service group
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1996 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                1995       1996      1996    Mar. 1995  Feb. 1996     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     152.2     152.9        2.8        0.5        0.4        0.2        0.5
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        453.2     455.6        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    19.262     150.7     151.5        2.9         .5         .1         .1         .5
    Food ...................................    17.581     150.3     151.1        2.9         .5         .1         .1         .6
      Food at home .........................    11.206     150.5     151.6        3.3         .7         .0         .0         .9
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.682     171.7     171.6        3.9        -.1        1.0        -.1         .4
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.453     142.1     142.3        3.0         .1         .1        -.1        -.2
        Dairy products .....................     1.300     136.9     136.6        3.6        -.2         .4        1.0        -.1
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     2.052     176.5     182.7        5.8        3.5       -1.1        -.2        4.5
        Other food at home .................     2.719     141.5     142.1        1.3         .4         .0        -.1         .5
          Sugar and sweets .................      .369     141.6     142.3        4.3         .5        1.3         .1         .6
          Fats and oils ....................      .285     139.6     139.9        2.3         .2         .4        -.2         .4
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .885     129.4     129.2       -2.3        -.2        -.7        -.8         .3
          Other prepared food ..............     1.180     153.2     154.4        2.8         .8         .2         .1         .6
      Food away from home ..................     6.374     150.9     151.1        2.2         .1         .2         .3         .1
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.681     156.1     156.8        2.7         .4         .4         .5         .3
 
  Housing ..................................    38.888     148.0     148.5        2.9         .3         .3         .1         .3
    Shelter ................................    25.976     164.6     165.1        3.3         .3         .3         .1         .3
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     8.091     156.0     157.0        3.1         .6         .5         .3         .3
        Rent, residential ..................     6.616     160.1     160.3        2.5         .1         .3         .3         .1
        Other renters' costs ...............     1.475     214.0     219.6        5.3        2.6        1.3         .8         .9
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    17.695     159.3     159.6        3.4         .2         .2         .1         .3
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    17.366     159.5     159.8        3.4         .2         .2         .1         .3
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .329     145.6     145.9        1.2         .2        -.3         .5         .1
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .189     135.7     136.3        1.9         .4        -.2         .1         .4
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .105     145.0     145.8        2.9         .6        -.1         .3         .6
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .085     123.8     124.1         .8         .2        -.5         .2         .2
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.247     124.6     125.0        2.5         .3         .4         .6         .5
      Fuels ................................     3.887     111.8     111.5        2.2        -.3         .6         .7         .0
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .327      97.6      99.1       11.5        1.5        7.4         .3        2.1
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.560     118.4     117.9        1.4        -.4         .0         .8        -.2
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.360     155.4     157.0        3.1        1.0         .3         .4        1.0
    Household furnishings and operation ....     5.666     122.9     123.2        1.5         .2         .2        -.2         .2
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.367     110.0     110.2         .3         .2         .2        -.3         .1
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.149     140.7     141.3        4.0         .4         .5        -.1         .7
      Housekeeping services ................     1.150     149.4     149.6        2.4         .1        -.1         .1         .1
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.533     130.2     133.9         .5        2.8         .7        -.7         .6
    Apparel commodities ....................     5.017     127.0     130.9         .5        3.1         .8        -.8         .6
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.310     126.3     128.9        1.7        2.1        1.0         .2         .9
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.148     123.3     128.6        -.9        4.3        1.5       -2.3         .1
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .251     135.3     134.7        5.7        -.4        1.9        2.3        -.4
      Footwear .............................      .812     126.3     128.8        1.6        2.0        -.9        1.3        1.0
      Other apparel commodities ............      .495     146.9     153.7        -.6        4.6        -.7       -1.8        2.4
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .516     157.9     158.2         .7         .2         .3         .2         .2
 
  Transportation ...........................    19.020     140.0     140.9        2.4         .6         .9         .3         .9
    Private transportation .................    17.847     138.0     138.8        2.3         .6         .9         .1         .9
      New vehicles .........................     4.958     144.5     144.5        2.1         .0         .2         .2         .2
        New cars ...........................     3.591     141.0     141.0        1.7         .0         .1         .3         .1
      Used cars ............................     2.432     158.6     158.3        1.8        -.2         .9         .8         .6
      Motor fuel ...........................     3.584      98.1     101.4        4.2        3.4        3.7        -.5        3.9
        Gasoline ...........................      -         97.8     101.2        4.3        3.5        4.0        -.5        3.9
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.619     157.6     157.9        2.9         .2         .4         .1         .2
      Other private transportation .........     5.255     168.8     168.1        1.1        -.4        -.1         .2        -.2
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .767     104.6     104.4         .6        -.2         .0         .2        -.1
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.488     185.0     184.1        1.2        -.5        -.1         .2        -.3
    Public transportation ..................     1.173     174.6     177.2        4.2        1.5        -.4        2.4         .8
 
  Medical care .............................     6.262     225.6     226.0        3.8         .2         .4         .2         .2
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.055     206.1     206.5        2.5         .2         .6         .0         .1
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     230.1     230.4        4.1         .1         .3         .2         .2
      Professional medical services ........     2.965     207.2     207.6        3.8         .2         .2         .4         .1
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.029     156.0     156.1        3.7         .1         .4         .8         .0
    Entertainment commodities ..............     2.053     141.4     141.7        3.7         .2         .4         .9         .0
    Entertainment services .................     1.976     176.9     176.9        3.7         .0         .4         .6         .1
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.006     209.6     209.9        4.2         .1         .2         .4         .3
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.135     229.8     230.7        3.6         .4        -.3         .4         .7
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.132     149.2     149.3        2.2         .1         .1         .1         .1
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .635     144.6     144.6        1.2         .0        -.2         .1         .0
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .497     155.1     155.2        3.3         .1         .5         .1         .1
    Personal and educational expenses ......     3.739     239.3     239.5        5.2         .1         .5         .5         .3
      School books and supplies ............      .227     225.8     226.3        5.9         .2        1.1         .3         .5
      Personal and educational services ....     3.512     240.7     240.9        5.2         .1         .4         .5         .3
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     152.2     152.9        2.8         .5         .4         .2         .5
  Commodities ..............................    47.052     137.9     139.1        2.5         .9         .6         .0         .7
    Food and beverages .....................    19.262     150.7     151.5        2.9         .5         .1         .1         .5
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.790     130.0     131.4        2.2        1.1         .9         .0         .8
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.074     129.7     132.2        2.9        1.9        1.4         .0        1.1
        Apparel commodities ................     5.017     127.0     130.9         .5        3.1         .8        -.8         .6
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    11.057     134.0     135.7        3.9        1.3        1.7         .4        1.6
      Durables .............................    11.716     129.3     129.3        1.4         .0         .3         .3         .0
  Services .................................    52.948     169.4     169.8        3.2         .2         .2         .3         .2
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    25.430     158.4     158.9        3.3         .3         .3         .2         .3
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.531     128.0     128.4        2.2         .3        -.1         .5         .4
    Transportation services ................     7.279     176.3     176.4        2.1         .1        -.1         .5         .1
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     230.1     230.4        4.1         .1         .3         .2         .2
    Other services .........................     6.501     195.8     195.9        4.2         .1         .4         .5         .2
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    82.419     152.4     153.2        2.8         .5         .5         .2         .4
All items less shelter .....................    74.024     148.9     149.8        2.7         .6         .4         .2         .5
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    82.305     142.8     143.7        2.7         .6         .4         .2         .5
All items less medical care ................    93.738     148.7     149.5        2.7         .5         .4         .2         .5
Commodities less food ......................    29.471     131.0     132.4        2.2        1.1         .9         .0         .8
Nondurables less food ......................    17.756     131.3     133.6        2.8        1.8        1.3         .0        1.1
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    12.739     135.3     136.9        3.8        1.2        1.4         .2        1.5
Nondurables ................................    35.336     140.5     142.1        2.8        1.1         .8         .1         .9
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    27.518     160.5     160.7        2.9         .1         .2         .4         .1
Services less medical care services ........    47.740     164.2     164.6        3.1         .2         .2         .3         .2
Energy .....................................     7.470     104.2     105.8        3.2        1.5        2.1         .2        1.8
All items less energy ......................    92.530     158.8     159.5        2.8         .4         .3         .2         .4
  All items less food and energy ...........    74.949     161.0     161.7        2.8         .4         .3         .2         .3
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    25.560     140.4     141.4        1.9         .7         .4         .1         .4
      Energy commodities ...................     3.911      98.4     101.5        4.9        3.2        4.0        -.4        3.7
    Services less energy services ..........    49.388     175.0     175.5        3.3         .3         .2         .3         .3
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.657     $.654       -2.7        -.5        -.6        -.3        -.5
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .221      .219        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                percent change for
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                 1995    1996    1996    1996    1995    1995    1995    1996     1995      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.3     1.3     2.4     4.3      2.3       3.4
 
   Food and beverages .........................   150.1   150.3   150.5   151.3     3.0     3.3     1.9     3.2      3.2       2.6
     Food .....................................   149.7   149.8   150.0   150.9     3.0     3.0     2.2     3.2      3.0       2.7
       Food at home ...........................   149.8   149.8   149.8   151.1     3.9     3.8     1.9     3.5      3.9       2.7
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   169.9   171.6   171.4   172.1     3.2     3.2     4.1     5.3      3.2       4.7
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   141.7   141.8   141.7   141.4     -.6     6.6     7.1     -.8      2.9       3.0
         Dairy products .......................   134.7   135.2   136.5   136.3     1.2     2.1     6.2     4.8      1.7       5.5
         Fruits and vegetables ................   176.5   174.5   174.2   182.1    17.6     2.7    -8.4    13.3      9.9       1.9
         Other food at home ...................   141.0   141.0   140.8   141.5     1.2     2.0      .6     1.4      1.6       1.0
           Sugar and sweets ...................   139.4   141.2   141.3   142.2     3.3     3.2     2.9     8.3      3.3       5.6
           Fats and oils ......................   138.7   139.2   138.9   139.5      .3     3.9     2.9     2.3      2.1       2.6
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   129.9   129.0   128.0   128.4    -1.8     2.2    -4.5    -4.5       .2      -4.5
           Other prepared food ................   152.5   152.8   153.0   153.9     3.2     1.1     2.9     3.7      2.1       3.3
       Food away from home ....................   150.3   150.6   151.0   151.1     1.9     2.2     2.2     2.1      2.0       2.2
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   154.7   155.3   156.1   156.5     1.8     2.4     1.8     4.7      2.1       3.3
 
   Housing ....................................   147.1   147.6   147.8   148.3     2.5     2.5     3.0     3.3      2.5       3.2
     Shelter ..................................   163.5   164.0   164.2   164.7     3.6     3.0     3.5     3.0      3.3       3.2
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   153.9   154.6   155.1   155.6     2.9     2.4     2.4     4.5      2.7       3.4
         Rent, residential ....................   159.3   159.7   160.1   160.3     2.6     1.8     3.1     2.5      2.2       2.8
         Other renters' costs .................   206.5   209.2   210.8   212.8     5.0     4.8    -1.0    12.8      4.9       5.7
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   158.7   159.0   159.1   159.6     3.7     3.1     4.4     2.3      3.4       3.3
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   159.0   159.3   159.4   159.8     3.7     3.4     4.4     2.0      3.5       3.2
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   145.6   145.2   145.9   146.0     1.7    -4.1     6.0     1.1     -1.2       3.5
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   135.8   135.5   135.7   136.3     2.1     1.8     2.4     1.5      2.0       1.9
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   144.7   144.6   145.0   145.8     2.0     1.7     4.8     3.1      1.8       4.0
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    124.2   123.6   123.8   124.1     2.3     1.6     -.3     -.3      2.0       -.3
     Fuel and other utilities .................   123.9   124.4   125.1   125.7     1.0     -.3     3.6     5.9       .3       4.8
       Fuels ..................................   110.5   111.2   112.0   112.0      .0    -1.5     4.8     5.5      -.7       5.2
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................    88.7    95.3    95.6    97.6     3.7     -.5     1.8    46.6      1.6      22.2
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   118.2   118.2   119.1   118.9      .0    -1.7     4.9     2.4      -.9       3.6
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   154.3   154.8   155.4   157.0     2.4     1.0     1.8     7.2      1.7       4.5
     Household furnishings and operation ......   122.7   122.9   122.7   123.0      .0     4.4      .7     1.0      2.2        .8
       Housefurnishings .......................   110.1   110.3   110.0   110.1    -1.1     3.7    -1.4      .0      1.3       -.7
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   140.1   140.8   140.7   141.7      .9     6.6     4.1     4.6      3.7       4.4
       Housekeeping services ..................   149.0   148.8   149.0   149.1     1.9     3.9     3.6      .3      2.9       1.9
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.0   131.9   131.0   131.8    -2.4      .9     1.2     2.5      -.8       1.8
     Apparel commodities ......................   127.9   128.9   127.9   128.7    -2.2      .9      .9     2.5      -.6       1.7
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   125.8   127.1   127.3   128.5     -.6    -1.6      .6     8.9     -1.1       4.7
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   125.6   127.5   124.6   124.7    -1.9    -2.5     3.9    -2.8     -2.2        .5
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   129.8   132.3   135.3   134.7   -14.8    37.7    -8.2    16.0      8.3       3.2
       Footwear ...............................   126.4   125.3   126.9   128.2    -1.9     4.9    -1.9     5.8      1.4       1.9
       Other apparel commodities ..............   151.4   150.3   147.6   151.1    -2.3     -.5     1.1     -.8     -1.4        .1
     Apparel services 2/.......................   157.1   157.6   157.9   158.2    -1.5      .8      .8     2.8      -.4       1.8
 
   Transportation .............................   138.9   140.1   140.5   141.7     5.9    -4.5      .6     8.3       .6       4.4
     Private transportation ...................   137.1   138.4   138.6   139.8     4.5    -4.0      .9     8.1       .1       4.4
       New vehicles ...........................   142.9   143.2   143.5   143.8     3.2     1.7     1.1     2.5      2.4       1.8
         New cars .............................   139.6   139.7   140.1   140.2     2.6     1.2     1.2     1.7      1.9       1.4
       Used cars ..............................   158.3   159.8   161.0   161.9    -2.7    -3.0     4.1     9.4     -2.9       6.7
       Motor fuel .............................    97.6   101.2   100.7   104.6    16.5   -22.1    -1.2    31.9     -4.7      14.2
         Gasoline .............................    97.2   101.1   100.6   104.5    16.9   -22.7    -2.0    33.6     -4.9      14.4
       Maintenance and repairs ................   156.8   157.4   157.6   157.9     2.9     3.1     2.6     2.8      3.0       2.7
       Other private transportation ...........   167.7   167.6   167.9   167.5     1.9     2.7      .2     -.5      2.3       -.1
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   104.2   104.2   104.4   104.3     1.2     1.2     -.4      .4      1.2        .0
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   183.7   183.5   183.9   183.4     2.2     2.9      .4     -.7      2.6       -.1
     Public transportation ....................   170.2   169.6   173.7   175.1    26.3   -10.6    -6.8    12.0      6.3       2.2
 
   Medical care ...............................   223.9   224.7   225.1   225.6     3.7     4.4     3.7     3.1      4.1       3.4
     Medical care commodities .................   204.3   205.6   205.7   206.0     1.0     2.4     3.0     3.4      1.7       3.2
     Medical care services ....................   228.2   228.9   229.4   229.9     4.4     4.9     3.8     3.0      4.7       3.4
       Professional medical services ..........   205.7   206.2   207.0   207.2     4.1     3.8     4.2     2.9      3.9       3.6
 
   Entertainment ..............................   154.1   154.7   155.9   155.9     3.0     3.8     3.4     4.8      3.4       4.1
     Entertainment commodities ................   139.7   140.3   141.6   141.6     2.4     3.5     3.2     5.6      2.9       4.4
     Entertainment services ...................   174.8   175.5   176.5   176.6     3.1     4.0     3.7     4.2      3.6       4.0
 
   Other goods and services ...................   208.5   208.9   209.7   210.4     4.4     5.0     3.7     3.7      4.7       3.7
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   229.2   228.4   229.4   230.9     5.5     4.7     1.2     3.0      5.1       2.1
     Personal care 2/ .........................   148.9   149.1   149.2   149.3     1.9     2.2     3.6     1.1      2.1       2.3
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.7   144.4   144.6   144.6     1.7      .6     2.8     -.3      1.1       1.3
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   154.2   154.9   155.1   155.2     1.9     4.3     4.5     2.6      3.1       3.6
     Personal and educational expenses ........   236.9   238.0   239.1   239.8     4.5     6.0     5.4     5.0      5.2       5.2
       School books and supplies ..............   221.2   223.6   224.2   225.4     3.2     5.1     7.6     7.8      4.2       7.7
       Personal and educational services ......   238.3   239.3   240.4   241.1     4.4     6.2     5.2     4.8      5.3       5.0
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.3     1.3     2.4     4.3      2.3       3.4
   Commodities ................................   137.3   138.1   138.1   139.1     3.0      .3     1.5     5.3      1.6       3.4
     Food and beverages .......................   150.1   150.3   150.5   151.3     3.0     3.3     1.9     3.2      3.2       2.6
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   129.4   130.5   130.5   131.6     2.5    -1.5     1.2     7.0       .5       4.1
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   129.3   131.1   131.1   132.6     3.1    -3.9     2.2    10.6      -.5       6.3
         Apparel commodities ..................   127.9   128.9   127.9   128.7    -2.2      .9      .9     2.5      -.6       1.7
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   132.7   134.9   135.5   137.7     5.5    -6.1     1.8    15.9      -.5       8.7
       Durables ...............................   128.6   129.0   129.4   129.4     1.3      .6     1.3     2.5       .9       1.9
   Services ...................................   168.3   168.7   169.2   169.6     3.4     2.7     3.2     3.1      3.1       3.1
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   157.4   157.9   158.2   158.6     3.7     3.1     3.4     3.1      3.4       3.2
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   128.1   128.0   128.7   129.2     1.3      .0     4.2     3.5       .6       3.8
     Transportation services ..................   174.7   174.6   175.5   175.6     6.2      .5     -.2     2.1      3.3        .9
     Medical care services ....................   228.2   228.9   229.4   229.9     4.4     4.9     3.8     3.0      4.7       3.4
     Other services ...........................   194.3   195.1   196.0   196.4     3.4     4.9     4.2     4.4      4.2       4.3
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   151.4   152.1   152.4   153.0     3.3     1.1     2.7     4.3      2.2       3.5
 All items less shelter .......................   148.1   148.7   149.0   149.8     3.1     1.1     1.9     4.7      2.1       3.3
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   142.0   142.6   142.9   143.6     3.2     1.1     2.0     4.6      2.2       3.3
 All items less medical care ..................   147.8   148.4   148.7   149.4     3.1     1.4     2.2     4.4      2.2       3.3
 Commodities less food ........................   130.5   131.7   131.7   132.8     2.5    -1.2      .9     7.2       .6       4.0
 Nondurables less food ........................   130.8   132.5   132.5   134.0     2.8    -3.3     2.2    10.2      -.3       6.1
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   134.2   136.1   136.4   138.4     5.2    -4.7     2.4    13.1       .2       7.6
 Nondurables ..................................   139.8   140.9   141.1   142.3     2.6     -.3     2.0     7.3      1.2       4.7
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   159.5   159.8   160.5   160.7     3.1     2.6     2.8     3.0      2.8       2.9
 Services less medical care services ..........   163.2   163.5   164.0   164.4     3.6     2.5     3.0     3.0      3.0       3.0
 Energy .......................................   103.5   105.7   105.9   107.8     7.9   -12.2     1.6    17.7     -2.7       9.3
 All items less energy ........................   158.0   158.4   158.7   159.3     2.6     2.9     2.3     3.3      2.7       2.8
   All items less food and energy .............   160.3   160.8   161.1   161.6     2.8     2.6     2.5     3.3      2.7       2.9
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   140.0   140.5   140.6   141.1      .6     2.0     1.7     3.2      1.3       2.5
       Energy commodities .....................    97.0   100.9   100.5   104.2    15.3   -20.4    -1.2    33.2     -4.2      14.7
     Services less energy services ............   174.0   174.4   174.9   175.4     3.8     2.8     3.0     3.3      3.3       3.2
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       Mar. 1996 from-         Feb. 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.
                                             1/       1995    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1995    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        153.5   154.4   154.9   155.7     2.8     0.8     0.5     2.7     0.9     0.3
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        160.5   161.4   162.2   162.8     3.0      .9      .4     2.9     1.1      .5
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        161.1   162.2   163.0   163.7     3.2      .9      .4     3.0     1.2      .5
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        158.6   158.7   159.2   160.2     2.8      .9      .6     2.2      .4      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        158.6   159.8   160.6   160.8     2.7      .6      .1     2.9     1.3      .5
 
North Central urban ....................      M        149.5   150.2   150.8   151.7     3.0     1.0      .6     2.8      .9      .4
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        150.3   151.0   151.7   152.6     2.8     1.1      .6     2.5      .9      .5
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        148.0   148.6   149.5   150.4     2.9     1.2      .6     3.0     1.0      .6
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        151.5   152.2   152.4   153.1     3.2      .6      .5     3.2      .6      .1
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        145.8   146.5   146.9   147.7     3.5      .8      .5     3.2      .8      .3
 
South urban ............................      M        150.3   151.1   151.5   152.4     3.0      .9      .6     2.8      .8      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        149.5   150.4   150.6   151.5     2.4      .7      .6     2.2      .7      .1
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        152.4   153.2   154.1   155.0     3.1     1.2      .6     3.0     1.1      .6
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        150.3   151.1   151.4   152.2     3.8      .7      .5     3.6      .7      .2
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        149.1   149.9   150.1   151.6     3.4     1.1     1.0     2.7      .7      .1
 
West urban .............................      M        154.3   155.3   155.8   156.4     2.4      .7      .4     2.2     1.0      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        154.4   155.4   155.9   156.6     2.0      .8      .4     1.8     1.0      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        158.6   159.8   160.8   161.4     4.0     1.0      .4     3.7     1.4      .6
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        138.6   139.5   140.0   140.7     2.6      .9      .5     2.4     1.0      .4
  B ....................................      M        153.4   153.9   154.7   155.5     2.9     1.0      .5     2.8      .8      .5
  C ....................................      M        153.5   154.4   154.8   155.5     3.5      .7      .5     3.3      .8      .3
  D ....................................      M        150.1   150.9   151.1   152.1     3.4      .8      .7     3.1      .7      .1
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        153.8   154.6   155.2   156.3     2.4     1.1      .7     1.9      .9      .4
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        154.6   155.7   156.2   157.3     1.7     1.0      .7     1.1     1.0      .3
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        163.7   164.8   165.7   166.5     3.5     1.0      .5     3.4     1.2      .5
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        159.1   160.3   161.2   162.0     2.5     1.1      .5     2.2     1.3      .6
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        152.1   152.9   153.2   152.9     1.2      .0     -.2     1.8      .7      .2
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      151.6    -      153.0     1.8      .9    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      162.2    -      162.8     2.8      .4    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      149.0    -      150.9     2.4     1.3    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      152.0    -      152.4     2.5      .3    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      147.2    -      148.9     3.0     1.2    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      156.8    -      158.4     2.1     1.0    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        145.5    -      146.2    -       -       -       -        2.0      .5    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        150.3    -      151.3    -       -       -       -        2.7      .7    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        140.9    -      141.5    -       -       -       -        1.6      .4    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        150.0    -      151.1    -       -       -       -        2.6      .7    -
 
 
 
   1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
          indicated:
            M - Every month.
            1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
            2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
   2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
          the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
          result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
          similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
          CPI for use in their escalator clauses.
 
 
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       Mar. 1996 from-         Feb. 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.
                                             1/       1995    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1995    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        150.9   151.7   152.2   152.9     2.8     0.8     0.5     2.6     0.9     0.3
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        158.0   158.8   159.4   160.1     3.0      .8      .4     2.7      .9      .4
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        157.6   158.5   159.2   160.0     3.2      .9      .5     2.8     1.0      .4
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        156.5   156.5   156.9   158.1     2.7     1.0      .8     2.1      .3      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        160.4   161.4   162.0   162.1     2.5      .4      .1     2.8     1.0      .4
 
North Central urban ....................      M        146.3   147.0   147.5   148.3     2.8      .9      .5     2.7      .8      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        146.4   147.1   147.7   148.6     2.7     1.0      .6     2.4      .9      .4
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        144.5   145.0   145.7   146.6     2.8     1.1      .6     2.8      .8      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        148.9   149.6   149.8   150.4     3.3      .5      .4     3.2      .6      .1
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        144.1   144.7   144.9   145.7     3.3      .7      .6     3.2      .6      .1
 
South urban ............................      M        148.9   149.7   150.0   150.8     2.9      .7      .5     2.8      .7      .2
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        147.8   148.6   148.7   149.5     2.3      .6      .5     2.3      .6      .1
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        148.9   149.6   150.3   151.1     2.9     1.0      .5     2.7      .9      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        150.3   151.1   151.3   152.0     3.8      .6      .5     3.6      .7      .1
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        149.5   150.4   150.4   152.1     3.7     1.1     1.1     2.7      .6      .0
 
West urban .............................      M        151.3   152.2   152.7   153.4     2.4      .8      .5     2.2      .9      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        150.0   150.9   151.2   152.1     2.0      .8      .6     1.7      .8      .2
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        155.5   156.6   157.6   158.2     3.9     1.0      .4     3.5     1.4      .6
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        137.7   138.5   138.9   139.7     2.6      .9      .6     2.4      .9      .3
  B ....................................      M        150.7   151.1   151.8   152.6     2.8     1.0      .5     2.6      .7      .5
  C ....................................      M        152.7   153.5   153.9   154.4     3.4      .6      .3     3.3      .8      .3
  D ....................................      M        149.4   150.2   150.3   151.4     3.5      .8      .7     3.1      .6      .1
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        149.0   149.7   150.2   151.3     2.4     1.1      .7     1.8      .8      .3
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        149.4   150.4   150.9   151.9     1.7     1.0      .7     1.1     1.0      .3
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        159.9   160.9   161.7   162.5     3.4     1.0      .5     3.3     1.1      .5
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        158.7   159.7   160.5   161.3     2.4     1.0      .5     1.9     1.1      .5
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        149.6   150.5   150.5   150.7     1.2      .1      .1     1.5      .6      .0
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      150.3    -      151.8     1.8     1.0    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      161.1    -      161.7     3.1      .4    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      141.5    -      143.1     2.4     1.1    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      150.0    -      150.3     2.5      .2    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      146.5    -      148.0     2.8     1.0    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      153.9    -      155.4     2.0     1.0    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        145.4    -      145.9    -       -       -       -        2.2      .3    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        145.5    -      146.5    -       -       -       -        2.7      .7    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        140.5    -      140.8    -       -       -       -        1.4      .2    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        143.7    -      144.7    -       -       -       -        2.6      .7    -
 
 
 
   1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
          indicated:
            M - Every month.
            1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
            2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
   2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
          the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
          result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
          similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
          CPI for use in their escalator clauses.